Expert Panel Selected to Recognize Creativity and Innovation on yupo synthetic paper  CHESAPEAKE, VA (August 29, 2007) – yupo Corporation America, the largest manufacturer of synthetic paper in the western hemisphere, announces an accomplished panel of independent judges that will select the winning entries for Yupo’s fifth annual Wally Awards on November 1, 2007. The panel will include: Vernon Lockhart, National Board Member of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) and Principal of multi-disciplinary design firm Art on the Loose; MB Flanders, Principal of design services firm Flanders + Associates; Liming Rao, Principal of Studio Liming Rao, an award-winning art and design studio; Tami Terrell, Editor-in-Chief, Dynamic Graphics magazine; and Deborah Wheeler, Specification Sales and Marketing Manager at xpedx, a leading distributor of paper, graphics and digital workflow systems for creative managers. The 2007 Wally Awards judging panel combines decades of experience in graphic communications, art, printing and design, along with extensive knowledge of the unique characteristics and attributes of YUPO® synthetic paper.
Now in its fifth year, Yupo’s Wally Awards recognizes distinctive achievements in design, printing and original artwork using yupo synthetic paper. The panel will meet at Yupo’s North American headquarters in Chesapeake, VA on November 1st to judge submitted projects and select three winners based on the criteria of creativity, originality and functionality. Additional finalists will be entered in the Wally Designer’s Choice contest, where industry peers will cast votes online for their favorite pieces.
“Yupo Corporation is committed to recognizing and rewarding innovative excellence in the design, art and printing communities,” explains Martin J. Fiorillo, Vice President of Marketing and Distribution Sales at yupo Corporation America. “The creative talent of this esteemed judging panel is outstanding and we are looking forward to seeing the imaginative projects that will be submitted to the Wally Awards this year.”
This year’s Wally Awards winners will each receive a cash prize of US$1,000 and a customized Wally Award statue designed by illustrator Bill Mayer. Entrants can register now at www.wallyawards.com. The deadline for all entries is October 15, 2007.
The 2007 Wally Awards judging panel will include the following distinguished professionals:
Vernon Lockhart – AIGA, Art on the Loose
Vernon Lockhart is the founder and principal of Art on the Loose, Inc., a Chicago-based multidisciplinary firm specializing in corporate identities, exhibition and environmental design, and multimedia design. With Art on the Loose, Lockhart has provided art direction for many significant projects in the Chicago area and has served an impressive list of clients, including: Northwestern University, University of Illinois Laboratory Schools, Hyatt Regency, Nike, Whirlpool, DuSable Museum of African American History, Museum of Science and Industry, Bronzeville Children’s Museum and Namasté. Lockhart has been the recipient of awards and praise from Print, Communications Arts, Graphic Design USA and Graphis. Lockhart served on the AIGA Chicago Board as Community Outreach Chair, managing the Poetry In Motion program and student contest. He also participated as a rider with Team AIGA/Roll Over Aids during his tenure.
After serving nine years as chair of the Chicago chapter of the Organization of Black Designers, Vernon helped co-found Project Osmosis, a not-or-profit arts-based education and mentoring initiative. The organization has helped over 300 inner-city students gain access to knowledge about career opportunities in design. Throughout his work and career, Lockhart has helped to nurture creativity amongst professionals and students alike. Lockhart currently serves on the National board of The American Institute of Graphic Arts and is Program Director of Project Osmosis Education and Mentoring Initiative.
MB Flanders — Flanders + Associates
For more than 25 years, MB Flanders has been working with a wide range of clients and design projects including identities, print collateral, web sites, and environmental graphic design. In 1983 she created Flanders + Associates in Boston, which has nurtured many talented graphic designers throughout their careers. The firm is known for creating compelling graphic design solutions that stand the test of time. Much of the work produced by F+A throughout the decades remains in the public eye today. MB Earned her MFA in design from Yale University and has taught typography, color theory and design applications courses.
Liming Rao – Studio Liming Rao
Liming Rao is the principal of Studio Liming Rao, a multi-disciplinary design studio in Toronto that explores material, process and purpose in projects as diverse as furniture and product design, architectural illustration, architecture and interior design. Rao’s work has been recognized by numerous awards including Ontario Association of Architects Awards, Best of Canada Design Awards, National Post Design Exchange Award, Virtu 12 National Furniture Competition Award, yupo Wally Awards and the prestigious Award of Excellence from the American Society of Architectural Illustrators.
Liming was born in Shanghai, China. Educated in Canada, he earned a Diploma of Interior Design from Dawson College in Montreal and a Bachelors in Architecture from the University of Toronto. Prior to forming his studio, he was an architectural designer at Hariri Pontarini Architects in Toronto.
Tami Terrell—Dynamic Graphics magazine
Dynamic Graphics (www.dynamicgraphics.com), a national magazine presenting design ideas for creative professionals in the real world, explores the latest work from top designers, takes readers behind the designs and shows how to apply the techniques of industry leaders to projects.
As editor of DG, Tami Terrell plans content and assigns stories for the magazine as well as its newsletter and new, free webcasts, distributes aspirin for the occasional headache she causes, and edits the work of fabulous freelance writers and professionals. Prior to serving as editor of Dynamic Graphics magazine, she marketed resources for graphic designers. She also served as assistant editor of several design publications, including STEP inside design, liquidlibrary, and Print Media Service. She secretly has a crush on Wally—and can’t wait to hook up with him and yupo to judge this year’s crop of fantastic entries.
Deborah Wheeler — xpedx
Deborah Wheeler is Specification Sales and Marketing Manager at xpedx, one of the largest distribution companies in the United States. In her current role, Deborah works with a large base of designers, corporations and brand owners, such as Blue Mountain Arts, to deliver innovative paper and pre-press products and services to meet their graphic design and marketing needs.
Deborah has over 20 years of experience working with graphic design professionals from around the country. Prior to serving with xpedx, she worked in sales and marketing at Nationwide Papers and previously served as Director of Client Services at two graphic design firms. She has also held the role of Associate Media Director at Buck & Pulleyn, a full-service marketing communications firm based in Rochester, NY. |
