Presidents Post – February
Sign Awards a Judges Insight.
The NZ Sign Display Awards celebrate excellence within the signage industry so the awards committee are always reviewing and adjusting the awards categories and processes to keep the awards current and up to date with technology and innovative production techniques. We are also always looking for feedback from entrants which is extremely valuable to this reviewing process.
This year after reviewing feedback we have made some adjustments to a number of categories and the creation of another new category STORE FRONTS. The details of these changes and the new award will be available on the awards website. I thought I might give you guys some insight into the judging process and some tips for your entries.
Judging consists of 3 rounds. Stage 1 being undertaken as individuals generally 3 judges. All the entries are reviewed with each judge making a short list for the category. If 2 judges select the same entry in their short list that one moves on to the second round.
Stage 2 consists of the judges scrutinising each entry and scoring it based on each categories specifications and judging criteria. Each entry then receives an overall score. This process is mostly done by the judges individually again.
Stage 3. The judges meet with the convenors and all the entries are reviewed once again one by one. The judges discuss their opinions and deliberate the pros and cons of each entry. This is usually a great experience as a judge and shows the value of a varied judging panel with different points of view and opinions on priority of judging criteria the topic of much debate at times. The entry is then awarded its medal, not on first second third basis but more on a overall quality level.
The decisions and opinions the judges make are guided by not only the images of the entry but also largely by the details provided on each entry and it’s compliance to the judging criteria and rules.
Again this year the judging panel are asking all entrants to please utilise the details section of the entry form to the explain the entry to the fullest to aid in the decision making. Sometimes pictures just don’t quite cut it and invariably the entry explanation details can make or brake the final result. The more details you give on the point of difference and especially the amount of input your company had into the overall creation of the entry you can give, the better chance of answering any questions the judges my have. Let us know if you created the logo, let us know if you suggested the images used, let us know if you installed the entry and what issues you faced, let us know if any design elements used were Stock images etc.
Every year entries are excluded because of one simple rule not being followed. The judging relies on each entry being completely anonymous as not to sway judgement in any way. Because of this no identification of the company entering can be seen or read in the entry. Don’t have your staff in the images with their work shirts on, don’ t have your vehicles or building in the background of the images, don’t identify your company in the entry description. As a judge there is nothing more frustrating and unfortunate than to have to disqualify a great piece of signage from an award because of a silly slip in the details wording or a image which shows the origin of the entry.
We try to make the entry category descriptions and details as clear as possible but we still get feedback that some entrants can’t find the correct category for their entry. If this happens please feel free to call the awards convenors via Melissa Coutts our association secretary’s contact details below, to ask to clarify any details for a category. Better to take the time to call and clarify than waste an entry.
One entry has just as much chance of winning an award as multiple. More is not necessarily better. These awards are created to recognise excellence so enter your best most outstanding work.
You’ve got to be in it to win it, get your entries in today at www.nzsda.net.nz