FESPA has announced the Digital Print Awards 2008, with the continued support of HP, which supplies wide- and super-wide format printers and consumables.
First launched at FESPA Digital 2006 in Amsterdam, the FESPA Digital Print Awards set out to recognise and reward best practice in the digital printing sector, judging entries not simply on their print quality, but on their creativity and the use of digital technology to deliver definable advantages to the client.
New features
The FESPA Digital Print Awards programme is being simplified and energised with the launch of a new, interactive web site at www.fespadpa.com. The site will function as the fulcrum of the Awards programme, providing printers with access to essential information and terms and conditions for entry, as well as a simple, online entry mechanism.
For the first time, entry to the Awards will be completely free of charge, making participation feasible for even the smallest digital printing business. Entries received via the web site will be automatically showcased in a stimulating live, online Gallery of entries, and printers everywhere are encouraged to engage with the Awards scheme from start to finish, by taking the opportunity to score their peers’ entries using a secure online rating system.
The Awards will feature the popular entry categories from 2007, including:
- Vehicles;
- Interior;
- Exterior;
- Décor;
- Packaging;
- Textiles;
- Manufactured Goods.
This year, printers will have the additional option of entering a new Fine Art category, reflecting the growing significance of this exacting and creative application for wide-format digital imaging.
The Awards continue to embrace printers from across Europe, regardless of their choice of printing engine or consumables. The Awards will also be extended to printers from the Middle East and Africa, in recognition of the high standard of digital print being produced in these developing regions.
There will be no regional sub-categories this year, giving printers from any country in Europe, the Middle East and Africa the opportunity to be benchmarked against the industry’s best.
CEO of FESPA, Nigel Steffens says, "Building on the success of 2007, we now aim to open the FESPA Digital Print Awards to the widest possible community of digital service providers, embracing commercial and industrial printers from more regions, incorporating growing applications, and increasing the Awards’ appeal to all sizes of business.
What’s more, we are introducing a number of new initiatives to enhance the commercial value of participation, making the FESPA Digital Print Awards a ‘must-enter’ scheme for any ambitious printer."
François Martin, HP Graphic Arts marketing manager adds, "HP is pleased to continue its support for the FESPA Digital Print Awards. These awards highlight how digital technology can help print service providers to do more, to do it better and to do it differently.
"The 2007 entries demonstrated the creativity of these companies who are responding to their clients’ needs with increasingly imaginative solutions, and we look forward to seeing next year’s entries."
Entry, Judging & Prizes
The FESPA Digital Print Awards 2008 web site is now open for receipt of entries from until January 31 2008.
A shortlist of commendations in each of the eight application categories will be judged by a jury of digital printing experts in February 2008, and the category winners informed in writing.
Entries will be judged on creativity, including originality, impact and design, as well as the ‘digital advantage’ in terms of tactical use and productivity; that is, how digital printing enabled a novel approach and/or provided an economic solution.
The eight category winners will attend a VIP evening prize-giving ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland, on the eve of FESPA Digital 2008 (April 1-3 2008). This prestigious event will provide an invaluable social and networking forum, as well as heralding the announcement of the overall Platinum Winner of the FESPA Digital Print Awards 2008.
All category winners will receive a prize package comprising a return flight to Geneva, two nights’ accommodation at a first-class hotel in Geneva, participation at the winners’ event on March 31 2008, and VIP entry to the FESPA Digital 2008 exhibition at Palexpo, Geneva.
The Platinum winner and all category winners will derive optimum exposure and tangible commercial benefits from their success, says FESPA. All winners will be presented to the international trade media at a press champagne reception during FESPA Digital 2008, and will be the subject of detailed business case studies.
In addition, the Platinum Winner will receive prominent promotional coverage in an influential vertical market magazine in their home market. Promotional Programme The web site and all promotional collateral for the Awards will feature a striking series of ‘tattoo’ images.
The creative concept is adventurous and contemporary, and is designed to highlight the creative forces behind digital printing, the scope for the technology to push boundaries, the unbeatable potential for success in the Awards to throw the winner’s business into the spotlight, as well as subtly underlining the growing importance of personalisation in digital print applications.
The promotional campaign for the FESPA Digital Printing Awards 2008 commences in October 2007, with a comprehensive web banner advertising campaign on leading media web sites, with the aim of stimulating printers to visit the Awards web site.
The advertising campaign will be supported by direct marketing activity, and HP and FESPA will also actively promote the Awards scheme to members, customers and prospects throughout Autumn 2007 at a variety of sector events.
