Custom Paper Product Development

Have a paper product in mind but need help developing it for production?

Small Daily Joy works with brands and creative teams to develop custom paper products from an initial idea or design through sampling and production in China.

From an Idea or Design

You may already have a finished design, a rough concept, or simply a reference for the paper product you want to develop.

We can work from different starting points and help develop the details needed to turn the idea into a physical paper product.

Coffee paper material exploration with a printed product card developed for coffee brand.

Material Exploration

The choice of paper can shape not only how a product looks and feels, but also how it performs and what it can be used for. We explore specialty and functional papers based on the product, design, and intended application.

This can include:

  • Specialty papers with distinctive textures, colors, and surfaces
  • Functional papers such as washable and water-resistant paper
  • Alternative fiber papers made from materials such as coffee waste and sugarcane.
Custom folding paper box with integrated handle structure developed for packaging presentation and product use.

Structure & Function

The structure of a paper product needs to work with its design, dimensions, and intended use. We develop paper structures and components based on how the product needs to be presented, handled, or used.

  • Folded and layered structures
  • Custom die-cut components
  • Paper inserts and compartments
  • Interactive paper mechanisms
Pearlescent paper with foil stamping finish showing specialty printing effects for beauty brands.

Printing & Finishing

Printing and finishing are developed together with the selected paper and structure to achieve the intended visual and tactile result.

Options include:

  • Foil stamping & embossing
  • Die cutting & special coatings
  • CMYK & specialty printing
  • Custom finishing solutions
Custom packaging prototype with multi-sided opening structure and internal product compartments developed for product presentation.

Prototyping & Production

Before production, samples allow the product to be evaluated as a physical piece rather than only as a design.

We use sampling to review:

  • Paper and material choices
  • Product structure and dimensions
  • Printing and finishing results
  • Assembly and component details
  • Production requirements

Once the product has been refined, we coordinate with manufacturers in China to move it into production.