Vidrala has held the 11th edition of its Masterglass Design Contest, a competition that has established itself as a meeting point for young talent, innovation and the glass industry, and this year it reached a new participation record with 190 projects submitted.
The contest aims to foster creativity and bring future industrial design professionals closer to the real challenges of the packaging sector, promoting the development of innovative glass containers that respond to the emerging needs of consumers and brands.
In this edition, open to participants from universities and design schools in Spain, Portugal, the United Kingdom and Brazil, proposals were focused on three pillars: sustainability, functionality and innovation. The designs had to champion glass containers with efficient production and a recycling process with the lowest possible impact on the environment; offer simple and practical use in everyday life; and provide distinctive solutions through new shapes, applications or uses.
The jury was made up of renowned experts from institutional, associative, academic, professional and industrial fields, such as Almudena Huidobro, from the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities; Javier Cuñado, engineer and product designer; Angélica Barco, president of EIDE and director of Angélica Barco Studio; Marcelo Leslabay, PhD in Design and professor at the University of Deusto; and Asier Etxeberría, Product Design Director at Vidrala.
Out of the ten finalist projects, the first prize winner was Liria, an oil packaging project by Lola Ara (University of Navarra). The jury recognised its high visual impact and distinctive design, as well as its ability to showcase Spanish oil as a luxury item. Here, glass takes centre stage: it not only contains but enhances the product, exploring the formal boundaries of the material.
Accessit (honourable mentions)
- Mío, a baby food jar redesign project by Idoia Baztarrika (EASD Valencia)
- Sancho, a saffron packaging project by Valentina Rosero (University of Navarra)
- Ez Dok, a sparkling wine packaging project by Uxue Etxebeste and Yaiza Zuazo (Mondragon Unibertsitatea)