Cosmopack, the cosmetics industry international fair, was held in Bologna from March 17 to 20, in concomitance with the 49^th Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna. Both appointments, involving more than 1800 companies from all over the world, are considered essential in the field as a point of reference, meeting and discussion for decision makers working for the biggest names of the beauty industry as well as for its many start-ups. As is customary, the focus of Cosmopack 2016 was on innovation and research, both fundamental factors for the development of the firms that operate in the globalised, crowded and extremely competitive cosmetics market. The most surprising raw materials and formulations; the most cutting-edge products and far-sighted projects, able to anticipate future trends and mix aesthetics and innovation, were reunited for The Cosmopack Wall Award 2016 – The Avant-garde edition. Now in its third year, the award focused on the skincare and make-up products that stood out as the most groundbreaking in the market for their intrinsic characteristics, for the technology developed in their making, and for their design and innovative packaging. Elected by a jury of journalists, architects, designers and beauty experts, the winners received a prize designed and created by Mariia Gushchina, Karyna Kaziulina, Sara Melucci, Lorianne-Marie Newall, Valeria Scerbinschi, Shi Yuetong, Raushaniya Urmanshina, and Wang Jiayi, students of Visual Design at Istituto Marangoni the Milano School of Design. The Cosmopack Wall, the ultimate showcase of the cosmetic industry in the world, was therefore an international stage of great significance for the eight students, a valuable occasion to present their creativity to a select, influential public.