The winning designers will receive bronze, silver or gold stars as well as cash prizes from the £2900 prize fund up for grabs, plus valuable work experience opportunities and the chance to shine in front of top prospective employers.
Entrants can choose from nine briefs that focus on different materials and different kinds of products.
This year the options include a metal watch case, an imaginative ready meal cartonboard box, transit packaging for food or drink, and gift packed jewellery.
Announcing the launch of the Awards, John Webb-Jenkins, chief executive of the Institute of Packaging, commented: "The industry Starpack awards have been running for nearly 50 years and are well known for recognising excellence in design, innovation and technology.
"The Student awards provide people studying for packaging related or industrial design qualifications with an opportunity to compete on a national basis with their peers and complement their skills with an award that is recognised and well-respected by the industry."
Demonstrating the respect that business has for the awards, industry champions and big high street names are sponsoring the 2004 awards and stumping up cash, offering valuable work experience placements and specialist items such as packaging design software as prizes.
Boots is sponsoring an award for the best toiletries pack and Debenhams is putting its name behind the best gift pack brief. Amcor Flexibles Europe, along with Marks & Spencer, is rewarding the best flexible packaging briefs and Iceland, another high street giant involved in the 2004 awards, will be recognising the most outstanding pack across all briefs.
Big names from the industry include Field Group which has set the brief to develop a pack for the ready to drink market and SCA Packaging which is looking for the best transit packaging using corrugated board, both of whom are offering valuable work experience places as prizes.
Trade associations, Metal Packaging Manufacturers Association (MPMA) and Pro Carton, have set briefs for metal and cartonboard packaging respectively and Smurfit is looking for an imaginative combination pack made from corrugated board. These big names will also be talent spotting for the future.
Logoplaste, the leader in plastic packaging, is also supporting the awards acknowledging the student whose successful outcome demonstrates the most effective use of plastic in forming an innovative ergonomic pack appropriate for both retailer and consumer ease and convenience.
Entry details are available now and the finished designs must be with the IOP by April 2004. Every entrant will qualify for a year's free affiliate membership of the IOP, providing them with access to a host of support services and information including career advice, education and training, and exhibitions and seminars. To find out more information on how to get involved contact Rebecca Clark on 01664 502132 or email rebecca_clark@iop.co.uk
