Innovation takes centre stage at Packaging Innovations and Luxury Packaging London 2015, with two brand new features, The Great Innovation Debate and Brand Innovation Programme, which are set to explore innovation in all its forms at Olympia London, 16 & 17 September 2015.

“The word innovation is well used within the packaging industry. With 40,000 plus products on the shelves, who can blame companies for trying to be innovative? The real questions the industry face are - what is innovation, how do we define innovation and where does innovation come from?” explain the organisers.

Inaugural debate

These questions, among others, will be debated at the inaugural Great Innovation Debate. The interactive visitor show feature, chaired by Stefan Casey, Business Innovation Manager, at The Retail Institute, will take place in the Keynote Theatre at 15:30, on day one of the show.

“Over the last 18 months there has been a huge surge of interest in innovation, and in all its guises it’s springing up everywhere, so what is Innovation? We are often asked this question from all sizes of businesses, and have learnt that most don’t truly understand it or know how to embrace it. So I am delighted to be joined by a panel of innovation advocates representing brands, retailers and suppliers to debate what innovation really is and delve deeper in to its meaning,” comments Casey.

Casey will be joined by Simon Elmer, R&D Section Head Prestige Development, at Proctor & Gamble; Alan Davies, former Head of Brand Design at Thorntons and Helene Roberts, GBI Marketing, Design & Innovation Director, at Graphic Packaging International.

Packaging design

It doesn’t stop there, visitors to the show can learn about the latest innovative approaches in branding at the Brand Innovation Programme. Nine creative agencies across the two days, will discuss how to develop a brand with high quality packaging design.

Kicking off day one, Guy Douglass, Managing Director, at Brand On Shelf, will discuss the role packaging design plays in maximising brand appeal, and how it drives sales in store and builds brand loyalty. Other speakers on day one include Thomas Herman, Co-Founder of Path; Phil Hague, Studio Director at Webb deVlam London, and Joyce Kwong, President of Icicle Group.

Lee Robinson, Founder and Managing Director of Finish Creative will continue the discussions on day two of the show, looking at the importance of proving design and Innovation through mock-ups. Stuart Kellock, Managing Director of Shuck Design will follow with Howard Wright, Creative Director at Equator Design tying things up on day two.

In addition, the Brand Innovation Theatre will host two new show features. The Innovation Showcase, on day one, where leading exhibitors present their winning innovations to a live audience. On day two the Live Design Challenge, a timed competition, in which three designers will go head to head, in a bid to design a rugby carton in homage to the Rugby World Cup. Demonstrating how quickly a concept can turn into a reality!

Packaging Innovations and Luxury Packaging London 2015 will also play host to over 170 leading suppliers plus more content than ever before with learnshops seminars and the return of The Drinks and Beauty Symposiums.

Details and registration: www.easyfairs.com/PI-London, and www.easyfairs.com/LuxuryPackaging or +44 (0)20 8843 8800