UPDATE 4.22.09: Jason Pivovitsch Speaks at the Art of
Packaging Awards Dinner

Blasts from the past were abundant as I was fortunate enough to attend the 20th Anniversary celebration of the Art of Packaging Award Gala on April 21st, at the University Club in NYC. The event celebrated past honorees, and also conferred four $2,500 scholarships to graduate students enrolled in Marc Rosen’s fragrance and cosmetic packaging design program at Pratt Institute. It was fun to see former fellow students and mentors whom I had not seen for 12 years. We were all happy to know that we did not look like we had aged 12 years. Whew!

The room was filled with Packaging moguls. From Lynne Greene, President of Clinique Worldwide to Nathalie Grosdidier, Executive Director of Luxe Pack. The excitement started with Marc receiving a citation from Mayor Mike Bloomberg, hand-delivered by Kate Levin, Commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs. He then received an official chair at Pratt. It was wonderful to see someone receive all these accolades for a lifetime of doing what they love.

The dinner began with a video that explained the significance of fragrance and cosmetic packaging. The video really took me back in time and evoked so many memories from my days at Pratt. Seeing all the wonderful bottle designs reminded me of the difficult beginning I had in Marc Rosen's class. I was asked to say a few words about my time in his class. With a slab of the actual piece of clay I received on the first day of class, I took the podium. I made it clear to the audience that it's a long and and sometimes arduous road to turn the clay into the gorgeous fragrance bottles they just saw on their video screens. Working with Marc was truly a life altering experience. The packaging class really helped give me the foundation I needed to succeed as a designer and ultimately the confidence in myself. It was truly a magical night for all. - J.P.

To see more information about the event, go to: http://www.cosmeticworld.com/party_photos/photos-party.1.html

Jason Pivovitsch to Speak at the 20th Anniversary Art of Packaging Awards Dinner

New Day Interactive's creative director, Jason Pivovitsch, will be speaking at the 20th Anniversary Art of Packaging Award Dinner on April 21st, 2009 at the University Club in New York City.

The gala will will benefit the Marc Rosen Scholarship for Graduate Packaging Design at Pratt Institute. Honoring Past Recipients include: Avon, Bath & Body Works, Calvin Klein, Clinique Coty Beauty, Dior Beauty, Estée Lauder, Lancôme, P&G Beauty / Prestige, and Ralph Lauren Fragrances.

Jason was a packaging major at Pratt Institute over 12 years ago and was fortunate enough to have taken Prof. Marc Rosen's special fragrance packaging class. "The class started out as such a nightmare for me" Jason said. "Each student was given a piece of clay and was asked to form a model of their fragrance bottle. Most student's had fine arts backgrounds, but not me, I had a psychology background. Most students came into class with a gorgeous looking clay model. My clay looked like a truck ran over it several times" he said.

"Marc, never gave up on me and continued to help refine the clay and my idea. He really cared and was able to help take the idea I had in my mind and transform the concept into reality. It was a truly life altering experience that helped shape (no pun intended) my approach to graphic design from then on."