BA (Hons) Product Design student, Holly Grounds, has been awarded a Certificate of Merit and the Gold Trophy at the WPO WorldStar Student Awards. This is the second awarding body that has recognised and celebrated her innovative food packaging design.

The WorldStar Student Awards is an international packaging design competition for students around the world, with entries open across packaging, structural design and graphic design.

Holly designed an impressive food packaging system called ‘Steam Pods’ that could deliver perfectly steamed dumplings made in the microwave, whilst reducing the plastic usually associated with ready meals. Holly constructed a recyclable cardboard box that contains water in the base with the dumplings on a level on top. Steam from the hot water rises through holes, cooking the dumplings in a healthier way without any oil or fat. The packaging successfully combines the luxury of authentic dumplings at home with the convenience and speed of a traditional ready-made meal.