About the Premier Print Awards
The Premier Print Awards competition recognizes the highest quality printed pieces in various categories from around the world. Each year, only the most worthy pieces receive Awards of Recognition, Certificates of Merit, and the highest honor–the Benny statue. The Benny has become a universally recognized symbol for excellence in the printing industry. For seventy years, winners of the largest, most prestigious print competition in the world have leveraged this honor to gain a competitive advantage.
Showcase Awards on Pause, Premier Print Award Resumes
Our Showcase Awards Competition provides members with increased name recognition in the industry and is an important tool used by our member to attract new clients. Of late, however, participation in Showcase has decreased.
At the January VMA Board of Directors meeting, the difficult decision was made to put the Showcase competition on hold for 2019. The event will be recreated for 2020 with a more refined competition, a change in venue, and enhanced marketing efforts to appeal to both the print and creative community.
While we won’t be holding a local competition, companies can still compete nationally in the prestigious PIA Premier Print Awards, also known as the “Bennys.” The VMA office will process entries and deliver them to PIA National. The PPA competition recognizes the highest quality printed pieces in a variety of categories around the world, including divisions for the smallest print and design companies.
View Winners
The 2,240 entries in this year’s Premier Print Awards competition have kept many a confounded delivery driver busy in the past few months as they have made their way to the doors of the Printing Industries of America headquarters in the suburbs of Pittsburgh. Some packages were small while others were enormous, but all had one thing in common—they were filled with tremendous craftsmanship and quality print work. Many of the packages were from here in the U.S.A. but seeing as this is an international print competition there were also quite a few that hailed from the far reaches of the globe. Twelve countries were represented in all: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Great Britain, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Paraguay, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States.
Eventually it was time for our expert judges to put the submissions to the test but only 110 were to be award the Best in Category honors. Judges additionally awarded 745 Certificates of Merit and 376 Awards of Recognition to deserving submissions.
This year’s Benny winners were jaw-dropping and elicited “oohs” and “aahs” that could be heard throughout the halls as the judging progressed. Just a few of the outstanding pieces included an intricately folded annual report with moving gears, a nostalgia-inspired media kit complete with yellow submarine, lenticular-like self promotion labels, and a fold-out auto ad with working LED taillights.
The Best in Show honorees will be revealed during the Premier Print Awards Reception & Presentation on Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at 19 East in Chicago, Illinois. Best of Category winners will be on display that evening prior to the awards presentation, and attendees will have the opportunity to vote for a special People’s Choice winner to be handed out live during the event.
Awards by Company
| Company | BOC | COM | AOR |
| APi Marketing | 1 | 1 | |
| Beeline Group | 1 | ||
| BUG Press, Incorporated | 1 | ||
| GSL Fine Lithographers (An RRD Company) | 1 | ||
| JP Graphics | 2 | 1 | |
| Multi-Color Corporation North America | 1 | 4 | 6 |
| On Line Bindery | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| PRINT, Inkorporated | 1 | ||
| Vintage 99 Label | 1 | ||
| Wicked Good Print Production | 1 |
Best of Category (Benny Award Winner)
| Company | Title | Award Category |
| Multi-Color Corporation North America | Raymond | X-7 Miscellaneous Specialities—Other |
| On Line Bindery | Designers Guide – "Putting Your PIeces Together" | A-3 Binders (Loose-leaf) |
Certificate of Merit
| Company | Title | Award Category |
| APi Marketing | City of Auburn “Box” | W-5 Media Kits |
| GSL Fine Lithographers (An RRD Company) | B Side | B-5 Booklets |
| JP Graphics | California Finest | T-1 Cartons, Containers, Boxes, and Totes |
| JP Graphics | Mother’s Day Purse | N-5 Digital Printing—Packaging |
| Multi-Color Corporation North America | Hypatia | T-4 Labels and Wraps-Rolled products/pressure-sensitive |
| Multi-Color Corporation North America | One Stone | P-2 Stochastic Printing |
| Multi-Color Corporation North America | Prayers of Sinners | P-2 Stochastic Printing |
| Multi-Color Corporation North America | Precision | O-3 Embossing/Debossing |
| On Line Bindery | Wine Bottle Tasting Notes Promo Piece | U-2 Print/Graphic Arts Self-Promotion |
| Vintage 99 Label | Octopoda Pinot Noir | T-4 Labels and Wraps—Rolled products/pressure-sensitive |
| Wicked Good Print Production | No Sleep – Scott Kinsey | T-2 Media Packaging |
Award of Recognition
| Company | Title | Award Category |
| APi Marketing | Earth Circle Ingredients Company Booklet | B-4 Booklets |
| Beeline Group | Eat Happy, Feel Good – 2018 Client Holiday Gift | T-1 Cartons, Containers, Boxes, and Totes |
| BUG Press, Incorporated | Redwood Jazz Alliance Promotional Campaign | N-7 Campaign |
| JP Graphics | JP Pop Up Christmas Card | U-2 Print/Graphic Arts Self-Promotion |
| Multi-Color Corporation North America | Erostasia | O-3 Embossing/Debossing |
| Multi-Color Corporation North America | Freakshow Chardonnay | T-5 Flexographic Printing |
| Multi-Color Corporation North America | Girl and Dragon | T-5 Flexographic Printing |
| Multi-Color Corporation North America | Instigator | T-4 Labels and Wraps—Rolled products/pressure-sensitive |
| Multi-Color Corporation North America | Opaque | O-3 Embossing/Debossing |
| Multi-Color Corporation North America | Tres Agaves | N-6 Customized Digital Printing |
| On Line Bindery | Napa Valley Vinters-Auction Napa Valley | L-4 Programs (4 or more colors) |
| PRINT, Inkorporated | Kathryn Hall – The Woman Behind the Wine | B-4 Booklets |
Presentation
Awards Presentation
Wednesday, October 2, 2019
6:00 p.m. – Reception with heavy hors d’oeuvres
7:30 p.m. – Awards presentation (Premier Print Awards and InterTech Technology Awards)
Location
19 East Chicago
19 East 21st Street
Chicago, IL 60616
Cost
$150 per person
Attire
Cocktail or Business Attire
Join us for an evening of networking and entertainment as we celebrate the printing industry’s best and brightest. The evening will honor the 2019 Premier Print Award Best of Category Awardees and the InterTech Technology Award recipients.
About the Venue:
The building at 19 East 21st Street has a long and storied history that spans over a century. Constructed in the late 1800s by the Chicago Illuminating Company (a predecessor of Commonwealth Edison), the building originally functioned as a power plant and warehouse. It was later occupied by Al Capone and his cronies, who used the upstairs floor as a shooting range for target practice. One of Capone’s many speakeasies was located across the alleyway, and when surveyors examined the building in later years, they discovered miles of underground tunnels presumably used to transport alcohol during Prohibition — including one tunnel that led right below 19 East.
