Top 3 Teams

Student Design Challenge 2024

Learn More About Fall Meeting


Each year, the Paperboard Packaging Alliance (PPA) challenges students in leading packaging design programs to show off their design skills, innovative capacity and savvy in meeting real-world customer needs and marketing scenarios.

Congratulations on being selected as a finalist in the 2024 Student Design Competition. We’re delighted to welcome you to our annual Fall Meeting & Leadership Conference to showcase your design skills and announce the winner of the challenge. Our association conference brings together over 200 paperboard packaging and processing professionals, providing you with access to future potential employers, networking opportunities, and much more.

Save the Date

The 2024 Fall Meeting & Leadership Conference is being held from September 30 – October 2, 2024 in Atlanta, GA. As finalists of the 2024 Student Design Challenge, you are invited to attend all sessions throughout the conference. We will celebrate all teams and announce the top winner during an evening ceremony on Monday, September 30th beginning at 6:00 p.m. ET. You will present your design from the stage to industry professionals during our designer spotlight session on Wednesday, October 2.  We encourage your engaged and active participation throughout the entire conference.

Keep scrolling for more details, important dates, presentation tips, and more.

Student Responsibilities by Day

Monday, September 30*

Late Morning/Afternoon: Travel, Registration, and Table Top Set Up
11 am–4 pm: Plan your travel to arrive in Atlanta, GA no later than 2 p.m. Upon arrival, you should try to check into your rooms (check in at 4 p.m., but we’ve requested early check in for you) and head to the PPC registration desk to check into the conference. PPC staff will show you where to set up your tabletop display which we recommend you have completed by 4 p.m.

Evening: Reception, Dinner, and Awards Ceremony
5:15 pm: Arrive to your tabletop to meet with your sponsors.
5:30 pm: Rehearsal for the Awards Ceremony will begin.
6:00 pm: Evening reception begins.
6:45 pm: Dinner and awards programming begins. Plan to be photographed from the stage and in group photos in front of PPC’s step and repeat following the close of the evening.

Tuesday, October 1*

7:00 am: Continental breakfast will be open and available. Note, you do not need to be in the conference space at 7 am.
8:00 am: General Sessions begin. You are invited to attend the all of the conference programming featuring presentations from the North American Paperboard Packaging Council winning designs.
4:30 pm: End of General Session
5:45 pm: Meet in the lobby to shuttle to our offsite reception and evening of fun at Punch Bowl Social!

Wednesday, October 2: Design Day

7:00 am: Continental breakfast will be open and available. Note, you do not need to be in the conference space at 7 am.
7:45 am: Arrive to the general session area promptly at 7:45 am for a brief rehearsal and run through of the day’s sessions. Student presentations will take place throughout the morning.
8:15 am: Student Designer Presentation 1
8:30 am: Student Designer Presentation 2
8:45 am: Student Designer Presentation 3, followed by lunch
9:15 pm: Package of the Year Designer Presentation and Announcement of the 2024 People’s Choice Award.
11:30 pm: Conference will come to a close and you and your team will depart Atlanta.

*All times are subject to change

Visual Presentation

Presentation from the Stage

Prepare a 6-8 minute PowerPoint presentation to present to PPC Members followed by up to 5 minutes for live Q&A.

Think of this as your elevator pitch – use simple language and plan your presentation in advance. A little practice goes a long way towards creating an engaging and memorable message (here are examples from our 2021 presentations).

Please note that your presentation time should not exceed 8 minutes in length. We will have a moderator take the stage in advance of your presentations to review the 2024 challenge, leaving you the valuable time in your presentation to review the specifics of your project and the design challenge your team personally identified.

Remember to include:

  • Who you are, your school, and your location
  • Your project title
  • What was the design challenge or problem?
  • How did you solve the challenge or problem?
  • What are the package’s unique design features?
Deadline: Submit your PowerPoint presentation by Friday, September 6, 2024 to rose@paperbox.org

Virtual Sponsor Meet & Greet

Virtual Networking Opportunity

Attend a virtual Meet & Greet with your sponsor before you get to Atlanta!

Each team will be connected with a PPC Member sponsor company who has made it possible for you to attend as PPC’s guest in Atlanta. You will have several opportunities to meet with them once you arrive to Fall Meeting and you’ll have the unique opportunity to chat with them before you arrive! Keep an eye on your email inbox for a Zoom reservation to meet with your sponsor in September.

When you attend the meeting, be prepared with the following:

  • An introduction of yourself including:
    • Your name, area of study, and graduation year
    • Thoughts on being a student in today’s landscape
    • Any questions you may have for industry professionals

Exhibitor Booth Display

On-Site Booth

Feature your school, team, and project on the exhibitor floor.

Think of this as the ultimate networking opportunity with PPC Members. At your exhibitor booth, your team can promote yourselves to potential partners and employers. PPC will offer your team up to $200 to be reimbursed on expenses for any materials you create, bring, or ship to Atlanta to put on display.

Remember to include:

  • Personal resumes or a team sell sheet
  • Business cards if you have them
  • Collateral and materials related to your project (we’ll bring the prototype you submitted). This can include marketing plans, structural die lines, and additional presentation materials.

Other Things to Consider:

  • You can also bring University materials to make yourselves easily recognizable
  • University table cloth (you will get a 6 ft draped table)
  • Electricity will not be available
  • You can bring tabletop displays up to 3 ft in height
  • No signage will be provided by PPC

Travel & Accommodations

Be Our Guest

As our invited guest, all transportation, hotel accommodations, meals, and out-of-pocket expenses incurred are included in your stay. Upon registration, you will also receive a $100 cash stipend.

Book Your Flight

Complete this form by August 31, 2024. If you have any questions, contact our travel agent, Shelly Pentico at shelly@tripsassist.com.

You will be flying into Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL). We recommend you arrive by 1 pm ET, no later than 2 pm ET, on Monday, September 30 and plan to depart no earlier than 2 pm ET on Wednesday, October 2.

Hotel Information

Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel
2450 Galleria Pkwy
Atlanta, GA 30339

PPC will book your hotel rooms and cover any out of pocket expenses incurred traveling to and from the airport. Please be prepared to provide a credit or debit card upon arrival for incidentals when you check-in. You will not be charged on the card and any incidentals incurred will be added to PPC’s bill upon checkout.

Please keep all receipts related to travel and incidentals during your visit. All expenses will be reimbursed following the conference. In addition, your meals will be provided to you throughout the entirety of the conference.

What to Wear

Dress to Impress

Business casual should be worn for all meetings and general sessions (remember, you’re here to network and make lasting professional connections). Jackets/ties for men and dressy attire for women should be worn at Monday’s awards dinner. Attire for Tuesday night’s offsite reception is casual.

Questions?

For any questions, call 413-686-9191 or email rose@paperbox.org