Sometimes the most important part of a custom project is not what appears on the outside. It is how thoughtfully everything fits inside.
When the University of Washington approached Foxwood about boxes for its “Becoming” game, the project initially involved premade wooden boxes. After seeing the boxes and the game components they needed to hold, we proposed developing something better: a purpose-built box designed around the cards and dice themselves.
The Original Boxes
The project began as a request to personalize premade boxes.
Although the boxes could have been engraved, they had not been designed specifically for the “Becoming” game. The cards were an unusual size, and the interior also needed to accommodate dice in a way that felt organized and intentional.
Engraving the exterior would have improved the appearance, but it would not have solved the more fundamental issue inside.
That led us to ask whether Foxwood could design and build a better box from the ground up.
Designed Around the Game
The custom design began with the components the box needed to hold.
Instead of forcing the specialty cards and dice into standard compartments, the interior layout was developed around their actual proportions. Dedicated spaces kept the components organized while creating a more considered experience when the box was opened.
The exterior dimensions, interior compartments and engraving area were planned together so that function and presentation supported one another.
Purpose-Built Compartments
The internal organization was a defining feature of the project.
The card compartment needed to accommodate the game’s nonstandard card size without excessive empty space or an overly tight fit. A separate area was incorporated for the dice so that the individual components remained organized and easy to access.
These details transformed the box from general packaging into a functional part of the game.
Made in Our Woodshop
Once the design was established, the boxes were fabricated in our woodshop.
Each component was cut, assembled and prepared as part of a coordinated production process. Building the boxes ourselves gave us control over the exterior proportions, internal compartment layout and surfaces intended for engraving.
The boxes were then brought to the Foxwood studio in downtown Renton for personalization and final finishing.
Engraved in Our Renton Studio
The “Becoming” artwork was positioned to complement the proportions of the custom-built lid.
Because the engraving area had been considered during the design stage, the artwork felt integrated into the box instead of added to a premade product as an afterthought.
Each completed box was reviewed for construction, fit, engraving placement and overall presentation.
Form Following Function
This project demonstrates why custom fabrication can be valuable even when an off-the-shelf product appears similar at first glance.
A standard box provides a container. A purpose-built game box considers:
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The precise size and shape of the cards
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Separate storage for the dice
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Organization and accessibility
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The experience of opening and using the game
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Exterior proportions and presentation
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Placement of the engraved artwork
Every element was developed around how the finished box would actually be used.
The Result
What began as a straightforward engraving request became a fully custom design-and-build project.
The completed wooden boxes protected and organized the specialty cards and dice while providing a polished presentation for the University of Washington’s “Becoming” game.
They were not existing boxes with a design placed on top. They were created specifically for the game—from the internal compartments to the final engraving.
Custom Boxes and Specialty Fabrication From Foxwood
Foxwood creates custom wooden boxes, presentation pieces, awards and dimensional projects for universities, businesses, nonprofits and organizations.
We can personalize an appropriate existing product or develop an original piece when standard options cannot accommodate the contents, function or intended presentation.
Have a product, game or collection that does not fit inside a standard box? Bring us the components, dimensions and intended use. We’ll help determine whether the right solution can be sourced or should be built specifically for the project.
