This exciting first-of-its-kind competition rewards the best use of folded paper and design for print. Entries will be eligible for prizes and a coveted spot in the popular “60-second Super-cool FOLD of the WEEK” e-video. After the contest deadline, a jury of leading design professionals will determine which entries will be selected for a book that will showcase the “best of the best” folded solutions.

We’re looking for big ideas and small ideas – and there’s no limit to age of entry. Good folding is good folding, so dig up something from the past and enter now. Design something new and enter later. Compete for prizes and recognition – portion of the proceeds goes to graphic arts education programs and the balance will fund the expansion of the foldfactory resource and services.

All entries will be considered for inclusion in the book. No advantage will be given to winners, and winners are not guaranteed a place in the book. Submission of entries acknowledges the right of foldfactory.com to use them for publication and exhibition.

Deadline: May 15, 2012

Entry Fees: The entry fee is $25 per entry for professionals, $15 for student entries, and there is no limit to the number of entries per applicant. Please submit an entry form for each entry submitted. Students must also provide a photocopy of a valid student ID. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to graphic arts education programs, with the balance going to support the expansion of the foldfactory idea database as a resource for the graphic arts industry.

Competition Categories:

Direct Mail Promotion/Marketing Digital Print Special Event or Holiday Economy (low budget solutions) Specialty Folds/ Novelty Pocket folders Packaging (folded paper only – no glass, plastic or other materials) Campaign (series of two or more related pieces) Student Concept (Unpublished)

How to Enter: Download and fill out the entry form, completing one form per entry. Download entry form NOW.

Address packages to Folded Inspiration Competition. Non-United States contestants should mark each package “Materials for Contest Entry. No Commercial Value.” No provision will be made by foldfactory.com for U.S. Customs or airport pickup. International entries should be sent by post or international courier. All entries must be received by the deadline date.

Entries must be submitted as unmounted printed samples. Clean color laser mock-ups will be accepted for student and concept categories only.

Please do not send any pieces of art you want returned. NO ENTRIES WILL BE RETURNED. No exceptions. Foldfactory.com is not responsible for damage or loss of any entry. All entrants grant foldfactory.com the right to reproduce work selected in the Folded Inspiration Competition in materials used to promote foldfactory.com, the competition and/or future related promotions. Entrants also grant foldfactory.com the right to feature their entry in the foldfactory folding sample library.

Mail entries to:
Folded Inspiration Contest
PO Box 498
Hunt Valley, MD 21030

Notification of Acceptance: Prize winners will be notified that they will be featured on the “60-second Super-cool FOLD of the WEEK” video on foldfactory.com, and anyone else who will be receiving prizes will be notified. All entries will be automatically submitted for inclusion in the book. Only prize winners and entries that are chosen for the book will be notified of their status. Complete credits and any necessary material for the best possible reproduction in the book will be requested.

Questions: If you have any questions, you can reach us at:
contest@foldfactory.com
734-424-1070

Is this contest just for designers? No – printers and trade binderies are encouraged to look through their sample departments, or to “show-off” by creating innovative solutions.

What will entries be judged on? The best entries will be a marriage of great design and appropriate folding style. Innovation and inspired folding on both large and small budgets will be considered – for example, interesting die cuts and trims, visual tricks with imagery, fun twists on everyday folds, unusual or exotic folds. Concept and overall production quality will be considered. Awards will not solely go to the high budget solutions. Entries that utilize creative techniques for low and mid-range-budget projects will be rewarded as well.

Do you offer a cash prize? We do not offer a cash prize. The winners will be featured in a book produced by foldfactory.com and will be showcased and credited on foldfactory.com, assuring excellent exposure to the creators of the work. Prizes will be determined by foldfactory and will come from our sponsors and from the foldfactory product offerings. Winners will also see additional exposure on foldfactory.com, through other media outlets, and through social media techniques such as Facebook, Twitter, and more.

Will you confirm receipt of my package(s)? The best way for you to track your package(s) is to contact your carrier. We are unable to acknowledge receipt of your package(s) until your submission(s) has/have been processed. At that time you will receive an e-mail confirming that your package(s) has/have been received, along with your assigned entry number(s). This process can take weeks.

Will my entries be returned? Because of the number of entries we expect to receive, it is not possible for us to return any of them. All entries will become property of the foldfactory folding sample library.

Can I get an extension on the deadline? We do not plan to extend the deadline, however we reserve the right to do so at a later date.

Can I enter one project into two separate categories? Yes, just make sure to submit a duplicate entry for each of the categories you are entering and attach a separate entry form on each printed submission.

Can I enter my work as a series? Yes, but all work in a series must be part of the same campaign. When works are submitted as a series they are judged together as a group. The overall strength of the series depends on each individual piece and its function within the campaign.

If my entry is accepted, what will you use for reproduction? If your work is accepted we will request necessary reproduction materials at that time.

What do you mean by “unmounted”? We need to be able to experience the folded piece, and mounting it to a board destroys the dimensional experience (and makes the piece very heavy and cumbersome).

I don't know which category to put my piece in? Choose the category that you feel best fits your submission. If we feel another category is more appropriate, we will move it; your work will not be penalized or disqualified.

Do you accept work on disk? No.

Are there any special rules for student or concept work? Student and concept work must be completely original and not utilize content owned by another copyright holder unless the entrant has been granted specific usage rights. If a student/concept project is selected and documentation of specific usage rights cannot be supplied, the project will be disqualified. Foldfactory.com is not liable for any copyright infringement on the part of the entrant and will not become involved in copyright disputes.

What rights do I retain if my work is chosen? You retain all rights to your work, and we will credit you as the creator.

How does the judging take place? Judging will be managed by foldfactory.com. After the deadline, foldfactory will submit the entire body of entries from every category to a panel of esteemed judges who will make the selections for the book.

Are only prize winners eligible for inclusion in the book? No – all entries are eligible for inclusion in the book. No advantage will be given to prize winners, and prize winners are not guaranteed a place in the book.

My work has already been featured on foldfactory.com. Am I eligible to compete? Absolutely. If you would like to enter the contest, simply fill out an entry form and resubmit the sample. If your sample has already been featured as Fold of the Week, it is not eligible for Fold of the Week honors, however, it qualifies to compete for other prizes throughout the competition, and can compete for inclusion in the book.

When will we know if our entry was chosen? If your entry is chosen for the book, we will notify you two months after the deadline date. Because of the number of entries we expect to receive, we can only notify people whose work is accepted.