Vanesa García, LABASAD Student, wins Gold and Silver at the Pentawards 2024
Congratulations to Vanesa García, a student of the Online Master's in Strategic Packaging Design, for her double award at the prestigious Pentawards.
Our student, Vanesa García, with over 11 years of experience as a graphic designer, art director, and photographer in Murcia, has excelled across a wide range of creative disciplines, collaborating on projects for both national and international clients. Her talent and versatility have led her to receive two significant accolades at the esteemed Pentawards, the most relevant competition for packaging design worldwide. Vanesa was awarded a Gold in the Food category and a Silver in Luxury Goods during the Gala Ceremony, which took place in London on 25 October.
The Pentawards, established in 2007, is an annual competition that recognises global excellence in packaging design. Over its 17-year history, it has received more than 20,000 entries from over 95 countries, establishing itself as an inspiring platform that connects the international packaging community. The jury, composed of renowned experts from companies such as Diageo, Microsoft, Stranger & Stranger, Coty, Pentagram, and WWF, offers a diverse and global perspective on this discipline.
Vanesa’s success is attributed to her innovative Master’s Final Project, GOZO, which included branding, naming, strategy, and packaging design for a new line of premium, organic, and limited-production extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) sourced from ancient olive trees in Spain. “I wanted to create a product that was born from the earth and promoted patience, slow living, and permanence. An oil for those who appreciate beauty in imperfection and the extraordinary in small things,” explains Vanesa.
The challenge for Vanesa was to create a design that not only stood out in a saturated market but also reflected the duality of tradition and modernity, as well as the pleasure and well-being offered by the product. “The packaging reflects tradition through its volume, reminiscent of an old tin, using materials such as clay and olive wood, and in the meticulous attention to detail,” she shares.
Her strategic approach successfully conveyed this duality without falling into ostentation, achieving a perfect balance between elegance and accessibility. However, the greatest difficulty was creating real, coherent, and functional prototypes. “Materialising concepts is complicated,” she admits, but she found support from artisans who helped bring the project to life, including ceramicist María Moya and carpenter Emilio Molina.
The Online Master’s in Strategic Packaging Design at LABASAD was a catalyst for her professional growth, providing essential knowledge:
“All the learnings from the Master’s were fundamental for me; knowledge of strategy, conceptualisation tools, and positioning. The Master’s helped me think strategically and understand how design can influence product perception and its impact on consumers. It improved my analytical skills, which were key in this project to create attractive, functional, and differentiating packaging.”
In this regard, each module of the Master’s contributed value to her creative process, as well as the influence of professors such as Hernán Braberman, Laura Aguilar, Miguel Ángel del Baño, Eli Cayuela, and Beatriz Suárez, among others. “It was an inspiring experience,” she states.
Winning Gold and Silver at the Pentawards is a significant milestone in her career, and for Vanesa, “it represents immense recognition of my work, an award for the effort and passion I put into each project.” Vanesa is convinced that these awards will enhance the visibility of her studio, Vanesa García Estudio.
Looking to the future, Vanesa wishes to “continue developing projects that are not only beautiful but also responsible, functional, and that provide value to the audience.” For those aspiring to follow in her footsteps, Vanesa shares her advice:
“Demandingness, passion, and humility. Design is a constant process of evolution; each project is an opportunity to learn and grow. I would advise them to stay true to their vision, but not to be afraid to break the rules.”
If you would like to learn more about LABASAD and our Online Master’s in Strategic Packaging Design, do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected]. We are here to help you take the next step in your professional career.