With the 2025 Pentawards Competition now open for entries, we celebrate last year’s gold award-winning packs from our Student Categories

At Pentawards we want to inspire, connect and celebrate the future talent in packaging design from around the world. Get involved in our annual competition and help kick-start your career in the industry!

See below which packs stole the jury’s heart last year.

Portable folding cup by Sun Yaxin and Gao Hanting, Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts (China)

Winning Gold in the Beverages subcategory, this portable folding cup is designed for convenience and sustainability. In its folded state, it fits easily into a pocket. When needed, simply rotate to open—it unfolds to be as stable and sturdy as a regular water cup. The lid features an "edible pure seaweed wrapping paper" that encases coffee powder. To brew, just fill the cup with water, shake gently, and watch as the wrapping paper dissolves, releasing the coffee for a quick and effortless brew. After use, the cup can be washed and reused multiple times like any standard water cup.

GOZO by Vanesa García López, LABASAD - Cambec Online SL (Spain)

Winning Gold in the Food subcategory, this series of extra virgin olive oils is inspired by traditional oil cans, crafted from real clay prototypes, handmade and sized at 500ml. Their colours, representing different varieties, are derived from natural sources without artificial dyes. This eco-friendly material ensures optimal preservation of the oil. The packaging is completed with a case made from recycled olive wood, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability. 

“cosset” Dog food packaging by Shanlu Huangjin Zhangjiaqiang Libeibei Liuxinyuan, Huanan University (China) 

Winning Gold in the Home, Leisure & Other Markets subcategory, Cosset is a dog food brand whose name is a transliteration of the Chinese word for cherish. The warm red balloon serves as a symbol of care and love for dogs, echoing the brand’s core message. The packaging features vibrant illustrations that emphasize the product’s balanced nutritional benefits, with balloons as a recurring motif—representing love and the bond between humans and their pets. Since dogs primarily see yellow, blue, and gray, the addition of warm red introduces a new dimension, symbolising an enhanced sense of care in their world. By incorporating this hue into the design, the packaging offers a unique perspective—bringing humans into the visual experience of dogs.

Spring Breeze blowing again - Degradable sacrificial products by Peng Xinyu, Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts (China)

Winning Gold in the Sustainable Design subcategory, "Spring Breeze Blowing Again" is a sustainable packaging series that blends traditional sacrificial culture with eco-friendly innovation. Designed to honour rituals while protecting the environment, it includes incense candles, ingots, flowers, and tribute fruits. Made from biodegradable paper embedded with seeds, the packaging decomposes in soil, allowing new flowers to bloom. The plant-fiber box also degrades into natural fertilizer, nurturing new life. This closed-loop design ensures that the act of sacrifice extends beyond the ceremony, harmonizing tradition with nature.

Illusory - Package That Is Both Liner and Diffuser by Miao Jingyi, Zou Hu, Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts (China)

Winning Gold in the Sustainable Design subcategory, this aromatherapy packaging redefines functionality by using the sponge as both a liner and a diffuser, significantly reducing waste. To use, simply spray the fragrance onto the sponge—its porous structure evenly absorbs the liquid, ensuring a long-lasting, captivating scent. Beyond function, the sponge’s porosity creates an ethereal visual effect, mirroring the delicate diffusion of aroma. By transforming the packaging into the product itself, this design seamlessly merges sustainability with aesthetics.

TIMEST by Fan Ke, Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts (China)

Winning Gold in the Luxury Design subcategory, the brand explores the mysteries of time. The "Journey Through the Past" series features amber-shaped bottles with internal fireworks-like designs, each spray evoking beautiful memories. In the "Visions of the Future" series, fluid designs suggest dreamlike futures, enhanced by metallic elements hinting at technology, inviting exploration with every spritz. The "Reflections of Now" series embodies modern simplicity, combining sleek design with mirrored surfaces to capture present beauty and self-awareness. 

Relief & Relife by Ao Sun, Wuzhenhang Chen, Huiting Qiu, Zijiao Tian, Zhejiang University of Technology (China)

Winning Gold in the Body, Health & Beauty subcategory, Relief&Relife transforms discarded medicine boxes into animal-shaped hand rests, enhancing the infusion experience for children. This innovative redesign repurposes part of the packaging into a hand guard, offering better grip comfort during treatment. By incorporating playful animal shapes, the design also provides emotional support, turning the infusion process into a more comforting experience.

Could you be our next student winner? Enter this year's competition and showcase your skills to leading brands and agencies who will judge your work.