When it comes to puzzle brands, Soonness puzzles have been at the top of my list to try. With a steep price of $58 for a 1,000-piece puzzle, they are one of the priciest cardboard puzzle brands available today. Founded in 2021 by artist Soon to support her career, the brand has since expanded, collaborating with a select group of artists to create some of the most lovely puzzles on the market.

From her own cartoon style illustrations packed with small details of life among different settings and the more modern graphic designs of the gradient puzzles she has created, to the anime/manga style illustrations of the artist Rowon, the bold floral designs of artist Helen Dardik and the almost photo-realistic paintings of artist Kathy Ager these are not the generic seemingly stock-like images of some of the larger more prolific brands.

Pick & Preorder Events

One of the standout features of Soonness is their approach to new product releases through ‘Pick & Preorder’ (PNP) events. These events allow customers to preorder new designs at a discounted rate, with production only going ahead if a minimum order threshold is met. This not only ensures that only the most popular designs are produced, but also minimizes waste.

The latest PNP just concluded this Tuesday morning and had the added benefit of allowing Soon to update her new piece, “Space Life,” by removing some elements of artwork that the puzzle community felt did not align with their values. Being able to take feedback on designs before production is one of the great benefits of having preorders. Instead of releasing a design that upset some in the community, they have now updated the artwork and addressed the situation without being stuck with a fully produced design they can’t sell.

Soonness is not the only puzzle company to hold preorders before producing designs—Unified Pieces, Magic Puzzle Co., RECESS, Puzzle Bomb, and Odd Pieces are among many that hold preorders either on their own sites or on Kickstarter before producing new puzzles. It’s a practice I wish more companies would implement, though I understand why they might not.

In May of this year, Soonness announced their latest collaboration with the Korean artist Rowon, introducing two new designs, “Bakery” and “Takoyaki,” as well as a reprint of their popular design “Supermarket” using a new piece cut. Of all the artwork they have used before, Rowon’s designs have always been my favorite. Notorious for being a more challenging puzzle, Rowon’s artwork is vibrant, detailed, and fun. Inspired by the cartoons and animations they watched when they were younger, their illustrations often portray snapshots of young girls in their day-to-day life. Their illustrations are joyful and happy, and I knew that this new collection was the perfect opportunity for me to finally invest and try out a Soonness puzzle. I ordered both “Bakery” and “Takoyaki” and was excited when they finally arrived at my door at the end of last week.

Quality

With such a high starting price, one expects nothing less than a high-end product. Soonness puzzles come shipped in a sturdy cardboard box with colorful, iconic puzzle piece paper packing tape sealing each. Each puzzle is individually packed in its own cardboard box, which has a minimal design with the Soonness logo on top, the tagline “Beautiful Art in Pieces,” and the website on the sides. My favorite branding element is the line “Reuse, Trade, Resell, Recycle” on the back. It’s a nice nod to promoting giving puzzles a second life by passing them on to others and encouraging recycling when the puzzle is past its usable lifespan. The bottom of the box includes a small cutout, allowing you to push up on the puzzle box to remove it from the cardboard box with little difficulty.

Once removed from the outer protective cardboard box, the puzzle packaging itself is lovely. Each puzzle comes in a square box with a nice matte linen texture. The lid is wrapped on all sides with a full-bleed cropping of the artwork used on the puzzle. It’s a simple yet effective design. The bottom lid of the box is primarily white and includes the full image of the puzzle along with product details on the bottom-most side. Details on the artist, including their social media tag, are printed centered on the sides. The inside of both the top and bottom lids are printed with a complementary color with one printed with a quote from Rowon, and centered in the other is a simple illustration of the face of Niña, Soon’s fictional character, who can be found in each of her art designs.

“The art of baking is the culmination of love and devotion. The sweet aroma, the crunchy crust, and the beautiful decorations hit all of our senses. Hard work does pay off.” -Rowon

Soonness puzzles are 100% plastic-free, and the puzzle itself is packaged during the manufacturing process into a sealed paper bag. This bag is not reusable, so each puzzle also comes with a second paper bag to store pieces after use. It’s worth noting that Soon specifically worked with her manufacturer to package her puzzles directly into a paper bag. This isn’t something that every manufacturer can do, and when it comes to non-standard procedures, it typically costs extra to produce. A large full-color printout of the puzzle is included for reference while puzzling. In addition to the printout, a small usable postcard of the artwork is also included.

