Every package starts with an idea.

The challenge is turning that idea into something that not only looks good, but could actually work in the real world.

That's exactly what the Summer Packaging Challenge™ is all about.

From July 13–26, 2026, participants will tackle a series of fictional brand briefs and create packaging concepts inspired by summer. Featured Projects will be announced on July 29.

This isn't a logo challenge.

It's not a social media graphic challenge.

And it's not one of those expensive design competitions where you're paying a large entry fee just for the chance to be judged.

The Summer Packaging Challenge is designed to help you think through a packaging project the same way real brands, designers, marketers, and production teams do every day.

A little commentary about the 1:1 conversations at the Ask the Experts table at the Winter FancyFaire* put on by the Specialty Food Association.

Most packaging doesn’t fail because it’s bad.
It fails because it’s trying to be too many things at once.

A box isn’t inexpensive enough to clearly win on efficiency, but it’s also not special enough to feel premium. It lands in the middle—quietly costing more than it should, without delivering the value it’s meant to communicate.

This is it! The month we change our clocks AND it’s also the month when everyone asks, “Where did the year go?!”

Of course, a lot of us are also saying THANK YOU to family, friends, clients, suppliers, fans and even strangers! Happy Thanksgiving!

A long-time client needed a new production partner for their stand-up pouches.
The structure was already established, the artwork was ready, and the rep for the new supplier assured us — in writing and on calls — that the new pouches would match the prior production from their overseas manufacturer.

Same structure.
Same barrier properties.
Same finish.
Just a different plant.

So we moved forward based on that assurance.
That was the moment I thought we were set — and the moment I should have asked for one more thing: a physical printed sample on the exact material.