Star Students Bag a Box of Awards at the Starpack Awards
Graphic Design Students from DMU cleared up at the recent Starpack Awards. The students from years 2 and 3 of the graphic design courses have scooped two Gold, Silver and Bronze awards and a Commendation in this years' national Starpack student awards.
The Student Starpack competition, which was established in 1964, challenges students from a wide range of courses, some with a graphics emphasis and others concerned with structural/product design, as well as those from materials/technology courses, to submit solutions to problems set by brand leading FMCG companies, design agencies, and manufacturers – and win recognition of their excellence.
The expectation is that students really challenge conventional thinking and break the rules with off-the-wall creativity and this will be the key criterion for judging success, and this year’s awards were no exception, with a huge range of creative and unique packing ideas.
The winners will collect their awards at an industry packed awards dinner in November.
Gold Winner and overall 1st place: Sean Giles
Project: Headphone Packaging
A sustainable option to the plastic blister packs you normally see headphones packaged in. The packaging uses only corrugated cardboard as a material, which is strong and durable, therefore keeping the product protected from the elements. Multiple layers form the packaging as a whole, and the headphones sit inside keeping them extremely secure.
Sean was surprised at winning the award, “Winning was an amazing feeling, the main thing I'm happy about is that people have actually appreciated a project I've produced. So I feel rather proud.”
“I would love to end up in the packaging industry, It's definitely a passion of mine and I'm quite into my branding also, so a job within these disciplines is what I'm aiming for in the future.”
Gold Winner: Ewart Wade O’Connor
Project: The Well- Shaped Fish Cake
A new packaging design for fish cakes with graphics that had a Norwegian identity. Ewart extended on the brief by identifying that fish cakes have a dis-functional circular shape, causing more material to be wasted during packaging manufacture. The new packaging was 100% eco-friendly and was designed to be reused with the addition of an airtight lid.
Ewart took the timescale and workshop limitations he faced in his stride, “My biggest high of this whole experience was on the morning of the photo shoot, I remember looking through the lens of the camera and being very proud at what was one the other side of it. I hope that this achievement can create more exposure for my work with more opportunities for work experience and internships over the next year. “
He wants to make a career out of graphic design; he said “it is my biggest passion in life! For now, I am excited with the prospects of starting third year and completing summer placements in any creative studios that will have me.”
Silver Winner: Charlie Evans
Project: UnbeWeaveable - The Cardboard Bag
The product is made from 100% sustainable and eco-friendly materials, and is a full size working backpack. It is both comfortable to wear and unique in aesthetical and material value. Through weaving, plaiting and traditional stitching, the product is a unique impact.
Charlie wanted to create a high impact and unique piece, she said, “I decided early on in the project to throw myself in at the deep end and create something that would be impossible to imagine, and eventually this confidence paid off.”
“This project has been the most enjoyable project I have ever completed. The innovative design and creative use of the material gave me some problems during the process. I made multiple prototypes and tested the structure to gain as much knowledge of the material as possible to give a better final outcome.”
Charlie plans to set up ‘ The UnbeWeavable co. ’ with start-up business funding and hopes to connect with the support from Creative Leicestershire. This will allow her to further explore the product’s unique selling points and create a range. Interest in this range has already been voiced from Leicestershire high street shops as well as setting up an online store.
Bronze Winner: Tenille Vesey
Project: Beetle back
A festival survival kit container, with a hard plastics shell, that can be collapsed and stored flat and is re-usable.
Tenille said, “I loved this project from the very start. I am a massive festival fan and knew exactly the sort of things I would want to make that would be useful in the field. It was nice to have the opportunity to take these ideas and turn them into reality and have the guidance of professionals whilst constructing it.”
Commendation: Ilya Nasedkin
Project: A Great British Picnic Pack
Summer is coming and people start to get outside more and more. Eating out is something that is popular in the summer, this means Al Fresco eating. The aim is to package all you need in one box, which would be themed specially for these purposes. Something like "grab and go" box. Your perfect picnic pack!