By Chris Brook
In an effort to find the “Picasso of Prophylactics,” Boston-based Global Protection Corporation (GPC) has recently launched a nationwide contest in conjunction with its new product, One Condoms. The objective of the competition is to have the general public design their own condom wrapper in hopes of keeping the company’s new product in synch with today’s constantly changing “smart, hip consumer.”
“We think it’s only right that the designs should change and evolve as much as our customers do,” said Davin Wedel, who founded GPC in 1987 as an undergraduate at Tufts University. Nearly 20 years later, Wedel is now the corporation’s president and GPC is in the running to become the leader in the retail condom industry, competing alongside 80-year veterans Trojan Brand Condoms.
Through what the company has referred to as a technological advancement, the wrappers for One Condoms are circular, instead of the conventional square shape. Each wrapper is set to feature full color graphic art.
“[The contest is] definitely interesting,” said freshman behavioral neuroscience major Penny White. “It’s a good way to market their product because it’s never been done before.”
Prototypes already produced for the company feature images such as the American flag alongside the phrase, “One nation” and images like a sleek sports car or the Empire State Building emblazoned on wrappers alongside one-liners like “One for the road” or “One singular sensation,” respectively.
One Condoms is offering several prizes in hopes of encouraging submissions. In addition to the design being made into an actual product, selected artists will receive $250 if the design is finished and ready for production. The artist will receive $100 if the submitted idea is unfinished and needs polishing. Furthermore, the winning condom wrapper artist will receive a lifetime supply of condoms (365 per year) and have 5,000 free One Condoms donated to a local non-profit organization.
“I’m sort of left wondering who will actually sit down and set aside the time to sincerely design these things,” said White, who offered to design a condom wrapper for The News, “but regardless, the whole contest seems to make for a pleasurable experience – no pun intended.”
Despite White’s skepticism about student interest, GPC representative Keith Gelman said submissions have been coming in by the hundreds.
“Everyone’s doing really well; we’ve gotten hundreds of applications and even one from Italy, which is interesting,” Gelman said. “It goes to show that people are getting out there and picking up condoms at clinics and Planned Parenthoods, which is what we want – our ultimate objective is to promote safe sex and we feel this is a cool way to do so.”
One Condoms is the latest innovation in a wave of developments from GPC. Past projects have included the first FDA-approved glow-in-the-dark condoms, condom Smiley Pops, Pleasure Plus ribbed-brand condoms and the opening of Condomania – the first store to sell nothing but condoms and condom-related merchandise.
The contest, which began on Valentine’s Day, will run through June 30. Entry forms and official contest guidelines can be found at One Condoms’ Web site, www.onecondoms.com.
