HP seeks nominations for Inkspiration Awards

The award winners will be announced during the annual Dscoop conference, April 14-16, where HP will showcase the winning entries and other creative customer projects, along with its industry-leading graphics solutions portfolio.

Entries in categories ranging from general commercial printing, labels and packaging to large-format printing applications, such as banners and signage, will be evaluated by a panel of judges from the printing, design, marketing and technology industries. All entries must be submitted online at www.hpinkspiration.com by February 15.

The judges are: William ‘Buzz’ Apostol, vice president, channel sales, Americas, Pantone; Bruce Leigh Myers, Ph.D., assistant professor, Rochester Institute of Technology; Stephen Spencer, senior designer and producer, MAYA Design; John Gibson, vice president, global group planning director, The Martin Agency; Linda Casey, editor-in-chief, Package Design Matters; Jim Hamilton, group director, InfoTrends; John Sartoris, corporate director of production and circulation, ADWEEK; Howard Owen, owner, Stafford Printing; and Sabine Lenz, founder, PaperSpecs.

‘Driven by tight deadlines, it’s easy for print service providers to just ‘check boxes’ to fulfill orders rather than provide customers ‘out of the box’ value,’ Lenz said. 'The most successful print service providers move from order fillers to true partners by providing innovative solutions to their customers’ challenges, and that’s the source of award-winning work, which we’re excited to recognize with the first North American Inkspiration Awards.’

HP previously recognized print innovators in Europe, Middle East and Africa with Inkspiration Awards at Dscoop Open in 2015.

Also awarded will be the Rod Key Marketing Excellence Award. Established in memory of Rod Key, a founding Dscoop member and an innovator in marketing for his own business, this award will be given to the company with the most creative marketing campaign printed on HP Indigo, PageWide web press, Latex or Scitex equipment to promote their own business.

‘Brands are facing increased competition in crowded markets, and HP customers are constantly innovating to help them break through the noise with creative campaigns, like those we’ve seen for Dole, OREO, Bud Light, Diet Coke and others,’ said Avi Basu, director, marketing and business development, graphics solutions business at HP. ‘HP customers produce exceptional work that pushes the boundaries of what’s possible with digital printing, and the North American Inkspiration and Rod Key Marketing Excellence Awards recognize and celebrate their achievements, while inspiring print service providers and brands to keep reinventing.’