UFI Names Top Intl. Poster Makers
-- Tradeshow Week, 7/14/2008
Who says art and business can't mix? The 2008 winners of the 12th Intl. Trade Fair Poster Competition were announced recently, with the jury's Grand Awards going to poster makers from Germany and Colombia.
Grand prize awards were awarded in two categories: generic exhibition promotion, for general promotions that support the exhibition industry, and exhibition event posters, supporting a specific event.
Messe Frankfurt of Frankfurt, Germany, won in the first category with its six-poster series titled “Faces,” designed by Saatchi & Saatchi. The jury unanimously chose the entry because of its “ability to graphically support the exhibition as a strong marketing medium,” according to UFI, The Global Assn. of the Exhibition Industry, which organized the contest with Bulgaria's Intl. Fair Plovdiv.
The second category winner, Corferias of Bogota, Colombia, won for its “Reading gives you a lot to talk about” poster, created by Toro Vasarez Mora Fischer for the 21st Bogota Intl. Book Fair. UFI named six runners-up, one in the first category and five in the second, as well.
“The quality of this year's entries was outstanding,” said Lili Eigl, jury chairwoman and UFI communications manager. “We are delighted with the strong graphic quality which is created to support this dynamic marketing medium.”
The competition recognizes contemporary poster art supporting the international exhibition industry. Winners were selected based on the originality of the concept, the successful interpretation of the topic and clear presentation of the marketing message and technical details. This year, 161 posters were submitted from 49 exhibition organizations in 26 countries. Award winners will receive statuettes created by sculptor Yanko Nenov. Runners-up receive certificates of recognition.
