UK’s leading plastics design competition crowns joint winners for innovative board games that combine sustainability, functionality, and commercial potential.
The 2026 Design Innovation in Plastics (DIP) competition has recognised the next generation of product designers, with two students sharing first place for the first time in the event’s history. The annual competition challenged university students to design an original game made primarily from plastics, with a strong emphasis on sustainability, functionality, manufacturability, and commercial potential.
This year’s joint winners were Isaac Faruque from Brunel University for “Cross Connect”, a two-player strategy game featuring a rotating dial system, and Maya Pai from Aston University for “Honeycomb Havoc”, a dynamic marble-based board game designed around a twisting honeycomb maze. Judges praised both concepts for their creativity, strong engineering principles, and readiness for commercial development.
The competition focused on encouraging students to develop products that demonstrate responsible use of plastics while considering recyclability, material selection, manufacturing efficiency, and user experience. Participants were required to design games suitable for indoor or outdoor use, with clear rules and broad market appeal, highlighting plastics as a versatile and sustainable material when used responsibly.
The judging panel commended Cross Connect for its logical product development, effective use of sustainable design principles, and innovative packaging that transforms into the game’s playing base. Meanwhile, Honeycomb Havoc stood out for its compact design, engaging gameplay, integrated packaging, and strong market research, making it a product with clear commercial potential.
Third place was awarded to Joanne Chartouni of Nottingham Trent University for “Steady Stacks,” a balancing game developed to encourage social interaction and engagement, particularly for children with ADHD. Three additional finalists received highly commended recognition for projects that demonstrated outstanding research, innovative thinking, and practical product development.
The Design Innovation in Plastics competition is the longest-running plastics product design competition for university undergraduates in the UK and Ireland. Supported by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) and the Worshipful Company of Horners, the programme encourages students to explore how modern plastics can deliver innovative, durable, and recyclable products while addressing circular economy principles.
In addition to cash prizes, the winning students receive professional work placements with leading design and manufacturing companies, industry mentoring, and membership opportunities with IOM3. By connecting academic talent with the plastics industry, the competition continues to promote sustainable product development, responsible material selection, and innovation that supports the future of plastics manufacturing.