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Design Speak Out 2026: Empowering Vietnam's Next Generation of Packaging and Product Design Talent
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Ho Chi Minh City, August 12, 2026 – Starprint, member of SCGP, a provider of sustainable printing and packaging solutions, and Duy Tan, member of SCGP, a 40-year experience of rigid packaging and household provider in Vietnam, in collaboration with The Student Culture House In Ho Chi Minh City and Mondelez Kinh Do, successfully organized Design Speak Out 2026, offering a total prize of VND 104 million. Outperforming numerous outstanding submissions, this year’s first prizes were awarded to Team ReFold in the Packaging Design category and Team Bupbindi in the Product Design category. Both teams impressed the judging panel with innovative, highly practical design solutions that effectively address modern consumer needs. Alongside the competition, the two SCGP member companies also organized a seminar on the Packaging and Design industry for partners, businesses, and university students. The seminar aimed to advance design knowledge and strengthen industry collaboration by bringing together insights on consumer trends, marketing, and design. It highlighted the importance of integrating these perspectives to create solutions that truly resonate with people.
Building on the success of Packaging Speak Out, the competition embarked on a new chapter in 2026 as Design Speak Out, reflecting its expanded vision beyond packaging design to the broader world of product design, and providing participants with a more comprehensive perspective on the design industry. Under the theme “Design that Understands – Design that Connects,” the program encourages students to adopt a user-centric mindset, combining creativity with market understanding to develop practical solutions that strengthen connections between brands and consumers.
Guided by this vision, Design Speak Out 2026 expanded its competition categories to include:
• Category 1: Packaging Design (Kinh Do Mooncake Giftset Packaging)
• Category 2: Product Design (Plastic Food Container for the MATSU brand by Duy Tan)
To enrich participants’ learning experience, the program also featured a series of capability-building activities, including a bootcamp, mentoring sessions with industry experts, and a seminar. These activities brought together experts from Starprint and Duy Tan (both members of SCGP), as well as Mondelez Kinh Do, to share practical insights into consumer trends, marketing, design, and product development.
Through these experiences, participants gained valuable exposure to professional design practice, strengthened their design capabilities, and developed a deeper understanding of how creative ideas can be translated into solutions that address evolving market needs.
Mr. Ekarach Sinnarong – General Director, Starprint, member of SCGP, shared: “Vietnam is home to a young workforce with tremendous potential, creativity, and a strong ability to adapt to evolving market trends. Through real-world design projects developed with industry partners, students are able to apply their creativity to address actual business and consumer needs. By doing so, Starprint aims to help bridge the gap between academic learning and industry practice, contributing to the development of high-quality talent for the future of the design industry while fostering innovation in Vietnam.”
Mr. Chamornwut Tamnarnchit – General Director, Duy Tan member of SCGP, stated: “Expanding the competition into Design Speak Out this year marks an important step in providing students with a more comprehensive understanding of the design industry, spanning both packaging and product design through real-world challenges closely aligned with business and consumer needs. With the introduction of the new Product Design category this year, students have the opportunity to experience a more practical and multidimensional design journey. Participants are encouraged to combine creative thinking with considerations related to manufacturing, operations, and product commercialization. Duy Tan is proud to support the program in its efforts to drive innovation and promote sustainable development within the industry.”
Held from May to August 2026, Design Speak Out 2026 attracted nearly 100 students from universities across Vietnam. Following a series of training programs, expert mentoring sessions, and multiple evaluation rounds conducted by the judging panel, the competition successfully identified the most outstanding teams in each category.
In the Mooncake Gift Box Packaging Design category, Team ReFold impressed the judging panel with Kham Nguyet project, a design inspired by the intricate traditional art of mother-of-pearl inlay, blended with the distinctive architecture of Vietnamese communal house roofs under the blue hues of a full-moon night. A key highlight of the design is its Interactive Packaging, with a box structure that can be transformed into an O An Quan board game, extending the packaging’s value beyond its initial use and creating a fun family activity. The packaging also incorporates AR technology, allowing users to scan a QR Code and instantly access AR content without downloading an app, creating greater brand engagement and bringing the brand story to life.
Meanwhile, in the MATSU Food Storage Container Product Design category, Team Bupbindi also made a distinctive impression with their ECOFOLD project, which combines Vietnamese cultural identity with practical functionality. The design captures the charm of Vietnam’s three regions through its color palettes and product concepts, highlighting cultural value while creating a distinctive identity. Its space-saving collapsible structure allows for adjustable height and easy storage, while food-grade materials, refrigerator and microwave compatibility, leak-proof lids, silicone handles, and steam-release valves ensure convenience, safety, and ease of use in everyday life.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Lien, Corporate & Government Affairs Lead at Mondelez Kinh Do, shared: “Three years of partnering with Design Speak Out have shown us one thing clearly: Vietnam’s young generation of designers is not only highly creative but also demonstrates a deep understanding of consumers. This is the foundation for creating designs that truly resonate with consumers. For Mondelez Kinh Do, mooncake packaging is a platform to tell cultural stories, convey the emotions of togetherness, and create lasting value. Young designers today have proven that creativity and sustainability can go hand in hand, and they will be the ones shaping the future of Vietnam’s packaging industry.”
Far more than a design competition, Design Speak Out 2026 has evolved into a meaningful platform connecting academia, industry, and the next generation of creative talent. Through both the design competition and the industry seminar, the program provided opportunities for students, businesses, and industry partners to exchange knowledge, tackle real-world challenges, and explore the future of packaging and product design. By presenting design challenges rooted in real industry needs and offering knowledge-sharing sessions led by experts in the packaging design and product design sectors, the initiative strengthened collaboration across the ecosystem. The support of Starprint Vietnam and Duy Tan, both members of SCGP, together with partners, has contributed to building a stronger future for Vietnam’s workforce and driving innovation that creates lasting value for businesses, consumers, and society.
