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House of Smaragd Advent Box by Rilind Hoxha |
Home > Winners > Design #171968 >Interview |
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FS: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?
RH: The core idea was to create something more than packaging — an emotional experience. Inspired by both the magic of the holiday season and the timeless elegance of fine jewelry, we wanted to craft a calendar that feels like a treasured gift in itself. The principle was “built to be kept, designed to be felt.”
FS: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?
RH: We focused on creating a luxurious, reusable object that holds emotional and functional value. Our goal was to combine the joy of unboxing with the prestige of premium jewelry — every compartment reveals a carefully curated piece.
FS: What are your future plans for this award winning design?
RH: We’re planning a limited series production for the upcoming holiday season, expanding on the same concept with new color palettes and product combinations. It will become a signature holiday tradition under Smaragd 1969.
FS: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?
RH: Roughly 6 weeks from initial concept to final prototype. The longest part was balancing the structure, materials, and jewelry layout into one cohesive form.
FS: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?
RH: It was initiated from within — a self-commissioned project driven by inspiration. We wanted to challenge the usual presentation formats for jewelry and offer something collectors could emotionally connect with.
FS: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?
RH: We are producing and selling it ourselves under Smaragd 1969, our in-house jewelry brand. It’s a fully integrated concept from design to retail.
FS: What made you design this particular type of work?
RH: We saw a gap between luxury jewelry and meaningful presentation. Jewelry often comes in disposable boxes — we wanted to change that narrative by turning the packaging into part of the story.
FS: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?
RH: We saw a gap between luxury jewelry and meaningful presentation. Jewelry often comes in disposable boxes — we wanted to change that narrative by turning the packaging into part of the story.
FS: Who is the target customer for his design?
RH: It targets discerning buyers — collectors, gift-givers, and individuals looking for exclusive, timeless jewelry presented in a thoughtful and reusable way.
FS: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?
RH: Its emotional depth and permanence. Most advent-style products are temporary. Ours is designed to last — a collectible display box that can be reused year after year.
FS: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?
RH: “House of Smaragd” is a nod to our roots and elegance. “Advent Calendar” gives the seasonal context. Together, it symbolizes a house of treasures revealed one day at a time.
FS: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?
RH: We used Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop for the visuals, 3D modeling for structure testing, and a mix of hand sketches to conceptualize the user experience.
FS: What is the most unique aspect of your design?
RH: The balance between function and emotional storytelling. It’s not just packaging — it’s a seasonal ritual, a collector’s piece, and a luxury display in one.
FS: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?
RH: Yes, our internal team handled creative direction, but we also collaborated with structural engineers and packaging specialists to ensure durability and precision.
FS: What is the role of technology in this particular design?
RH: Technology allowed us to precisely test the structural elements digitally before production, minimizing waste and ensuring a premium user experience.
FS: Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?
RH: We conducted customer surveys and benchmarked premium packaging in the jewelry and gifting industries. This helped us understand what evokes emotional value and longevity.
FS: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?
RH: Fitting high-value pieces in a compact structure while maintaining aesthetic appeal and security was a big challenge. We also had to find the right balance of materials — premium, but sustainable.
FS: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?
RH: We believed this design had a story and a soul worth sharing. The A' Design Award felt like the perfect platform to validate that vision internationally.
FS: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?
RH: It taught us that innovation can happen through emotional connection, not just function. We also learned how to balance storytelling, product, and packaging in one cohesive idea.
FS: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
RH: Only that this calendar is just the beginning. We’re exploring other limited editions — not just for holidays, but for milestones, birthdays, and life events. The calendar is not just a design — it’s a new format for storytelling through jewelry.
FS: Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to interview you.
A' Design Award and Competitions grants rights to press members and bloggers to use parts of this interview. This interview is provided as it is; DesignPRWire and A' Design Award and Competitions cannot be held responsible for the answers given by participating designers.
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