“SOLMOD”, by Sofía Millán, and “Drop”, by Livia Ylldiz Struga, both second-year Product Design students, competed in the category for student concepts that have not yet been brought to market.
News
Pentawards 2026 recognises IED Barcelona’s packaging design with Gold and Silver awards
Date
20 October 2026
The Pentawards, presented by the world's leading platform and community dedicated to packaging design, have recognised two packaging projects developed by second-year students on the Bachelor of Arts in Product Design at IED Barcelona.
The award-winning projects are “SOLMOD”, by Sofía Millán, which won Gold, and “Drop”, by Livia Ylldiz Struga, which took Silver. Both competed in the Student Concepts category, under the Body, Health and Beauty (“SOLMOD”) and Sustainable Design (“Drop”) subcategories. In addition, “Pelagia Sun”, by student Vilnele Kauneckaite, was named a finalist.
Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the awards, this year's ceremony took place on 16 October in London.
With more than 2,000 entries submitted annually from over 60 countries, taking part in the Pentawards offers an excellent opportunity to gain recognition within the global packaging design community.
Congratulations to all three!
Cover photo: Sofia Millán showing off the gold at the gala
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Discover the projects:
“SOLMOD”, by Sofía Millán / GOLD
This project reimagines sun protection as a modular, refillable system designed for today's environmentally conscious consumers. Focusing on sun protection for the lips, face and body, the concept introduces a sculptural system of stackable outer shells housing pods made from recycled paper with a thin protective layer of recycled plastic to safely contain the product. This replaces conventional single-use packaging with a durable, circular alternative.
“Drop”, by Livia Ylldiz Struga / SILVER
The first wall-mounted toothpaste tablet dispenser. Designed with ease of use, innovation and self-care in mind, “Drop” uses a gravity-fed push mechanism to dispense one tablet at a time, cleanly, quickly and with a touch of elegance. Inspired by the calming effect of water, its silhouette takes the shape of half a droplet. When mounted on a mirror, however, the reflection completes the shape, subtly reinforcing the sense of wholeness and tranquillity associated with self-care.
“Pelagia Sun”, by Vilnele Kauneckaite / FINALIST
Pelagia is a premium sun protection packaging concept that combines marine-inspired elegance with contemporary sustainability. Drawing inspiration from the natural curves and textures of a seashell, the design centres on an innovative roller mechanism that glides sunscreen evenly over the skin, offering a sensory, mess-free application. The experience is completed by a magnetic cap that snaps into place with a clean, tactile click, enhancing the product's minimalist sophistication.
“Pelagia” is made from recycled aluminium, combining durability with environmental responsibility. Its refillable inner system encourages long-term use, minimising waste while responding to the growing demand for sustainable luxury solutions.
Livia Ylldiz Struga (silver winner)
"SOLMOD"
“Drop”
"Pelagia"
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