In addition to the traditional gold-embossed medal on blue ribbon awarded when each entry meets the "gold medal" standard of excellence, Supreme Award finalists will now receive an impressive colour-highlighted, gold-embossed medal on red ribbon.
Pride In Print Awards Manager Sue Archibald says the innovation received positive feedback when trialed at the recent 2007 Awards event.
"We want to highlight the success and achievement of companies and keep our industry striving for excellence," said Ms Archibald.
"The bar of excellence continues to lift and we have created this new point of difference to give appropriate recognition."
However, Pride In Print Awards Chairperson, John North was careful to dispel any impression the new medal category would create competition for a gold medal in itself.
"To achieve a gold medal requires excellence – and not at the expense of any other piece – thus we can have multiple golds in any category," he says.
"It is only once a gold has been awarded that there is any competition – and that is for the Supreme Award and, by default, to gain the best of category. We simply want to be able to make each category winner stand out a little more and give them something extra special to celebrate their success."
Mr North said one of the major goals of the Pride In Print Awards campaign is to highlight to the public how the industry is "pushing the boundaries".
"We are encouraging people to do new and innovative things, and to submit entries to be judged as excellent. It is all about highlighting the really great aspects and stories from the New Zealand print industry."
To aid future entrants, the entry form is also being redesigned to accommodate much greater job detail. Additionally, it has been decided that miniature trophies will be awarded to all ancillary companies who submit Supreme Award-winning entries (as only the actual printer of a job can win the outright Supreme Award).