When it comes to the pieces themselves, the puzzle is made with recycled cardboard and printed using soy ink. Each piece has a lovely smooth matte finish that resists glare from lighting, and the color of the artwork is vibrant and accurate to what you see on the website. The pieces are sturdy and on the thicker side, with an incredibly satisfying fit. You can easily move entire sections around without worrying about losing pieces in the process. My very favorite feature of a Soonness puzzle is the puzzle cut. The die-cut used for this puzzle is a beautiful random cut design. Most puzzles are cut with a ribbon cut, where the pieces are roughly the same or similar sizes and are laid out in straight—or mostly straight—lines with little variation. If you are unfamiliar with a random cut, the pieces can be quite unique in shape and don’t necessarily line up in rows. When they do line up, the rows curve and vary in size, sometimes splitting from one row into two. I adore the current Soonness cut; the pieces really do vary in size, and many are the size of several pieces put together. It makes for a very interesting puzzling experience. It should be noted that older Soonness puzzles have a more traditional varied ribbon cut.

Damage & Customer Service

My experience was generally quite good, but there was one significant issue that I would be remiss not to discuss. About 10-15 pieces were slightly mangled, dinged, and partly bent during the manufacturing process. This is a relatively new issue for Soonness puzzles, starting with the previous PNP release, which featured the “Color Series” gradient puzzles. In terms of assembly, this didn’t change much, although one or two pieces might not have sat as flat as I wanted. It did make me use extra caution when unassembling the puzzle, and I was rather disappointed, as this was the most expensive puzzle I’ve invested in, and I expected it to be pristine. I suspect that my favorite features—the puzzle cut along with the tight fit—are the cause of this issue. I would guess that when removing the die-cut from the cardboard it probably has a tendency to get stuck or caught on the material, damaging it or else it might be the tight piece fit and process of breaking up the puzzle after being cut causes damage when not done carefully.

One positive aspect is that when I reached out to Soonness customer service, Soon herself immediately got back in touch, apologizing for the damage and offering me the choice of getting my puzzle replaced or receiving credit for the price of the puzzle I purchased. I chose the credit option and was immediately emailed a gift card. I think it says something that I immediately used that gift card to order some of the new puzzle designs from the current PNP that was active at that time. I could have chosen some of the older designs that I know did not have this quality issue, but I have faith that given the higher-end choices and well-designed product, Soon will resolve this issue with her manufacturer.

Bakery Assembly

Let’s talk about the assembly process for this specific puzzle. “Bakery” is a delightful image of three young women shopping at a bakery, surrounded by aisles of delicious-looking baked goods. I really loved this image when I first saw it. The setting and the color palette give this piece a bright but cozy vibe. The general composition is nice, with multiple elements of varying sizes—from the larger figure of the woman in the front of the scene to the slightly smaller visuals of the other women and the different styles and layers of baked goods. The green and blue of the shelving allowed the puzzle to be framed in small sections. I chose to do a full color sort from the beginning, and I think that was the right plan. I only wish I had chosen to further sort the brown and orange pieces that make up the majority of the baked goods.

This puzzle took me about three puzzling sessions to complete, while the average 1,000-piece puzzle usually takes me only two. I was aware before starting this image that Rowon’s artwork, when broken down into individual pieces can become almost abstract splotches of color and this can be quite challenging to put together. At no point did I find myself overly frustrated but I do think that a more organized approach to the baked goods portion would have helped speed up the process. I didn’t want to rush this one so I actually appreciated the fact that it was a little spicier than some of the puzzles I’ve been working on as of late. Given the cost of this puzzle, I didn’t want it to be a easy 1-2 hour build and instead savored the time that I spent with it. My husband joined me a few times as well, and if you watch my time-lapse, watch him absolutely zoom through assembling the woman’s purple pants which take up about an eight of the entire design before I even finished the edge.

Cost vs Quality

When considering the cost of a Soonness puzzle, there’s no denying that it’s a premium product with a price to match. At $58 for a 1,000-piece puzzle, it’s one of the most expensive cardboard puzzles on the market. This price point might be daunting, especially for those accustomed to more mainstream brands that offer puzzles at a fraction of the cost. However, there are several factors that likely contribute to the higher price, and it’s essential to weigh these against the overall quality and experience.

So, what is likely contributing to the high cost?

Eco-Friendly Materials and Custom Manufacturing Processes – Soonness puzzles are made with high-quality, eco-friendly materials, including recycled cardboard and soy-based inks. The plastic-free packaging, down to the paper bags for storing pieces, reflects a commitment to sustainability. This reduces the puzzle’s environmental impact, which is a significant advantage for eco-conscious puzzlers, but it also contributes to the higher price. The custom manufacturing processes, in particular, likely add substantially to the final cost of the product.

