2020 shortlist announced for Pentawards

Founded in 2007, Pentawards is committed to recognising excellence in design, providing a source of inspiration and connecting the global packaging community through its competition and events.  Now in its 14th year, the 2020 competition received over 2,000 entries from 60 countries across 5 continents, with top contributing countries including Russia, Spain, China, the US and the UK.

Over 400 entries have been shortlisted across the six main categories of the competition, which hold a total of 59 sub-categories.  One category in particular which saw an uplift in the number of entries was the Student category, with a 77% rise in submissions from universities. With a drive to showcase and support future talent within the industry, Pentawards recently compiled a Student League Table highlighting where top global talent in packaging design is coming from across the world. This follows on from the yearly and eagerly awaited professional Top 20 All-Time Winners Table, which features design agencies, brands, freelancers, universities, packaging suppliers and manufacturers.  In this year’s shortlist, Backbone Branding, who won last year’s Design Agency of The Year, holds strong with 5 shortlisted entries alongside Xiaomi, NX Creative, Design Bridge and Depot Branding. Out of nine companies with 4 shortlisted entries, first-timers Caparo Design Crew have entered four projects, all of which have been shortlisted.  

The British Higher School of Art & Design, top of the Student League Table, has 10 shortlisted entries in this year’s competition, followed by the Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts which has 7, the Art Center College of Art & Design with 5, and The Fundacio Privada Elisava Escola Universitaria with 4 shortlisted entries.  On the shortlist announcement, Adam Ryan, Head of Pentawards said: “In the current climate we wanted to share some good news and showcase excellence within the industry. Every year the quality of entries gets stronger and stronger, and so to be shortlisted is a great achievement, and something we wanted to celebrate. We can see certain agencies and universities being consistently strong contenders, but also some new arrivals who have thrown a spanner in the mix. We’re wishing everyone good luck and look forward to announcing the winners!”  This year’s competition was judged by an International Jury Panel, made up of 30 experts from 18 countries. The jury come from a mix of brands and design agencies, from the likes of Diageo, Mars Wrigley, Bulletproof and Pearlfisher.  ‍

VIEW THE SHORTLIST HERE!