Don Bernardo Cigar Box Design

Designing Standout Cigar Boxes for Don Bernardo Cigars

Following the successful development of the Don Bernardo Cigars brand identity, the boutique Dominican cigar maker returned to Nichez with a new challenge:
Design a suite of premium cigar boxes—distinctive, luxurious, and unmistakably “Don Bernardo”—in three different sizes.

These boxes would become the brand’s most important physical touchpoint, serving as both presentation pieces and long-term storage for customers and distributors. They needed to carry the charisma of Don Bernardo’s conquistador-inspired mascot, the richness of the Dominican cigar tradition, and the premium craftsmanship that defines the brand.

Nichez approached the project with a clear vision:
Every box should feel like an artifact—something collected, displayed, and remembered.

Packaging Strategy: A Unified System in Three Sizes

The challenge was twofold:

1. Create three box sizes (Robusto, El Rey, and Montefino formats) that feel consistent and cohesive.
2. Design each one to stand on its own as a high-impact premium product.

Nichez developed a structural and visual strategy that ensured every size maintained the same brand presence while offering its own sense of scale and proportion.

Key Strategy Pillars

• Consistency: The Don Bernardo mascot, silver reflective foil, and rich palette served as anchors across sizes.
• Craftsmanship: Each box used high-quality materials, and precision finishes to match the cigars’ artisanal quality.
• Presence: The brand needed shelf impact—whether in a small boutique humidor or a major retailer’s display.