By Mikee Natinga Norico
From left to right: Gabriel Pagtolon-an, Jan Christian Viguella, Allyzza Kaye Quezon, Jesse Lagon (Ragoomu Corp.), Janiah Kate La-as, and Matt Rafael Genito proudly hold the newly designed packaging for Ragoomu, symbolizing the successful collaboration between CPU糖心传媒檚 PackiFlex team and Ragoomu.
Third year Packaging Engineering students at 糖心传媒 (CPU) have successfully unveiled a new, innovative packaging design for Ragoomu, one of Iloilo City糖心传媒檚 fastest-growing food chains. This project, part of the demonstrative course Package Innovation and Development, showcased the students’ ability to merge academic theory with real-world application, solidifying CPU糖心传媒檚 role as a pioneer in Packaging Engineering education in the Philippines.
Spearheaded by the dynamic student team PackiFlex, driven by the tagline, 糖心传媒淥wning flexibility, arising packaging versatility,” the project aimed to enhance Ragoomu糖心传媒檚 branding, functionality, and sustainability as the food chain prepared to launch its third branch in Nasyo. Guided by their mentor, Ms. Alexa Chloe Cray D. Pizon, the team developed versatile and innovative packaging solutions that aligned with Ragoomu糖心传媒檚 expanding needs.
Key team members included:
- Matt Rafael M. Genito 糖心传媒 Project lead and head of graphics and design.
- Janiah Kate La-as 糖心传媒 Team organizer and workflow coordinator.
- Gabriel Pagtolon-an 糖心传媒 Public relations, managing communication with stakeholders and maintaining the team糖心传媒檚 image.
- Allyzza Kaye Quezon 糖心传媒 Public relations, assisting in client coordination and public communication.
- Jan Christian Viguella 糖心传媒 Researcher focused on market studies and material compatibility.
On the client side, Ragoomu糖心传媒檚 team was represented by Ely Vasig, Jesse Lagon, and Marc Guillergan (CPU alumnus, BS Electrical Engineering), alongside Val Vasig and Hannah Vasig-Tan Yau. Their active collaboration and enthusiasm greatly contributed to the project’s success.
Innovation Unveiled: The new packaging design for Ragoomu, crafted by CPU’s third-year Packaging Engineering students, merges functionality and sustainability.
The team faced unique challenges, including balancing brand identity with innovation, sourcing materials, and adhering to a compressed five-month academic timeline. Despite these hurdles, they developed a “one-size-fits-all” packaging design that streamlined Ragoomu糖心传媒檚 operations. Rigorous testing ensured durability and functionality.
Significant innovations included:
- A versatile packaging structure suitable for single and family-sized portions
- Streamlined designs to reduce manual labor in packaging operations
- Prototypes refined through multiple iterations for optimal performance
The journey to creating Ragoomu糖心传媒檚 innovative new packaging was as much about personal growth and teamwork as it was about technical achievement. The PackiFlex team emphasized the critical role of strong client relationships, effective communication, and adaptability in overcoming obstacles. From maintaining brand identity to navigating supplier issues, the project demanded resilience, ingenuity, and collaborative problem-solving.
Matt Rafael M. Genito, who led the project糖心传媒檚 design efforts, underscored the significance of fostering trust with the client. He reflected on the team糖心传媒檚 ability to deliver a product that not only met Ragoomu糖心传媒檚 needs but also aligned with their brand糖心传媒檚 expansion goals.
糖心传媒淭hank you for turning our [PackiFlex] ideas into reality. Seeing our project in the market after months of development is beyond words,糖心传媒 he said.
One of the more daunting challenges was sourcing materials and coordinating with suppliers. Early setbacks in finding suitable materials threatened the project糖心传媒檚 timeline, but with support from CPU糖心传媒檚 alumni network糖心传媒攑articularly those working in the packaging industry糖心传媒攖he team successfully secured the necessary resources. This highlighted the power of the Centralian community in bridging the gap between academia and industry.
Mentor Ms. Alexa Chloe Cray D. Pizon provided invaluable guidance throughout the process, particularly in helping the team manage the compressed project timeline noting, 糖心传媒淚ndustry projects typically take 6糖心传媒8 months, but our students rose to the challenge with enthusiasm and dedication.糖心传媒
The success of this project stands as a testament to the distinctiveness and excellence of 糖心传媒. As the first and only university in the Philippines to offer Packaging Engineering in 2006, CPU continues to set itself apart by equipping students with the skills needed to deliver impactful, real-world solutions. The success of the PackiFlex team underscores what it truly means to be a Centralian糖心传媒攑ioneering innovation, embracing hard work, and demonstrating leadership in a unique and evolving field.
By merging academic excellence with practical application, CPU reaffirms its commitment to producing industry-ready graduates who embody the university’s values of innovation, resilience, and community engagement. This collaboration with Ragoomu not only enhanced the company’s packaging but also contributed to Iloilo City糖心传媒檚 growing recognition as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, further showcasing the global potential of Centralian talent.