In 2008, a group of young people got together and, recognizing a need, decided to create a platform where young artists and budding designers could present their work to the public. The instrument of choice was the decorative tin box – a longtime favorite found in nearly every home, the group knew it would be the perfect vehicle for fresh and original designs.
In April 2009, the group, headed by Liron Hershkovitz, Michal Naim, and Nadav Tsohn, announced a first-of-its-kind contest, inviting budding designers to design tin boxes inspired by the city of Tel Aviv, which was celebrating its centennial.
The response was overwhelming and hundreds of designers submitted their ideas. The 10 finalists were chosen by a panel of judges comprising David Tartakover, a laureate of the 2002 Israel Prize for Design; Itzik Rennert, then-head of the Visual Communication Department at the Shenkar College of Engineering and Design; and prominent Israeli illustrator and comics artist Zeev Engelmayer.
The winning designs were produced and throughout September 2009 some 20,000 originally-designed tin boxes were sold by various retail chains nationwide, including AM:PM and Steimatzky Books.
The winning designers, graduates of design departments in leading Israeli academic institutions, garnered exposure and accolades for their work, and all proceeds from the boxes' sales were donated to Kav Hazinuk ("Starting Line"), a nonprofit organization fostering leadership among youth from Israel's social and geographical periphery.
The interest the project generated prompted the Jewish Agency to approach the group and ask it design a special addition of boxes marking the Jewish Agency's 80th anniversary. Collaborating with Li-Or Rotfeld, the group announced another box design contest, to showcase Israel and the Jewish connection.
The theme was enthusiastically received, and once again numerous young designers sought to take part in the contest. The selected designs arrived in stores in 2010, just in time for Israel's 62nd Independence Day. All proceeds were donated to the Jewish Agency's Wings Project, which helps lone soldiers who have made aliyah integrate in Israeli society.
The exposure and recognition the freshman editions of the Tin Box Project received and their fundraising success, inspired the group's founders to formalize their activities, and OutBox officially registered as a nonprofit organization in July 2010.
The newly-minted NPO declared its objectives to be promoting budding designers and artists and facilitating educational and social activities, while underscoring sustainable-friendly practices.
The Tin Box Project continued through to 2012, with the support of the Tambour Group. Since its inception, OutBox has steadily grown, developing new and innovating programs that advance both young designers and the communities in which they operate.
OutBox believes young Israeli designers can have a profound impact on the economy, and as such we aspire to afford young designers the opportunity to shine by providing them with the workspaces, tools and opportunities to create and share learning experiences.
OutBox currently operates several core programs. Information about our program is available here, or on our Design Programs page.