Artwork – A portion of the cost goes into licensing unique, artist-driven designs. Soonness collaborates directly with artists, ensuring that the artwork is original and exclusive. A small portion of the price of each puzzle goes directly to the artist. The fact that these puzzles support independent artists adds a layer of value, especially for those who appreciate art and want to support creators in a world that is increasingly turning towards AI produced artwork. Soon is one of the artists herself, and I have no issue with her earning a cut—just as she provides to any artist she collaborates with.

Small Batch Printing – Soonness puzzles are manufactured in relatively small batches to cover preorder quantities plus a small amount for additional orders and wholesale purchasing. When it comes to manufacturing, the more of a product you print, the lower in price per item you can achieve. When you only print a small number, you lose a lot of the bulk discounts that you would receive by printing in larger quantities.

Higher End Packaging and Extras – The Soonness packaging feels high-end using sturdy materials that have a nice finish. Each puzzle is packed into it’s own cardboard box that has a custom cut intended to make it easy for you to remove the puzzle. In addition, a large full color printout of the puzzle and a smaller thick stock full color postcard is also included with each puzzle.

Custom Die-Cut – The random cut and exceptional fit of the pieces are standout features of a Soonness puzzle. These less common features require more intricate manufacturing processes and custom dies, which likely contribute to the higher price. I can’t say for sure that a 100% custom die was created just for Soonness but I do think it pretty likely. This is likely a one time cost.

Conclusion

When it comes down to it, Soonness puzzles are among the nicest I’ve encountered. The cut and fit are probably my favorite of any brand, rivaling even vintage Springboks. The smooth matte finish is, in my opinion, one of the best available. The packaging feels high-end, and I think Soon has put serious effort into making these puzzles as sustainable—if not entirely eco-friendly—then as eco-conscious as possible. Their sustainability page is worth a read! When a brand makes more eco-conscious decisions, it often means the price of the product goes up. It’s expensive to source sustainable materials and to push manufacturers to follow non-traditional processes, like sealing puzzles directly in paper, in addition to producing in small batches. I have no doubt that the $58 price reflects all of this, and I do think it’s a fair price considering these factors.

Potential Adjustments

That said, there are some adjustments I think could improve both the product and its pricing. First and foremost, the manufacturing issue with dinged and dented pieces needs to be resolved. I genuinely feel for Soon in this situation because I know how frustrating it is to create a great product only to have your trusted manufacturer start slipping on quality. I was very satisfied with how she handled my defective puzzle, and I’m more forgiving because I see this as a manufacturing defect, not a case of Soonness cutting corners.

There are also a few small changes that could potentially lower the price, making it more accessible for the average puzzler. For one, while I love the postcard included with each puzzle, I don’t think it’s necessary. I’m a huge fan of using paper for packaging, and I admire that she managed to create a line that’s 100% plastic-free, but I wish the puzzle was packed in a reusable paper bag from the start. This would eliminate the need for a second paper bag. Lastly, there’s the extra cardboard box that each puzzle is packed in. I understand this is to avoid using plastic wrap, which is commendable, but I believe there could be a simpler solution—perhaps a compostable sticker? The added weight of an extra cardboard box increases CO2 emissions during transportation, which should be considered.

That being said, it’s easy for me to suggest changes when I’m not the one negotiating with manufacturers. For all we know, packaging puzzles in a reusable paper envelope could be more expensive than the current method of sealing them in a paper bag and including second one. The sealed bag is certainly more secure for transport, and using plastic-free stickers might add significant labor costs. While eliminating the extra cardboard box could save money on production and shipping, it might also protect the puzzle during transit, potentially reducing the need for replacements.

Conclusion

Considering the sustainable choices Soon has made in the manufacturing process, the price, to me, is justified. However, the quality assurance process does need attention, and it’s unfortunate that this issue has arisen. The brand is still relatively new, and I think they’ve handled the situation professionally. My hope is that this problem will not persist.

In the end, I do believe Soonness puzzles are worth the price they charge (provided they are manufactured without damaging the pieces). The puzzle itself is a beautiful product, but I think consumers should weigh their budget against the overall quality, eco-conscious benefits, and the potential for quality assurance issues before deciding if it’s the right choice for them. The bottom line is that this brand is expensive and likely to be out of budget for a lot of people. However, it’s made with good intentions, and if that matters to you as a consumer, it might be the right choice for you.

Brand: Soonness
Title: Bakery
Pieces: 1000
Artist: Rowon