Learn about the paperboard packaging industry. Meet potential employers. PPC is the place to jumpstart a career in packaging.
PPA Student Design Challenge
A joint initiative between PPC and the American Forest & Paper Association, the Paperboard Packaging Alliance (PPA) holds an annual design competition for packaging students. Each year’s competition features a real-world design challenge, and entries are evaluated on innovative structural and graphic design, functionality, and quality of the finished product. Both the winning team and its sponsoring school receive cash prizes.
The top three teams attend PPC’s Fall Meeting where the winner is announced. There, the teams have the opportunity to meet and engage with industry professionals—potential employers!
The 2026 Challenge
Paper packaging is sustainable and recyclable. To increase its use, this year’s Design Challenge asks students to design an influencer PR box for an original luxury confectionery brand that holds the retail product inside.
The package must not only contain and protect the retail product but also elevate user experience by creating an engaging and memorable unboxing moment that reflects the brand’s premium positioning.
Previous PPA Student Design Challenge Winners
2025 Challenge
Prompt: Design and create sustainable, recyclable packaging for PPA Pets, a line of pet care products. One product must be a DNA testing system or a lab-dependent item.
1st Place
Protection, Prevention & Awareness for Pets
Rochester Institute of Technology
Designers:
- Lawson Ribbeck
- Arin Fogarty
- Dante Verna
- Lili Mathous
- Amy Brumlik
Advisors:
- Lorrie Frear
- Carlos Diaz-Acosta
2024 Challenge
Prompt: Design new paperboard packaging for an original fresh produce product that is typically not packaged primarily in fiber-based packaging.
1st Place
SPUDS Potatoes
Pennsylvania College of Art & Design
Designers:
- Cam Maier
- Logan Byer
- Bahir Harris
- Kendall Harris-Burton
Advisors:
- Tom Newmaster
2023 Challenge
Prompt: Design new paperboard packaging and packaging components for an existing or original personal care product that is typically packaged primarily in plastic.
1st Place
Triangular Paperboard Lip Balm
University of Wisconsin, Stout
Designers:
- Ethan Myers
- Lukas David
- Zach Hoffmire
Advisors:
- Kate Liu
2022 Challenge
Prompt: Paper packaging is sustainable and recyclable. To increase its use, the 2022 Design Challenge asked students to design new paperboard packaging and packaging components for an existing product packaged primarily in plastic.
1st Place
Tide
Fashion Institute of Technology
Designers:
- Therese Becker
- Roy Cooley
- Kyle Thomas
- Alexandra Wallace
Advisors:
- Adam Straus
- Sandra Krasovec
For more info, visit the
Student Design Challenge page.
Ideas & Innovation Design Handbook
This easy-to-use reference book features more than 700 detailed illustrations and characteristics of folding carton and rigid box styles as well as descriptions of various paperboard types.University professors are eligible to receive the handbook for students free of charge! For more info, email the Paperboard Packaging Alliance.
You may also purchase the handbook here.
Sponsorships and Discounted Rates to PPC Events
Learn valuable information and meet paperboard industry professionals by attending one of PPC’s events! We believe in nurturing the next generation of packaging designers, so we offer discounted rates to university students. Our member companies are usually happy to sponsor students, so feel free to reach out to PPC and we can make a connection.
Click here to view upcoming events.