Three Durham College (DC) students successfully reimagined a famous snack food package, earning a third-place finish at the Packaging Association of Canada’s (PAC) Global Student Packaging Competition.

The event invited post-secondary students from around the world to redesign the iconic Pringles can with a focus on inclusivity and accessibility. Three students from DC’s Graphic Design program were up to the challenge. With guidance from Professor Rhian Moore, the team of Ina Jablonski, Megan Scott and Nicole Tracey created the Accordi-Can.

“It’s a tubular package that expands at the sides when in use to allow the consumer to easily access the chips inside,” explained Tracey, noting that shoppers consistently cite the difficulty of reaching inside the standard Pringles can. “We started with generating several ideas for how the can would be different without losing the integrity of the shape. We knew we wanted to keep the shape of the can as that is what Pringles is recognized for, and the packaging is revolutionary to the snack market.”

Over the course of the fall semester, the team continued to make improvements to their design in preparation for the competition.

“Our design went through many stages throughout the process as we developed the most feasible, realistic, and innovative choice,” said Scott.

The result is a package that is both recognizable and creative.

Although graphic design work is inherently visual, the Accordi-Can was more than just a rendering. The team created a real mock-up of their concept using a poster mailing tube, cardstock and glue.

“They worked very hard to come up with both their structural and graphic solutions to meet the needs of the product,” said Moore. “They represented the college in a very professional manner and I couldn’t be prouder.”

Taking part in the competition was a unique and valuable experiential learning opportunity for the three students. In addition to being an important facet of their Portfolio Studies course, they worked on a famous brand and developed a product that is sure to impress potential employers.

“I have learned to think critically about every detail that goes into a design,” said Tracey. “It helps to really think about the choices you make and doing the research on the target market and what their needs are is also very important.”

For Scott, representing DC in the competition was a positive experience that helped her build confidence as she prepares to graduate and enter the workforce.

“My biggest lesson from this experience is to try things that make you nervous and not let self-doubt prevent you from participating,” said Scott. “I’ve learned what it takes to be a team and how important it is to surround yourself with hard-working, like-minded, kind people.”