– A global packaging leader, Spearhead worked with rising stars in global design to develop six innovative new concepts for the spirits category, reserved for exclusive client previews this Spring –

March 5, 2020 (Yardley, PA) – The Spearhead Group, Inc. is excited to share the winners of their innovative packaging design competition with the Istituto Europeo di Design (IED) of Turin in Italy. This past year, IED Turin students were invited to create an original luxury packaging design for a new spirits brand. Anita Solero and Elena Frigerio’s winning designs excelled in categories including concept, product design, presentation and prototype development; they each received a monetary prize of €2000 and a professional immersion trip to the U.S. this summer. Inspired by the high quality of the final submissions, The Spearhead Group, Inc. has also decided to purchase all six designs created by the students and will be presenting them on a proprietary basis to clients this spring.

The collaboration with Istituto Europeo di Design of Turin launched in May 2019. Students were presented with a brief from Heather Fritzsche, CEO of The Spearhead Group, challenging them to create a bottle, label and presentation box to inspire brand owners and consumers of luxury spirits. Fritzsche launched the program as a dynamic campaign in line with the company’s corporate mission to re-imagine what great spirits packaging can deliver. The end product had to include detailed specifications and drawings of the luxury brand’s packaging, as well as physical mock-ups and animations. Students were judged on overall concept, design, functionality, prototype development, and innovative thinking. The panel of judges from The Spearhead Group included Heather Fritzsche, Co-Founder and CEO, Robert Catalano, Co-Founder and President, and Natale Bauducco, European Advisor and project leader.

The Spearhead Group owns the package design, brands and marketing for all six final design submissions and will be showing them to partners on a private basis. Brand owners and suppliers that are interested in scheduling a meeting to be the first to view the award-winning designs are invited to schedule a meeting with Lana Toler, Marketing & Innovations Manager for The Spearhead Group at lanat@thespearheadgroup.com.

In the coming months, The Spearhead Group will be launching the next partnership competition with the Istituto Europeo di Design of Turin. This continued relationship with IED Turin builds momentum in the world of design. Heather Fritzsche, Co-Founder and CEO, Robert Catalano, Co-Founder and President, will present the design brief to students. Reach out to The Spearhead Group to learn more or discuss how you can be a part of this next competition.

About The Spearhead Group
A leader in packaging innovation for spirits, food, beverage and beauty brands, The Spearhead Group delivers customized packaging solutions from creative brand design to manufacturing through a full suite of Physical Brand Enhancementsthat enable clients to stand apart from the competition. Founded in 2018 by Heather Fritzsche, CEO, and Robert Catalano, President, the Spearhead team brings more than 50 years of collective experience enriched by Pioneer Partners around the world. The result: a proprietary packaging process and unparalleled relationships that ensure the execution of high-value business and brand-building goals for each client. Headquartered in Pennsylvania, The Spearhead Group manages a client-facing Packaging Innovation Center in Louisville and Yardley, and a production center in China. The Spearhead Group is a certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE), member of Women of the Vine & Spirits, and actively supports diversity suppliers. The Spearhead Group is currently building and meeting with Fortune 500 Companies. Follow The Spearhead Group on LinkedIn (@thespearheadgroup).

About Istituto Europeo di Design (IED)
Istituto Europeo di Design was founded in 1966, product of the remarkable vision of Francesco Morelli. Today IED is the only Higher Education Institution in the creative field to have maintained a completely Italian identity over time. Every year IED launches innovative training projects in the fields of Design, Fashion, Visual Arts and Communication, developing new forms of learning and designing new models for interpreting the future. IED is an internationally recognized network consisting of 11 sites, 7 of which in Italy – Milan, Cagliari, Como, Florence, Rome, Turin and Venice – 2 in Spain – Barcelona and Madrid – and 2 in Brazil – Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. IED educational offer includes Undergraduate courses (First Level Academic Diplomas, Título Superior en Diseño, Diploma de Bacharelado, BAH Diplomas and IED Diplomas), Postgraduate courses (First Level Master and IED Master courses) and Continuous Training courses. IED counts on a network with over 1,900 teachers, active in their respective sectors, to ensure the perfect functioning of IED training experience.

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