Two years of work judged. The celebration of success. The satisfaction of participation. And the meeting of friends.

Saturday's evening celebrations for the Sixth AGDA National Biennial Awards for Creative Excellence began with delectable appetisers and refreshments from a panoramic vantage point overlooking the expansive architectural setting of the SidneyMyer Music Bowl; which then flowed from the festive presentation dinner on stage to the early hours of the popular and populous after-party. The morning cleaning shift was arriving as the last guests were leaving, so good was the comraderie and enjoyment of the occasion.

Reportedly, many of the interstate and particularly New Zealand friends and colleagues who made up the 530 guest list embraced the whole program with infectious enthusiasm and relished every moment of it! From the beer o'clocks and designer dinners on Friday night to the relaxed and cruisy lunch at the St Kilda bowls on Sunday. The weather shone. And so too did the well-deserved winners.

The Judging Process

During a weekend in July this year, two years of "evocative, daring, intelligent, provocative, influential, self indulgent, innovative, effective, brilliant, damned arrogant, envelope pushing, unconventional and maybe irrelevant graphic design" went under the microscope of 9 judges for Creative Excellence selection.

Inaugurated in 1992, the AGDA National Awards are acknowledged as the premier event on the graphic design calendar. Work produced over the nominated period are entered in 15 categories and juried by a panel of professionals nominated by the membership. This years 9 AGDA judges were Steven Cornwell, Hannah Cutts, Anne Foster, Richard Henderson, Matthew Remphrey, Graeme Smith, Barrie Tucker, Neil Turner, Robyn Wakefield. They were supported by 3 additional multimedia specialists in Michael Kratofil, Damien Mair, and Clement Mok (AGDA's first overseas juror) from San Francisco.

Divergence of opinion among the judges is accepted. Discussion about entries is not. Judges abstain from assessing their own work and, other than in the self promotion categories, identification of designers is removed or masked out to maintain anonymity for all entries.

The anonymity of the entries and the silent voting system produces what is believed to be a fair system. In the words of a previous judge: "There is no opportunity for persuasive members of the panel to influence others, nor for debate. In fact, the judges walk away without knowing who the winners are."

All award-winning wntries must achieve a minimum average score of 80% and the highest scoring entry above 90% is awarded AGDA's highest accolade, the Pinnacle - a beautiful, individually handcrafted glass tetrahedron. Three Distinction (previously known as Commendation) awards below that are given in each category, followed by Finalist awards.

Comments on the 2002 Entries

The Digital/Interactive Design category was introduced in 1996 and this year saw the inclusion of Typography, Stationery, Motion Graphics and Special Recognition categories.

After two years of fairly static growth in the design business sector, there has been a shift in optimism in the last six months amongst owners and designers, and this is reflected in the number and standard of entries.

Of the 1800 entries received from all over Australia, and from New Zealand, The Netherlands and Japan, some 160 pinnacle, distinction and finalist awards, judges choice and special recognition awards were presented.

A higher proportion of younger designers entered the awards this year and they are making their mark by way of creativity, innovation and diversity.

There has been a 20% percent increase in entries from the previous AGDA Awards with the largest number submitted for Corporate Identity and Brand implementation. Traditional stalwart category, the Annual Report, was not as heavily subscribed, whilst Publications and Packaging /Label Design continued to feature strongly as main areas of productivity and therefore award categories to enter. Entries in the Digital Media categories increased significantly, ranging from 130% in motion graphics to 200% in website design, and the newly introduced category of Typography was very well supported.

State distribution of winners: Vic 44%, NSW 31%, QLD 10%, SA 9%, WA 5.8%, Overseas 0.2%

Congratulations to the Pinnacle, Distinction and Finalist winners documented here! (Information on Judges Choice, Special Recognition and Hall of Fame recipients will be distributed soon.) The 2002 AGDA Awards compendium can be purchased from the national secretariat: secretariat@agda.com.au or telephone 02 99553955.