Keep reading for a closer look at each award-winning project. 

Best of Category Winners 

Natural Cheesemaking From Home

Category: Cookbooks 
Publisher: Homestead Living 
Award: Best of Category 

This practical cookbook guides readers through the art of making cheese at home, combining instructional content with rich photography. It stood out for its consistent color reproduction and clean detail across both text and imagery. The balance of readability and visual appeal made it a strong example of cookbook production done right. 

East of West: The End of Times Compendium

Category: Juvenile Books 
Publisher: Image Comics 
Award: Best of Category 

This large-format compendium brings together a visually complex graphic novel series. The project required precise color control to maintain tone and continuity across illustrated panels. It earned top honors for its sharp line work and ability to preserve artistic intent at scale. 

duPont Registry February 2026 No. 489

Category: Web Press Printing, Coated Paper 
Publisher: duPont Registry 
Award: Best of Category 

A luxury lifestyle magazine featuring high-end products, this issue showcased vibrant imagery and deep color saturation. The piece stood out for its strong ink density, smooth gradients and consistent quality throughout a high-volume web run. 

60 Years of The Grateful Dead Experience

Category: Web Press Printing, Uncoated Paper 
Publisher: Relix Presents 
Award: Best of Category 

Printed on uncoated stock, this commemorative publication required careful color management to preserve image integrity without coated paper enhancement. It earned recognition for maintaining depth and clarity while working within the natural limitations of uncoated materials. 

Best of Division Winners 

Sophisticated Weddings 2025 Spring/Summer

Category: Fashion/Health/Pop Culture Magazines  
Publisher: Sophisticated Weddings 
Award: Best of Division 

This bridal publication features detailed fashion photography and soft color palettes. The piece stood out for its vibrant colors and ability to reproduce subtle textures in fabrics and skin tones, delivering a polished and premium feel. 

Elite Traveler: Hotels, Resorts, and Spas 2026

Category: Architectural/Art/Travel Magazines 
Publisher: Elite Traveler 
Award: Best of Division/Best of Wisconsin 

A high-end travel magazine showcasing luxury destinations worldwide, this project required strong image fidelity and consistency. It earned top honors for crisp detail, accurate color and a refined presentation that reflects the premium nature of the content. Not only was Elite Traveler awarded Best of Division, it stood above the competition by being named Best of Wisconsin in its category.

Award of Excellence Winners 

Kichler Lighting 2026 Landscape Catalog 

Category: Product Catalogs 
Publisher: Kichler Lighting 
Award: Award of Excellence 

This catalog presents outdoor lighting products with detailed photography and technical information. It stood out for its clear image reproduction and precision printing of complex product details, helping readers easily evaluate features and applications. 

Your Guide to the National Parks 

Category: Soft Cover Books 
Publisher: Stone Road Press 
Award: Award of Excellence 

This travel-focused book blends photography with informative content about national parks. The project earned recognition for its clean layout and strong color consistency. 

Marvel Deadpool 3-D 

Category: Novelty Books 
Publisher: Pan-Universal Galactic Worldwide 
Award: Award of Excellence 

A specialty format title, this novelty book incorporates 3-D effects that require precise alignment and printing accuracy. It stood out for its technical execution and ability to deliver a visually engaging reader experience. 

Vie Magazine May 2025 

Category: Magazines (cover: sheetfed, interior: web)  
Publisher: Vie Magazine 
Award: Award of Excellence 

Vie Magazine combines sheetfed cover printing with web-printed interiors, seamlessly integrating between the two processes with consistent color and finishing to create a unified final product. 

2025 Wal-cipes: Recipes Worth Sharing 

Category: Internal Communication Pieces 
Publisher: è��AV 
Award: Award of Excellence 

This internally produced è��AV piece celebrates employee-submitted recipes. It earned recognition for its strong production quality and ability to communicate a sense of nostalgia while remaining a polished, professional publication. 

A Strong Showing Across Categories 

è��AV’s results in this year’s GEAs reflect a broad range of capabilities, including: 

• High-end magazines and catalogs 

• Complex book formats, including comics and novelty titles 

• Web and sheetfed production using coated and uncoated stocks 

• Internal communication pieces that match external-quality standards 

 
Each winning project demonstrates attention to detail, press consistency and a deep understanding of how production choices impact the final product. 

