The Sonoco Institute of Packaging Design and Graphics

What The Sonoco Institute of Packaging Design and Graphics does

The Sonoco Institute of Packaging Design and Graphics is a non-profit academic institute housed within Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina, established as a formal collaboration between the university's graphic communications and packaging science departments. It is positioned as the only university program in the United States with a multidisciplinary approach combining graphic communications and packaging science as core competencies, and houses the only research and development center of its kind in the nation. The institute offers a multi-service platform spanning CUShop eye-tracking consumer research, production-quality print testing and evaluation, faculty-led consulting, custom corporate training programs, online self-paced courses, small-group workshops, and educational seminars, alongside undergraduate and graduate academic instruction in graphic communications and packaging science.

The institute generates revenue through professional training programs (seminar, workshop, and custom corporate training fees), academic tuition via Clemson University integration, consulting services for printing and packaging companies, and online course subscriptions. Its core technology includes the CUShop state-of-the-art consumer experience laboratory using eye-tracking technology, production-quality prepress and print machinery, digital workflow and file analysis systems, and extensive color evaluation tools. It serves a diverse customer base: printing and packaging industry professionals (prepress, press operations, corrugated), brand owners and marketers, corporate training clients, and Clemson University students in graphic communications, packaging science, art, and architecture programs.

Distribution is hybrid: on-campus offerings at Clemson are regional and direct, custom corporate training is regional with on-site delivery, and online self-paced courses provide global reach. Distribution relies on a combination of Clemson University's academic channels, event-driven seminar and workshop registrations, and a membership program. The institute's strategic focus areas include sustainability, traceability, and reusability in packaging, with applied research spanning printed electronics, bioplastics, and consumer experience testing.

Name

The Sonoco Institute of Packaging Design and Graphics

Legal name

The Sonoco Institute of Packaging Design and Graphics

Website

https://sonocoinstitute.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Sonoco Institute of Packaging Design and Graphics is a Clemson University non-profit institute offering multidisciplinary education, research, and industry training in packaging design and graphic communications, serving printing/packaging professionals, brand owners, and students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Packaging Education and Research

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Finance, Accounting & Procurement Training (EDAGANAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Project, Process & Quality Certification Prep (PMP, PRINCE2, Lean Six Sigma, ITIL) (EDANAIAE), Sustainability Testing, Certification & Compliance (LCA, Recyclability/Compostability Testing, FSC/PEFC) (IMALAMAK)

Keywords

• Packaging design education
• Graphic communications training
• Flexographic printing courses
• Color management consulting
• Packaging research services

Headquarters

HQ city

Clemson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Professional Training Programs: Revenue generated from industry seminars, workshops, and custom training programs for printing and packaging professionals. Programs range from 2-3 day on-site workshops to long-term training curricula.
2. Academic Programs: Integration with Clemson University's academic departments providing courses for undergraduate and graduate students in graphic communications, packaging science, and related fields
3. Consulting Services: Faculty-provided consulting services for printing and packaging industries including productivity assessment, workflow improvement, color management, and process optimization
4. Online Course Offerings: Self-paced, interactive online courses for remote training opportunities targeting working professionals

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Sonoco Institute is a Clemson University department that delivers multidisciplinary packaging design and graphic communications education, research, and industry training. It sells professional development programs (seminars, workshops, online courses, custom corporate training), faculty-provided consulting services, eye-tracking consumer research through the CUShop lab, and production-quality print testing and color evaluation services to printing, packaging, and consumer packaged goods industry professionals.

Product overview

The Sonoco Institute is a Clemson University program offering a multi-service platform combining packaging design and graphic communications education and industry services. The portfolio includes industry-facing services (CUShop Eyetracking Lab, Print Testing & Evaluation, Consulting, Custom Training, Online Courses, Workshops, and Seminars) and academic courses in graphic communications and packaging science. The Institute's offerings span consumer experience research using eye-tracking technology, production-quality print testing, professional development programs (seminars, workshops, online courses), and undergraduate/graduate academic instruction. It is described as the only university program in the country with multidisciplinary packaging as a core competency.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CUShop Eye-Tracking Lab

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Clemson UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe institute is a formal department within Clemson University, deriving its uniqueness by combining synergies between packaging design and graphic communications departments. It leverages university resources, faculty, facilities, and academic programs to deliver education and research in packaging science and graphic communications.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cal Poly Graphic Communication Department: Cal Poly's Graphic Communication department provides undergraduate and graduate programs blending printing, packaging, and graphic communications with industry partnerships. Comparable as a multidisciplinary academic unit offering industry-tailored printing/packaging education and applied research.
• University of Wisconsin-Stout (BS in Packaging): UW-Stout's B.S. in Packaging program offers an industry-aligned packaging degree with hands-on curriculum. Comparable as another US university packaging program competing for the same industry-training and student-recruitment audience.
• Western Michigan University (Paper Engineering / Chemical Engineering): WMU hosts one of the few US programs focused on paper, printing, and packaging engineering, including pilot-plant printing equipment. Comparable as a peer academic unit providing technical training, applied research, and industry-facing services to printing/packaging professionals.
• Rochester Institute of Technology (School of Print Media): RIT's School of Print Media offers degrees and industry training in printing, graphic communications, and packaging. Comparable because it combines academic instruction with industry-facing short courses, seminars, and applied printing research — the same hybrid model the Sonoco Institute operates.
• Michigan State University School of Packaging: MSU's School of Packaging is the largest and most established packaging-focused academic program in the US, offering BS, MS, and PhD degrees. Directly comparable as a university-based packaging education and research institution serving industry professionals and corporate clients.
• Ball State University (CAPPA): Ball State's College of Architecture and Planning houses CAPPA with programs covering packaging-related design and industry projects. Comparable as another academic center providing design-focused, industry-engaged training aligned with the Sonoco Institute's multidisciplinary model.

Others

• TAPPI: TAPPI is the leading global association for the pulp, paper, packaging, and converting industries, offering courses, conferences, and certifications. Comparable as an industry-body training competitor and potential co-delivery partner for paper/packaging professional education.
• AICC (Independent Packaging Association): AICC is the principal US trade association for the corrugated packaging industry, providing educational events and best-practices training (including the AICC Best Practices for Flexographic Printing seminar hosted by Sonoco). Comparable as an industry-training competitor and partner for the corrugated curriculum segment.
• FLEXO (Flexographic Technical Association / FTA): The Flexographic Technical Association is the leading flexo industry association, providing FIRST Level 1 certification that Sonoco's Flexo Foundations course optionally prepares students for. Comparable as the certification body whose curriculum the institute's flexo training aligns to.

Emerging players

• Smithers (Smithers Pira / Smithers Rapra): Smithers is a global testing, consulting, and market-intelligence provider for the packaging, paper, and polymer industries. Comparable as a commercial provider of paid industry services (testing and consulting) directly overlapping the institute's Print Testing & Evaluation and consulting offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Sonoco Institute of Packaging Design and Graphics