Hey! How was your summer?! Would love to hear from you as we swing into the last four months of 2026!

August had a little bit of everything for me.

The first Summer Packaging Challenge™ wrapped up, I went down a recycling rabbit hole, and I started getting ready for a very student-focused September.

The Summer Packaging Challenge™ — what we learned

The Challenge is officially complete, and it gave all of us a closer look at what happens when design meets real packaging production.

I pulled together the highlights, feedback and a few lessons I’ll carry into the next Challenge.

→ READ THE RECAP

Where does packaging really go after we toss it?

“Recyclable” is only part of the story.

I recently learned more about how AI and data are being used inside recycling facilities to track what actually happens to packaging after it enters the waste stream.

It’s a fascinating look at the part of packaging we rarely get to see.

→ READ PACKAGING WASTE INTELLIGENCE

HEINZ + Heineken = packaging doing the talking

Five Heinekens. One bottle of HEINZ ketchup. One very clever six-pack.

There’s no new product here. The idea is almost entirely in the packaging — which is exactly why it caught my attention.

→ SEE THE HEINZ x HEINEKEN COLLABORATION

And next...back to school

September starts with a trip to Cal Poly, where I’ll be speaking to incoming Graphic Communication students, followed by PRINTING United Expo and Student Day in Las Vegas.

Plenty more to come.

→ READ THE FULL AUGUST UPDATE

Sharon