Produced in Ripon, Built on Expertise 

These award-winning pieces reinforce è��AV’s role as an industry leader in high-quality web printing and finishing. From color management to binding and specialty effects, the Ripon team played a crucial role in delivering award-winning results. We want to congratulate each of these è��AV partners on their projects’ well-deserved accolades, and thank our dedicated è��AV – Ripon team for bringing them to life. 

If you’d like to explore how è��AV can help shape your next award-winning print project, just get in touch with us today. 

The post �AV Earns Top Honors in GLGA Graphics Excellence Awards first appeared on �AV.

Mountain Gazette #204

What it is: A large-format biannual magazine focusing on outdoor adventure and mountain culture. Issue #204 (Fall 2025) of Mountain Gazette spans 192 pages in an oversized 11″×17″ format, featuring stunning photography and literary essays about life in the mountains. 
Why it stood out: This issue earned a Best of Category (Magazines – Soft Cover) and a KS/MO Region Platinum award for pushing the limits of print magazine design. With its oversized, coffee-table production quality and immersive content, from backcountry tales to breathtaking imagery, Mountain Gazette #204 stood out as an innovative return of an iconic publication. 

The Blooming Table 

What it is: A hybrid cookbook and flower-arrangement guide created and self-published by Gina Diamond’s Flower Co. of Madison, Mississippi. Subtitled A Collection of Recipes, Florals, and Beautiful Tables, this book offers seasonal recipes alongside step-by-step floral design ideas and tablescape inspirations, all reflecting a love of Southern entertaining. 
Why it stood out: It won a Gold Award (Division 3), an impressive feat for an independently produced volume. The Blooming Table marries “from-the-heart” content with a luxury look and feel, gorgeous photography, elegant layouts and thick matte paper that feels as good as it looks. The book’s exceptional quality, on par with major publishers’ outputs, proved that a first-time author with passion and attention to detail can create an award-winning piece. 

The Southern Mirror 

What it is: A personal lifestyle and memoir-style book by Brenda Gantt, published by Hoffman Media’s 83 Press imprint. The Southern Mirror is a richly illustrated volume in which Brenda, an Alabama grandmother and popular cooking personality, shares heartfelt stories, family recipes, reflections on faith and classic Southern wisdom, accompanied by photographs and her own hand-drawn illustrations. 
Why it stood out: It received Best of Category (Hardcover Book) and also a KS/MO Division III Regional Bronze award, citing its excellence in both content and production. The Southern Mirror envelops readers in genuine Southern charm, thanks to its warm storytelling and premium print touches, such as glossy photo pages and a foil-stamped cover. The book’s ability to feel both homey and high-end helped it shine among competitors, showing that authenticity and quality can go hand-in-hand. 

Innovate South Florida Vol. 1

What it is: A hardcover, coffee-table style book produced by Global Village Publishing as the inaugural volume of the Innovate series. This book profiles roughly 100 entrepreneurs, organizations and innovators in South Florida’s tech, art and business communities, celebrating the region’s creativity. 
Why it stood out: Innovate South Florida Vol. 1 won Best of Category (Case-Bound Books) for its exceptional binding and vibrant design. The book’s high-quality production, from sturdy case binding to glossy, colorful pages, worked in tandem with its content to set a high standard for the Innovate series. 

The United States Capitol: An Illustrated Guide

What it is: A comprehensive visitor guidebook to the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., published by Capen Publishing Company for the Capitol Visitor Center. This perfect-bound softcover is 272 pages long and filled with over 300 photographs, illustrations and stories about the Capitol’s art, architecture and history. 
Why it stood out: It won Best of Category (Perfect Binding) for combining rich content with high production quality. The United States Capitol: An Illustrated Guide serves as an engaging keepsake for tourists and history buffs alike. The book’s durable binding and vivid print execution impressed judges for excellence in the guide/book category. 

Sophisticated Living (St. Louis’ Finest): Sept/Oct 2025

What it is: A special September/October 2025 issue of Sophisticated Living magazine’s St. Louis edition, themed “St. Louis’ Finest.” This luxury bimonthly magazine showcased the city’s top-tier restaurants, cultural events, personalities and high-end real estate, all with lavish photography. 
Why it stood out: It received Best of Category (Magazines, Web) for outstanding quality in a locally focused magazine. The “St. Louis’ Finest” issue balanced local insight with a polished, national-magazine caliber design. Striking layouts, glossy imagery and elegant typography, hallmarks of the Sophisticated Living brand, combined to make this issue truly stand out in print. 

