We’re passionate about art at Hart Print, and we love to explore where art can go. So, we challenged the artists of tomorrow to design for digital printing on cans with Hart Print’s first-ever Canpetition. 

Twenty Graphic Design 4 students from the College of DuPage (COD) in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, were tasked with coming up with a packaging concept for a brand of their invention. The winning can designs were then printed at our Chicagoland facility and presented to the graduating Design students at COD’s Portfolio Night in early May.

Jennifer Reif, Designer at Hart Print in Chicagoland, led the Canpetition project with the students. As a graduate of COD’s AAS in Graphic Design, she knows the importance of getting hands-on experience before hitting the job market.

“Working with real clients and businesses not only gives students great real world-experience, but it also boosts their confidence to move on to their next adventure, whether that be continuing their education or entering the workforce,” she notes.

The students’ can designs were to include lots of color, a selective gloss, a metallic element, and some information about our company (including our cheeky #fckplastic hashtag). Hart Print Chicagoland’s Design team narrowed the submissions down to 10, and the entire company voted on their favorite student design. Each winning student received three printed cans to use in their portfolios.

“It was so fun to see the students get excited about our cans and technology,” Jennifer says. “I enjoyed teaching them about how to create selective gloss and metallic finishes and set up their layers in Adobe Illustrator. I knew the students were going to do great work, so I was super excited to see their finished artwork - and I was not disappointed!"

Congratulations to the winners of Hart Print’s first-ever Canpetition!

1st place: Mushroom Coffee (19.2oz) by Ugne Nalivaikaite
2nd place: Ocean's Ink (16oz) by Danielle Ware
3rd place: Mutant Energy Ghoul-Aid (12oz std) by Leo Hasier
4th place (tied): Spira Guava (12oz sleek) by Elizabeth Lopez & Lychee Sparkling Beer (8.4oz sleek) by Emily Sun