The countdown is now on to the UK Graphic Awards 2021, with the finalists announced in the run-up to the 14 September gala event after the daytime Thrive in Print conference.
The UK Graphic Awards focus on the people and businesses producing stunning wide format print and graphics across the country.
The awards will be the industry's first opportunity to come together in almost two years, and the organisers, installation workflow software provider Vism and FESPA UK Association are planning a spectacular celebration.
“A celebration that’s long overdue”
Vism CEO Dan Tyler, who also recently joined the FESPA UK board, says that after the difficulties of the last two years, this opportunity to celebrate achievements and share best practices is long overdue.
He said: “The inaugural awards had to be postponed from 2020 due to COVID restrictions, so we were delighted to receive so many entries once we were able to get them back on track. It reflects well on the resilience of our industry and the leaders within it.
“I’m proud that as organisers of these awards and a supplier to the industry, here at Vism we are able to play an active part in such a positive and independent celebration of what we all do best.”
The finalists
The finalists in each category are:
Branded Interiors Project of the Year
● Imageco
● Signbox
Event & Exhibition Graphics Project of the Year
● Imageco
● Into Print Digital
Leisure & Hospitality Graphics Project of the Year
● Imageco
● Cube London
Museums & Galleries Graphics Project of the Year
● MacroArt
● Stylo
Retail Graphics Project of the Year
● Stylo
● Wild VC
Graphics Roll-Out of the Year
● Grapefruit Graphics
● SMP Group
The Green Award (Sustainability & Environmental Achievement)
● ImageCo
● Cestrian
The Innovation Award
● Signbox
● Grapefruit Graphics
The Rising Star Award
● Kalub Smith - Sovereign Signs
● Nat Banks - Creightive
Large Format Print Company of the Year (under 30 employees)
● Ottimo Digital
● Imageco
Large Format Print Company of the Year (30+ employees)
● Hollywood Monster
● Signbox
● FaberExposize UK
A Best in Show award will also be presented to the judges’ choice amongst the 6 project category winners.
The awards were recently judged and finalists were chosen by a 3-member judging panel, Marc Burnett of Large Format Review, Jane Rixon from HP, and Chirag Patel, Head of Creative at Elemis. The judges were excited to see the quality and range of entries, which speak to the skills, expertise and imagination that’s widespread across the wide-format print and design industry.
Dan commented “It was a privilege for our judges to be welcomed into the entrants’ worlds and to see the hard work and dedication that went into creating some spectacular displays. They didn’t just meet their clients’ needs, they also provided inspiration to all those who had the chance to see them.”
The awards winners will be announced at a gala dinner on 14 September. Limited tickets are still available at www.ukgraphicawards.com
