University News Last updated 19 December 2011
An eye-catching design for a new ketchup bottle by Birmingham City University students has scooped a top prize from a leading European plastic container specialist.
The product design students were set a live-project to create an innovative blow-moulded bottles and food containers by Petainer Ltd.
The winning team of three students – 22 year old UK student Richard Barnett, 21 year old Chan Yung Khang from Malaysia, and French student, 22 year old Yoan Dahan – came up with a design for a sleek and classy table sauce bottle for ketchups, mayonnaises and other sauce based condiments.
Nigel Pritchard, chief executive of Petainer, said: “This year, I was again incredibly impressed with the quality of the students’ designs. Their attention to detail and innovative ideas made judging the competition a really interesting experience.
“As a company we are passionate about innovation and new ideas, particularly those that are focused on further improving the sustainability of PET packaging.”
“The design competition has given us an opportunity to engage with the brightest and best of Europe’s next generation of designers.”
The winning team received double success, after also scooping the ‘Best International Design’ category after competing with university students in Sweden and the Czech Republic. The group will also be travelling to Petainer’s headquarters and factory in Sweden as part of their prize and share a cash prize of 1500 Euros.
The Petainer judges also commended the winning team for having a design that has the potential to be easily branded and allows a range of different sauce varieties to be packaged in the same way.
Malcolm Hastings, the students’ tutor said: “The high quality and innovative design concepts all the teams developed in this project is a real credit to their hard work on this industry-linked project. Collaborative projects with leading companies such as Petainer are an integral part of our course programme in preparing students for employment in the design industry, and we are delighted that Petainer has recognised the students’ professional approach.”
A second team,comprising students Chris Wall, Jordan Plant and Simon Marks, were also commended by Petainer for their ‘’totem’ drink bottle design winning the best ‘drinks bottle’ category and a share of 500 Euros..