Can you hear the people shout? The call is out for those with ink in their veins and a love of print in their hearts to gather under the National Print Awards banner and join the Print Revolution!
Entries to the 2015 National Print Awards are now open, and organisers are characterising this year’s quest as a chance for those who understand the power of print – print professionals, creatives, marketers, packagers and communications experts – to stand up and prove its supremacy by entering their best work.
“Print is powerful, all the research tells us that,” says NPA Chair Susan Heaney, “and in the face of ever increasing competition, the best way for all of us to demonstrate just how influential and effective it can be is to continue to strive to produce our work to the very highest standards.
“The National Print Awards was formed more than 30 years ago to recognise and reward the achievement of excellence in print. Over that time, they have helped drive the quest for quality and lift standards across the industry to truly international standards – and this year’s Print Awards will continue that great tradition.”
Heaney heads this year’s NPA Committee, which also includes Adam Todd from Fuji Xerox Australia, Craig Pearce from Flying Colours, Bowden Printing’s Damien Burchell, Ian Smith from Advance Press, Heidelberg’s Richard Timson and Richard Watson from Currie Group. Together, they hope to present an Awards which not only stays true to the vision of the National Print Awards, but galvanises the industry in an increasingly competitive market.
“Today, we are truly on the front line of a battle field. It has never been more important for print to meet quality and effectiveness benchmarks, and we are calling all print service providers, creatives, packagers, print buyers and communications professionals to put their best foot forward to demonstrate just why print is, and will continue to be, a critical part of the multi-channel communications world of the future,” Heaney says.
This year’s ‘new look’ National Print Awards feature direct entry into any one of 17 revamped and consolidated categories. The Currie Group Award for the Most Innovative Use of Imaging in Print and the Heidelberg Award for Excellence in Craft will be judged from all gold medal winning entries, while the third Major Sponsor Award, the Fuji-Xerox Effectiveness Award, requires separate entry into the competition.
Entries will be judged in February by an expert judging panel headed up by Luke Wooldridge and medal winners will be announced at the National Print Awards Presentation Dinner in Sydney on Friday 15 May, 2015, an event which will provide a fitting close to the industry’s PrintEx 15 exhibition.
“We’re calling on print service providers, advertisers and marketers to identify the very best print work they have produced over the past year and enter these important Awards,” Heaney says, “and also extend a warm invitation to join colleagues and compatriots from around the industry in Sydney next May as we stand together and demonstrate the Power of Print!”
To be eligible, jobs must have been produced between 1 September 2013 and 30 December 2014, and must be printed and finished in Australia. The closing date for entries is close of business on Friday 12 December. Entry forms are available for download at www.nationalprintawards.com.au or by contacting organisers at printawards@printnet.com.au