When does the competition begin?

June 1st, 2022 at 11:00 CET (12.00 EET)

When does the competition end?

The initial round of the competition closes on December 1st, 2022 by midnight 24:00 CET. After this hour, the Competition Office will no longer accept any digital entries.

How do I register for the competition?

Use the form on this website to register your entries. After submitting your entry, you will receive a confirmation email with your personal contest ID number, which you must include if/when you send us your physical mock-ups, should your design get shortlisted.

Can I participate in the Design Challenge as part of a team? 

Participants can enter the competition either individually, in a team, or both. You must appoint one team participant as the contact person and make the submission in his/her name. The contact person will be responsible for how the prize is divided, should your work be awarded in the Better with Less – Design Challenge. As the prize of internship for a student is only granted to one individual, the contact person will be the one awarded, should your work win.

How do I submit the physical mock-ups, if my design gets shortlisted?

Please use the following address:

Metsä Board

P.O.Box 20, FI-02020 METSÄ 

Finland

Phone number: +358 (0) 10 4611

Contact person: Ilkka Harju, Packaging Services Director, EMEA & APAC at Metsä Board

All physical mock-ups must include your personal contest ID that you receive by email after submitting your digital entries.

For additional information regarding the transport of entries, please see the Better with Less – Design Challenge rules. 

Is there an entry fee for the competition?

No. The competition is free of charge.

How will you judge the entries?

The judges will evaluate the designs based on the following criteria:

– Product protection (package protects the product throughout the logistics chain)

– Sustainability (use of renewable and biodegradable materials, material efficiency, material reduction, recyclability, reusability)

– Ergonomics / Functionality (is the package easy to store, hold, open and close?)

– User experience / Human interaction (emotional connection, storytelling, unboxing experience)

– Aesthetic of the package structure (visual appeal when seen for the first time)

– Communication design (clarity of any on-pack design or communication)

– Mass production and commercial feasibility (convertibility, scalability, packing and logistics efficiency, commercial potential)

– Degree of innovation (application of a new idea, creative use of an existing idea, principles from other industries/techniques)

A further description of these criteria can be found in the brief.

What are the prizes for the award winners?

The following prizes will be awarded:

• 1st prize of 10,000 euro
• 2nd prize of 3,000 euro
• 3rd prize of 2,000 euro
• Student award of a 1-month internship possibility at the Metsä Board Excellence Centre in Finland.
• Three (3) honorary mentions

What must be included in the digital entry?

The submission must contain A text document (max. 1500 characters) describing the inspiration and benefits of the concept; Up to 6 photos/illustrations on white background.

The following material can be submitted by the participant at his/her discretion (optional):

•           3D visuals
•           Creative video (max. 30 MB) presenting the concept.

Can I use graphics on my mock-up?

Please feel free to use graphics on the mock-up, as long as they are royalty-free or designed by you.

For legal reasons, you’re not allowed to feature an existing brand in your design. If you want to include a brand logotype in your design, please design one yourself or use the Better with Less – Design Challenge logo provided here.

Do I have to be a student or professional designer to participate?

No. All creative souls are welcome to participate.