Fragile: Reusable Packaging by Mireia Gordi Vila

Mireia Gordi Vila developed Fragile for her graduate show at the Royal College of Art in London. The two pieces serve as an alternative to cardboard boxes and styrofoam peanuts or plastic bags. In their current forms, the designs are best-suited for shipping small art and collector’s items. The larger of the two designs is a wooden crate with a padded case suspended inside. The soft lining of the case fits its contents like a sort of memory foam, keeping the item in place without applying much pressure. The smaller design is a cardboard tube system with a soft insert for protecting bottles and glassware. The interior component grips onto the glass so that it does not slide in transit. While these sorts of pieces would definitely be pricier than today’s packaging standards, they are an inspiring pair and, in the future, could be a fine investment for high-end galleries and retailers.