Anna Eppihimer didn’t set out to become a structural designer in the packaging industry. As a
University of Cincinnati DAAP student in Industrial Design, she had her mind set on creating
medical toys for children with disabilities. But life, as it often does, had other plans. And those
plans led Anna to Zumbiel, a place where creativity, passion, and community
intersect—sometimes in unexpected ways.
A fork in the road
Anna’s journey began in the usual way for an ambitious DAAP student: with big dreams and the
determination to find her niche in the vast world of industrial design. Her focus on medical toys
was clear. But after countless hours searching for opportunities in this specialized field, Anna
realized that perhaps her path wasn’t as straightforward as she’d imagined. So, she opened
herself up to other possibilities, which led her to a co-op position at Shor Packaging, a
corrugated packaging company. It was there she discovered how much she enjoyed the
hands-on design work found in packaging.
It wasn’t long before a mentor at DAAP suggested looking into Zumbiel, a company known for
its engineering acumen and creative packaging solutions. Intrigued by the variety of brands
Zumbiel worked with (including many she recognized from her own grocery runs), Anna decided
to take a chance and apply. What she found at Zumbiel was an opportunity to channel her
creativity into something she hadn’t considered before: structural design in packaging.
Embracing new opportunities: From co-op to full-time designer
As a co-op at Zumbiel, Anna quickly found herself immersed in the world of packaging design,
where she was crafting solutions: considering everything from how a package would look on a
shelf to the functional engineering required to protect its contents. Anna dug into market
research, balanced design aesthetics with practicality, and collaborated with multiple
departments, learning every step of the way.
One of her most memorable projects involved a sustainability initiative for Lassonde, where she
helped design a paperboard solution to replace plastic packaging. The project demanded
rigorous testing and multiple revisions to ensure the paperboard could endure the rigors of
transport—all without increasing the shipping box sizes. This project tested Anna’s creativity and
problem-solving abilities, pushing her to think critically and innovate on the fly—qualities
Zumbiel values greatly for enriching our culture and driving us to continually improve.
When Zumbiel offered her a full-time position as a Structural Designer, Anna knew she was in
the right place. Her full-time role pushes her to dive deeper, working on everything from
die-cutting to varnishing while collaborating with other departments, including Sales, Cutting,
Finishing, and Graphics.
Staying true to Zumbiel’s core values
But it wasn’t just about the technical skills. At Zumbiel, Anna found a place where her passion
for creativity and community flourished. She learned to navigate the challenges of working with
clients who were unsure what they wanted in their packaging (and the revisions and
improvements that required), and she did it all while staying true to Zumbiel’s core values:
Integrity, Passion, Empowerment, Creativity, and Community. For her, these values weren’t just
buzzwords—they were the principles that guided her work every day.
“I’m passionate about coming into the office each day and excited to work,” Anna says. “I enjoy
my job and love seeing everyone.”
Advice for the next generation of designers
To students at DAAP and beyond, Anna offers this advice: stay open. “Packaging opened my
eyes to something I love,” she says. “Even if packaging isn’t your end goal, there’s so much to
learn here that can apply to other areas of industrial design.”
We’re proud to have Anna on our team and look forward to the continued creativity and passion
she brings to our clients.
Interested in joining a company where your curiosity and creativity are highly valued?
Check out our Careers page — we’re always on the lookout for talented professionals.
