PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2011 names winner of Project 2020.
Press Release Summary:
Tri-tainer(TM) pet food container was named Grand Prize Winner in Project 2020: The Consumer Experience. Prototype of winning design, submitted by Directions Marketing of Neenah, WI, was displayed in The Brand Zone at PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2011. Container's interlocking triangular design and uniform size and shape make packing, shipping and warehouse storage more efficient. Accordion-type compression reduces container height as product is dispensed, and container folds flat when empty for recycling.
Original Press Release:
Winner of Project 2020: The Consumer Experience Announced
Innovative Pet Food Package Design Prototype on Display in the Brand Zone at PACK EXPO
Las Vegas, Nev. - An innovative concept for a re-imagined pet food container has been named this year's Grand Prize Winner in Project 2020: The Consumer Experience. A prototype of the winning design, submitted by Directions Marketing (Neenah, WI), is currently on display in The Brand Zone, located in the Lower South Hall at PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2011 (September 26-28; Las Vegas Convention Center).
Now in its second year, Project 2020 challenges the design community to envision how packaging will drive consumer purchasing decisions a decade from now. Nine other creative concepts are included in the display, hosted by EskoArtwork, the software partner for Project 2020: The Consumer Experience, in Booth S-5449.
Designed to bring functionality and recyclability to bulk pet food packaging, the container's interlocking triangular design and uniform size and shape make packing, shipping and warehouse storage more efficient. Accordion-type compression reduces container height as product is dispensed, and when empty, the container eventually folds flat for easy recyclability. Consumers gain additional convenience from the built-in, pop-up handles and simplified dispensing, as resealable lids and durable substrates protect product freshness and eliminate the need for consumers to transfer food to separate storage containers. Retailers and brand owners will appreciate the elimination of extraneous packaging, such as corrugated shipping containers, and the potential for a retail-ready display.
"The design concept is really about not accepting the status quo," said Jeff Hillis, art director with Directions Marketing, who conceived the idea. "Just because something as ordinary as dog food packaging has seemingly always existed in one way, in a multi-layer bag, doesn't mean that solution is the only one, or the most successful one.
"We named the concept Tri-tainer(TM), and it addresses two main challenges: portability and recyclability. Current dog food bag packaging is difficult to transport. And, once home, equally as difficult to manage. To make storage and dispensing easier, the food is often transferred from the bag to a separate container. The laminated bag is then thrown out, which causes recycling issues because of the multiple substrates used to make the bag. Tri-tainer solves these problems."
As the Grand Prize Winner, Directions Marketing will receive the Complete Studio Bundle from software partner EskoArtwork. The other nine finalists will receive copies of Studio Designer, EskoArtwork's 3D visualization plug-in for Adobe Illustrator. All 10 concept prototypes are on display in EskoArtwork's booth.
Judges include representatives from PMMI; Julie Okon and John Lyons from media partner Package Design magazine; Andrew Dent, Vice President, Libraries and Materials Research, Material ConneXion and Maider Irastorza, Director of Consulting, Material ConneXion; and ABI, PMMI's marketing public relations partner.
"Project 2020: The Consumer Experience provides a starting point for designers and brands considering the future of package design," said Charles D. Yuska, president and CEO of PMMI, the sponsor and producer of PACK EXPO. "Our hope is that the concepts featured this year foster discussion throughout the PACK EXPO community and inspire future innovation."
PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2011 is breaking all show records for size and scope. For news of the show - and to register if you haven't already - visit www.packexpo.com.
About PMMI
PMMIis a trade association of 560-plus member companies that manufacture packaging, processing and related converting machinery in the United States or Canada; machinery components and packaging containers and materials. PMMI's vision is to be the leading global resource for packaging, and its mission is to improve and promote members' abilities to meet the needs of their customers.
PMMI organizes the PACK EXPOtrade shows: PACK EXPO International, PACK EXPO Las Vegas and EXPO PACK México, connecting participants in the packaging and processing supply chain with their customers around the world.
Learn more about PMMI and the PACK EXPO trade shows at PMMI.organd Packexpo.com.
