Marie Dalgar, Yuesai, Pechoin, Marubi and Suntory are just some of the leading packaging designers and international brands taking to the stage at ADF&PCD Shanghai as part of its hotly anticipated Pentawards Conference.

The design-focused programme, will run throughout the two-day event, which takes place on the 27 & 28 March at the Shanghai Convention & Exhibition Center of International Sourcing. The leading local and international speakers will draw on their own experiences and reveal the creative insights and design thinking that form the basis of their award winning work.

Paul MacDonald, Global Brand Director of the Easyfairs Packaging Portfolio, comments: “The Pentawards is the most prestigious worldwide competition, devoted exclusively to packaging design in all of its forms. It features work from designers who are working at the very top of their game. With this in mind, it is no wonder that it is so popular amongst our visitors, further strengthening our conference programme in the process. It means that the content we can offer our visitors is unparalleled, not only in the region, but also throughout the world. I personally can’t wait to see what the best and brightest minds from the design industry have to say.”

One such name taking to the stage will be Pechoin, one of China’s leading cosmetic brands, which recently rebranded to keep up with the ever-changing market place. Cao Zhikui, Director of the Brand Design Department at Pechoin, will present ‘innovation of cosmetic packaging design under cross-border trends’.

Sustainable packaging continues to be one of the most talked about subjects in the world, both in the media and on a personal level, so visitors with a ‘green’ interest will not want to miss the talk by Idee Liu, Design Director at Proya. He will detail the latest in sustainable packaging innovation and analyse consumer reaction to environmental protection.

To enhance the visitor experience and facilitate a more rounded learning culture, ADF&PCD Shanghai 2019 will welcome leading Chinese electronics company, Xiaomi to the stage. Often innovation from one industry can have a major role to play in another, so with this in mind, Chen Lu, MI Ecosystem - Design Director at Xiaomi will present ‘First Touch: Designing Better Connections’.

The Pentawards Conference will also include some case study-led presentations. Firstly, Yoji Minakuch, Head of the Design Department at the premium Japanese beverage brand Suntory, will discuss the secrets behind its design success. This will be followed by Sebastien Servaire, CEO and Creative Director at Servaire & Co, who will join forces with leading beauty brand Marubi, to explore its collaborative work and look at how both companies worked together to produce its award-winning packaging.

The dedicated packaging design-focused conference will be hosted and chaired by Rhonda Jiang, Editor-in-Chief at Package & Design Magazine, with a panel discussion closing day one. The debate will contemplate ‘The future of Packaging Design’, with representatives from Marie Dalgar, Servaire & Co, BETC Design, OIB and Suntory, taking part.

In addition to The Pentawards Conference, ADF&PCD Shanghai 2019 will also host The Pentawards Exhibit. This will showcase a selection of 2018 winners from the beauty, cosmetics and personal care categories, offering visitors the opportunity to get inspiration from the best and most creative achievements in packaging design from last year. With over 2,000 entries from five continents and 62 countries, this display will feature the best of the best when it comes to packaging design.

Seats for each Pentawards Conference session are limited to 200 people, so visitors need to register early to secure a space.