Smurfit Kappa : and ArtEZ get creative for Dutch Design Week

20 October 2017

Global packaging giant Smurfit Kappa has launched its first ever Design Challenge.

Art and Design graduates from the ArtEZ Institute of Arts have been tasked with finding creative and pioneering uses for paper and cardboard under the supervision of the Het Instituut Foundation in Amsterdam. The designs will then be showcased during Dutch Design Week later this month.

Dutch Design Week is an annual event that showcases designs for the future and works closely with young artists and designers. 70 designers from Smurfit Kappa Benelux have been sharing ideas and knowledge with ArtEZ graduates that will result in many new incentives and initiatives.

Smurfit Kappa has a strong track record in creating innovative and ground-breaking packaging solutions. This strength, along with a long-term commitment to help and encourage young talent to realise their potential, is a solid foundation for the collaboration with Dutch Design Week.

Speaking about the collaboration, Frank Sinnige, Customer Experience & Innovation Director at Smurfit Kappa said 'So far, the Design Challenge has been a great success and we are sure that some of the creations in the pipeline will eventually benefit many stakeholders, not least our customers.

'The passion and creativity of the young people from ArtEZ has been inspirational and we are excited about seeing the results of all their hard work come to fruition during Dutch Design Week.'

The preliminary round of the Design Challenge took place at the Coda Museum in Apeldoorn during the Coda Paper Art Exhibition. Six finalists then took their work to the next level under the supervision of Het Instituut. During Dutch Design Week they will present their work in the Smurfit Kappa Pavilion in Eindhoven when a winner will be chosen. Over the next six months, the winner will be assisted in developing his or her product for the market with full support from Smurfit Kappa.

Arco Berkenbosch, Vice President of Innovation & Development at Smurfit Kappa will announce the overall winner during a reception at the Smurfit Kappa Pavilion on 27 October. The six finalists are: Nine Parre, Robin Preusterink, Marlou Rutten, Maarten Strang, Carlijn Veurink and Domas van Wijk.

• Dutch Design Week
  takes place from 21 to 29 October 2017 at various venues in Eindhoven.

• Smurfit Kappa Design Challenge Award Ceremony takes place on Friday 27 October at 2pm at the Smurfit Kappa Pavilion, Klokgebouw 50, 5617AB Eindhoven.