Marc Rosen -- and Pratt Institute -- welcomed packaging, design, and fashion industry notables to its 30th Anniversary Art of Packaging Gala, held on June 18, 2019, in New York City.

Photos above: On left, Carole Alt, event host, with John Demsey, Group President, The Estée Lauder Companies. On right, Marc Rosen, Designer, Professor and Trustee Emeritus, Pratt Institute, with Jane Lauder, Global Brand President, Clinique, and Frances Bronet, President, Pratt Institute.

The annual event, which raises funds for the Marc Rosen Scholarship Fund for Packaging by Design at Pratt Institute, which celebrates excellence in packaging design, holds the distinction of being the world’s only scholarship for Master’s degree-level students pursuing careers in cosmetics and packaging design.
   
This year’s host, actress and model, Carol Alt, welcomed attendees, saying, “This is the 30th year of the Art of Packaging Awards, and we honor Jane Lauder and Clinique, who personify the future of beauty.” She noted that packaging is a unique and necessary art form, citing in particular the green and clean look of Clinique, which she always remembered as “literally speaking to me, promising great skin and a glamorous life. Clinique has made that a reality,” said Alt, “beautiful packaging and a great product.”

Alt said she was proud to honor Jane Lauder and the talented students of Pratt Institute, and welcomed the president of Pratt, Frances Bronet, to the podium.
    
Bronet said she came to Pratt because of the institute’s social engagement and rigorous culture. Saying, “If you’re looking for anything artistic, this is the place.”

Noting the enthusiasm of the students and staff, Bronet said, “Their work is inestimable. Creative thinking is the most important thing we can embed in our students today; and they make the most thoughtful, creative designs. Here, we meet those who are inspired by their commitment to beauty. Thirty years ago, Marc Rosen was one of the program’s graduates, and was called upon to teach a packaging workshop. He has since gone on to create the world’s only graduate degree program in packaging.”

She thanked all for their continued support and generosity of the scholarship fund, created 30 years ago, and cited the “passion and commitment of Marc Rosen, without whom this program would not have existed.”

Jane Lauder Honored

John Demsey, Group President, The Estée Lauder Companies, noted that both Leonard Lauder and Estée Lauder taught that there is no compromise for quality, “And when it comes to Clinique, there is no compromise,” said Demsey.

He then introduced the evening’s honoree and recipient of the 2019 Art of Packaging Award, Jane Lauder, saying, “Jane is driven, disciplined, and has a global mindset. No one knows how to tool a cap like Jane, because she has literally done every job in the chain that it takes to create a package. I’d like to introduce, in my mind, the next generation of leadership in the beauty industry, my friend and colleague, Jane Lauder.”

She thanked her Clinique team, Marc Rosen, and the honorees of the evening, and applauded Marc Rosen’s program, which supports a scholarship that is fully funded. She then described her perspective on Clinique, which she viewed as a product of collaboration. “The company’s story describes a brand designed to fulfill a need for all women, and to create a product that is our own best competition, Clinique,” said Lauder. “It is a great privilege to bring the brand into its fifth decade. Our products continue to fulfill the criteria for being clean, artful, efficacious and unique.”

Noting that Clinique markets 117 products, she emphasized the importance of packaging for Clinique. “Packaging for Clinique is critical. It could not look too clinical,” said Lauder, recalling how Carol Phillips, the founder of Clinique, would assess each piece and its packaging, looking at the colors and design of each.

Clearly placing the same emphasis on packaging details, Jane Lauder continues to determine that each package is unique. She is currently focused on sustainability in packaging, and cited the packaging of Clinique’s most recent launch, Clinique ID, in its detail.

Lauder reflected on innovation in the future, concluding, “True innovation can only succeed in a workplace that embraces diversity and nurtures the future leaders. Thank you to Pratt, for this amazing honor.”

Commendation for Marc Rosen

Eugene Kim, a former student in Marc Rosen’s program in 2015, who graduated from Pratt with a degree in Marketing Design, credited Rosen for his career. “I went to Pratt because of the creative class that Marc Rosen offered,” he said, and recalled that Rosen was responsible for a crucial introduction that led him to his future position with Clinique.

Jaynne Keys, Appointee to the New York State Council on the Arts, then presented Rosen with a special proclamation of commendation from the Governor of New York, for his continuing efforts to promote and enrich the New York culture and art communities. Rosen was then joined on stage by the winners of the two full Packaging by Design scholarships, Alison Chen, and Hadar Kfir; and the six Merit Award recipients, Brittany Collins, Zhangue He, Lushun Lei, Ching Wu, Jingyao Yuan and Xiaoli Zhang.

To date, more than $4 million has been raised to fund scholarships and awards to more than 120 Pratt students, many of whom have become industry leaders. The masters-level program features such courses as packaging design, brand development, visual communications, digital technology, marketing and structural packaging. The final stage of the program is the thesis, which covers two semesters, and provides the students with an opportunity to create an extensive and innovative project.
    
The annual Packaging Award gala itself, which continues to be a unique celebration of camaraderie and shared mission in the industry, is a tribute to Marc Rosen, Pratt Institute, and the many like-minded individuals who place tremendous value on art and design.

See More Art of Packaging Gala Photos: 

SLIDESHOW: Clinique & Jane Lauder ‘Star’ at Marc Rosen’s Art of Packaging Gala


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