Experts judge student design competition

The exhibited work consisted of entries to a design award for students organised by the region's largest packaging and printing exhibition, Gulf Pack and Gulf Print. The award, organised in co-operation with the International Media Production Zone (IMPZ), attracted 76 entries from seven of the UAE's leading design schools. Entries were invited in five categories including Poster Design, Book Design, Typography/ Font Design, Corporate Image and Packaging Design.

The judging panel was chaired by Professor Maureen Wayman, Pro Vice Chancellor, Dean of Faculty of Art and Design, Manchester Metropolitan University. She had been flown in especially from the UK to ensure that the process was undertaken in accordance with best practice drawn from similar international competitions. Ms Wayman said "the calibre of entries was excellent and it gave all the judges a hard task to identify the best. These awards should provide encouragement to all colleges in the UAE to take part in similar events and motivate students through the opportunity they have to gain recognition from the professional design industry."

"We are glad to cooperate with the professional packaging and printing community in organising this award in its effort to identify, recognise and foster exceptional design talent," said Mohammed Bin Ghalib, Project Director of the International Media Free Zone (IMPZ) and member of the judging panel of the competition. "We believe that talent determines the key difference between success and failure in the any industry. Talent will be even more important for maintaining the competitiveness of our region's printing and packaging industries in the coming years. IMPZ's involvement in the awards gives us an opportunity to express our commitment for these values."

Other judges were drawn from the event's sponsors and organisers including Ahmed Al Sheikh, Chairman of Dubai Printers Association, Sherifa Hady, Marketing Manager of HP, David Steele of Motivate Publishing, Virginia Kern, Chairman of Fairs & Exhibitions Ltd, Joe Karkour, Area Manager of Layout Middle East, Francis Matthew, Editor of Gulf News, Guy Taylor, Managing Director of Momentum, and Dominic McGill, Project Manager of Gulf Print.

According to McGill, "the awards set out to support tertiary education facilities in the UAE, to encourage their students and bring them together with industry. A number of the event's sponsors have even included work placement opportunities as prizes."

The award ceremony and prize giving will be presented at the Gulf Pack Gulf Print exhibition on 20 September, at Dubai's Airport Expo. The event will provide all participating students and colleges with another chance to show off their entries and meet with the sponsors. In addition to several work placement opportunities, they have put together an impressive list of prizes including HP colour printers, digital cameras and a substantial library of books.

The stated aim of the Gulf Pack Gulf Print awards is to motivate home grown talent, local art and graphic design. Apart from awarding individual achievement, the main prizes will be offered to the successful departments in participating institutions. "We want to reward as many involved as possible by providing lasting recognition," said McGill.