Rules and Regulations
ISA is pleased to present its annual Sign Design Competition, returning online in 2012. This annual contest recognizes the incredible design talent unique to sign industry professionals. Voting for this contest takes place completely online, here on www.signs.org. We’ve updated the online voting interface for this year, as well as added two new categories for electronic message centers, in large and small formats. Voting will take place on signs.org in February. The winning signs in each category will be displayed at the 2012 ISA International Sign Expo in Orlando, Florida, March 21-24.
The entry period is now closed.
Entrant Criteria:
- The sign must have been designed and manufactured by an ISA member company.
- The sign must have been completed and installed in the year 2011.
- The sign must be located on the premises of a business.
- The sign must fit in one of the categories listed below. Sign projects may only be submitted in one category.
Categories:
- Freestanding Signs, Electric – Includes any freestanding sign structure that is internally illuminated, uses exposed neon or LEDs, or incorporates a message center.
- Freestanding Signs, Nonelectric – Includes any freestanding sign structure that is either non-illuminated or is illuminated only through the use of external luminaries.
- Building Signage, Electric – Includes any wall signage, projecting signs, marquees, awnings or attached canopies that incorporate internal illumination, backlighting, exposed neon or LEDs, or message centers (as secondary signage).
- Building Signage, Nonelectric – Includes any wall signage, projecting signs, marquees, awnings or attached canopies that are not illuminated or are illuminated only through the use of external luminaries.
- Historic Reproduction/Restored – Includes any sign either restored to its original form or newly-constructed and designed to resemble a traditional form of signage. May be either electric or nonelectric.
- Electronic Message Center – An on-premise electric sign that includes an electronic message center with EMC display area. Includes both the content displayed on the electronic screen and the larger sign structure.
- Wayfinding/Sign Systems – Includes any signage package designed to orient, navigate, or create a unified "sense of place" within the built environment in an urban, campus, or institutional setting.
- Banner Signs and Vinyl Graphics – Includes any temporary or semi-permanent banners or graphics such as wall banners, pole-mounted banners, floor graphics, vehicle graphics, public-transit graphics, window graphics, etc.
Instructions:
Take a photo of the completed sign project and submit the photo online via the 2012 Sign Design Contest Entry Form [link to form]. ISA members may submit as many signs as fit the criteria, although each sign photo must be submitted via a separate form. There is no cost to enter submissions. All entries must be submitted online to ISA by February 3, 2012 and must include the following:
- Photos: 2 photographs of sign made in 2011 (gif, jpeg or tiff accepted). These should be the same photos, one in high resolution, and one in low resolution. Specific measurements for each are listed below:
- Photo 1: Measures at least 350 W X 250 H pixels (or vice versa for vertical photos) in jpg, tif, or gif format.
- Photo 2: Measures at least 2100 W X 1500 H pixels (or vice versa for vertical photos) in jpg or tif format.
- Type (category) of sign
- Description of sign
- Location of sign (country, state, city)
- Date sign was installed
- Sign manufacturer (company name - must be an ISA member)
- Sign designer name, company, address, phone, email
ISA will notify entrants of approval within one week of receiving their entries.
Online voting:
All ISA members' sign photos eligible for the competition will appear on www.signs.org beginning February 13, 2012, at which time online voting will begin. Voting will be available until March 9, 2012, at 5:00 p.m. U.S. Pacific Time.
Winners:
The contest will award a winner for each of the categories and in addition, will reward a "Best Overall" award for the sign that receives the most overall votes. Each winner will receive an official ISA Sign Design Competition award winner's plaque and the winning sign photos will be displayed on-site at the 2012 ISA International Sign Expo in Orlando, Florida, March 21-24, 2012.
2012 Sign Design Contest Entry Form
View the 2011 Winning Sign Designs.
Questions? Contact Sarah Singleton at (703) 778-5595 or ss@signs.org.