Party-goods designer sketches Pepsi can

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PURCHASE, N.Y., July 3 (UPI) -- A suburban New York party-goods designer has become the first consumer to have his design featured on 500 million Pepsi-Cola cans.

The design by Jamey Jackson of West Nyack, N.Y., was voted on by U.S. Pepsi drinkers from among five semifinalists, PepsiCo Inc. said.

The semifinalists were decided from nearly 100,000 submissions based on originality, creativity and "strength of Pepsi branding," the company said.

Jackson -- a designer at Amscan Inc., which makes decorated party goods and accessories -- said he got the inspiration for his design, which emulates the doodling students do on notebook paper and school books, just a few days before the May 10 contest deadline.

His busy blue-and-white design features playful images, including people, cars, flying saucers, musical notes, arrows, bubbles, stars and hearts, along with affirmations such as "Create," "Dream" and "Celebrate."

Besides having his design featured on 500 million cans next year, Jackson will win $10,000, PepsiCo said.

Asked if he expected a raise from his current employer, Jackson laughed and said he already told his boss that PepsiCo's corporate office in Purchase, N.Y., was "not too far away" from Amscan if they need some additional help, The (White Plains, N.Y.) Journal News reported.

"She didn't think it was as funny as I did," Jackson said.