A sleek and elegant pack design for a smartphone has won first year Loughborough University design student, Nicolas Hatia, the £600 Sponsor’s Gold prize from The Metal Packaging Manufacturers Association in this year’s Starpack Students Competition organised by IoM3.

MPMA judges commended the innovative and well thought through design which met the brief for a fictitious smartphone brand capturing the physical and decorative options metal has to offer, and presenting a strong reuse function.

“Nicolas was the standout winner this year with ‘Trinity’ – a sleek design beautifully presented on clear and concise concept boards,” said Robert Fell, director and chief executive, MPMA.

“This is a creative pack which had an excellent reuse capability central to all good speciality packaging.” 

Fellow Loughborough University student, Hannah Page, received the MPMA’s runner-up prize of £150.

Nicolas and Hannah also received Starpack Student Gold Awards (non sponsor), and a further two Silver, three Bronze and six Highly Commended Awards were made in this category.

The MPMA brief for 2023 is to develop a new, exciting and beautiful pack for a fictitious Champagne or sparkling wine brand targeting the quality retail gift sector.  

Students will be invited to develop a secondary tinplate pack with creative branding that offers great shelf appeal, and showcases the full versatility of metal when used for highly decorated packs. 

To help students and tutors truly capture the essence of metal packaging and understand exactly what the judges look for, MPMA will continue to offer universities and colleges a bespoke, personal lecture/session on designing and manufacturing in metal.

Any institution wishing to take up this offer should contact debbie@mpma.org.uk