Jamie Matusow, Editor08.05.14
As always, no detail was overlooked as Pratt Institute’s Art of Packaging Award Gala celebrated its monumental 25th anniversary on May 6 at the University Club in Manhattan. Proceeds from the event benefit the Marc Rosen Scholarship and Education Fund for Packaging by Design, which over the last quarter-century, has grossed more than $3.5 million for scholarships for graduate packaging design students at Pratt.
Rosen, a renowned fragrance bottle designer, seven-time FiFi award winner and Pratt educator, handled all of the arrangements and welcomed the hundreds of industry guests with flutes of pink champagne in a tribute to the evening’s brand honoree, Mary Kay Inc. Pink is an iconic hue for the direct seller beauty company, which has identified with the feminine shade throughout its 50-plus years, even rewarding top salespeople with cotton-candy colored Cadillacs.
In keeping with the theme, lush rosy pastel floral arrangements topped “just the right shade” of anniversary-themed, silver-colored tablecloths. Several guests wore blush-hued gowns to the black tie affair held in the elegant wood-paneled banquet room of the architecturally rich landmark building.
Each year, the gala honors a beauty brand for its outstanding commitment to package design—“a brand that excels at incorporating creativity, aesthetics, sustainability and functionality in their packaging design,” said Rosen, who teaches the world’s only graduate course on cosmetics and packaging design at Pratt Institute and is president and CEO of Marc Rosen Associates.
He said, “When Mary Kay was selected as honoree for the 25th anniversary of The Art of Packaging Award Gala, it was for these reasons and more. Mary Kay, over its rich history, has been a symbol of high design and luxury aesthetics. The company empowers the consumer through the idea that ‘One Woman Can’ make a significant impact and transform the lives of others. The commitment to The Art of Packaging and its
Of utmost importance, she said, was that more than 200 students had benefited from the scholarship program over its 25 years.
Norville kicked off the festivities with a tribute to the color pink, highlighting its use in fashion and film via a video of clips from vintage movies, including “Funny Face” with Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire.
A Mary Kay video followed, highlighting the company’s broad array of products and packaging—many of which have evolved into sophisticated cases in shades other than pink.
Norville revealed that she had a personal tie with the beauty company. She had sold Mary Kay products as a young woman, and said she had had a penchant for “a particular pink lipstick.” She told the crowd that the entrepreneurial aspect of being an independent sales representative had provided her with a sense of “I can do it myself.”
She likened that same feeling to what the four talented Pratt student scholarship winners must be experiencing, saying how empowered they must feel to have designed their own fragrance packages—which were on display in the anteroom where the cocktail hour was held—and been recognized for their accomplishments, allowing them the means to continue in their field.
In acknowledging the woman who had started her eponymous brand more than 50 years ago, Norville said, “Mary Kay was such a cool woman; she was also a brilliant woman who cared about people.” Norville quoted the company founder as saying: “No matter how busy you are, you must take the time to make someone feel important.”
Via a video, David Holl, chief executive officer, Mary Kay, introduced Sheryl Adkins-Green, chief marketing officer for the company, who was accepting Pratt’s prestigious award.
Adkins-Green joined Mary Kay in 2009 and led the brand through a major makeover of its own as it approached its 50th anniversary. She said, “To receive this award on the 25th anniversary is truly an honor.” She thanked all the vendors and suppliers in the room for their work—and for their support of the dinner and its scholarships. She noted that Mary Kay Inc and Marc Rosen share a number of common values: making lives better; an affinity for sales (packaging as a silent salesperson); and a love of the quality of design.
Rosen took the podium and recounted a few anecdotes from his entry into the packaging world. For one, while a student at Pratt, he had shown one of his design projects to Avon—and they had bought it for $3,000. “I thought that was pretty cool,” he said—and I bought a Volkswagen.”
He acknowledged the 25 years of the Awards program, saying: “Twenty-five years—can you believe it?” He said a quarter of a century ago, the fragrance industry had been much simpler. But on the other hand, image was everything—and packaging reflected that. He reminisced about the fashionable events of that time, with Paris soirees and extravagant evenings honoring the FiFi Award winners.
Referring to the evening’s gala—and the 24 that have preceded it, Rosen said, “I try to make this evening an ode to those glorious days.”
One thing that hasn’t changed over the years, said Rosen, referring to the gala’s many supporters in attendance, “is that our hearts are as big as ever.”
He then presented the award certificates to the four students: Tonya Oberlender, who created Enchanté, a luxury evening floral fragrance for women; Jessica Vande Werken who designed Provocateur around an exotic scent for distinguished, well-traveled women; Ivy Chen whose “Q” scent is modern and elegant, with a bottle that’s inspired by Modernist typography and art to imply the form of the letter Q; and Chen Chen Hu whose Chuyu scent means “the first rain” in Mandarin Chinese. The shape and color of the bottle reflect the freshness of green lotus leaves after the first rain.
The surprise of the evening came when Norville read a special citation from New York’s Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, congratulating Rosen for his 25 years of support to emerging packaging designers.
As Pratt’s president Dr. Thomas Schutte had stated earlier in the evening: “Many of the talented Pratt students who have won the award over the past 25 years have become significant leaders in the industry.”
