Innovation in focus as Sign and Graphic Imaging expo opens

The Sign and Graphic Imaging Middle East 2010 exhibition kicked off yesterday with the announcement of a dedicated award for innovation in signage and outdoor advertising.

Designed to reward innovation and creativity in the sign and graphic industry throughout the Middle East, the SGI Awards 2011 will focus on the use of outdoor applications for brand promotion. They will be announced on the sideline of next year's edition of SGI exhibition.

Categories will include 'most innovative marketing campaign', 'most innovative fleet graphics', 'most innovative outdoor signage', and 'most innovative green outdoor campaign', with the emphasis on creative and innovative use of products, technology and environment.

The award will be held under the patronage of Dubai Municipality. A Dubai Municipality media representative said the collaboration was a result of 12 years of participation in the exhibition.

"We have been part of this event for the past 11 years in addition to the 2010 edition. Based on this relationship we have been approached and we are glad to grant our patronage for the awards," said the representative.

Dubai Municipality currently holds jurisdiction over outdoor advertising that is on private-owned and government land, while the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) regulates and controls the rest of the outdoor advertising including street furniture and hoardings.

Abdul Rehman Falaknaz, President, International Expo Consults (IEC), SGI organiser, said: "We are seeking to further encourage the innovative use of outdoor media for brand promotion. Whether it is the signage designer, creator, advertising agency or corporate brand manager submitting the nomination, it is the campaign's creativity and innovation we will be rewarding. All are eligible to submit nominations, and guidelines for the requirements will be available shortly."

"Having successfully run SGI for 12 years, we have witnessed many superbly creative uses of outdoor media – such as vehicle and tall building wraps and hoardings, for example, and we believe the developing talent in the region is capable of setting new trends and producing even more exciting uses and applications in the industry – and should be recognised by their peers accordingly," said Falaknaz

"Not only will we be rewarding excellence in creativity, but also creating a platform for the exchange of ideas, development of new mediums and growth of innovation in the regional sign and graphic industry", he said.

A communication official representing the exhibition told Emirates Business that the award will recognise successful new ideas in displaying outdoor signage and promotion campaigns.

The official said the nominations will be received through submitting a form to be available on the award's website which is expected to roll out in April. The nomination process will continue until October 15.

The official also said the nominations will be accepted from all countries in the region. The jury members will include international and local professionals, although the official declined to reveal any names, noting that those will be announced at a later stage.

SGI 2010 showcases the latest products and emerging technologies from the industries of Advertising, Architectural Hardware, Banners & Posters, Digital Imaging, Electronic Message Centres, Electronic Signage, Graphic Imaging, Graphic Services, Large Format Printing, and Signage.


Advertising sector forecast to grow up to 10% this year

The organisers of the 12th Sign and Graphic Imaging Middle East 2010 (SGI) are hoping to see advertising growth of six per cent to 10 per cent compared with 2009.

This positive trend is clearly indicated by record exhibitors and visitors registered for SGI 2010, said the organisers.

Abdul Rehman Falaknaz, President International Expo Consults (IEC) told Emirates Business last week that the exhibition was expecting 10 per cent growth compared to the 2009 edition.

The three-day event was inaugurated yesterday by Sheikh Hasher Maktoum Al Maktoum, Director-General, Dubai Department of Information, at the Dubai Airport Expo.

Exhibitor registrations have dramatically increased from Asia, particularly India, Taiwan, Korea and China, who, together with local and regional Middle East-based companies and distributors, are representing some of the very latest technology, said the organisers, adding that 20 per cent of the participants this year were new.

The event, dedicated to signage, outdoor media, screen and digital printing industries, is the largest and longest running show in the region.

Key exhibitors include Digi Matrix Technologies, Dubai-based GSS International and Verseidag Indutex Mena, in addition to HP, Gandi Innovations, Signtrade, EFI Vutek, Fujifilm Sericol, Avery Dennison, Aqua Tinks, Colorjet India, Giffin Graphics and Flex Europa.

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