Karl Knauer wins the German Design Award 2024

Karl Knauer, the renowned packaging expert from the Black Forest region, was once again awarded the coveted German Design Award 2024 – this time for the exclusive packaging for premium beer brand Stella Artois. 

A smooth look, with functionality and sustainability!
In this case, there were primarily three things that prompted the jury of the renowned German Design Award 2024 to award the Stella Artois packaging:  the first thing about the Stella Artois packaging that caught their attention was the box’s rounded corners and elaborate varnishing.  As a result, the premium packaging from the ABInBev brewery group significantly stands out from the normal external packaging of competitors in terms of design and appearance.  Removing the cardboard holding the twelve 0.33 l embossed bottles from the shelf reveals a second, very innovative detail for which Karl Knauer’s packaging developers have now been awarded: the telescopic handle that does not need plastic reinforcement tape and makes it exceptionally easy to carry and environmentally friendly. Last but not least, a 360-degree perforation means that the packaging can quickly be divided into two halves. The bottom half holds all the bottles together and pushing the integrated side tabs inwards turns it into a tray. “Despite the special details and desired features, this project has been executed exceptionally quickly, easily and smoothly. The collaboration with the project partners involved was truly fun and refreshing, like the contents of our now award-winning packaging,” says Hubert Wernet, Director of Innovation at Karl Knauer, as he happily remembers the development phase.

The entire packaging is free from plastic and is made from sustainable European resources. Once all the beer has been consumed – for example to celebrate the award winner’s victory – the entire kraft cardboard box can therefore be disposed of in the paper recycling bin. 

German Design Award: the award for excellent design
The German Design Award is the German Design Council’s premier prize. Its global gamut and international impact makes it one of the most prestigious cross-industry awards
in the design landscape. Since 2012, the German Design Award has identified significant design trends, presented them to a broad audience and honoured them, which is how extraordinary submissions in product design, communications design and architecture are chosen annually.