Design students across the UK are being urged to submit their entries for the MPMA’s packaging design challenge as the final deadline approaches. Part of the prestigious Starpack Students Competition 2026, organised by the Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining (IOM3), the brief invites emerging designers to create a premium metal gift pack for confectionery. Entries must be submitted by midnight on 16 March 2026, offering students a chance to take on a real-world challenge recognised across the packaging and FMCG sectors.
Since its launch in 1964, the Starpack Students Competition has provided a platform for up-and-coming designers to tackle briefs set by leading brands and manufacturers. This year’s challenge puts metal packaging centre stage, highlighting its value as a creative material and its strong recycling credentials. With steel and aluminium achieving a UK recycling rate of 80.4% and their permanent material status enabling endless recyclability, the competition encourages students to explore how metal can support circular economy goals while unlocking new visual and design possibilities.
Entrants are encouraged to push the boundaries of metal packaging through innovative shapes, tactile finishes, high-quality graphics and inventive opening mechanisms, with the winning MPMA design receiving a £600 cash prize alongside additional awards. MPMA is also calling on design lecturers to engage their students in the brief, helping them develop standout portfolio work that can be showcased to industry professionals actively seeking fresh talent.
Full competition details and submission information are available at: https://www.mpma.org.uk/student-starpack/