STUDENT CREATIVITY IS “TOPS” IN HOLIDAY TREE-TOPPER PACKAGE DESIGN CONTEST

Paperboard Packaging Alliance Announces 2008 Student Design Challenge Winners at PACK EXPO

CHICAGO – Holiday gifts arrived early this year for the nation’s top design students who won the fourth annual Student Design Challenge, sponsored by the Paperboard Packaging Alliance (PPA).  Their challenge: create a promotional carton for a new holiday tree topper being introduced to consumers by a fictitious company celebrating its 50th anniversary.  Designs need to support the company’s commitment to environmentally sustainable practices and packaging.

Winning design teams shared $3,000 in prize money while an additional $5,000 was awarded to their universities’ packaging programs. The challenge is designed to foster awareness and appreciation of paperboard and paperboard packaging with university educators and the next generation of packaging decision-makers. 

PPA is a joint initiative between the American Forest & Paper Association, the national trade association for the forest products industry, and the Paperboard Packaging Council, the leading trade association serving suppliers and converters of all forms of paperboard packaging.  PPA provides the paperboard packaging industry with ongoing analysis of evolving packaging requirements and promotes the benefits of paperboard packaging and products.  

The winners were announced at a luncheon sponsored by PPA as part of PACK EXPO, the national trade show for consumer product packaging held every year in Chicago.

“In a dynamic marketplace paperboard presents a renewable, recyclable, and sustainable option that also distinguishes your products billboard impact.  The PPA Student Design Challenge provides an opportunity for students to learn more about the positive attributes of the product while teaching about design and marketing,” said Peter Heist, PPA Chair and Vice President and General Manager, Coated Paperboard Business, International Paper. “As a key component of the PPA's university outreach program, we are pleased to host this exciting and competitive hands-on opportunity for students to work with paperboard.”

Competing against students from the nation’s top design programs, the first and second place winning design teams were from the Fashion Institute of Technology and the third place team from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

In total, 22 entries were received from seven university programs. Winning entries were selected by a team of paperboard packaging industry professionals who judged submissions based on ability to respond to the competition scenario, innovative structural and graphic design, functionality, and quality of the finished product.

First Place:
The winning submission came from the student team of Cassie Garcia, Janine Gomez, Kei Hayashi, and Hiromi Tatsuta from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT).  Professor Sandra Krasovec advised the team.

Second Place:
FIT students Alexis Champa, Joyce Liao, Stefanie Stalder, and Samira Villamor, also led by Professor Krasovec, achieved second place. 

Third Place:
The Rochester Institute of Technology’s Team Kota, consisting of Pooja Ashokan, Breanna Dolan, Matthew Jenkins, Ragi Kota, and Shen Lin secured third place, and were led by faculty advisor Bill Wynkoop.

To learn more about the contest, the entries, and the benefits of paperboard packaging, visit PPA at www.paperboardpackaging.org.

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About PPA
The Paperboard Packaging Alliance (PPA) is a joint initiative of the PPC and AF&PA.  The PPA provides the paperboard packaging industry with ongoing analysis of evolving packaging requirements and promotes the benefits of paperboard packaging and products.  Alliance membership includes companies representing the full range of mills and converters engaged in the production of paper-based consumer goods packaging. Additional information about PPA can be found at www.paperboardpackaging.org. 

About AF&PA
The American Forest & Paper Association is the national trade association of the forest products industry, representing forest landowners and pulp, paper, paperboard, and woodproducts manufacturers.  Our companies are in the business of producing products essential for everyday life from renewable and recyclable resources that sustain the environment.  The forest products industry accounts for approximately 6 percent of the total U.S. manufacturing, putting it on par with the automotive and chemical industries.  Industry companies produce $200 billion in products annually and employ more than 1 million people earning $54 billion in annual payroll.  The industry is among the top ten manufacturing sector employers in 48 states.

About PPC
Now in its 79th year, the Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC) is the leading trade association serving suppliers and converters of all forms of paperboard packaging.  PPC works to grow, promote, and protect the paperboard packaging industry while providing its members with resources and tools to compete effectively and successfully in the marketplace.  For more information call 413.686.9191 or visit www.ppcnet.org.