Printing Contests — Judging is Art and Science

Design can be a double-edged sword, however, diminishing an entry’s prospects as easily as pushing it over the top. Greg Captain, manager of the New Yorker imaging center for Condé Nast Publications who is also called upon to judge contests, believes there is value in the understated design effort.

“A simple design that’s executed well could be better than something that has all the bells and whistles attached to it,” Captain says. “In years past, some contestants from Asia could really grab your eye. But when you look at it closely, sometimes the printing isn’t there. What attracts you is if the piece has some aqueous coating, spot varnish or foil stamping.”