Creativity abounds for Sign and Graphic Imaging industry in Dubai

Creativity knows no bounds in Dubai according to the flood of nominations being received for the inaugural Sign and Graphic Imaging (SGI) Awards, set to take place at a gala dinner event on January 25, 2011.

International Expo Consults (IEC), organisers of the Sign and Graphic Imaging (SGI) Middle East exhibition, in co-operation with the Advertising Section of Dubai Municipality, opened nominations for the SGI Awards 2011 over the summer.

Designed to reward innovation and creativity in the sign and graphic imaging industry throughout the Middle East, the SGI Awards 2011 will focus on the use of outdoor applications for brand promotion.

“Signage is a huge growth area in the advertising medium and here in the Middle East we continue to see some of the most creative uses of large-scale outdoor promotion. The aim of these awards is to encourage further innovation and creativity in the outdoor signage industry,” said Mona Al Khamis, Head of Advertising Section, Dubai Municipality.

“IEC has witnessed the creative and often innovative development of outdoor media – such as vehicle and tall building wraps and hoardings – through the evolution of its SGI exhibition. IEC believes that the developing talent in the region is capable of setting new benchmarks and producing even more exciting uses and applications in the industry – and that such creativity should be recognized,” said Abdul Rahman Falaknaz, Chairman of International Expo-Consults (IEC), the organiser of SGI Awards 2011.

“The SGI Awards will reward creativity of ideas and excellence in execution. Bringing together industry leaders and innovators, the Awards will also provide a platform for the exchange of ideas and development of new mediums,” added Falaknaz.

There are six award categories, with companies invited to submit their nominations online.

The categories are:
Most innovative Marketing Campaign – Outdoor
Most innovative Green Outdoor Application
Most innovative Signage
Most innovative Wrap
Most innovative Digital Media
Most innovative SGI exhibition stand (Special Award)

The deadline for nominations to be submitted is December 30, 2010.

A panel of esteemed industry experts will judge the awards, presided over by chief judge Dr Nicholas Hellmuth, Director and Senior Editor, FLAAR USA.

Dr Hellmuth is the founder and author of several publications and websites on high-end scanning and large format printing, as well as looking at indigenous art forms. He has worked in conjunction with many international printing corporations, including Hewlett-Packard, MacDermid ColorSpan, Epson, Heidelberg and Calumet Photographic.

AGFA Graphics is the Platinum Sponsor for the SGI Awards 2011. AGFA develops, produces and distributes an extensive range of analogue and digital imaging systems and IT solutions, mainly for the printing industry and the healthcare sector, as well as for specific industrial applications.

Additional opportunities for sponsorship of the awards, table sales and the events ceremony itself, are available and will enable many different industry sectors to become involved in this exciting initiative. Further details of these sponsorship opportunities can be obtained directly from IEC.

SGI 2011 will take place from January 24-26, 2011 at the Airport Expo Dubai. The exhibition showcases the latest products and emerging technologies from the industries of Advertising, Architectural Hardware, Banners & Posters, Digital Imaging, Electronic Message Centres, Electronic Signage, Graphic Imaging, Graphic Services, Large Format Printing and Signage.

The show is endorsed by the Advertising Section of Dubai Municipality and supported by industry associations such as the Visual Industries Suppliers Association (VISA), Australia. ME Printer takes on the title of the Official Media Partner along with World of Print.com as the International Media Partner for SGI 2011.