AV Awards 2008
Click here to view the shortlist
Innovation Awards
A New display product of the year
Who should enter:
• The manufacturer or EMEA distributor of a new display product
What should be entered:
• New projectors, flat screens, videowall or LED screens. Display support products such as projection screens, visualisers and mounts may also be entered
Entry materials must include:
• An explanation of the innovation that the product brings to the market
• How it is of benefit to the a-v trade and users
• The target audience it is intended for
• When it shipped and how it has performed in the market
Judging criteria will be based on:
• Evidence of technological innovation
• Evidence of benefit to users
• Evidence of commercial success
B New systems product of the year
Who should enter:
• The manufacturer or EMEA distributor of a new pro a-v systems product
What should be entered:
• New control systems and products that form part of an integrated a-v installation – including (but not exclusively) switchers and scalers, signal processors, extenders etc
Entry materials must include:
• An explanation of the innovation that the product brings to the market
• How it is of benefit to the a-v trade and users
• The target audience it is intended for
• When it shipped and how it has performed in the market
Judging criteria will be based on:
• Evidence of technological innovation
• Evidence of benefit to users
• Evidence of commercial success
C New audio product of the year
Who should enter:
• The manufacturer or EMEA distributor of a new professional audio product designed for use in pro a-v applications
What should be entered:
• New amplifiers, speakers, digital signal procesors, desks, microphones or other audio products used in either audio capture/production or replay in either permanent installations or at live events
Entry materials must include:
• An explanation of the innovation that the product brings to the market
• How it is of benefit to the a-v trade and users
• The target audience it is intended for
• When it shipped and how it has performed in the market
Judging criteria will be based on:
• Evidence of technological innovation
• Evidence of benefit to users
• Evidence of commercial success
D New live event concept of the year
Who should enter:
• The producer or service company creating and or staging a live business event that uses innovative production techniques, equipment or staging concepts
What should be entered:
• A case study of a specific live event or series of events for a named business client
Entry materials must include:
• An explanation of the innovation that the production brought to the market
• How it was of benefit to the a-v trade and users
• The target audience it was intended for
• When it took place and the results achieved
Judging criteria will be based on:
• Evidence of technological innovation
• Evidence of benefit to users
• Evidence of commercial success
European Awards
The four new European categories are designed to recognise European a-v companies making significant business and product contributions during 2007–2008. Entrants should be headquartered in the EMEA region (including the UK).
E European manufacturer of the year
Who should enter:
• Manufacturers of any kind of equipment or software used in a-v communications whose headquarters and product design facilities are based in the EMEA. Entries must be direct from manufacturers or their subsidiaries
Judging criteria:
• The award will be given to the manufacturer who has shown the most marketing, technological or applicational innovation. Service levels, channel innovations and new product development will be taken into account
F European systems company of the year
Who should enter:
• Systems design, installation and integration companies working in the EMEA region
What should be entered:
• Entries must cover a range of case studies and include feedback from clients.
• Entries must explain the geographical and service range of the company’s activities. They must also highlight company performance and its investments in areas such as innovative sales and marketing, training and logistics
Judging criteria:
• The award will be given to the systems company which has demonstrated high service levels as well as technical expertise over a range of projects. The award will focus on the innovative nature of the systems company’s installation work. Business development, service levels, turnover and profit performance will be taken into account
G European event company of the year
Who should enter:
• Live event production, staging or technical services companies headquartered or operating in the EMEA region.
What should be entered:
• Entries must cover a range of case studies and include feedback from clients.
• Entries must explain the geographical and service range of the company’s activities. They must also highlight company performance and its investments in areas such as innovative sales and marketing, training and logistics.
Judging criteria:
• The award will be given to the event company which has demonstrated high service levels as well as technical expertise and innovation over a range of projects. The award will focus on the innovative nature of the event company’s
work. Business development, service levels, turnover and profit performance will be taken into account.
H European digital signage company of the year
Who should enter:
• Companies operating/installing digital signage networks, creating and marketing digital signage software, or marketing digital signage hardware products who are based and working in the EMEA region.
What should be entered:
• Entries must cover a range of case studies and include feedback from clients.
• Entries must explain the geographical and service range of the company’s activities. They must also highlight company performance and its investments in areas such as innovative sales and marketing, training and logistics.
Judging criteria:
• The award will be given to the digital signage company which has demonstrated high service levels as well as technical expertise over a range of projects. The award will focus on the innovative nature of the digital signage company’s work. Business development, service levels, turnover and profit
performance will be taken into account.
UK Company Awards
The five UK company categories are intended to highlight a-v sector performance. Entrants must be based in the UK and their entries should cover their performance and offerings in the UK market
I Manufacturer of the year
Who should enter:
• Manufacturers of any kind of equipment or software used in a-v communications who have operations based in the UK. Entries must be direct from manufacturers or their subsidiaries, or via sole distributors in the manufacturer’s name.
Judging criteria:
• The award will be given to the manufacturer who has shown the most marketing, technological or applicational innovation. Service levels, channel innovations and new product development will be taken into account.
J Distributor of the year
Who should enter:
• Trade distributors of any kind of equipment or software used in a-v communications whose operations are based in the UK
Judging criteria:
• The award will be given to the trade distributor who has shown the most marketing, technological or applicational innovation and who has demonstrated business development and both turnover and profit performance
• Service levels, channel innovations and new product development will be taken into account
K Reseller of the year
Who should enter:
• Dealers or resellers working with end user clients in b2b communications I the UK. They may be either specialist (local or operating in specific vertical markets) or general resellers operating nationally or in a range of markets
Judging criteria:
• The award will be given to the reseller who has shown the most marketing, technological or applicational innovation and who has demonstrated business development and both turnover and profit performance
• Service levels, channel innovations and new product development will be taken into account. Size of turnover will not, on its own, be a determining criteria
L Systems company of the year
Who should enter:
• Systems design, integration and installation companies, or systems/installation divisions of a-v groups based in the UK.
