Project Manager: Michael Benjamin
Creative Direction and Design: Logan Florida
Photography: Bryant Polk, Eli Abramowitz
Food Stylist: Hristina Polk

As part of NC Chocolatier’s broader packaging system, I designed a two- and four-piece box for the brand’s caramel apple line. The product presented a distinct structural challenge: each apple needed to be protected in transit, held securely despite its irregular shape, and presented with the same level of refinement as the brand’s boxed chocolates.

The central problem was the insert. It needed to stabilize the apples, protect fragile toppings, support an intuitive unboxing experience, and maintain the sense of luxury expected from NC Chocolatier.

The design process began with a series of structural prototypes exploring different ways to hold the apples in place. The final solution uses a cradle-style insert that gently secures each apple while becoming more rigid once the box is fully packed. This creates a stable structure for shipping without compromising the presentation.

The finished box uses a magnetic closure construction, wrapped in NC Chocolatier’s signature brown with a caramel accent. A subtle embossed detail sits at the right corner of the lid, creating a tactile entry point for the customer’s thumb. Inside, the apples are held in a deep brown insert, appearing almost swaddled in the material. The visual effect recalls the chocolate enrobing central to NC Chocolatier’s craft, turning a protective structure into part of the brand experience.