Melbourne's Outerspace Design has led the Australian charge once again in the World Packaging Organisation's (WPO's) annual WorldStar Awards, winning three categories in this year's awards, which also saw three other Australian companies make the honour roll.
Outerspace's wins, for Hydralyte Sports in the Health and Beauty category, for Berri's Daily Juice on-the-go bottles in Beverages and Sprout mobile phone accessories in the Electronics category, follows its success last year at the awards when it won a WorldStar for its breakthrough design of Heinz's Golden Circle chilled juice 1.8-litre bottle in what was Australia's inaugural year at the prestigious international awards.
The Melbourne design house this year also shared the honours with local Coke bottler Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA), Poppet International and Webstercare as category winners.
CCA's Easy Crush bottle for Mount Franklin mineral water and Poppet International's innovative bottles for Bebi infant juice and water joined Outerspace as winners in the Beverages category, while Webstercare's Personal Medication Planner (PMP) was named a winner Medical and Pharmaceutical pack of the year category.
All the winning packs had already tasted success at last year's Packaging Council of Australia's Australian Packaging Design Awards, which had made them eligible for the WorldStar awards.
The awards are open only to organisations who have won in an approved national competitions around the world.
The WPO's WorldStar competition is in its 44th year. It highlights and demonstrates the continual advancement in packaging while creating a dynamic standard of international packaging excellence from which others may learn.
Outerspace's design director – structural packaging, Michael Grima, told PKN he was “over the moon” at the news.
“It's a great way to start the year to be named amongst the best in the world,” he said.
“It was a huge surprise for our team on securing three [wins] from three [entries] this year and continues the afterglow on our inaugural win last year.
“From my perspective it's great sharing this win with clients, team members and suppliers alike. Recognition on a global stage, where your designs are being weighed against the world's best in each category, is only surpassed by knowing the designs we have helped evolve are commercially successful for our clients and their suppliers.”
Grima said the packaging team at Lion Dairy Drinks, which collaborated with Outerspace on the Daily Juice bottles, was also “chuffed” by the win.
“The Pack team at Lion Dairy Drinks were excited with the news and feedback from them was even their suppliers were impressed with the win.
For the brand owner of the Sprout range, Vita Group, the WorldStar success has prompted plans to invest in further packaging innovation this year, Grima said.
“Feedback is that Vitas Group's commercial manager was overjoyed with the win and is keen to invest in more development during the year off the back of it,” Grima said.
“The benefit here is that most brands are wary that if they win an award it can mean 'commercial death'.
“However, certainly in this case, the Sprout packaging has gone well beyond forecast in its uptake in the marketplace adding an extra glean to the trophy.”
The winners are to be officially presented with their trophies in May this year. PKN believes a special ceremony will be held at this year's AUSPACK PLUS show in Sydney to hand out the honours.
WorldStar winners (clockwise from top left): Bebi infant juice and water; Berri Daily Juice On-The-Go bottles; Mount Franklin Easy Crush bottle; Webstercare's medication pack; Hydralyte Sports; Sprout mobile accessories.
