Clemson’s 2025 Packaging Science capstone students partnered with Atlantic Packaging to take on a real client challenge: designing protective packaging for a ceramic mug that delivers a premium unboxing experience and survives a three-story drop while also remaining cost-effective to ship. Through hands-on research, testing and iteration, students transformed classroom knowledge into professional-grade solutions tailored to industry and consumer demands.
Atlantic Packaging team members were on campus to attend the final presentations, where students unveiled their packaging solutions. The company’s representatives were impressed by the depth of research, the professionalism of the teams and the creativity behind each design.
“We love sponsoring the Clemson capstone project because it helps us stay current with packaging market trends and evolving consumer needs. It also gives student teams the chance to work side-by-side with us and benefit from the resources and expertise we can bring,” said Kyle Pischel, packaging engineer at Atlantic Packaging.
“Companies like Atlantic Packaging understand the importance of partnership to develop the next generation of packaging talent,” said Haley Appleby, coordinator of the Packaging Science Capstone.
“They consistently sponsor exceptional, challenging, and real-world projects for our seniors. We are deeply appreciative of their continued mentorship and commitment to our students’ success.”
This collaboration exemplifies Clemson’s commitment to experiential learning. It prepares students to make immediate impacts in their fields and strengthens industry-academic partnerships that drive innovation and workforce development.
Read more about the collaboration on Atlantic Packaging’s blog
