Now in its 21st year, the Gold Ink Awards call attention to the print industry’s finest projects. 2008 was no exception, as North American Publishing Co. (NAPCO; parent company of both the Gold Ink Awards and Book Business) received more than 1,400 entries for this year’s competition. As always, a talented team of judges hailing from diverse backgrounds across the industry poured through the submissions, awarding Gold, Silver, Bronze and Pewter honors in 46 categories. In all, 488 entries were selected for awards.
Nearly two-dozen judges sorted and sifted through the finest print pieces, submitted by publishers and printers alike, over the course of four days in June at NAPCO’s Philadelphia headquarters. A few first-time judges joined the process this year, including Russ Gazzara, president of Warkulwiz Design Associates, who points to the awards’ lofty place within the industry as cause for his participation.
“I think the Gold Ink Awards help our industry in a few very important ways,” he says. “Most of all, they provide a valuable reality check to both printers and designers alike. And they help preserve quality standards by providing tangible examples of the creativity, technology and craftsmanship that define the very best collaborators in the graphic arts.”
Gazzara says he and his fellow judges often found it difficult to settle on just one Gold winner in a category.
“This year’s submissions were not always about big budgets and fancy techniques—many of the winning entries simply stood out by the way they communicated more with less, and how the combination of presswork, paper and finishing came together successfully to enhance the concept, design and, most of all, the … [entry’s] message,” he adds.
“This year’s submissions displayed an impressive range of aesthetic charm and top-notch production values, from the clever and complex to the simple yet elegant,” says Gold Ink judge John McGurk, production manager at Quirk Books.
The Children’s Books category was particularly competitive, but judges found “The Human Body” to be the group’s superior piece. Manufactured by C&C Joint Printing Co. on a Heidelberg press, the book is highlighted by an insert depicting an amniotic sac. “All elements [of ‘The Human Body’] work together to create a solid package,” comments Marianne Koszorus, a veteran Gold Ink judge, and director of layout and design for National Geographic Books. “The amniotic-sac element is unique and effective, and the manufacturing is nearly flawless.”
“In celebrating the 21 years of the Gold Ink Awards, we pay homage to all of the magnificent entries we receive every year that make this event the key competition in the industry,” says Mark Hertzog, vice president/group publisher of Book Business and Publishing Executive magazines. “We were again impressed by the quality and the superiority of the submissions, and we look forward to many more years of recognizing the publishers and printers who produce the finest books in the world.”
The staff of Book Business would like to extend its congratulations to the many printers and publishers recognized for their fine work in this year’s competition, and to again thank all of the judges and entrants who have made the 21-year-old Gold Ink Awards the industry’s most prestigious print competition.
For a complete listing of 2008 Gold Ink winners, visit www.GoldInk.com
Brenda Barozzi is senior vice president, director of print production for Draftfcb NY, where she manages the integrated Direct and General production group. She also directs operations for StudioXpress, a production channel focused on digital studio automation. Previously, she spent eight years with Showtime Networks/Viacom in production and marketing.
Jane Chero is vice president of production at NAPCO. She oversees daily operations and digital workflow for all printed collateral materials, magazines, directories and custom-publishing projects. Chero also manages the production and electronic pre-media departments, and handles all print buying for the company.
Kristina Cunillera is a manufacturing specialist who has worked with publishing houses such as Grüner & Jahr, Hachette Filipacchi and Haymarket Media. Currently, Cunillera is the print production manager for Wolters Kluwer Health’s Philadelphia office and a volunteer for the Postal Customer’s Council.
Russ Gazzara specializes in strategic planning, marketing and business development at Philadelphia-based Warkulwiz Design Associates. In partnership with the firm’s founder and CEO Bob Warkulwiz, Gazzara works with a variety of corporate clients on branding and identity campaigns, marketing, exhibits, and print and Web communications.
Lori Irvine has 16 years of experience in the book publishing industry in a variety of roles, including manufacturing, cost estimating, production and supplier management. With Elsevier since 1992 (then W.B. Saunders Co.), she was recently appointed to the position of Book Local Applications Manager.
Nicole Koenitzer is a graphic artist and inventive painter whose work with mixed-media has been exhibited throughout Philadelphia and New Jersey. She currently works as a print and Web designer for Edmund Optics.
Marianne Koszorus has worked for National Geographic Books for 27 years, currently as director of layout and design. She has designed and directed design for an ever-growing list of children’s and adult trade books.
Jim Malloy, a graphic designer and illustrator, graduated from Tyler School of Art. His illustrations have been featured in the pages of Games magazine, as well as in art shows in Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Philadelphia. He is currently the art director for Kappa Publishing Group Inc. and a freelance illustrator.
John J. McGurk is production manager at Philadelphia-based Quirk Books. He previously was an editor, designer, art director and production manager for James Publishing in Costa Mesa, Calif. He also has contributed articles to several national magazines.
Gina Montemurro is a production manager at NAPCO, where she has been employed for 12 years. She is the group production director for Target Marketing, Catalog Success, Fundraising Success and Inside Direct Mail, and oversees a team of production managers.
Gretchen Morris is director of global catalog production for Edmund Optics, where she supervises worldwide catalog operations, including 10 titles in four languages with an annual distribution of over 2.5 million. She manages a design and production team, which is responsible for creating all of the company’s marketing collateral in addition to the catalogs.
Robin Norman is production manager for The Jewish Publication Society, where she manages design and production services for all titles. Norman selects vendors and freelancers for design, typesetting, printing and other specialty-production services for new titles, and coordinates schedules for all reprints, overseeing all phases to completion.
Bob Stein has taught on the design faculties of The Tyler School of Art, The University of Delaware and, since 1969, the Illustration Department of The University of the Arts. There, he teaches print production and typography and coordinates the Design Internship program. His work is included in numerous private and public collections.
Dorlisa Goodrich Young is a group production director at NAPCO. She oversees two production managers, and handles the production of Printing Impressions and In-Plant Graphics magazines. She previously worked at Essence Communications Inc., publisher of Essence magazine, and Dow Jones & Co.
2008 Gold Ink Awards/Hall of Fame Banquet
The Gold Ink winners will be honored at a special dinner/reception.
Details: Monday, Oct. 27, Grand Ballroom, McCormick Place, Chicago
For more information: www.GoldInk.com
Matt Steinmetz is the publisher and brand director of Publishing Executive.