Diamond Packaging Wins Six Awards in 2023 Neographics Power of Print Competition

Press Release

Rochester, NY – Diamond Packaging today announced that it won six awards in the 2023 Neographics Power of Print Competition, the largest and oldest regional printing competition in the nation. Awards were presented during the Print & Graphic Communications Association's (PGCA) 2023 Neographics Awards Gala held on October 5, 2023, in Philadelphia, PA.

The competition celebrates the graphic arts industry and the “Power of Print®.” Entries are judged by a panel of industry experts on several criteria including overall design, prepress preparation, printing, and finishing.

Diamond won Best of Category awards in the “Calendars” and “Printer's Self Promotion” categories for its 2023 “Surf’s Up” corporate calendar, a popular item given to customers and prospects. It showcases the type of decorative effects that can cost-effectively elevate Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) companies' brands.

Diamond's 2023 calendar pays tribute to surfing, a cultural phenomenon that brings together fun, sun, sand, surfboards, "woodie" station wagons, Volkswagen buses, and surf music. The self-promotional piece communicates the company’s high-end branding and sustainability initiatives while imparting unusual depth and distinction through creative design, material selection, and specialty effects.

The graphic and structural design simulate the appearance and shape of a vintage wooden fish surfboard. The header features a 1966 Volkswagen Type 2 Bus set against crashing waves and the California sunset.

The calendars were converted utilizing Clearwater ReMagine 30% PCR paperboard, cold foiled, and offset printed with four color process inks, in-line with UV matte, UV gloss, and DiamondTexture specialty coatings.

Tightly registered coatings were used to enhance the design and highlight the individual calendar components. UV matte coating was used on the sky, small surfboard, and wooden fish surfboard. UV gloss coating was used on VW bus to add contrast. UV textured specialty coating was applied to the sand to create haptic feedback.

Cold foil delivers shimmering metallic effects on the VW bus and Surf's Up 2023 and Diamond Packaging text. A holographic "wave pattern" cold foil adds realism to the water.

Multi-level embossing lends distinction and depth to the design. Many of the header components were embossed, including the VW bus, surfboard, and text. The woodgrain of the vintage fish surfboard backer components were also embossed to add more depth and realism.

The calendar pages were converted utilizing Domtar Cougar Smooth 80# Text paper and offset printed with four color process inks and UV matte coating. The watermarks of different surf scenes take you away to your favorite beach. The retro typeface evokes a vintage vibe and takes you back to the 1960s and early 1970s. The unique finish and subtle colors complete the presentation and beautifully complement the design concept.

The recyclable shipper was converted utilizing Clearwater Candesce SBS paperboard laminated to E-flute corrugated fiberboard, and offset printed with four color process inks, in-line with and aqueous gloss coating. It is artfully decorated with a scene of crashing waves.

Diamond won a Best of Category award in the “Packaging – Cartonboard” category for Inkbox’ Freehand Tattoo Marker Kit.

The folding cartons were converted utilizing FSC-certified Clearwater ReMagine™ 10% PCW paperboard and offset printed with three PMS inks, in-line with UV matte coating.

Multi-level blind embossing adds depth and dimension to the design along with an appealing tactile quality that promotes consumer interaction.

The packaging also reinforces the unlimited creative potential within the kit. Embossed examples of freehand-drawn art, including hearts, faces, flowers, birds, and stars, among others, illustrate how users can bring their tattoo dreams to life.

Diamond won a Franklin Award for Excellence in the “Packaging – Cartonboard” category for Interparfums' Abercrombie & Fitch Away Weekend packaging.

The folding cartons were converted utilizing FSC-certified Clearwater Candesce SBS paperboard, cold foiled, and offset printed with PMS black and custom inks, in-line with UV matte and UV gloss spot coating.

The graphic design incorporates an overall blind embossed linear wave pattern that adds dimension and contributes to a unique visual and tactile presentation.

Foil and embossing accents lend sophistication to the packaging and provide a striking contrast to the matte finish surrounding it.

The side panels are also cold foiled and overprinted with a custom blue ink, which creates shimmering, colorful metallic effects that catch the eye and invite closer inspection.

The combination of color and textures beautifully complement the design of the primary container – a sophisticated, contemporary glass spray bottle with gold text and topped with a gold cap.

Diamond won a Franklin Award for Excellence in the “Packaging – Cartonboard” category for Inter Parfums’ Oscar de la Renta Bella Bouquet packaging.

The folding cartons were converted utilizing FSC-certified Billerud CrownBoard Prestige paperboard, cold foiled, and offset printed with three PMS inks, in-line with satin aqueous and UV gloss spot coating.

The graphic design incorporates an overall blind embossed floral pattern that adds dimension and contributes to a unique visual and tactile presentation.

A cold foiled and embossed band (wrapping around the perimeter of the carton) adds distinction and reinforces Oscar de la Renta as a prestige brand.

Diamond won a Franklin Award for Excellence in the “Packaging – Cartonboard” category for Parlux Fragrances’ Eilish No. 2 packaging.

The cartons were converted utilizing FSC-certified Billerud CrownBoard Prestige paperboard and offset printed with UV process and PMS inks, in-line with UV matte and UV satin spot coating over Envirofoil.

Envirofoil's mirror-like finish makes it a perfect choice for conveying the stunning graphics. Transfer metallized Envirofoil is manufactured with less than 1% of the aluminum of traditional foil laminates, reuses the film carrier multiple times, and is recyclable as paper – as certified by numerous U.S. and European laboratories.

The UV satin spot coating on the front and rear panels provide a striking contrast to the overall matte finish surrounding it.

Multi-level embossed accents, including the metallic bust on the front panel, add dimension and complement the design of the primary container — a bottle gilded in gunmetal grey and inspired by Eilish's favorite areas on the human body: the collarbone, neck, and back.

All of Diamond’s entries were designed utilizing recyclable paperboards and manufactured using 100% clean, renewable wind energy, in a Zero Waste to Landfill (ZWL) and Carbon Neutral (Scope 1 and Scope 2) facility.

About Diamond Packaging

Founded in 1911, Diamond Packaging is a WBENC-certified, industry leader specializing in developing innovative and sustainable packaging solutions. Utilizing state of-the-art technologies, Diamond designs and manufactures folding cartons for the personal care (cosmetics, hair care, skin care, fragrance, oral care, and shaving), health care, pharmaceutical, cannabis, and consumer electronics industries. Its client portfolio includes Bausch + Lomb, Charlotte’s Web, Kendo, L’Oréal, Otter Products, Procter & Gamble, Revlon, Shiseido, and many other leading consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies. Diamond differentiates itself through award-winning creative design, packaging innovation/technical expertise, and its greenbox sustainability initiative. For more information visit www.diamondpackaging.com, or follow Diamond on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.