Two FIDM Graphic Design Students Awarded Second, Third Place in National Packaging Design Competition

FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising was thrilled to hear that two FIDM Graphic Design Students were awarded second and third place in the national ICMAD (Independent Cosmetic Manufacturers and Distributors) Young Designers competition. Chad Lowe was awarded second place for his Little Monsters Children’s Face Wash packaging design, and Irina Shvarts was awarded third place for her Lume facial cleanser packaging design (both pictured below).

ICMAD will be hosting both students on a trip to New York City in September to attend the annual Young Designers Dinner, and meetings with manufacturers like Leslie Blodgett, the creator of beauty brand, bareMinerals®, and Executive Chairman of Bare Escentuals. Both students are currently enrolled in the Packaging Design course taught by Joe Bautista in FIDM’s Graphic Design/Branding program.

“The goal of the Young Designers competition is to encourage and develop future creative talent,” says ICMAD. “Judging criteria for packaging include uniqueness, ability to be reproduced economically, ability to stand out favorably against competitive packages, ease of use and ease of storage.”

For this year’s competition, ICMAD asked packaging students to create any type of facial product, such as a toner, cleanser or moisturizer using a 6.5 oz. bottle for which they could develop the brand, including the product name, descriptive copy and net weights.

Chad Lowe, FIDM Graphic Design Student.

Lowe’s Little Monsters Children’s Face Wash packaging design doubles as a toy, with 3-dimensional “horns” that rest on the lid.

“I studied the tall and round shape of the bottle and thought it would be fun to make some sort of character out of it,” he says. “My packaging teacher, Joe Bautista, encouraged me and my classmates to really consider the function of a package’s design.”

Upon hearing the news that he was the second place award winner, Lowe says that he was “pretty much in shock.”

“Not only am I thrilled to have won, but now I have something that will look great on my portfolio and I will have many opportunities for networking and learning when I travel to New York,” he says. “And, I wouldn’t have had these opportunities without FIDM and ICMAD.”

Little Monster's Children's Face Wash, designed by FIDM Graphic Design Student, Chad Lowe.

FIDM Graphic Design Student Irina Shvarts. Shvarts designed Lume with the 25 to 40-year-old woman in mind, based around the concept that the product enhances “clean and luminous skin.”

“My package design was created to have a clean appearance, but I also wanted to incorporate some sort of vivid color in the design,” says Shvarts. “The cascading blue color scheme on the silver bottle is what makes my packaging design unique.”

Shvarts developed a circular pattern using Illustrator to mimic a “soapy/bubble” look without it being too literal.

“It felt great knowing others were able to appreciate and enjoy a design I worked on,” she says. “I feel that winning this award is already benefiting my future because I am being given the opportunity to go to New York and meet some incredible people within the packaging industry. This also drives me to work that much harder to build a great career and reputation for myself after graduation.”

Lume packaging design by FIDM Graphic Design Student, Irina Shvarts

Lume packaging detail, designed by FIDM Graphic Design Student, Irina Shvarts.

Congratulations, Chad and Irina!

Check out more photos of bottle packages designed by FIDM Graphic Design Students for the 2011 ICMAD competition in the thumbnails below. Projects include: Organa men’s lotion by Collin Nesbit, Iridescent moisturizing lotion by Josh Mandap, Deep lotion by Kristal Lindo, Swag facial wash by Kyle Henley, Revive facial cleanser by Matthew Lewis, Maiko facial cleanser by Meghan Cornejo, The Zone men’s moisturizer by Ryan Beckman, and Ink pore refining toner by Trump Widdop.