The 3rd Annual Vertex Awards competition is open for entries. This year’s edition builds off of last year’s phenomenally successful edition that featured more than 250 entries from 21 countries and 55 retailers. With the first ever entrants from Asia and Africa joining a truly global list of entrants from Angola, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Hong Kong, Italy, Malaysia, the Middle East, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, the U.K. and the U.S. 

 

The Vertex Awards are the only global competition devoted exclusively to the art of private brand package design. The awards are judged by an esteemed panel of industry experts from around the world, and awarded based on creativity, marketability and innovation.

 

Open to retailer owned private brands worldwide and all trade channels, the Vertex Awards accepts design entries introduced in-store between November 2014 and November 2015. Points are awarded for design, information architecture, originality, structure, and x-factor.

 

Award co-founders Phil Russo, publisher of Global Retail Brands Magazine, and Chris Durham, founder of My Private Brand, are excited about adding two new categories: Conceptual Work and Student, both of which give the design community the chance to imagine what private brands could be.

 

Because of the mandatory point requirements for each level in the rigorously judged competition, it’s possible to have more than one Gold Level winner in a category but not have anyone qualify for a Silver. Russo and Durham believe this is the way to reward outstanding design while ensuring mediocre designs don’t win by default.

 

At the end of the day, this competition is about turning private label design on its ear. Last year’s winners really set the bar, showing the world fantastic store brand packaging does exist. The founders are excited to see what the entries will bring this year.

 

Entries will be accepted beginning today, through Jan. 31, 2016. The entry fee is $149 per entry. Complete information and entry forms can be found at www.vertexawards.org.