UK Graphic Awards celebrates achievements in wide-format print The UK Graphic Awards returned for its fourth year celebrating achievements in wide-format print and signage. The event was hosted at a new venue in the Hilton Metropole hotel in Birmingham. There were 14 awards up for grabs with categories including Branded Interiors, Construction, Exhibitions, Leisure & Hospitality, Live Events, Museums & Galleries, and The Green Award which recognises sustainability-focused projects. The awards were tiered, with Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels up for grabs, as well as Highly Commended winners in certain categories. Among the awards was the popular Rising Star Award which celebrates individuals who have made an impact in the print and graphic design industries. The Gold winner of the Rising Star Award this year was Isabel Shanahan, digital artworker and project coordinator at Imageco, with Kyle Wright of Signs Express Central Lancashire gaining the Highly Commended prize. Speaking after winning the award, Shanahan exclaimed: “I feel absolutely phenomenal, I’ve never felt so great in my life! It was a really important award for me to win.” Shanahan went on to explain the importance of encouraging young people in the print industry, as well as highlighting the work of women within print. “I know so many amazing young women in print that also could have won this award tonight, and they would have been just as deserving, as would many young men. It’s great to feel that young women in print are being taken seriously and appreciated.” Another winner on the night was Envision Media, which won the coveted Gold Award for Wide Format Printer of the Year, Under 30 Employees. After winning, Antonia Johnston, sales and marketing manager for Envision Media, said: “It was definitely an award we wanted to win, but we never imagined that we could get there because of the calibre of the competitors that we were up against. “Our directors are just hugely humble. They come from humble beginnings, just a small town in the North West, and to now be here and in this arena, it’s mind-blowing.” Sussex Sign Company was presented with its first UK Graphic Award, winning Gold in the Roll Out category. Speaking after receiving the award, managing director of the Sussex Sign Company, Norman Mayhew, said: “It’s absolutely amazing. I started the business 30 years ago on the 1st of January 1995 with my father-in-law, and this is the culmination of 30 years of hard work.” Speaking about the event, Mayhew added: “This is like the Oscars of the graphic industry, so we’ve just won an Oscar! I can’t tell you how excited I am, and I can’t wait to bring this back to the team.” The Gold Award for Best in Show was won this year by Moss UK. The branding and signage company also won Gold in the Live Events category for a Google-themed live event installation at the Tobacco Dock event space in London. With organisers Vantage being based in Ukraine, each year the awards show engages in fundraising efforts for the war in Ukraine. This year, a silent auction took place for Volunteers Support Ukraine, an organisation that provides essential aid to both soldiers and civilians affected by the war. The night included several big wins for people like Isabel Shanahan [above] and Norman Mayhew [below] By Jonathan Pert 8 Issue 256 - December 2024 / January 2025 www.signlink.co.uk INDUSTRY / NEWS signlink signlink signlinkmagazine
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