Starpack Students competition

An excellent opportunity for students to showcase their great ideas and solutions directly to an industry that is looking for rising stars.

Established in 1964, Starpack Students is a competition for learners aged 18+ which challenges students to design solutions to problems set by brand-leading FMCG companies, design agencies and manufacturers, and win recognition of their excellence. 

The expectation and key criterion for judging success is for students to really challenge conventional thinking and break the rules with off-the-wall creativity.   

Why enter?

Winners of our sponsored briefs receive cash prizes and some sponsors offer fantastic opportunities for work placements with leading packaging companies.

Who can enter?

The competition is open to students studying a wide range of Higher Education courses, from those with a graphics emphasis to courses concerned with structural/product design, as well as materials/technology courses.

Entering the competition provides an excellent opportunity for students to showcase their great ideas and solutions directly to an industry which is looking for rising stars.

2024 Starpack Students categories

Click on the briefs below for more information and to enter

Entry Guidelines 

Submission details

Entries must include uploads of the developments boards and photographic evidence of the final model

The 4 A3 development boards uploaded as a single PDF document should include the following:

  • Research board
  • Design exploration board
  • Net of recommended design solution.

The photographic evidence should be uploaded as a signle PDF document and should:

  • Showcase the font, back and sides of the model
  • Be shot against a white background and in focus. These images will be used in the Starpack Competition book and potentially for additional promotion
  • A maximum of 4 images shold be uploaded
  • For students who are unable to supply a final model, 3D renderings and drawings are accepted.

Entry Requirements

  • The entry fee is £20 per entry
  • You will be invoiced for the entry payment once you have submitted your entry. If you have indicated that your college/university is paying for your entry, please ignore the invoice directed at you as another invoice will be sent directly to your college/university.
  • The invoice will be received by Friday 7 April 2023 at the very latest and the deadline for payment is Monday 8 May 2023. If your invoice is not paid, your entry will be revoked.
  • The online regstration must be completed on or before the published closing date.

  • Development boards must not show the entrant’s name or university/college

  • We cannot amend entries once submitted. Names submitted at the time of entry will be printed as typed, if there are any errors and certificates/trophies need replacing, then the school will be liable for these costings.
  • If you are not able to attend the ceremony in person or the ceremony becomes virtual, certificates and trophies will be delivered directly to the university/college listed in registration. We will be unable to issue replacements for certificates/trophies sent to wrong addresses.

Judging Criteria

  • Individual briefs may have specific conditions required by the sponsors.  Please check each brief description carefully for full details.

  • The judges are looking for originality and aesthetic qualities of the design, with consideration to commercial viability.

  • How the pack delivers the benefits to consumers and that the functionality has been considered as much as the branding.

  • The quality of portfolio, which must include evidence of research and the development of the design.

  • Designs which demonstrate awareness of environmental issues, through economic use of the material and recyclability.

The 2024 Starpack Students Competition is sponsored by

   

Starpack Students Award Ceremony 2021

Take a look at last year's award winners