Student Starpack

STUDENT STARPACK AWARDS 

Established in 1964, the Student Starpack competition is organised by Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining.  

The competition challenges students to submit design solutions to problems set by brand-leading FMCG companies, design agencies and manufacturers. Each year, MPMA sponsors a dedicated brief celebrating the creativity and versatility of metal packaging.  

The competition is open to students studying a wide range of higher education courses from those with an emphasis on graphics to courses concerned with structural and product design as well as materials and technology subjects.  

2023 –  Clever shaping and intricate graphics produced standout entries

Tasked to create a metal speciality gift pack for a fictitious Champagne or sparkling wine, a showstopping entry which brilliantly combined elegance with innovation, landed Loughborough University student, Matthew Noon, the £600 top prize.

Matthew created an unusually shaped pack under the brand name ‘The Crewman Wine Company’ and described as “based on a cylinder, but angled outwards at the centre to create a more bold and luxury appearance”. A dramatic matt purple finish with a perforated peacock logo gives instant shelf appeal, while a gold finish inside designed to reflect light through the perforations creates additional impact.

Samuel Palmer from Nottingham Trent University, was one of two runners-up with ‘Mirage’, a dramatic black and white pack with an encased cylinder beautifully designed for maximum impact.

Alison Smith-Paul from Teeside University, was the second runner-up with ‘Chevalier’, which incorporates a clever hinged opening in the shape of a knight to emphasis the brand name.

MPMA judges, Robert Fell and Debbie Clements from MPMA; Nicola Jones from Tata Steel; Corrina Korrubel, Eviosys; and Graham Smith, Twelve PR; examined thirty entries in what they considered a very good year with a very high standard of entries and a wealth of clever and well thought through ideas.

Robert Fell commented:

“Speciality packaging should stop people in their tracks, and Matthew’s ‘The Crewman Wine Company’ pack was the absolute standout entry in this respect, wowing the judges with its clever shaping, and a tactile, upmarket finish which was a key component of the brief.

“Similarly, ‘Mirage’ by Samuel Parker incorporated dramatic and striking graphics and had a a clever ‘second cylinder’ which gave added shelf appeal, while Alison’s ‘Chevalier’ design was quirky and unusual and really did turn heads. All in all, an impressive year.”

The Starpack Students 2024 competition is now open to enter and to view this year’s MPMA brief, visit the website here.