Alpinestars Fall Intro Collection 2026

What it is: A Fall 2026 product catalog for Alpinestars gear, produced by Parts Unlimited (Le Mans Corporation). Aimed at motorcycle dealers, the catalog introduces Alpinestars’ latest motorcycle apparel and accessories, featuring sections for jackets, tech air vests, gloves, boots and more with detailed product specs and action photography. 
Why it stood out: It earned Best of Category (Catalogs/Magazines – Web Coated) for its exceptional print production. The catalog’s glossy pages and high-definition images showcased the products vividly, while its clear organization made it both visually exciting and user-friendly. As a piece of B2B collateral, the Alpinestars Fall Intro Collection catalog set a benchmark for quality, proving that even marketing materials can be award-worthy when taken to the right printer. 

Black Panther: Flip Book

What it is: An innovative Marvel comics collectible produced by Pan–Universal Galactic (PUG) Worldwide. Often described as a “Pan-dimensional 3D” edition, this Black Panther flip book presents comic artwork in a stereoscopic 3D format, featuring a mashup of comic panels that create a 3D illusion when viewed with included 3D glasses. 
Why it stood out: It took home Best of Category (3D Printing/Viewing) for pushing the boundaries of print entertainment. The Black Panther: Flip Book transforms a traditional comic experience into something interactive and multidimensional, blending nostalgia for a classic superhero with a novel 3D visual effect.  

The Scout Guide (Multiple City Editions) 

What it is: A series of upscale, curated city guidebooks known collectively as The Scout Guide. Produced as annual volumes across over 80 cities, each edition highlights the best local boutiques, restaurants, artists and businesses in that city, with beautiful photography and elegant layouts.  
Why they stood out: The series won Best of Category (Directories & Source Books) for its consistent excellence across editions. Each Scout Guide volume is tailored to a specific city, but all share a signature style: thick, high-quality paper, vibrant full-color spreads and often a distinctive linen or hardcover binding. By celebrating local culture in high quality print, The Scout Guide city books demonstrated both community spirit and top-tier construction. 

Icons of the Fantastic 

What it is: A coffee-table art book published by Rutgers University Press (University of Delaware Press imprint) that showcases classic imaginative art from the Korshak Collection. Titled Icons of the Fantastic: Illustrations of Imaginative Literature, this 172-page hardcover presents nearly 200 vintage fantasy and sci-fi illustrations from classic literature alongside scholarly essays and commentary. 
Why it stood out: It earned Best of Category (Hardcover Book Binding) for its museum-quality presentation. Expertly produced with a Smyth-sewn binding, sturdily laminated hardcover and high-fidelity image reproduction, Icons of the Fantastic is both an art lover’s treasure and an academic resource (even featuring a foreword by filmmaker Guillermo del Toro). The book’s combination of visual magic and impeccable craftsmanship made it a standout among illustrated books. 

We Are Dwarf Sperm Whales! 

What it is: A children’s non-fiction graphic book from Lerner Publishing Group’s Graphic Universe imprint. This 80-page comic-style book, part of Anne Lambelet’s Marine Life Graphic Guides series, teaches young readers about whales and dolphins, using a friendly dwarf sperm whale narrator named Kogi to present facts in a fun, engaging way. 
Why it stood out: It earned an Award of Recognition (Spot UV) for its creative design and quality. We Are Dwarf Sperm Whales! stands out not just for making marine biology accessible, but also for its polished production; for example, adding a spot-UV gloss finish on the cover to make the underwater scenes and characters pop. It’s a great example of educational content presented with both creativity and technical excellence. 

Saints & Sinners #1

What it is: An anthology comic book (softcover graphic novel) published by Rippaverse Comics, an up-and-coming independent comics publisher. Saints & Sinners #1 compiles six short superhero stories by various creators, all exploring moral ambiguities in a newly launched comic universe. It’s roughly 100 pages and represents the Rippaverse’s first foray beyond single-character titles into a collected anthology format. 
Why it stood out: It received an Award of Recognition (Softcover Books) for its high production quality. Printed on uncoated, premium paper with a sturdy perfect binding, Saints & Sinners #1 delivered a “prestige” feel that impressed judges and readers alike. Beyond the physical attributes, its success as a crowdfunded project gives weight to the impact of independent publishing done right, combining original storytelling with professional print standards to rival mainstream comics. 

