Deadline for Starpack Students competition draws near

Enter MPMA’s brief to design a gift pack for Champagne or sparkling wine 

The Metal Packaging Manufacturers Association (MPMA) is sponsoring ‘Brief C’ to design a gift pack for sparkling wine or Champagne as part of the Starpack Students competition 2023, run by the Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining.  The deadline to enter closes at midnight on 7 April 2023.  

Established in 1964, the Starpack Students competition challenges students to submit solutions to problems set by leading FMCG brands, agencies and manufacturers.  

The competition is open to students studying a wide range of Higher Education courses including those with a graphics emphasis, structural or product design and those focusing on materials and technology. By entering the competition, students can showcase their great ideas directly to an industry which is looking for rising stars.  

As part of the MPMA sponsored brief, students are challenged to develop a new, exciting and beautiful pack for a fictious Champagne or sparkling wine brand targeting the quality retail gift sector. Entrants will need to develop the secondary metal pack and creative branding whilst considering how to create real shelf appeal and showcase what can be achieved with metal.  

Robert Fell, director and chief executive, MPMA and Starpack Students judge, comments:  

“As a material, metal offers entrants a real creative canvas to play with. Shaping, texture, perforations, embossing, debossing, micro embossing, print finishes, high quality graphics and variety of opening and closing options are just some of the processes, features and special effects that students should utilise.    

“The winning design will clearly show an understanding of what can be realistically achieved with metal packaging and an appreciation of how retailer can present the product to consumers. We’re really looking forward to seeing entrants think outside the tin!”  

The winner of the MPMA sponsored brief will receive £600 and certificates will be awarded for Gold, Silver, Bronze and Highly Commended entries.  

The MPMA has sponsored the Starpack Students competition for over twenty years and last year’s winner, design student, Nicolas Hatia from Loughborough University designed a sleek and elegant pack for a smartphone.   

To help students and tutors truly capture the essence of metal packaging and understand exactly what the judges look for, MPMA offer universities and colleges a bespoke, personal lecture/session on designing and manufacturing in metal. Any institution wishing to take up this offer for future competitions should contact debbie@mpma.org.uk 

Further information and inspiration for students is also available on MPMA’s dedicated Pinterest site: www.pinterest.co.uk/metalpackuk  

To enter the competition visit: https://www.iom3.org/events-awards/competitions/starpack-competition.html 

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