GAERF Announces Student Design Competition

In an effort to promote career opportunities within the graphic communications industry, the Graphic Arts Education and Research Foundation (GAERF) launched a 2009 National Student Design Competition, themed,"Careers in Graphic Communications...Imagine the Possibilities!"

The competition will challenge students to create and produce a marketing product designed to appeal to our industry's future workforce. Participants will be encouraged to be creative and take their design from concept to finished product.

The competition is open to all students attending secondary or post-secondary institutions and studying in a graphic communications/printing, advertising, graphic design or interactive media program. Students may enter individually or in teams of up to three members. Instructors are responsible for submitting the entry, limited to one per instructor, which will become the property of the GAERF.

Entries selected by GAERF will be judged by attendees at the Printing Industries of America (PIA) Summer Teachers Conference in Sewickley, Pa. Winners and their instructors will be notified by Aug. 15.

Among the total six winning entries will be: two first place awards, one at the secondary level and one at the post-secondary level; two second place awards, one at the secondary level and one at the post-secondary level; and, two third place awards, one at the secondary level, and one at the post-secondary level.

First place winners and their instructors will receive a two-day all-inclusive paid trip to attend Print 09 in Chicago. In addition, they will receive a $2,000 award presented during Print 09 at Career Awareness Day, Sept. 16. The second place winners will be awarded $1,500, and the third place winners will receive $1,000.
For complete information about the competition guidelines and to download an entry form, visit www.gaerf.org.