CALL FOR ENTRIES OPEN OCT. 14, SUBMISSIONS DEADLINE: NOV. 13
Click Here for Submission Page
For the fourth consecutive year, Making Vinyl will host a competition recognizing the best in vinyl, CD and cassette packaging. The submissions and judging process will be entirely online and requires high-resolution photographs of all entries, as well as full-text descriptions of the packages, who’s responsible in their creation, and who shall be inscribed on the trophy in the case of winning. To maximize the chances for winning, submitters are urged to include supporting video to best explain why their packages should win and meets the criteria of the category.
Submissions will be judged entirely online by a panel of award-winning judges throughout the world. In addition, entries may be submitted from anywhere in the world (i.e., international submissions are welcome).
The award winners will be announced on Dec. 9, the second day of Making Vinyl Virtual.
- Rules and fees are available at https://makingvinyl.com/packaging-awards/
- For questions, email or call Larry Jaffee, Making Vinyl conference director:
[email protected] / +1 917-291-2488 (US mobile)
16 CATEGORIES:
Please note all entries must be released from Sept. 1, 2019, to Nov. 20, 2020.
RECORD STORE DAY (VINYL)
Recognizes the best-designed album that was exclusively released for Record Store Day 2020 (all three drops) or RSD Black Friday 2019.
THEY SAID IT COULDN’T BE DONE (VINYL)
Recognizes innovation in structural design that takes into account the use of new machinery or materials or folds or printing processes that stretches the boundaries of album packaging that previously existed.
SAVE THE EARTH AND HUMANITY (VINYL)
Recognizes innovations in sustainability and social justice with packages utilizing environmentally sound (e.g., recyclable paper, special links) materials and practices that reduce the carbon footprint, as well as projects that aim to improve society.
BEST VINYL DELUXE SET
Recognizes the quality of the packaging, as well as booklets, posters, inner sleeves, etc., and how all the elements fit together aesthetically that goes far beyond a standard, single LP release (e.g., multi-record boxed set).
BEST VINYL GATEFOLD
Judging aesthetics of a spread’s two or more panels, taking into account the inside graphic design, quality of photography and/or illustration.
BEST 45-RPM (SINGLE) COVER
Recognizing stellar 7-inch packaging that takes into the cover, the single’s inner label, coating of the outer package’s paper, etc.
BEST VINYL REISSUE PACKAGE
Recognizing stellar packaging of a “classic” album that improves on the original, and record must have been re-released on vinyl in the past during the eligibility period.
BEST VINYL ALBUM LP COVER (ILLUSTRATION)
Recognizing covers adorned by an original painting, illustration or graphic design either newly created or repurposed (i.e., vintage).
BEST VINYL ALBUM LP COVER (PHOTOGRAPH)
Recognizing covers adorned by black & white or color photo; new or vintage that exemplifies visually the art form of photography but adapted for the 12-inch x 12-inch canvas aesthetically.
BEST JAZZ, CLASSICAL or SPOKEN-WORD VINYL (NON-DELUXE) LP PACKAGE
Recognizing that the aesthetics of vinyl categories that don’t get as much attention as rock, hip-hop, and pop music, this category aims to shine a light on the best packaging in these three genres.
BEST RECORD ART
Recognizing what’s on the actual vinyl record itself (e.g., colors, designs and/or patterns, etchings on fourth sides, or novel techniques such as silk-screening, and can also include unusually shaped records, for example.
BEST PROMOTIONAL RECORD PACKAGE
Recognizing that records needn’t be used to distribute recorded music, this category takes into account vinyl packaging that was manufactured to promote a product, brand, or service. It is not meant for the promo music vinyl releases for the press or trade samples.
BEST BOOK + MEDIA PACKAGE
Recognizing that record labels and book publishers both are getting increasingly creative in coupling printed material with mixed media (e.g., books, records, CDs, and cassettes).
BEST CASSETTE PACKAGE
Tapes like vinyl have made a return in the commercial marketplace. This category shows off the prerecorded cassette format’s best packaging.
THEY SAID IT COULDN’T BE DONE – CD
Recognizes innovation in structural design that takes into account the use of new machinery or materials or folds or printing processes that stretches the boundaries of album packaging that previously existed.
BEST CD DELUXE SET
Recognizes the quality of the box itself, as well as booklets, posters, inner sleeves, etc., and how all the elements fit together aesthetically in a multi-disc boxed set.
