Best of Show Winners Revealed

Richard Beto (center, left) of University of TX at Austin holding Best of Show award for offset. From left: Dwayne Magee, IPMA president; Richard Beto; Bob Neubauer, IPG editor; Chris Donlon, IPMA awards chair.

John Cruser holds the Best of Show trophy for non-offset.

In a ceremony in Pittsburgh last night at the In-plant Printing and Mailing Association (IPMA) conference, the In-Print 2017 Best of Show winners were unveiled. The two Best of Show champions — both first-time winners — beat out several past winners to claim the top prize.

As the crowd of more than 200 watched in tense anticipation, a pair of videos were shown depicting the judges selecting the Best of Show winners for the offset and non-offset categories. IPG Editor Bob Neubauer shot, edited and narrated the video, which allowed attendees to watch as the judges narrowed down the field of Gold winners.

In the offset contest, the judges pared down the contestants until the only two left on the table were a booklet from the Church of Scientology International and a pocket folder from the University of Texas at Austin. When the five judges took a hand vote, UT Austin had won. It was the crowning jewel of the in-plant's victorious performance in In-Print 2017, which saw it win seven total awards, five of which were Gold winners.

Then the crowd hushed to watch the non-offset Best of Show winner getting picked. As piece after excellent piece was pushed to the side, the judges anguished over the final two contestants: a spiral bound brochure from Bloomberg and a personalized calendar from the University of California, Davis. When the vote was taken, Bloomberg emerged as the champion, winning its first Best of Show.

Both Best of Show videos will be available on InPlantGraphics.com in the days ahead.