University of Technology Sydney (UTS) industrial design student Jose Navarro's design for a rice dispenser box walked off with the coveted top prize at the annual Cormack Innovation Awards, which took place at a gala event in Sydney's Darling Harbour on 5 November.
Navarro received a $2500 cash prize and a paid internship at Cormack Packaging.
The design was in response to this year's brief which asked students from tertiary institutions in NSW, to develop a design concept that would allow products of similar consistency, but from different market sectors, to be packaged in the same container.
Navarro's design of the rice carton box incorporates a plastic dispensing cup at the base of the container, that is tugged out of the side panel, dispensing the product as it is pulled out. The winning design can be used for other dry foods, such as dog food.
Winner of the APC Sustainability Award, as well as a highly commended award in the overall competition, was the eye-catching “Grippy All round” design by Mathhew Doyle of Western Sydney University, which can have the dual application in the health care and food markets.
Not only do industrial design students compete for the top prize, the three tertiary institutions involved – University of Technology Sydney, University of New South Wales and Western Sydney University – vie for the annual floating trophy. This is UTS's 8th win in the 14 years the awards have been running.
Judges in this year's competition were Todd Beck, senior packaging engineer at Colgate Palmolive, Satyen Desai, packaging engineer at Selleys, and Brent du Preez, NSW chairman of the Australian Institute of Packaging.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Cormack Packaging MD Matthew Cormack said: “Our investment in innovation is an investment in our people and the industry as a whole. The Cormack Innovation Awards are an integral component of the activities that encourage innovation at our company.”
He urged those customers (brand owners) and suppliers in attendance to consider the fresh ideas on display from the talented young designers, as many of tomorrow's ideas that will end up on shelf will start from concepts like these.
“The journey of innovation will start with a single step forward and a belief that anything can be possible through clever thinking and a drive to achieve,” he said. “We look forward to taking that step with our customers and with this next generation of designers.”
Now in its 14th year, the Cormack Innovation Awards gives industrial design students access to the practical side of design, by providing factory tours and supportive technical briefing sessions. Many of Cormack Packaging's leading engineers and designers provide support and innovative insights to assist students. As part of the internship program, students are exposed to customers and work on real projects during the term off the internship.
