The Independent Cosmetic Manufacturers & Distributors Association (ICMAD) celebrated the 2011 ICMAD Young Designers Competition at a gala dinner September 21, 2011, in New York City.

ICMAD President and CEO Pamela Busiek welcomed members and guests to the 12th annual Young Designers Awards presentation with announcements of the great progress ICMAD continues to make for the benefit of its entrepreneurial members. ICMAD’s Chairman, Ian Ginsberg, added comments on opportunities available to members.

Leslie Blodgett, creator of bareMinerals and Executive Chairman of Bare Escentuals, recalled her own entrepreneurial story and presented the Young Designers Awards. Blodgett helped catapult mineral makeup into the public eye with the launch of bareMinerals and successfully sold Bare Escentuals, her entrepreneurial company, to Shiseido.

In addressing ICMAD VIPs, members and guests, Blodgett urged everyone to “be a force of beauty.” Speaking directly to the Young Designer winners, Blodgett emphasized that “pretty is what you are, but beauty is what’s inside and that can change the world.”

Created in 1999, the ICMAD Young Designers Competition showcases the talents of students studying package design. “Our continuing goal in hosting this competition is to encourage and develop future creative talent for the cosmetics industry,” noted ICMAD President Pamela Busiek.

Selected from dozens of entries submitted by finalists at four highly acclaimed schools of design, the three wining ICMAD Young Designers showed truly exemplary creativity and knowledge of cosmetic packaging needs.

Cheuk Lau, a student at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, won first place and a cash prize of $2,500 for “Zero Post Shave Soother;"

Chad Lowe, a student at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, Los Angeles,received second place and $1,500 for “Little Monsters Children’s Face Wash;"

Irina Shvarts, a student at Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, Los Angeles, placed third, receiving $1,000 for “Lume.”

As part of their winning prize package, the Young Designers met personally with Maureen Kelly, founder of tarte cosmetics; Kelly Kovak, founder of Purpose-Built; and Matthew Malin, founder of Malin + Goetz for a glimpse into how real-world cosmetics companies and design firms work.

Criteria for judging the competition included uniqueness of design, the ability to be reproduced economically plus ease of use and storage. The prestigious panel of industry professional judges for the competition included: Jennifer Welch-Barazani, Creative Director, Susan M. Rafaj Marketing Services; Santo Fareri, President, SRF Design, Ltd.; Gregg Lukasiewicz, President, Lukasiewicz Design, Inc.; Ken Noskin, President, Imago; and Rick Prater, President, Rick Prater Design.

The schools participating in this year’s program were: The American Academy of Art, Chicago, IL; Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, Los Angeles, CA; Fashion Institute of Technology, New York, NY; and Miami International University of Art & Design, Miami, FL.

Several ICMAD member companies sponsored the 2011 Young Designers Competition.

Platinum Sponsors: Aroma Naturals; Cosmetic Laboratories; HBA Global Expo; and It Cosmetics.

Gold Sponsors: Cosmetic Essence Innovations; CIS – Cosmetic Insurance Services;Clarisonic; Consumer Product Testing and HAPPI.

Silver Sponsors: CosmeticIndex.com; Columbia Cosmetics Manufacturing; OPI; PartnerShip; Susan M. Rafaj Marketing Services; and Temptu.

Bronze Sponsors: AlphaGraphics; CBI Laboratories; and Masterpiece International.

Judging Venue Sponsor: Susan M. Rafaj Marketing Services.
Packaging Sponsor: L&S Packaging.