March 9, 2010

Queens Designer Wins NYC Condom Package Design Contest

After tallying more than 15,000 online votes, the New York City Department of Health announced the winning wrapper design for its limited-edition city-branded free condom. The entry, designed by Luis Acosta of Queens, displays an image of an electronic power button, which voters felt best encapsulated the city’s public health message.

The design will appear on free condoms starting this fall. Each year, the city distributes more than 40 million lubricated Lifestyle brand condoms.

“The NYC Condom program is doing all of New York City a great service, and I’m very excited to be a part of it,” Acosta said. “I hope my package design reminds people that they’re in control. We all have the power to protect ourselves from sexually transmitted infections, HIV/AIDS and unplanned pregnancies.”

The contest, announced in December, attracted nearly 600 entries from the city’s five bureaus. A panel of local artists, advertising professionals and public health and social-marketing experts narrowed the choices down to five finalists. New Yorkers voted for their favorites on the health department’s website and the NYC Condom’s Facebook page.

“The design contest was meant to draw attention to a very serious problem,” said New York City health commissioner Thomas Farley, MD. “The HIV/AIDS epidemic is far from over in the city, and sexually transmitted diseases continue to spread at high rates. We hope Luis Acosta’s package design will remind all New Yorkers of their power to take control of their health. If you are having sex outside of a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner, you should use a condom—not just sometimes, every time.”

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