Speaker Introduction
Jon Denham, Chair of SCADpro at the Savannah College of Art and Design, led the “SCADpro Innovation Workshop” at MasterMinds 2025. Joined by faculty and students from SCAD’s School of Creative Technology, Denham guided a session focused on how the next generation of designers is shaping the future of packaging through innovation, empathy and insight.
About MasterMinds 2025: MasterMinds is an exclusive, invitation-only packaging education event presented by Nosco. Focused on helping solve complex packaging challenges, the event has grown over the years, providing valuable opportunities for education, networking, and thought leadership within the printed packaging industry. The 2025 event centered on the theme of “Intelligence in Packaging,” highlighting how smart technologies, data-driven design, and sustainability are transforming the role of packaging.
Session Summary
Denham opened the session by exploring how Gen Z’s values and behaviors are influencing packaging design. He introduced SCADpro’s collaborative model, which brings together students from more than 40 disciplines to work on real-world projects with global brands. He noted that these engagements often result in market-ready solutions that reflect emerging consumer expectations around sustainability, personalization and digital integration.
The workshop included interactive exercises that encouraged attendees to reflect on their own perceptions of Gen Z. Participants identified common concerns, such as mental health, digital distraction and lack of social skills, then explored how design can help address these challenges. Denham emphasized that Gen Z is not only the next generation of consumers but also the future workforce and leadership. Their preferences for authenticity, transparency and purpose-driven brands are already reshaping how companies approach packaging.
Denham later introduced SCAD’s foresight methodology, which helps students and partners anticipate future trends and design accordingly. He shared examples of student work that combined physical packaging with digital storytelling, immersive technology and AI-driven personalization. These projects demonstrated how packaging can serve both functional and emotional roles in the consumer experience.
Key Insights
- Gen Z values sustainability, authenticity and digital connectivity, which are influencing packaging design and brand strategy.
- Packaging is increasingly expected to serve as a multi-platform experience, integrating physical and digital elements.
- SCAD’s foresight model helps brands anticipate long-term trends and design for future consumer needs.
