NATIONAL PRINT AWARDS ENTRIES SOAR
The National Print Awards category entries have closed, with an unprecedented entry response, and the Major Awards still open for entries until tomorrow (Thursday).
Some 412 entries have been received across the competition’s core categories, with Awards judging now commencing.
“We are absolutely thrilled to have received more than 400 category entries – it’s an incredible result, and still counting with the Major Award Entries having been given a further week to assist those still entering,” said Kellie Northwood, CEO of the Visual Media Association.
This year’s awards are the 40th iteration of the print industry awards, and have been refreshed following the Covid hiatus. Northwood said, “Throughout the last two years we leaned into our members and the broader industry for feedback and undertook a considered refresh of the Awards. To see this level of support in response to those improvements is a wonderful outcome.”
There are a few days left for Major Award submissions, which need to be in by COB Thursday. The VMA is encouraging entrants to finalise their entries promptly, to ensure inclusion in this year’s prestigious honours list.
The Major Awards include:
> Ricoh Australia Women in Industry
> Konica Minolta Emerging Talent
> Environmental Sustainability Achievement
> Workplace Culture + Wellbeing Achievement
> Industry Employee of the Year
> Industry Supplier of the Year
In an exciting development for this year’s Awards, the Ricoh Australia Women in Industry and Konica Minolta Emerging Talent Major Award winners will each receive an exclusive professional development opportunity — a fully funded trip to the United Kingdom to attend the highly respected Power of Print conference and an international networking tour this November.
Major categories not enterable include the Print21 Printer of the Year, and the Lifetime Achievement Award, which are determined via category entries and the VMA board of directors.
Award category judging has officially commenced at the VMA’s Melbourne office today with a new, impartial judging system now in place. This year, the VMA has implemented a multi-phase judging platform to enhance governance and transparency, and to ensure fairness across all submissions.
“Each entry is being carefully reviewed by a minimum of four judges using a consistent scoring matrix applied across four key criteria – quality and craftsmanship, creativity in production, innovation in production, and effectiveness and the X-factor,” Northwood explained.
Past NPA judges were engaged to discuss the updated process, contributing their experience to upholding the highest standards of assessment integrity. The introduction of a digital scoring platform ensures each judge provides independent evaluations, which are then averaged for consistency and accuracy.
The VMA acknowledges the extraordinary craftsmanship, creativity, and commitment showcased in this year’s entries, representing the vibrant heart of the print and visual media industry, the National Print Awards remain the only industry craft and standards awards of distinction across the industry and therefore the benchmark of excellence.
Finalists will be announced in the coming weeks, with winners revealed at the National Print Awards Gala in Sydney, 22 May.