Sappi embraces digital media to connect with the international design community through the revamping of its ‘Ideas that Matter’ Competition, making a difference to our world through print.
Launching its 12th edition and entering its second decade, Sappi’s Ideas that Matter competition has been making a positive contribution to raising awareness and changing attitudes towards some of today’s most well-known, and less well known, issues and challenges in the areas of culture, education, healthcare, the environment, human rights and society. The broad scope of the competition embodied by its title – Ideas that Matter – means that everyone’s passion to communicate visually on something that is important to them, has a place, and can be projected through paper.
Key to the success of these information campaigns which have been developed in conjunction with non-profits has been the medium i.e. paper. In addition to identifying a cause, and developing a concept, entrants must clearly indicate how paper will be used, either through billboards, magazines or more creative ideas such as beermats, boxes, door hooks, dollies and flyers etc. 10 years of the competition has resulted in some amazing campaigns being produced throughout the world, all of which can be browsed in a special book printed to celebrate the competition [http://www.sappi-ideasthatmatter.eu/flashpaper.php]
A big change in the competition which underlines its continued success is the use of digital media to communicate with the graphic and design community. According to Erik van den Bruel, Business Development & Marketing Director, Sappi Europe, "Clearly, we are believers in the power of print, and the Ideas that Matter campaigns that we have supported are testament to this; but we also recognise the diversity and weight of digital communication. We have taken our first steps in this new world and are very excited by it particularly as a means to reaching out to new and existing audiences. We have created what we feel is a powerful video to communicate the launch of this edition and look forward to working with Facebook and Twitter to motivate designers to enter.
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