• Entries must cover a range of case studies and include feedback from clients.
Judging criteria:
• The award will be given to the systems company which has demonstrated high service levels as well as technical expertise over a range of projects.
• The award will focus on the innovative nature of the systems company’s installation work. Business development, service levels, turnover and profit performance will be taken into account
M Web site of the year
Who should enter:
• Companies who have developed web sites aimed at the trade or end users as part of their commercial operations.
• Sites should be entered by the site owner (not the site developer) and entries should be in the form of a case study.
• It must include details of the intended audience, site development strategy, business strategy and documented business benefits.
• In the case of sites with trade-only sections, the judges must be provided with a user name and password to give them access to these sections.
Judging criteria:
• The award will be given to the web site which shows most innovation and business benefit to both the site owner and to the audience for whom it is designed.
• The contribution of the site to business development and its linkage into other systems — such as back office and online ordering — will be taken into account. Site design and usability will also be key criteria.
Project Awards
The project awards are open to entrants in both the UK and the wider EMEA region. They are designed to exemplify the best a-v communications projects that maximise benefit to clients.
N Live event of the year
Sponsored by Barco
Who should enter:
• Any company within the a-v sector which has created a live communications event or series of events for a client’s use
• The entry must consist of a case study of a single event or project for a named client company.
• The case study must include details of the project objectives, creative and technical requirements, delivery systems and the management of the project. It should also include a user assessment of the value and effectiveness of the project.
Judging criteria:
• The award will be given to the case study which shows most innovation and has proved its ability to deliver business benefit to the user.
O Business installation of the year
Who should enter:
• Any company within the a-v sector which has delivered an a-v system and/or installation for a client’s use.
• The entry must consist of a case study of a business-to business a-v installation or system such as boardroom or meeting room installations; video networking installations; retail installations; or educational systems.
• The entry must cover organisational use of the facility, including sales to customers.
• The case study must include details of the technical systems put in place, the project objectives and the management of the project. It must include a user assessment of the value and effectiveness of the system.
Judging criteria:
• The award will be given to the case study which shows innovation and has proved its ability to deliver business benefit to the user.
P Consumer installation of the year
Who should enter:
• Any company within the a-v sector which has delivered an a-v system and/or installation for a client’s use.
• The entry must consist of a case study of an installation or system which is designed for the use of paying visitors from the general public — such as museums and galleries, theme parks and attractions, and heritage centres.
• The case study must include an overview of a-v’s role in the project, details of the technical systems put in place, the project objectives and the management of the project.
• It must include a user assessment of the value and effectiveness of the system.
Judging criteria:
• The award will be given to the case study which shows innovation and has proved its ability to deliver business benefit to the user.
Q Videoconferencing project of the year
Who should enter:
• Any company within the a-v sector which has delivered a videoconferencing system and/or installation for a client’s use.
• The entry must consist of a case study of a single documented videoconferencing installation or system.
• Each entry must include details of the technical systems put in place, the project objectives and the management of the project.
• It must include a user assessment of the value and effectiveness of the project.
Judging criteria:
• The award will be given to the case study which shows most innovation and has proved its ability to deliver business benefit to the user.
R Digital media project of the year
Who should enter:
• Any company within the a-v sector which has delivered a digital media project for a client’s use in b2b or b2c communications.
• The entry must consist of a case study of an interactive media or video project based on CD-ROM, DVD, streamed video and audio or a similar technology.
• The case study must include details of the project objectives and the management of the project, why and how the techniques were used, and the creative and implementation issues involved.
• It should also detail how the media were distributed and it must include a user assessment of the value and effectiveness of the project.
Judging criteria:
• The award will be given to the case study which shows innovation and has proved its ability to deliver business benefit to the user.
S Digital signage project of the year
Who should enter:
• Any company within the a-v sector which has delivered a digital signage project for a client’s use in b2b or b2c communications.
• The project may be for any purpose or in any market sector (eg retail promotion/advertising, public display or internal communications).
• The entry must consist of a case study which gives details of the project objectives and the management of the project, why and how the techniques were used, and the creative and implementation issues involved.
• It should also detail the business plan on which the project was based, and it must include a user assessment of the value and effectiveness of the project.
Judging criteria:
• The award will be given to the case study which shows innovation and has proved its ability to deliver business benefit to the user.
T A-V / IT project of the year
Who should enter:
• The award is open to any company within the a-v sector which has delivered a project for client’s use that integrates av and IT elements. Joint entries from a-v and IT companies who have worked together on a project will be admitted.
• The entry must consist of a case study of a single documented installation or system that uses a mix of a-v and IT technology to meet the client’s requirements.
• Each entry must include details of the technical systems put in place, the project objectives and the management of the project.
• It must include a user assessment of the value and effectiveness of the project and must explain how the a-v and IT systems were both specified and commissioned.
Judging criteria:
• The award will be given to the case study which shows most innovation and which has proved its ability to deliver business benefit to the user.
• The extent to which a-v and IT elements of the installation have been designed and installed to complement each other and work together to deliver user benefits will be taken into consideration.
Grand Prix Award
The Grand Prix award will be nominated and chosen by the judges from the winners of the UK and European company, innovation and project categories. The awards will be given to a winner whose entry shows most evidence of:
• Innovation and business practices of benefit to the sector as a whole
• Market development and industry leadership
• Technical and creative innovation, and
• Documented business objectives and results
