Judging Complete for PICA Victoria

In racing, picking which horse will be first past the post is notoriously difficult. Previous results, together with current form and track conditions, all play a part – but there will always be an element which comes down to luck. In print, however, luck has nothing to do with winning says Chairman of the PICA Victoria judging panel, Rod Urquhart – rather, it’s all about quality, commitment and attention to detail.

“No matter what year, or what category of the Awards we’re judging, these qualities always win the day,” he told us this week, following the completion of judging for the PICA Victoria competition on 5 September at Printing Industries headquarters in Mulgrave.

This year, industry experts Norman Field, Bill Hicks, Robert Black, Mark Holland, Garry Muratore and Gerard Wintle joining Urquhart on the panel for what Urquhart says was also one of the most difficult judging challenges ever.

“The judging process is always an exacting one, with a commitment to only award one gold medal in any category – and then only if, in the opinion of the judges, it is of sufficient quality to warrant this ultimate accolade and go on to compete at a national level at the National Print Awards,” Urquhart (pictured) explains.

“Of the 34 eligible categories, only 25 achieved a gold medal award this year – the same number as in 2010 – with a further 35 silver and 35 bronze medals awarded.

“As usual, the clear frontrunners in terms of quality and, consequently, very challenging categories from which to pick a winner, were Categories 5 and 6 – Booklets, Catalogues and Magazines – and Category 8, Calendars. There were also some outstanding entries in Category 11, Limited Editions and Art Reproductions and in the Self Promotion category which is always a stand out.”

Technology continues to impact on some categories, with Annual Reports and screen printed entries both falling in numbers again this year. Urquhart says the panel was also disappointed with a couple of categories where printers failed to take advantage of outstanding opportunities – namely wide format, where entries did not represent the market, and innovation, which failed to attract entries that were truly ‘new and innovative’.

Those results aside, Urquhart says high quality field made the competition for what some consider the ‘ultimate’ prize – the Judges’ Award – a tighter race than it has ever been. “There were some brilliant candidates for this Award,” reports Urquhart, “and the successful outcome reflects the depth and continued excellence of print producers in Victoria.”

The winners are to be announced at the PICA Victoria Presentation Dinner on Friday 4 November at the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins Ballroom. Reservations for the Awards Presentation and Dinner can be made by emailing vic@printnet.com.au or faxing your details to (03) 9561 8780.