Last year it was the "Crazy Chamäleon" that emerged as the winning design at the designmaker 2013 themed "Make me smile". "color my life" is the theme in 2014 as viscom is looking for creative design ideas to be realised on as many advertising carriers as possible. Each year during the International Trade Fair for Visual Communication, which will be held from 5 to 7 November in Frankfurt, the best three ideas are honoured with awards. The deadline for participation for the designmaker 2014 is 31 August 2014.

Following the motto "Design meets feasibility", signmakers, graphic arts companies and advertising agencies alike are called to give free reign to their creativity on the theme "color my life". The task is to create a design for a potential customer order in such a way that it can be used in digital printing technology, for printing and cutting systems as well as for textile finishing and sublimation. One of the explicit criteria in this competition is versatility: from full vehicle wraps to floor stickers through to printed flip-flops - the design must be effective on ten different media.

The entries will be evaluated by an expert jury, made up from the partners, sponsors and trade media. Assessment criteria include both the artistic quality of the design and its feasibility. Entries will be weighted according to the complexity of the preparatory process and data processing involved. The best three design ideas will be announced at an award presentation ceremony held during viscom. In addition, the top three designs will receive cash awards as well as high-quality non-cash prizes from the sponsors. The cash award for the best design is 3,000 Euro, followed by 2,000 Euro for the second and 1,000 Euro for the third.

The designmaker is awarded by viscom organiser Reed Exhibitions Deutschland GmbH, together with Potter Werbeagentur, Karl Gröner GmbH and creativ collection Verlag GmbH. The contest is generously supported by platinum sponsor Hewlett-Packard Deutschland GmbH and silver sponsor Complott Papier Union GmbH.

More information on the competition is available at: www.viscom-messe.com/designmaker_2014_670.html Here interested parties will find further information of the previous year's winners as well as the terms of participation and the precise requirements set in this year's task.

From classic advertising technology to digital printing through to digital advertising and POS media - with its six theme worlds, viscom presents the innovations in visual communication. In addition to the inspiring synergies created by the six themes - large format printing - signmaking - object design - covering the "Technologies and Materials" segment and - digital signage - POS display - POS packaging - covering the "Applications and Marketing" segment, the event is clearly structured and thus leaves plenty of room for the development of each sector's identity.

A key factor for the success of viscom exhibitors and visitors alike, the event blends a classic trade fair with application-focussed special shows, European-level awards and an extensive supporting programme. This diversity is reflected in the trade fair's visitor target groups, as well: viscom is aimed at brand manufacturers and distributors, manufacturing and retail marketing decision-makers, object designers, equipment and materials buyers, craftsmen, agencies, and creative talent.

Alternating locations between Frankfurt and Düsseldorf, viscom 2014 will take place from Wednesday, 5 November, to Friday, 7 November. Some 350 exhibitors and 13,000 trade visitors are expected to attend.