The Print & Visual Communication Association (PVCA) says over 1200 viewers tuned in to last Friday night’s Facebook livestream which named the winners in the 2020 state-based Printing Industry Creativity Awards with many using the virtual event as a reason to host a work BBQ or drinks.
The coronavirus pandemic forced the switch into a virtual format for this year’s awards but judging by the number of entrants and the broad range of categories that were listed, this was of little effect.
All gold medal winners will now progress to the 37th National Print Awards which are to be held in a similar livestream format on Facebook from 8pm to 9pm (AEST) on Friday July 17 on the Print & Visual Communication Facebook page.
A commemorative National Print Awards book is also being produced and can be ordered through the PVCA’s website.
The international judging process that took place last year was unable to proceed again this year due to the coronavirus but instead a local team of judges, including a customer of print, will make the tough decisions on the national winner.
PVCA CEO Andrew Macaulay hailed the PICA virtual event a massive success both in terms of the number of people who watched from a variety of work BBQ gatherings and drinks sessions, the camaraderie this invoked and the outstanding quality of the entries themselves.
“We have had some really positive feedback and the social aspect of it was good. The ability for people to interact and some of the banter between groups, not just on Facebook but also with texting and emailing each other, was really great,” Macaulay said.
“The standard of entries this year was amazing and the standard just keeps on growing and growing.
“I’m really looking forward to Print 2 Parliament in October where we can actually lay out all the winning entries. We are expecting that to proceed because the venue is quite large and therefore social distancing will be fine.”
The PVCA’s national events manager, Jacobena Mills, delivered the virtual event without a hitch, listing off each winner in the gold, silver and bronze category.
Victoria was the first state to have its winners named with boutique offset press operation Taylor’d Press taking out five gold medals in total, as well as a significant number of mentions in the silver category.
Victoria’s Print2Metal was named digital printer of the year for the state, while Adams Print won gold for book printing and leaflet printing in the offset category. For digital book and leaflet printing, Ellikon Fine Printing, took the gold.
When it came to embellishment, Victoria’s Chapel Press took out the gold for this category with the Dexus Awards Invitation.
In NSW, Digitalpress took home seven gold medals, with Rawson Print Co also doing well with four gold medals.
Carbon8 also took home a gold medal for the stationary printing category for its work with the Cartier Exhibition Invitation.
Kwik Kopy Circular Quay also did well winning the gold in the large format printing category.
Next up was South Australia with Detpak Cartons and Openbook Howden winning three and two gold medals respectively. Multi Color Corporation also took home two gold medals on the night.
In Queensland, Eckersley Print Group performed strongly taking home three gold medals plus a silver, with Kuhn Corp winning one gold medal and two silver medals for its entries.
Sunshine Coast printer SunPrint also performed strongly winning three golds, four silver and two bronze medals making it one of the stronger performing printers with nine medals in total.
Fast Proof Press also did well winning gold for its self-promotion piece.
For WA, The Label Factory and Intafoil Pty Ltd won gold medals in the embellishment and Printer of the Year Labels categories.
Comment below to have your say on this story.
If you have a news story or tip-off, get in touch at editorial@sprinter.com.au.
Sign up to the Sprinter newsletter