SFDW 2026 x UnboxPD

Andrew Bowen
Jul 1
3 min read

Three people chat and smile at a green-lit event booth, holding drinks, with a wall poster labeled FirstPlug.

Reflection on 2026 SFDW with Unbox!

This year's San Francisco Design Week theme, "Multitudes," explored how design evolves through iteration, collaboration, and transformation.

That philosophy closely reflects how we approach product development.

Every project begins with an idea that evolves through research, strategy, Industrial Design prototyping, product engineering, branding, and manufacturing. Throughout the process, our multidisciplinary team works alongside clients to transform early concepts into commercially successful products.

If you're interested in learning more about our process, explore our guides:

Hands sketch a design on paper with pencils, surrounded by colorful sticky notes in a creative workspace.

Connecting the Dots

Inspired by this year's theme, Unbox chose "Connecting the Dots" as the focus for our Studio Crawl.

Why?

Because great innovation comes from making unexpected connections.

Leonardo da Vinci famously said:

"Realize that everything connects to everything else."

Some of history's greatest innovations emerged by applying ideas from one industry to another. The printing press, for example, is believed to have been inspired in part by early wine presses.

We see this happen every day in product development.

One example is CO.8 Custom Cosmetic Creator, whose cartridge mixing system drew inspiration from industrial paint-mixing technology.

Innovation rarely appears in isolation. It comes from combining knowledge, experience, technology, and perspectives into something entirely new. None of that is possible without the collective knowledge, perspectives, and creativity of the people around us.

Two young people lean over an open photo book at a table in a green-lit room, studying pages together.

Studio Crawl Night

Participating in San Francisco Design Week is always special.

Unlike many design festivals, San Francisco's Studio Crawl opens the doors of working design studios, giving visitors a rare look inside boutique consultancies like Unbox and the way small, multidisciplinary teams create award-winning products.

Rather than formal presentations, we encouraged relaxed conversations throughout the evening. Music, refreshments, project demonstrations, and open discussions created an environment where ideas flowed naturally.

Guests gathered throughout the studio and patio, exploring our work, discussing product development, and sharing their own experiences.

One conversation sparked another. One introduction became a new connection, a partnership, a friendship, or a new way of thinking.

That's exactly what SFDW is about.

Abstract turquoise close-up of geometric cartridges with blurred reflections; one cartridge reads CO.8 Cosmetics.

Sharing Our Work

Throughout the evening, visitors explored several of our recent projects, each demonstrating our commitment to design-led innovation.

CO.8 (formerly UHUE): An all-in-one custom cosmetic creation device that allows users to formulate personalized liquid makeup by adjusting color, coverage, finish, and shimmer.

Winner of more than 18 international design awards, CO.8 generated tremendous interest as attendees explored the design thinking and engineering behind its development.

M1 Monstatek: Designed for hackers, makers, and digital explorers, the M1 combines signal analysis, wireless protocol manipulation, and advanced emulation into a compact, highly capable platform. A product brought to life by Unbox in under 12 months and validated in the market with $2.8M raised through crowdfunding campaigns.

35Newtons – FirstPlug: The first and only FDA-approved solution for dental implant restoration procedures. Designed for precision and usability, FirstPlug features a one-handed dispensing system, airtight storage, moisture protection, FDA-grade recyclable polypropylene, and thoughtful engineering that supports clinical workflows.

Hand holding a small translucent plastic case with a flip lid and blue label reading FirstPlug against a teal background.

Hands open a turquoise oral-care box with a tray and leaflet; text says, The world always looks brighter from behind a smile.

Building Community

While we're proud of the products we create, it's the relationships built through events like San Francisco Design Week that often leave the greatest impression.

Throughout the evening, we watched students meet mentors, founders exchange ideas, professionals reconnect, and new friendships begin.

These conversations strengthen our design community and remind us that innovation doesn't happen in isolation—it grows through collaboration.

We're grateful to everyone who joined us and helped make the evening such a success.

We look forward to continuing to support the Bay Area design community—and to seeing everyone again at San Francisco Design Week 2027.

Smiling woman with long dark hair chats with others indoors in a bright room, relaxed and cheerful.