Most people have a memory tied to those little mini cereal boxes.

You know, the set that you used to get only when you went on camping trips? Or only when you went to stay at your grandparents' house.

Whatever your memory, it’s the mini cereal boxes that are part of that story and can take you right back to that moment. 

That was our goal when planning this collaboration. Create something that takes people back to a moment in time, to a specific memory. Plus, show how Neenah Folding board can elevate even the humble cereal box. 

Hit the notes of nostalgia, and possibly create it. 

“We wanted to remind people how print can transform the everyday into something unforgettable.”

The Spark of an Idea

It started in October 2023, when Dave and Gabby from Print Design Academy sat down with Michelle and Nicole from Neenah Paper.

We all knew we wanted to create something together, but we weren’t sure what it was. 

That’s when Dave said, “I have an idea. It’s a bit unusual, but I think it would be a hit.”
What if we reimagined the mini cereal box sets we loved as kids?
They carry nostalgia, memories, and emotion, and if made with premium paper, they could show how even a humble cereal box can be elevated.

Print has a special power. It doesn’t just show something, it helps people feel something. It can take you back to a moment in time.

Designing Nostalgia

To bring the concept to life, Neenah teamed up with designer Dallas Franklin.

Four cereal boxes were created, each with its own illustrated character and theme. They fit inside a fifth, outer box that completed the set.

Inside each mini box was a “Designer Notes” card created by Print Design Academy that explained the paper’s attributes and what kinds of brands or projects might use it.

The set also included a scented sticker sheet and a production notes card detailing how the piece was made.

Together, they formed a complete kit that showed off the range and personality of Neenah Folding Board, while sparking that childhood nostalgia.

“Every box had its own personality, its own paper stock, color palette, and cereal character.”

A project with this many pieces, multiple stocks, specialty finishes, and 3 different dielines is a complex one. With all the unique finishing, it still needed to work together as a set.

From Press to Perfection

From the beginning, Dave knew who the print partner had to be: Glenmore Custom Print and Packaging.

Neenah agreed, and Glenmore’s structural design team got to work refining dielines, closures, and the overall unboxing experience. Their feedback on finishing and materials helped the vision come to life.

The final production included metallic inks, opaque whites, multiple spot colors, bright red and pearl foil stamping, embossing, sculpted embossing, and even holographic foil on the outer box.

Print Design Academy handled the press and bindery checks, making last-minute tweaks to color and finish until everything matched the vision.

Print is about making real things. You can only get so close by looking at a screen. The press check is where it all becomes real. It’s also your final chance to perfect the project before the world sees it.

Even after 20 years in print, we still press check everything.

“You can only get so close on screen. Press checking is when the project truly becomes real.”

From that first meeting in October 2023 to the launch party in October 2025, this project was two years of collaboration, craftsmanship, and aligned vision.

A Toast to Print

The launch took place on October 9th at Please Beverage Co. in Vancouver.

Over 100 designers and print pros came to celebrate. Surrounded by color, foil, and the smell of cereal. Literally.

Guests grabbed bowls at the cereal bar, picked up their own box sets, and swapped stories of camping mornings and childhood breakfasts. For one night, everyone got to be a kid again.

“We could hear people laughing, remembering where they were when they first had the mini cereal boxes. That’s the power of print, it can take you back in time.”

The reactions said it all: joy, nostalgia, and a shared love for craft. The project reminded everyone that print isn’t just about ink, it’s about emotion, memory, and the simple magic of holding something real.

The Paper That Made It Possible

Neenah® Folding Board made the project shine.

The range—Desert Storm, 100 PC White, Pearl White, and Deep Black—gave every box a premium, tactile base that turned a fun idea into a collectible keepsake.

Learn more here: https://www.neenahpaper.com/brands/neenah-folding-board-papers