Innovation will, as ever, will be key to a successful entry, which means that the panel of judges will be looking out for the most progressive, eye-catching, functional and technologically advanced designs launched on the market in the last year.
This year there are 11 categories to choose from, including mass cosmetics, prestige cosmetics, mass fragrance, prestige fragrance, mass skin care, prestige skin care, mass personal care, prestige personal care, eco-friendly and green packaging, sampling and travel-size packaging, together with tools and at-home devices.
The latter two categories were added to the awards last year, reflecting the ever-changing and evolving nature of the cosmetics packaging sector.
Grand Award highlights biggest achievement
On top of the individual award categories, there is also the most coveted Grand Award, which serves to highlight the individual packaging design which has had the most significant impact on the judges and the industry as a whole in the course of the past year.
The awards have traditionally been one of the focal points of this long-running event and serve to platform some of the leading talents in the packaging segment, a crucial aspect of an industry that is traditionally focused on aesthetics and up-to-the-minute trends.
The event organizers claim that IPDA awards serve as a platform to promote the hard work of packaging professionals within the cosmetics and personal care industry, which otherwise is rarely demonstrated.
Open to suppliers, designers, marketing and manufacturers
The general fee for each entry is $275, but the organizers say they are able to offer an additional discount to any company filing more than five entries.
According to HBA, any size company, including suppliers, design firms, marketing agencies and brand manufacturers can submit designs on the provision that the packaging concerned entered the retail market from June 1, 2011, to 30 June 2012.
Designs that have been refreshed, improved, or offer new features or technologies are also eligible to participate. Entries will be judged by a ‘Committee of 100’ comprised of industry professionals, designers, suppliers and members of the media.
For more details about the entry, the specific requirements and to actually submit a design for consideration, please click on this link. This year's event will take place at the usual venue, the Jacob Javits Center, in Manhattan, New York, between June 19 - 21.