iF packaging award 2011 has been decided

The most intelligent packaging designs have just been unveiled: the winners of the iF packaging award 2011.

Commissioned by iF, an international expert jury examined and evaluated 203 entries by 114 participants from 24 countries. 59 of these entries have been honored with an iF packaging award 2011. The jury was particularly impressed with 5 entries: on 12 May 2011, these five will receive an iF gold award at the interpack trade fair in Duesseldorf.

“Seeing many new technical approaches was particularly exciting” said the experts and they continued: “There was an impressive range of entries from numerous different areas of packaging design. Examining the Asian designs, which are very distinctive in cultural terms and, of course, totally different to the European ones, was particularly interesting.” The large international participation provided the jurors with a good overview of current trends in international packaging design, ranging from materials to technologies.

Manufacturers, developers and designers of packaging, packaging graphics, packing materials and packaging machines were eligible to submit their products to the six categories of the iF packaging award 2011: 01. sales packaging, 02. display + transport packaging, 03. packaging graphics, 04. packaging materials, 05. packaging machines / equipment and 06. packaging concepts. In addition to overall design quality, the jury was particularly looking for aspects such as finish, choice of material, degree of innovation, environmental impact, functionality, ergonomics, visualization of intended use, safety and brand value/branding.

The Jury

Guido Axmann studied medicine, then started his professional career as head of business development in East Germany and also worked for the London-based Internet start-up ihavemoved.com. After several years as a consultant, he founded TPA Life GmbH, a communications agency specializing in healthcare and sustainability. Together with Jacob Bilabel, Axmann founded THEMA1 in 2006, an independent, Berlin-based ‘think-do-tank’ focusing on accelerating the transition to a low carbon society. As managing director, he is responsible for projects such as the Green Music Initiative, the Renewables-Grid-Initiative and the PCF World Forum.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Joachim Hennig studied engineering at the TU Dresden and completed his PhD in engineering in 1971. In 1978 he completed a second PdD in technology. From 1961 to 1972 he worked at the NAGEMA Institute where he first became a section head and later a department head. In 1972 he was offered a teaching post at TU Dresden. During his 20 years with TU Dresden he was, among other things, managing director of the Institute for Processing Equipment and Technologies. In 1992, Hennig founded the IKA Dresden, the Institute for Construction Technology and Plant Engineering.

Olof Ten Hoorn studied at the Graphic Lyceum in Amsterdam. In 1994 he came into contact with Design Bridge when the collaborative opened its Amsterdam office. His passion for design started with an internship during his school years, followed by a junior designer post in 1996, which paved the way for his successful career. Before working with Design Bridge, Ten Hoorn wanted to become a tattoo artist – but ultimately his passion for packaging design was stronger.

Andreas Rotzler studied graphic design at the Basel School of Design. After several years as an independent artist and designer, he worked as a freelance illustrator for Leib+Gut in Bern, Rucker Huggins in California and Designalltag in Zurich from 1992 to 1994. Since 1996, Rotzler has worked with Interbrand Zintzmeyer & Lux where he is now chief creative director. His major clients include Deutsche Telekom, Schindler, MINI, BMW, DOW XLA, Lucern Festival Graubünden, Jura and Roche.

Folke Schlueter trained as a wood mechanic at Wilkhahn, then completed an industrial design degree at the Art Center College of Design in La Tour-de-Peilz in Switzerland and in Pasadena, USA. She then worked again with Wilkhahn as an industrial designer and later with Steve McGugan Design in Copenhagen. From 1996 to 2000 she was senior industrial designer at ZIBA Design, Portland. Since 2001, Schlueter has worked with Procter & Gamble SA in Geneva where she is principal design manager of global cosmetics.

The cooperation with Messe Duesseldorf during interpack continues with the iF packaging award 2011: the five best entries of the iF packaging award 2011 will be honored with an iF gold award during the awards ceremony on 12 May 2011, the opening day of interpack. During interpack, all 59 iF packaging award winning products will be on show in a public exhibition from 12 to 18 May 2011.