The headline addition centres on Fespa’s Printeriors strand for printed decor. It will be awarded across five sub-categories: public spaces, hotels and restaurants, events and pop-up experiences, offices and workplaces, and retail.
Three further application-based categories will cover packaging on paper and board, packaging on plastics and wrapping, such as the wrapping of vehicles, furniture and other objects.
The fifth new category is a judges’ award for innovation to celebrate the most innovative piece of work across all categories.
The winners of the Fespa Awards will be revealed during the 2020 edition of the flagship Global Print Expo, to be held in Madrid, at a gala event on 25 March.
“I think when it comes to Printeriors, print buyers are starting to see the benefits of injecting solid personality into a space,” said Fespa head of technical support Graeme Richardson-Locke, who will judge the awards for his fourth consecutive year. “There are more materials available and durability is improving as the tech has really matured.
“With the innovation award, we are looking at the type of experimental innovation that the regular categories possibly do not have the guidelines to accommodate – more research heavy practices that are ahead of the curve and deserve recognition.
“In general, we are simply asking entrants to demonstrate a clear understanding of why they used particular processes for their applications. It is an international award that can be a very motivating experience for your team and is the most beneficial PR. You will be up there with the best, judged by industry experts who award execution and imagination.”
Printers and signmakers can submit for 13 application-specific categories, while the people’s choice and best in show awards will be judged across all categories. Junior employees, trainees and students in the sector aged 16-25 can submit for the young star award.
Reading-based vinyl display specialist VGL won the best in show award at the Munich gala in May this year.
Entries must be submitted by 1 November ahead of the shortlist announcement on 9 December. The Fespa Awards 2019 received 173 entries from 50 countries.
Fespa Global Print Expo 2020 will take place from 24-27 March at IFEMA Exhibition Centre, Madrid, Spain.
