The Summer Packaging Challenge™: Where Creativity Meets Production Reality
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 31.
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.
Why Participate?
In just two weeks, you'll create one or more complete packaging concepts based on realistic brand briefs.
You'll gain:
Portfolio-worthy packaging projects
Experience working from a professional-style brief
Practice balancing creativity with real-world requirements
Exposure to packaging strategy and production thinking
Recognition through the Packaging Chic community and Featured Project showcase
Whether you're a student building your portfolio, a designer expanding your packaging skills, a marketer looking for a creative challenge, or a packaging professional wanting to sharpen your thinking, you'll walk away with practical experience and new work to showcase.
What Makes This Challenge Different?
Most design challenges focus primarily on visual appeal.
And while great design matters, packaging is about much more than graphics.
A package also needs to:
Communicate clearly
Support the brand
Fit the product
Follow the brief
Consider production realities
Connect with the intended customer
During the challenge, you'll practice solving the kinds of problems packaging professionals face every day.
Because a beautiful package that can't be produced, doesn't fit the product, or misses the business objective isn't really solving the problem.
What You'll Receive
Participants will receive access to:
Fictional brand kits to choose your design direction
Packaging design briefs
Design parameters and requirements
Educational resources
Live challenge sessions
Inspiration and guidance throughout the event
Each brief is designed to give you enough structure to get started while leaving plenty of room for your own creativity.
Join a Community of Packaging Creatives
One of the best parts of the Summer Packaging Challenge is seeing how different people approach the same problem.
Throughout the challenge, you'll be creating alongside students, designers, marketers, brand professionals, and packaging specialists who share an interest in packaging and creative problem solving.
Through the live sessions, project showcases, and shared experience of the challenge, you'll gain new ideas, new perspectives, and connections within the packaging community.
Packaging is rarely created in isolation. The best packaging comes from collaboration, feedback, and learning from others—and this challenge is designed with that spirit in mind.
More Than a Design Exercise
Packaging sits at the intersection of creativity, strategy, marketing, and production.
The goal of this challenge isn't simply to create something attractive.
The goal is to learn how to think through a packaging project from multiple perspectives while having fun in the process.
Participants may submit up to two entries, giving you the opportunity to explore different brand concepts or challenge yourself with more than one packaging format.
Along the way, you'll become a stronger packaging thinker.
Ready to Join?
The Summer Packaging Challenge™ runs July 13–26, 2026, with Featured Projects revealed on July 31.
Whether you're looking to build your portfolio, expand your packaging knowledge, or simply spend two weeks creating something new, we'd love to see what you come up with.
Let's make this summer a little more creative—one package at a time.
