The Challenge 

In this era of digitalization, a new phenomenon has surfaced: Digital gifting. As more digital products are consumed and created, gifting digital media becomes more popular. With the rise of streaming services such as Netflix and Spotify, the growing consumption of digital games and the shift to selling experiences rather than objects, the assortment of digital gifting options is expanding greatly. Currently, there is no method of giving digital gifts that fits within our cultural rituals of gift-giving. Where a physical gift can be hidden in a wrapper, physically handed over and the giver can perceive the reaction of the receiver, a digital gift often comes in the form of redeeming code via e-mail or in exceptional cases a card with NFC. A clear need is arising for smart gift wrappings that facilitate the shift from material gifts to digital gifts.

The Solution

A renewable physical gift wrapper is developed that connects to a mobile web application. In this web application the gift giver can select a digital gift or experience voucher, personalize their gift message and add photos. During the gift exchange, this physical wrapper interacts with the mobile web app, leading to a unique and partially digitalized gifting experience that fits with the digital nature of the gift. The gift receiver can share elements of the gift exchange experience on social media and keep the physical wrapper as a memory. When the receiver wants to give a digital gift to another close connection, they simply reprogram the wrapper through the webapp and select their gift of choice. In this way, the wrappers travels between owners and increases in value through its gifting history, while at the same time leading to minimal waste.

The Mission

As gifting is a crucial element in sustaining interpersonal relationships, it is important that the effort and intended message from the giver are noticed by the receiver. My mission is therefore to empower consumers to strengthen their connection to peers through gifting, by designing a novel 21st century gifting process that allows for digital gifting in a sustainable manner.

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