Background
This project was developed as a Dragon Age-inspired keepsake box featuring Solas. Designed to preserve fans’ precious memories, the box combines laser-etched artwork, metallic gold printing, antique hardware, and a green velvet interior to create an ornate, character-driven collectible piece.
Challenge
The biggest challenge was the amount of hardware involved. Each piece had to match the original design in style, size, and color, while also fitting the overall proportions of the box.
The gold-painted character details created another challenge. The edges had to be painted precisely without staining the surrounding areas, making the process highly sensitive to positioning and brush control.
The box also had to maintain a stable weight balance. If the lid was too heavy, opening it could cause the entire box to tip backward.
What I did
I spent several days sourcing off-the-shelf hardware that closely matched the design, then coordinated the sizes and finishes with suppliers. I tested different combinations and used the hardware dimensions to optimize the overall box size before bulk purchasing.
Instead of committing to a large hardware order immediately, I built samples first to verify how each component looked and fitted on the box. This allowed me to adjust the box dimensions and avoid hardware that looked too small or disproportionate.
I worked with the factory through multiple trials to identify a safe edge width for the gold-painted areas, giving workers more room for error and improving the yield. I also developed a simple painting template that worked together with the brush, helping workers apply the gold more accurately.
To prevent the lid from making the box tip backward, I adjusted the weight distribution. I used heavier hardware on the lower section and added a bottom plate to increase the base weight and improve stability.
Outcome
The final box maintained the visual proportions of the original design while using commercially available hardware. Through early sampling, hardware optimization, process testing, and structural adjustments, I helped turn a design-heavy concept into a stable and production-ready collectible box.
