All Smiles At Northamptonshire Academy After Pupils Win Cardboard Packaging Design Competition

SWINDON, U.K. - Oct. 23, 2015 - PRLog -- Montsaye Academy in Northamptonshire has won the Confederation of Paper Industries’ (CPI) PaperWorks Design and Technology competition for Cardboard Packaging with a striking concept for a gift pack capable of holding a range of miniature toiletry items such as shampoo, conditioner, body wash and deodorant.

The winning entry, aptly named Rise and Shine, from the Montsaye Academy’s team of 11-14 year olds, was based on the “Smile Surprise” brief and has earned its Design and Technology department a cheque for £250, while the students involved in designing the packaging received a £50 Waterstones gift card and a Google cardboard headset to help the pupils explore the world of virtual reality.

PaperWorks’ panel of judges, drawn from the CPI and fellow UK trade association BPIF Cartons, decided that Montsaye’s dazzling design in three different colour combinations – along with an active QR code – and easy to open structure stood out as it completely met the brief with striking graphics and a memorable brand image.

Runners up prizes were awarded to pupils Jenna Rogers of St Ives School in Cornwall for her entry in the “Green Geranium” brief and Tom James of Whitecross Hereford High School for his take on the “Taste of Eastern Promise”. Each school received a cheque for £100 to use towards equipment for their Design and Technology departments, with both students receiving a £20 Waterstones gift card.

Aimed at Key Stage 3 (KS3), the PaperWorks competition, which is now in its third year and is running again for 2015-16 from the start of the new term, is open to any school in the UK. Students are invited to create a logo and brand, then design a packaging solution based on their own innovative ideas.

CPI’s Director of Packaging Affairs, Andy Barnetson, said: “Congratulations to Montsaye Academy as the quality of entries from all the schools was again outstanding. Montsaye effectively grasped the structural design process and provided very imaginative branding which would work well in a retail environment.”

Montsaye Academy’s Design and Technology teacher, Andrew Partridge, said that the school was thrilled at winning the PaperWorks competition which is a magnificent achievement for the commitment and enthusiasm shown by the students.

He added: “Our small team found the competition a really positive challenge. We used the different skills we each had to work as a team and pool our ideas to share with a local packaging company. With their guidance, expertise and our enthusiasm we were able to turn our design ideas and initial models into packaging we are proud of.

“The whole process from ideas to production and the environmental issues for reducing costs and waste, as well as weight to lower the product’s impact, showed just how important well designed packaging is in our everyday lives and for the future too.”

The CPI’s PaperWorks Design and Technology for Cardboard Packaging module has been developed to fit with modern classroom teaching techniques and facilities, and supports the industry’s aim to counter some of the common misconceptions of what has always been one of the most sustainable and forward-thinking manufacturing sectors in the UK.

In addition to the Design and Technology module, which is featured on the Guardian Education and Times Education Supplement (TES) websites, the award-winning PaperWorks online schools resource (www.paper.org.uk/paperworks) contains the following modules:

·         Art and Design: 5 to 7 years

·         Science and Technology: 7 to 11 years

·         Geography Studies: 11 to 18 years

·         Business Studies: 14 to 18 years

PaperWorks has received a 5-star rating on the TES website and was winner of the prestigious Trade Association Forum (TAF) Best Practice Awards Website of the Year 2013.

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