NATIONAL PACKAGING DESIGN DAY
National Packaging Design Day on May 7th each year celebrates the art of packaging design as well as design professionals. The global design community and those appreciative of beautiful, well-crafted packaging commemorate the day by sharing inspiring designs and exchanging ideas. The day also encourages an awareness of the craftsmanship behind the package.
Living in the golden age of packaging, the packaging is now much more than a means to protect a product or display a name. Packaging is the physical representation of a brand to the consumer. The packaging is compelling. It’s not just what’s on the shelf that matters, but the unveiling process as well. The layers, the textures, the moment of anticipation before seeing the product. People may not think of the packaging designers when purchasing a product or while opening a gift, but they exist, orchestrating the process from sketch to shelf.
HOW TO OBSERVE #PackagingDesignDay
Check out Design Packaging’s Top 10 Ways to Celebrate the day and share the packaging you love. Here are other ways to celebrate the day:
- Judge a book by its cover. Packaging design goes into publishing, too. What makes you pick up a certain book?
- Study a creative packaging design. What caught your eye?
- Practice what you see. Incorporate elements of packaging design into your own design practices.
Give a shout-out to an inspiring designer with #PackagingDesignDay.
NATIONAL PACKAGING DESIGN DAY HISTORY
Design Packaging founded National Packaging Design Day in 2015 to shine a spotlight on package design, presentation, and its role in a product’s brand.
The Registrar at National Day Calendar proclaimed the day on April 22, 2015, to be observed on May 7th, annually.
May 7th Celebrated (and Not So Celebrated) History
1847
The American Medical Association is founded in Philadelphia, PA. The founding members elect Dr. Nathaniel Chapman as the first president of the new organization.
1946
Akio Morita and Masaru Ibuka found Tokyo Telecommunication Engineering Corporation. The company is later named Sony.
1954
Construction begins on the world’s longest suspension bridge. The Mackinac Bridge opened to traffic three years later in November 1957, connecting the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan for the first time.
1992
Michigan’s legislature became the 38th state to ratified a constitutional amendment proposed in 1789. The 203-year-old legislation limits mid-term salary increases and requires an election before raises can take effect. In essence, voters have the opportunity to elect new representation before raises take place. College student, Gregory Watson’s paper for his government class proposed the amendment was still eligible for ratification. After receiving a poor grade from a doubting teaching assistant, the topic became a rallying point. Two states vied to be the 38th states to ratify the amendment, Michigan and New Jersey. Don W. Wilson, U.S. Archivist, certified 27th Amendment on May 18th. At the time, one state was unaware they had already ratified the amendment. Kentucky’s ratification took place in 1792 and as a result, the honor of being the 38th state actually belongs to Alabama which ratified the amendment on May 5, 1992.
May 7th Celebrated (and Not So Celebrated) Birthdays
Mary Mahoney – 1845
In 1879, Mary Mahoney became the first African American professional nurse when she graduated from the New England Hospital’s nursing school. She also formed the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses after the Nurses Associated Alumnae of the United States demonstrated a slow response to accepting black nurses.
Gary Cooper – 1901
Gary Cooper appeared in more than 80 films during a career that lept from silent movies to sound almost effortlessly. He was nominated for his first Academy Award in 1937 for his role in Mr. Deeds Goes to Town. Cooper would go on to earn two Best Actor Academy Awards for Sergeant York (1942) and High Noon (1953). In 1961, the Academy presented him with an honorary award for his career achievements.
Eva Peron – 1919
The Argentine actress became the first lady of Argentina in 1946. Peron became a powerful political figure, advocating for women’s suffrage and the rights of the poor.
Ishiro Honda – 1911
The Japanese filmmaker is best known for co-creating the Godzilla film franchise.
Michael P. Murphy – 1976
The U.S. Navy SEAL officer served during the War in Afghanistan and for his actions received the military’s highest decoration, the Medal of Honor. Murphy was killed by enemy forces during Operation Red Wing near Asadabad, Afghanistan on June 28, 2005.