Rosen, a renowned fragrance bottle designer, seven-time FiFi award winner and Pratt educator, handled all of the arrangements and welcomed the hundreds of industry guests with flutes of pink champagne in a tribute to the evening’s brand honoree, Mary Kay Inc. Pink is an iconic hue for the direct seller beauty company, which has identified with the feminine shade throughout its 50-plus years, even rewarding top salespeople with cotton-candy colored Cadillacs.
In keeping with the theme, lush rosy pastel floral arrangements topped “just the right shade” of anniversary-themed, silver-colored tablecloths. Several guests wore blush-hued gowns to the black tie affair held in the elegant wood-paneled banquet room of the architecturally rich landmark building.
Each year, the gala honors a beauty brand for its outstanding commitment to package design—“a brand that excels at incorporating creativity, aesthetics, sustainability and functionality in their packaging design,” said Rosen, who teaches the world’s only graduate course on cosmetics and packaging design at Pratt Institute and is president and CEO of Marc Rosen Associates.
He said, “When Mary Kay was selected as honoree for the 25th anniversary of The Art of Packaging Award Gala, it was for these reasons and more. Mary Kay, over its rich history, has been a symbol of high design and luxury aesthetics. The company empowers the consumer through the idea that ‘One Woman Can’ make a significant impact and transform the lives of others. The commitment to The Art of Packaging and its
Think Pink
American television anchor and journalist, Deborah Norville—a two-time Emmy award winner—served as mistress of ceremonies and welcomed Pratt faculty, the fragrance industry and the packaging community, thanking them all for coming together for the special evening.Of utmost importance, she said, was that more than 200 students had benefited from the scholarship program over its 25 years.
Norville kicked off the festivities with a tribute to the color pink, highlighting its use in fashion and film via a video of clips from vintage movies, including “Funny Face” with Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire.
A Mary Kay video followed, highlighting the company’s broad array of products and packaging—many of which have evolved into sophisticated cases in shades other than pink.
Norville revealed that she had a personal tie with the beauty company. She had sold Mary Kay products as a young woman, and said she had had a penchant for “a particular pink lipstick.” She told the crowd that the entrepreneurial aspect of being an independent sales representative had provided her with a sense of “I can do it myself.”
She likened that same feeling to what the four talented Pratt student scholarship winners must be experiencing, saying how empowered they must feel to have designed their own fragrance packages—which were on display in the anteroom where the cocktail hour was held—and been recognized for their accomplishments, allowing them the means to continue in their field.
In acknowledging the woman who had started her eponymous brand more than 50 years ago, Norville said, “Mary Kay was such a cool woman; she was also a brilliant woman who cared about people.” Norville quoted the company founder as saying: “No matter how busy you are, you must take the time to make someone feel important.”
Via a video, David Holl, chief executive officer, Mary Kay, introduced Sheryl Adkins-Green, chief marketing officer for the company, who was accepting Pratt’s prestigious award.
Adkins-Green joined Mary Kay in 2009 and led the brand through a major makeover of its own as it approached its 50th anniversary. She said, “To receive this award on the 25th anniversary is truly an honor.” She thanked all the vendors and suppliers in the room for their work—and for their support of the dinner and its scholarships. She noted that Mary Kay Inc and Marc Rosen share a number of common values: making lives better; an affinity for sales (packaging as a silent salesperson); and a love of the quality of design.
Ode to 25 Years
Elizabeth Musmanno, president of The Fragrance Foundation, then congratulated the Mary Kay team, and introduced the “legendary Marc Rosen who has done so much for the industry.”Rosen took the podium and recounted a few anecdotes from his entry into the packaging world. For one, while a student at Pratt, he had shown one of his design projects to Avon—and they had bought it for $3,000. “I thought that was pretty cool,” he said—and I bought a Volkswagen.”
He acknowledged the 25 years of the Awards program, saying: “Twenty-five years—can you believe it?” He said a quarter of a century ago, the fragrance industry had been much simpler. But on the other hand, image was everything—and packaging reflected that. He reminisced about the fashionable events of that time, with Paris soirees and extravagant evenings honoring the FiFi Award winners.
Referring to the evening’s gala—and the 24 that have preceded it, Rosen said, “I try to make this evening an ode to those glorious days.”
One thing that hasn’t changed over the years, said Rosen, referring to the gala’s many supporters in attendance, “is that our hearts are as big as ever.”
He then presented the award certificates to the four students: Tonya Oberlender, who created Enchanté, a luxury evening floral fragrance for women; Jessica Vande Werken who designed Provocateur around an exotic scent for distinguished, well-traveled women; Ivy Chen whose “Q” scent is modern and elegant, with a bottle that’s inspired by Modernist typography and art to imply the form of the letter Q; and Chen Chen Hu whose Chuyu scent means “the first rain” in Mandarin Chinese. The shape and color of the bottle reflect the freshness of green lotus leaves after the first rain.
The surprise of the evening came when Norville read a special citation from New York’s Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, congratulating Rosen for his 25 years of support to emerging packaging designers.
As Pratt’s president Dr. Thomas Schutte had stated earlier in the evening: “Many of the talented Pratt students who have won the award over the past 25 years have become significant leaders in the industry.”