Optimus Awards Exhibit Design

A canvas to honor the work of others.

For 10 years American Paper Corp. had been hosting and running the Optimus design and printing awards. During the last few years, the awards have been embedded within the larger event of Gráfica del Caribe, preventing them from establishing their own look, feel or identity. Even though every year a design was made to communicate the awards, their presence is basically none outside of the close niche of printers and regular submitters.

For the 11th awards, I convinced the hosting company of separating the awards from the larger event. I urged it to achieve a different voice, which would eventually grant them more respect from the profession. Because a stand-alone exhibit had never been executed, available funds were low. A small gallery was identified, materials from the warehouse were recycle, and little, strategic printing was done.

The exhibit was primarily assembled from recycled materials.

Wood stacking platforms were arranged to make presentation stations.

Pieces were arranged by category.

Awards trophies were hidden underneath these customized Varn canisters.

Since the awards are held by a paper distributor, a showcase was assembled from the many different digital papers that the company represents.

The temporal quality of the installation was crucial, since the space was loaned for only 5 days.

Multi-paged pieces where arranged on tops to allowing visitors to go through them.

Details of installation system.

Outside intervention that receives visitors.

I was lucky enough that the amount of steps coincided with the anniversary of these particular awards.

Guests enjoying the exhibit.

Guests enjoying the exhibit.

EXHIBIT CREDITS Exhibit Coordination Lourdes Folch, American Paper Corp. Visual Identity Design Marina Rivón, Maremar Graphic Design Concept and exhibit design Alberto Rigau, Estudio Interlínea Instalation of Exhibit Johann Sasso Installation assistants Alfonso Gómez Arzola, Donald Sasso, David Rosa Offset Printing Graphic Print & Design Digital Printing Sun Colors