By DPS Staff
This Winter, DPS magazine conducted its second Innovation of the Year Awards. Each year, we ask subscribers and vendor partners to nominate companies creating innovative solutions in digital printing, packaging, and publishing. This year’s contest collected 19 entries and more than 1,000 votes.
Here we feature first, second, and third place winners, as well as one honorable mention.
Digital Color Concepts and OTTO NY – 1st Place
Working together, Digital Color Concepts (DCC) and OTTO NY created an international promotional project series titled dVice 4, From Sustenance to Sensation. According to Christine Grant, VP of business development and marketing, DCC, dVice is a culmination of two worlds—photography and design. Dv4 was created to explore the culture of the people of NYC.
The project consists of many elements that were digitally printed using a variety of printing and finishing equipment including a Hewlett-Packard (HP) Indigo 5500, an HP Indigo 10000, a Durst Rho wide format printer, and a Zünd flatbed cutter. Many of the piece’s components were printed on International Paper’s Accent Opaque media in varying weights.
From Sustenance to Sensation includes an outer wrapping, cover, menu/credit page, townhouse cards and sleeves, placemats, and brochures.
DCC is a fully integrated graphics company, specializing in color retouching and print, including grand format.
Agfa Graphics – 2nd Place
Agfa Graphics created and produced graphics for its SGIA 2014 trade show booth. The graphics made up a “Surf N’ Crab” Application Zone that was designed to simulate a crab shack restaurant and surf shop.
The booth’s Application Zone featured vibrant graphics to replicate a tropical environment. The project was produced in house by the company using its printing systems, consumables, and substrates, including various textiles, rigid, backlit, and adhesive-backed media.
Printing systems used included the Agfa Jeti Titan HS, Anapurna M2540FB, and Anapurna M3200i. Duratex media and Asanti workflow solutions were also utilized to help create the final product.
The Standard Group – 3rd Place
The Standard Group produced a self-promotional Countdown2Holidays campaign, which featured multi-touches and multiple channels.
The main component of the campaign included a variable direct mailer featuring a gingerbread advent calendar. As part of the promotion, the company provided tracking of customer engagement with personalized website addresses, personalized quick response codes, emails, and landing pages.
CCG – Honorable Mention
CCG produces personalized sunglass cases for Maui Jim, an American-based manufacturing company.
The company contacted CCG about creating a unique gift for its clients and came up with the idea of personalized eyeglass cases, which would also act as a marketing tool. CCG’s production team worked with numerous suppliers and CCG’s Internal I.T. Development Group to define the technology and processes to create personalized imprinting on irregular shaped, leather cases.
Fueling Innovation
These projects represent just a small example of the potential possible with the latest digital printing technologies.
This marks the second Innovation of the Year Awards contest for DPS magazine. Be sure to visit our newly redesigned website and follow us on Twitter @dps_magazine for information on surveys and contests.
In-depth profiles of the winners coming soon! dps
