What does it really take to win a Pentaward?

This week on What Does Your Mum Think, we sit down with three people shaping one of the biggest stages in global packaging design — Adam Ryan, Chloe Templeman, and John Glasgow.

Pentawards is celebrating 20 years in the game… two decades of recognising the best packaging design on the planet. But behind the trophies, judging rooms, and glossy entries — there are real stories, real opinions, and real tension about what “great” actually means.

So we got into it.

From the biggest mistakes designers make when entering…
To how community, culture, and even the dance floor play a role in creative careers…
To whether designers should take political positions or stay neutral…

This isn’t just about awards — it’s about the industry, where it’s at, and where it’s going.

We also break down:
• How Pentawards started (and why it exists)
• What judges are actually looking for
• The evolution of packaging design over the last 20 years
• Why diversity is still a challenge in the industry
• What packaging might look like in 2046
• Tips for anyone thinking of entering

And yeah… whether awards actually make you better 👀

If you’re a designer, creative, or just someone trying to break into the industry — this one’s for you.

Run it up. Make Mum proud!