Case Study: John Lennon “Mind Games” – Engineering a Grammy-Winning Puzzle Box

When Universal Music Group approached GZ to design an unforgettable box set for a secretive, high-stakes project, the expectations were immense. The result—John Lennon’s “Mind Games” UBER box—became a technical milestone, earning the 2024 GRAMMY for packaging and cementing GZ’s reputation for world-class engineering, production quality, and co-packing expertise. 

PROJECT BACKGROUND

• Client: Universal Music Group (Bespoke Team London), with artist Sean Ono Lennon as commissioner 
• Product: The “Mind Games” UBER box—a meticulously constructed, 18-kilo, multi-box puzzle holding 10 vinyl records, unique merch items, and statement visual and tactile features 
• Timeline: Initial brief in late 2022; production complete April 2024; release July 2024 
• Scope: 1,100 UBER sets, plus high-volume CD and 2LP formats. GZ faced elite competition from the world’s top vinyl and print houses for this project. 

THE CHALLENGE
GZ was tasked with: 

• Engineering multiple interlocking “cubes” to create a truly unique, artistic puzzle box with a spectacular reveal and tactile “wow effect”—all before knowing the final artist. 
• Responding fast: GZ’s speed and flexibility in design iterations, cost proposals, and scheduling won the trust of Universal, outpacing major industry rivals. 
• Managing an evolving brief: High-value merch, ten complex vinyls—including hologram editions—cutting-edge DTP work, and a client known for uncompromising standards. 
• Delivering all components with flawless quality, alignment, and security, both visually and structurally, to withstand collector scrutiny and handling. 

TECHNICAL SOLUTION & INNOVATION

• Structural Ingenuity: Led by designer Michal Peřinka, the team delivered multiple design concepts at record pace, turning wild client ideas into manufacturable art pieces that kept the demanding client engaged and inspired. 
• Precision Engineering: The set features nine carefully engineered sub-boxes assembled into one monumental whole. Art preparation covered over 100 print elements, expertly coordinated for perfect color consistency and fit. 
• High-Complexity Production: Specialist DTP, print, and postpress teams collaborated on intricate features including silver crossboards, multi-material laminates, custom inserts, and pure white debossed lids—each requiring meticulous QC and handling. 
• Hand Assembly Excellence: Final construction and gluing were performed under lab-like conditions, minimizing dust and fingerprints to achieve flawless presentation. A custom “magnetic pencil” tool—created by 3D print and engineering teams—locked in a memorable user experience and client delight. 
• Customer-Centric Co-Packing: Co-packing included qualitative and quantitative inspection of all incoming premium merch, careful stacking and assembly, unique security varnish (revealed under a UV torch), and protective mailers tailored for shipping the massive 18kg set. 

RESULTS

• The “Mind Games” box set won the 2024 GRAMMY for packaging, making a global statement for GZ’s engineering and creative achievement. 
• Universal and Sean Ono Lennon expressed unreserved satisfaction, praising both the process and the extraordinary finished product. 
• GZ’s unified approach—from rapid prototyping and cross-team design, to hand assembly and co-packing—set a new benchmark in music memorabilia. 
• The iconic “Mind Games” box has become a reference project, demonstrating GZ’s ability to solve the toughest technical and creative packaging challenges in the industry. 

LESSONS & BENEFITS

• Fast, solution-oriented response to highly creative briefs secures client trust and market leadership. 
• Integrated project management, technical design, and co-packing are critical for delivering complex, high-value products flawlessly under real-world deadlines. 
• GZ’s collaborative engineering culture enables not just technical excellence, but genuine innovation recognized by the world’s top brands and institutions. 

CONCLUSION

The John Lennon “Mind Games” UBER box stands as a testament to GZ’s professional mastery—from structural design through co-packing and delivery. Engineered with artistry, manufactured to the highest standard, and co-packed for perfection, this GRAMMY-winning project exemplifies the ethos and capability that position GZ at the forefront of global packaging excellence.