The intention for the box packaging was for it to look like a ‘black box’ discovered from a plane wreckage. There was no visual precedent for what a 40K black box would look like so aesthetically this was new territory.

Using the combination of flight black boxes, WW2 memorabilia and direction from the art lead, I began by mocking up initial designs; keeping in mind key features usually found on black boxes such as a handle and warning text. The box packaging needed to reflect the ‘in-world artefact’ aesthetic whilst remaining accurate to the IP and I wanted the customer experience to be exciting and engaging. This was my main influence for incorporating a ‘control panel’ at the bottom of the box with cracked screens, cables and switches giving an extra sense of intrigue to the product.

The cables on the outside of the box where mainly influenced by core 40K IP markers, as the initial designs were looking too clean and polished for the genre. I wanted the cables and plug details to continue seamlessly around the box, making it look more visually cohesive. Most black boxes are either bright red or orange in colour, so I wanted to keep the red colour but add lots of texture to really give the box a battered and weathered look. Even though this packaging was a challenge at times, I thoroughly enjoyed designing it and making something entirely unique to the 40K product offer.