Bottling Engineering, Design and Innovation: Lia's Packaging Journey and Co-op with PepsiCo

I found RIT after receiving a $32,000 scholarship for Innovation and Creativity from RIT awarded through my high school. This largely impacted me by sparking my curiosity about the university's programs. RIT appealed to me as a student who didn't know what they wanted to do yet because of all the programs offered within the fields I was interested in - engineering, design and innovation. My uncle, who has connections in the packaging industry, introduced me to packaging science. He believed it could integrate my interests in a unique way. His connections provided me with insights into the field, and their experiences highlighted how packaging science blends creativity with practical applications. I also attended a packaging science information session at RIT. Meeting with professors and current students and touring the facilities deepened my understanding and excitement about the program. I was particularly drawn to the major’s niche focus and its significant impact on everyday life. The potential to influence sustainable practices and contribute meaningfully to society through packaging science motivated me to pursue this path at RIT.

During my time at RIT, I've had the opportunity to participate in 2 co-ops that have greatly shaped my academic and professional career. My first co-op was with Southern Champion Tray, a paperboard and corrugated packaging company in Chattanooga, TN, and I am currently on my second co-op with PepsiCo in Valhalla, NY. My journey to my first co-op began with my participation in the Student Design Challenge organized by the Paperboard Packaging Alliance (PPA) during my freshman year. In this competition, I collaborated with junior and senior graphic and industrial designers to develop a paperboard packaging solution for existing packaging in plastic. This allowed me to enhance my skills in packaging design and CAD while working cross-functionally with students from various majors. One of the judges recognized my work and recommended me to Southern Champion Tray, leading to my first co-op position. At Southern Champion Tray, I focused on structural design using ArtiosCAD, assembling physical samples and mockups, and ensuring design changes for feasibility with the plant. For my second co-op, I joined PepsiCo’s beverage team in Valhalla, NY. This opportunity arose from attending a career fair specifically for packaging science majors, where PepsiCo was one of the 30 participating companies. I was thrilled to secure an interview and ultimately this position, which aligns with my desire to explore a different facet of packaging. While Southern Champion Tray offered me experience in a smaller, family-owned company focusing on corrugated packaging and structural design, my role at PepsiCo is giving me valuable exposure to technical packaging skills on a much larger scale. During my co-op at Southern Champion Tray, my favorite project involved designing cookie packaging for a local cookie company. My manager tasked me with developing three innovative packaging solutions, each with varying levels of complexity, challenging me to think beyond traditional cookie box designs.This project was particularly enjoyable because it pushed me to explore new possibilities in packaging structures and test the boundaries of conventional design. I had to think about the issues the company was currently facing with their boxes and the changes needed to fix those problems. I also did a lot of exploring with different packaging structures and how to build upon existing structures to make it unique. I was proud of my final deliverables, which included six distinct box designs—three unique designs that could fit a 4-count cookie pack and a 12-count pack. Being able to take classes in 3D design and learning CAD programs such as Solidworks and ArtiosCAD were valuable for the design aspect and having classes in paperboard and corrugated properties were extremely beneficial to ensure feasibility for projects.  

RIT's program stands out from other schools primarily due to its exceptional co-op program. This hands-on experience is integral to truly understanding your field, offering insights that go beyond what can be learned in the classroom. While academic instruction is vital, real-world experience, such as witnessing the entire lifecycle of a product from formulation to packaging and shipment, provides a depth of understanding that is unparalleled. Working with a company for six months allows students to grasp the broader scope of their field, engage in long-term projects, and build invaluable professional connections.

My advice to high school students who want to pursue packaging is to recognize that packaging is much more than shipping boxes and working for Amazon. Everything needs a package whether its food, medicine, toys, cosmetics and more which makes this degree so exciting and so important. Packaging also intersects with numerous fields, including design, marketing, engineering, material science, chemistry, and sustainability. A degree in packaging offers flexibility and opens doors to various career paths, making it an excellent choice for students who are unsure of their exact future direction. It provides a solid foundation while allowing you to explore and find your niche within a diverse and dynamic field.