The awards, which are open to any printer in the world, will culminate in a prize-giving ceremony at Fespa’s Gala Dinner on 19 May 2015 during Fespa 2015 in Cologne, Germany.
Prior to 2014, the awards had previously only been open to the membership of Fespa's 37 member associations around the world.
Fespa head of events Duncan MacOwan said: “Last year was the first year we opened the awards to the global print community and we got some fantastic entries demonstrating the power of print.
“For 2015 we have added more categories as we felt the existing categories didn’t illustrate the full scope of printing techniques that could be used.”
The awards will now consist of 21 categories, 17 covering a variety of application themes including; in-store; fine art print; decals, outdoor and vehicle decoration; special effect print; garment and wearables; interior decoration and industrial and functional project of the year.
Each category can be entered with work created using either a digital print process, screen print process or a combination of any print process.
An independent panel of global industry experts, which includes end-users such as ad agencies, print buyers and printers, will judge the entries.
Judges already confirmed are Jacek Stencel, founder of print and finishing business PASJA, and screen printing specialist Josep Tobella.
Judging criteria will be excellence in execution and technical expertise of print quality; appropriate use of techniques, design, media; creativity with regard to the application and the return on investment for the end user of the printed work.
In addition to the application category awards there are four other separate categories; Young Star, Best in Show, Fespa Hall of Fame Award and People’s Choice.
The Young Star award is open to an employee or student in a print related discipline aged between 16 and 25. Best in Show is decided by the judges, from the shortlisted entries, for the piece of work that offers the most outstanding example of print.
The Hall of Fame Award, which is dedicated to the best printer, is voted for by the Fespa community from a shortlist of nominated printers while the People’s Choice award will also be voted for during the show by the Fespa community.
“Winning or even being shortlisted for a Fespa Award is a significant endorsement of a print business’ skill and expertise which enables printers to instil confidence with potential and existing customers. Printers have to be in it to win it, so PSPs should enter their best work,” said MacOwan.
For more information, visit www.fespa.com/awards.
