The GAPP Awards
The Pinnacle of Excellence
A
lmost a year ago the only competition for printers in the local market
was closed down and printers were left with no way to measure the
quality of their printing and adherence to industry standards. Following a
lengthy process of investigation, research and negotiation with various
industry players, Sentient Publishing has decided to launch The GAPP Awards
to address its core markets of Graphics, Advertising, Print and Packaging. The
Awards will combine the prestige of producing work of distinction while
allowing the participants to have fun and interact with like-minded people.
This competition will be fully-representative and will address all aspects of
printing across all sectors of the industry. The competition will address all
types of printing including litho, digital, flexo, gravure, silkscreen and large-
format and will include all types of substrates whether paper-based or not.
Categories will pit similarly printed products against each other as opposed
to looking at specific printed products such as calendars or annual reports.
The specific printing technique used to produce each entry will form the main
entry criteria. Other criteria will be developed to ensure clarity and further
differentiation. At present 20 categories will create a platform for fair
competition. This may change depending on the input requested and
received from the different sectors of the industry. Judging will be
conducted using specific sets of criteria pertinent to the production
method for each category. Independent auditors will verify the
decisions reached against a matrix which will ensure that there
are no irregularities arising from the judging process.
A competition of this nature requires buy-in from the industry and as a result
the competition will be extensively marketed and rolled out across a number of
platforms including magazine advertising and a dedicated website – currently
being developed.
All entry criteria will be formulated and created with the assistance of industry
bodies and recognised industry experts. In addition judging will be handled
independently and separately from
The GAPP Magazine
, Sentient Publishing or
any of its staff or agents. An independent convenor of judges will be appointed
who will work in consultation and conjunction with industry bodies and players to
select respected and reputable judges. Judging will be held in secret and judges
will be required to recuse themselves if they have been involved or have prior
knowledge of any specific job in a category.
Commenting on the decision to launch The GAPP Awards, Sentient Publishing
CEO Vikesh Roopchand said, ‘It has become clear to us that there is a dire need
in the industry for a competition, but not just a litho-based competition, one
which addresses all sectors of the industry. While there are competitions for the
packaging industry and the flexo sector, it is not our aim to compete with these
but rather to compliment them. We want this to be a completely inclusive and
representative competition where companies from all facets of the industry can
find value.
‘We believe that
The GAPP
is the most representative magazine serving the
printing industry due to the fact that it addresses all sectors of the industry. As
such, and given that there is no one industry body which covers all sectors of
the industry, we feel that we are ideally positioned to bring a competition of this
nature to the industry. Sentient Publishing is also completely independent from
any printer, major publishing house or industry supplier.’
Entries for The GAPP Awards will be opened as soon as the entry portal website
is up-and-running which is scheduled for September 2014. The awards ceremony
will be held in March 2016 and all entries created between September 2014 and
December 2015 will be eligible for entry. More information, such as entry criteria
and production requirements, will be made available as each element of the
competition is finalised. A tiered sponsorship programme will also be made
available to companies who wish to be associated with the Awards and the
search for ‘The Pinnacle of Excellence’ in each category.
To use the words of Walt Disney in conclusion, ‘I have been up against tough
competition all my life. I wouldn’t know how to get along without it.’ This
competition will introduce a new level of imagination, drive and motivation to
an industry which is looking for direction and a reason to regain traction.
Vol 4 Issue 3 • THE GAPP AWARDS THE PINNACLE OF EXCELLENCE
Competition – sometimes a positive and other times a negative but it is always there. We learn as young children
to compete with each other, whether it be a running race or a spelling Bee. We support our favourite rugby team or
we cheer on our national cricket team. Competition is everywhere – except at the moment it is not present in
the South African Printing Industry.
36
I
The GAPP
magazine
www.
thegapp
.co.za
