Student packaging design competition at easyFairs PACKAGING

Product design, brand strategy and innovation students from Brunel University will be going head-to-head in a packaging competition co-sponsored by Design Bridge and KFC at easyFairs PACKAGING, in Birmingham at the NEC.

The students have been briefed with the challenge to create innovative brand design solutions for the quick serve restaurant chain, KFC, by understanding and identifying opportunities in the consumer journey.

In total, six teams of students will showcase their ideas and concepts on stand K26 in The Education Pavilion. Each team consists of a mix of Masters Students from MSc Integrated Product Design, MA Design and Branding Strategy and MA in Design Strategy and Innovation.

Paula Neal from Designplus at Brunel University, comments: "Industry links and experiences during university are essential elements to help students prepare for life after graduation. This challenge has given our students the opportunity to work with a leading design consultancy on a real-world problem.

"For many of our students this will be the first time that they have had to stand up in public and present their ideas to an industrial audience. The value of this experience is enormous in terms of industry feedback, improving communication skills and hopefully making some useful contacts for the future."

Nick Gray, Business Development Director at Design Bridge, remarked: "Design Bridge are delighted to associate themselves with one of the few MA courses in the country focused on brand strategy and design management. In order for Design to become a valued discipline within blue-chip organisations we need to nurture grass roots development of tomorrow’s brand and design leaders. Design Bridge and Brunel have collaborated through internships, guest lecturing and as industry advisers to Brunel for the last 4 years."

The winning team will be was announced at the exhibition, 16th February, by a team of leading packaging and brand experts.