Packaging design company Burgopak and design studio Planning Unit have won a Gold Leaf Award at the 2024 Foil and Specialty Effects Association (FSEA) Awards, for their packaging for Oxygen bank. They have been recognised for best use of foil/embossing in the client promotion/brochure category.

Oxygen, the financial platform offering banking to individuals and small businesses (which recently pivoted to Oxygen Health), wanted to break the mold of the current landscape of fintech design, choosing to avoid bold colors and flat vector graphics for the launch of its bank card.

The packaging was contrasted with G.F. Smith Plike paper, which has a rubbery texture and a matte look, with clear spot varnish patterns which catch the light. The branding and key graphics were finished in a silver foil block. The Oxygen bank card was accompanied with a pack of small postcards, also finished in Plike paper, with silver foil blocking. The postcards came in an envelope, placed in their own drawer.
Armand Amar, Head of Customer Success, Oxygen, said:

“We had a clear visual goal for the launch of our bank card – the packaging had to reflect our distinct brand personality and combine functionality with style. Winning a Gold Leaf Award proves we succeeded in this goal. We’re grateful to our agency partners for making our vision a reality.”

Dane Whitehurst, Creative Director, Burgopak, said:

“Oxygen and the Planning Unit worked hard to create a strong, edgy and iconic identity for the brand. We helped to celebrate this by crafting a beautifully finished piece of packaging. Marrying brand elements with carefully considered materials and finishes, within an unboxing experienced powered by our patented sliding system, effortlessly showcases the postcards and bank card nestled inside. Winning this Gold Leaf Award proves that having the courage to step away from conventional fintech design styles pays off, and it’s been a pleasure to work alongside both Oxygen and Planning Unit to deliver it.”

Jeff Knowles, Co-founder, Planning Unit said:

“Working with a creative forward-thinking client, and the great team at Burgopak, made for beautiful packaging, for a daring bank card design, for a revolutionary bank.”

This year’s win follows Burgopak and Windles taking home the bronze award for Best use of Cold Foil at the 2023 FSEA Awards, for their sliding unicorn pack.