Foldfactory.com is searching the globe in a first-of-its-kind “Folded Inspiration” competition to reward the best uses of folded paper and design for print. “The contest was inspired by my years and years of research in the industry,” states Trish Witkowski, Chief Folding Fanatic at foldfactory.com. “Every design studio, ad agency, printer or bindery I visit has something interesting hiding in a sample closet somewhere. I’ve always thought there should be some way to motivate people to share those pieces so that the industry can benefit.”
Foldfactory.com houses the industry’s only video idea library, which serves as a creative resource for the graphic arts industry. Hundreds of short videos of printed pieces folding and unfolding provide valuable inspiration to those seeking ideas for their next print project. Tens of thousands of people visit foldfactory each month for inspiration, but Witkowski has bigger plans. “I want to grow our idea resource, and I’m willing to reward people for sending us great examples of folding for print. We’re giving prizes for big and small ideas – we have eleven categories, including an economy category, digital print, direct mail, specialty, and we also have a student category. We’re really looking to motivate young people to get involved in the competition as well, and to think creatively with regard to folding.”
Entrants will compete for weekly and monthly prizes throughout the competition, and in the end, there will be a juried design competition and a book of the “best of the best” ideas for folded materials.
Not your average design competition
It’s not only the subject matter that sets this contest apart from the others. Most design competitions have a deadline for date of publication, but not this one. Foldfactory believes great folding and design is great folding and design, no matter when it was created. Entrants are encouraged to look into the past for projects that are hiding in portfolios and sample rooms, as well as coming up with inspiring solutions in their current and future projects.
Foldfactory sees this contest as a great opportunity to get everyone involved — designers, printers, binderies, students — to build a better resource, and to witness the vast array of solutions that are produced globally every day that most of us would never have access to.
Share your ideas – all for a great cause
The global competition runs from October 1, 2010 – May 15, 2011. To enter is easy. Simply download an entry form at the link below and follow the simple instructions. Entry fees are low, with a portion of the proceeds donated to graphic arts education programs and the balance funding the expansion of the foldfactory idea library and services.
For more information and to download an entry form, visit https://foldfactory.com/contest.php.
Need some folded inspiration?
Trish Witkowski of foldfactory.com is touring with design legend Kit Hinrichs for Sappi Fine Paper to celebrate and share their collaboration on the highly-anticipated fourth volume of The Standard. The newest volume focuses on scoring and folding and is a folding and binding masterpiece. Attendees get a free advance copy of the Sappi publication and a free custom template download from foldfactory.com. The event is free, but you must register.
Chicago, October 5
Los Angeles, October 7
Atlanta, October 19
New York, October 21
Dallas, November 10
This article was last modified on October 1, 2010
This article was first published on October 1, 2010
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