Luxury is unique to everyone, and cover materials play a huge part in that process. You would generally choose to purchase on that initial appeal. Paper is widely used on boxes and for books, which is where we would like you to enter our world. Everyone does judge a book by its cover and packaging is no different, consumers judge a product by the box. Luxury goods deserve a luxury material to influence that final sale. The Design process is a hugely important part of the process from the material itself, to the print and foiling - so it must be fit for purpose.
The Brief
We are always looking at how we can innovate and elevate our materials and would like you to create your own texture or inclusion using our paper. We would like you to look at texture and colour to create a new innovation on an existing material. You can choose to create your own material using the paper base as a starting point or look at textures and how you can create a new emboss.
Choose from a paper weight of 120gsm as your starting point.
Points to consider
- Is the material fit for purpose? If the paper has inclusions will this stand the test of time on a book or a box? If you choose an emboss, would you choose a heavier paper to ensure this isn’t compromised?
- Consider how the material fits within a luxury space, is it something that visually appeals to you, or is the story important to how we promote this?
- Consider the impact on the environment. Is it locally sourced? Is it recyclable? Is the sustainable element readily available? Do you envisage small-scale availability or mass manufacture?
- Colour Palette – Can be as many or as little as you deem fit, however, what is the story behind this? Is it a natural paper showing off the inclusion? Is it neutral shades to show off the emboss?
Materials to be used
Wibalin® Natural or Recycled as a starting point – we will supply samples to enable you to visualise how you would like to innovate and elevate.
Entry Guidelines
Submission Details
Entries must include uploads of the developments boards
- No model required.
- To visualise the texture/inclusion on how you believe it should look/feel.
- Access to the Winter & Company UK Ltd on the website will help to visualise the final outcome.
The 4 A3 development boards uploaded as a single PDF document should include the following:
- Research board
- Design exploration board
- Net of recommended design solution.
Development boards must not show the entrant’s name or university/college.
Dates & Conditions
- The project names submitted at the time of entry will be printed as typed, if there are any errors and certificates/trophies need replacing, then the entrant will be liable for these costs.
- If you are not able to attend the ceremony in person or the ceremony becomes virtual, certificates and trophies will be sent by post to the entrants to the mailing address listed in the entry in late June 2025.
- Please make sure you have access to the mailing address past term times. If you are unsure, please enter your home address.
- IOM3 is unable to issue replacements for certificates/trophies sent to wrong addresses.
About the Entry
Judging criteria
Entries will be judged against the following criteria:
- Visual appeal: does the new material have visual appeal for the luxury space.
- Sustainability element with a new emboss: does this fit within the ethos of recyclability or re-use, OR
- Inclusions: the process of creating the materials / Emboss: the process in the design work to create the pattern. The Individuality of the material.
- Reality – is this something that is possible to create.
Prize
Winner: full day Winter visit experience, including expenses & £250.00 cash prize
2nd place: £150.00 cash prize
3rd place: £50.00 cash prize
IOM3 presents trophies to Gold, Silver and Bronze and certificates to Highly Commended entries.
About the Sponsor
Winter and Company is a 4th Generation globally local family business supplying cover materials into the luxury packaging world, the publishing world and everything in between. We supply cover materials to leading designers and international brands based on trust that the materials are excellent quality and unique within the market.
