For several years now, packaging technology students and budding designers have had the opportunity to submit their ideas for sophisticated, technically and aesthetically interesting packaging to the German Packaging Competition or to a number of industry competitions.
In addition to trophies, attention can also be gained as good "starting capital" for the future profession. In addition to the annual German Packaging Award (DVP), which recognises the category "Young talent award" the German Packaging Institute (dvi) is also promoting the future of packaging with the future competition PackVision the development of young creatives by linking students with the knowledge and practical experience of renowned companies in the industry to develop specific packaging projects.
The young people can put their work to the test under real conditions, which also gives the teachers the opportunity to broaden their experience. For their part, the companies benefit from the fresh ideas of the young talents. In many cases, the packaging designs for the company become part of a new product positioning and functionally improved product presentation for the consumer.
Special promotion by various sectors
The organisers of industry competitions also have these effects in mind, whereby they essentially want to achieve the further development of packaging for the respective industry. The Pro Carton Young Designers Award As an industry award, it has been organising competition between young designers for 15 years. The great success of the 2016 prize meant that it is now organised annually so that design schools and universities can make it an integral part of their curricula. As one lecturer explained Susanne Lippitsch: "The publicity of the award in the media is extremely valuable. [...] In my case - I won it myself in 2002 - it marks the beginning of my professional career."
A French-German jury selects the PackTheFuture - Sustainable Plastic Packaging Award in four categories each: Social Benefit, Save Food, Ecodesign and Product Protection. Transport and outer packaging as well as film products and containers dominated the submissions. On the German side, the award was organised for the second time in 2017 by the Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen (IK) and Elipso, the French association for plastic packaging and flexible packaging.
As an industry event for the packaging industry aimed at prospective product and packaging designers from the Köln International School of Design as part of the TH Köln, the Special show "Sweet Traditions" organised. For example, there were balls filled with sweets that release their contents when shaken and turned, treats that consist only of lids and a packet with a fortune-telling motif that releases crystal balls with sherbet powder.
Young talents at the German Packaging Award
Every year, the next generation of packers also delights the DVP with interesting innovations.
In 2015, for example, the Berlin students presented a Honey gift packaging in the design of a Honeycomb with the image of the honey-loving bear as Berlin heraldic animal.
The innovative "Paneer and mozzarella" packaging concept is a Rigid plastic packaging with two compartments. During transport and storage, the cheese is in the brine. To remove the cheese, turn the packaging 180 degrees, the liquid drains into the second chamber and the cheese can be removed without draining.
Another interesting solution is the award-winning Sine canister with Optimum space utilisation and Stackabilitywhich are very easy to handle and can be presented in an eye-catching way.
Efficient and attractive at the same time, Jara Freund (HS Darmstadt) developed the Teapot packaging with a Additional benefitswhich consists of the fact that after opening the packaging teapot is used. The corrugated cardboard packaging used was treated with impregnation spray to prevent fire damage and is therefore flame-retardant.
In 2015, the jury was also impressed by the packaging ideas of an unusual "up-and-coming couple": teacher Viktor Moor and his granddaughter Sofie submitted, among other things, a self-designed Chocolate ball dispenser and a further developed Tic-Tac packaging with a new Dosing and hanging device to make travelling by car even more entertaining.
Finally, the award-winning packaging in 2014 also included "Capt'n Ahab"a seasonal special edition from the traditional champagne producer Château du Baleine. The packaging by Moritz Brodmann (HS Stuttgart) combines maritime elements with the exclusivity of the champagne. The shape of the packaging is based on the Contours of a whale. The packaging can be opened at the "side fins". Inside, the bottle is protected by a Ribbed construction which imitates the bone structure of the whale. When the packaging is opened, the champagne presents itself in a unique way.
