The Media & Innovation Awards 2011 are the South West’s most prestigious awards for people working in the creative industries and are run in association with Innovation Networks South West (iNets South West). The Awards will celebrate and honour the very best creative and innovative work produced by media and design companies during 2010. This year the awards will be held in Plymouth, on the 9th June.

Businesses from across the South West are being urged to enter the competition, which opens for entries on the 4th January and will close on the 31st January. It is open to all members of Gloucestershire Design Network, South West Music Forum, and South West Screen.

You can enter online or download an entry pack by clicking here. Media and design companies and their clients can enter up to five categories and nominate for the new talent and outstanding contribution awards.

The Media & Innovation Awards will also run alongside a two-day conference and a showcase event to be held at the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth. The conference is expected to attract major international speakers, and will be a valuable tool for anyone looking to grow their creative business. Full details of the conference programme will be released later in the New Year.

Karen Stockdale, from the Media & Innovation Awards said: “We are delighted to be hosting a major international event in the South West, that will enable us to put the spotlight on the world-class creative companies based in the region.”

David Aspinall, who is based in Gloucester, won in the Branding category in 2010. He created two viral adverts for the Marketing Agency Lowd and Klea. Each piece acts as a metaphor for the cause and effect of creative branding and advertising.
David said: “I had just produced this piece of work that was very proud of so thought this would be a great opportunity to meet some other companies and hopefully gain some recognition. With my work often being very solitary it’s a great boost of confidence to have this extra understanding of the level of which my work is able to compete. When showcasing work to potential clients it’s a great benefit to now be able to present these projects as award winning work.”

The 2011 awards feature 16 categories, which are:

• TV – For projects broadcast on satellite or terrestrial television. The project may be a programme, short, promotion, commercial, title sequence or ident. IPTV projects should be entered into the Web Use category.

• DVD or CD Rom – For projects produced specifically for DVD or CD (material produced for other platforms and subsequently released wholly or substantially on DVD or CD should be entered into the original platform category)

• Community Web Use – For demonstrating creative, design, editorial, technical or commercial innovation in a website produced for a charity or not profit-making organisation (this category incorporates IPTV projects/channels)

• Corporate Web Use – For demonstrating creative, design, editorial, technical or commercial innovation in a website produced for a company or profit-making organisation (this category incorporates IPTV projects/channels)

• Mobile Communications – For a project using mobile technology (including material for mobile phones, MP4, and POD Casting)

• Independent Film or Video – For projects produced on film or video that weren’t commissioned by a broadcaster or business (this includes material intended for cinematic/theatric release, film festivals and competitions).

• Graphics – For graphic design projects produced as physical materials or on the screen.

• Installation/Exhibition/Live Event – For projects produced for live audiences such as interactive museum installations, conferences, festivals, live events and trade shows that make use of a range of technologies and platforms.

• Radio/Audio/Music – For projects produced for radio, audio installation, CD, broadcast or live performance (this includes audio and music composition for television, film, video and the web).

• Games Design – For projects produced for Gaming devices (this includes material produced for handhelds, mobiles, websites and PCs).

• Branding – For the creation of a new Brand identity (this may include product branding) across all media.

• Collaboration between business and young people – This category will recognise creative, design, editorial, technical or commercial innovation on a project that has been a collaboration between business and young people.

• International Trade – For projects that demonstrate commercial success in exploiting international markets or developing international collaborations.

• Graduate Entrepreneurship – To reward a graduate or company started by a graduate for entrepreneurship in media or design.

• New Talent – To reward achievement by an individual with less than 5 years in the industry over a range of projects. Entry can be by nomination or self-nomination.

• Outstanding Contribution to Innovation – To reward an individual or a team for significant creative, design, editorial, technical or commercial innovation within the industry. Entry can be by nomination or self-nomination and all the winners of the previous categories will be considered for this award.

If you have created an excellent piece of work that fits into any of the categories listed above, you should nominate yourself for this award. Enter now!