CityScope Magazine: The Fall Issue (2025) 

What it is: A Fall 2025 edition of CityScope, a regional lifestyle magazine based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This issue likely features the season’s highlights for the local audience, such as autumn festivals, restaurant spotlights, community leader profiles and “best of the city” lists, all wrapped in CityScope’s characteristically elegant design. 
Why it stood out: It earned an Award of Recognition (Perfect-Bound Magazines) for outstanding quality in regional publishing. The Fall 2025 CityScope issue combines hometown content with a level of photography, layout and printing polish that could compete with national magazines. Quality perfect binding and attention to detail in print demonstrated excellence in showcasing a community through print media. 

Columbus Monthly: Best of Columbus 

What it is: A special “Best of Columbus” issue of Columbus Monthly, an established city magazine in Ohio. This annual edition compiles readers’ and editors’ picks for the city’s top restaurants, bars, shops, parks, personalities and more highlighting the top recommendation for each category. 
Why it stood out: It received an Award of Recognition (Magazines) for turning a content-rich roundup into an attractive, cohesive publication. The Best of Columbus issue presented dozens of local favorites with creative page layouts, using playful icons, callouts and vibrant photos while maintaining consistency and readability. The result was both an informative city guide and a celebratory snapshot of Columbus, produced to a standard that garnered industry praise. 

Sophisticated Living (Cincinnati’s Finest): Sept/Oct 2025 

What it is: The September/October 2025 “Cincinnati’s Finest” issue of Sophisticated Living magazine. Much like the St. Louis issue, this edition is a bimonthly luxury lifestyle magazine that curates the best of Cincinnati’s local high society, from upscale homes and design to notable Cincinnati personalities, events and hotspots. 
Why it stood out: It earned an Award of Recognition (Magazines) for excellence in print and content. The Cincinnati issue upheld the Sophisticated Living brand’s hallmark quality: gorgeous photography, slick design and engaging editorial, all tailored to the Queen City. By delivering elegance and production value while capturing Cincinnati’s unique flavor, this issue demonstrated the power of consistent quality across a franchise. 

Arkansas Bride: Fall/Winter 2025 

What it is: The Fall/Winter 2025 edition of Arkansas Bride, a semiannual bridal magazine published in Little Rock by Arkansas Business Publishing Group. This glossy magazine serves as a comprehensive planning resource for brides in Arkansas, featuring bridal fashion spreads, real wedding stories, checklists and directories of local venues and vendors. 
Why it stood out: It received an Award of Recognition (Magazines) for its beautiful and functional presentation. Arkansas Bride: Fall/Winter 2025 struck a desirable balance: dreamy inspiration (think stunning gown photography and elegant décor ideas) coupled with practical guidance (timelines, tips and contacts), all presented with top-notch print clarity and stylish layouts. This combination solidified its reputation as the state’s go-to wedding guide and earned it praise for print quality and content. 

International Wood 2025 

What it is: The 2025 annual issue of International Wood, the official publication of the International Wood Products Association (IWPA), produced by 526 Media Group. Part magazine, part industry directory, this large issue includes articles on global trends in the wood and lumber industry and case studies of innovative wood use in design, as well as a comprehensive buyer’s guide listing wood suppliers and manufacturers around the world. 
Why it stood out: It garnered an Award of Recognition (Magazines) for elevating trade publication standards. Despite covering dense industry content like sustainability, trade policy and technical data, International Wood 2025 presented everything in a clear, visually compelling way, featuring high-quality photography of wood in architecture and art, easy-to-navigate layouts and a pleasing earth-toned design on substantial matte paper. It’s a prime example of how a niche B2B publication can be both informative and beautiful, which impressed the competition judges. 

Mizzou: Power the Roar Edition 

What it is: A Fall 2025 special issue of MIZZOU, the University of Missouri’s alumni magazine, themed “Power the Roar.” This edition was dedicated to launching and spotlighting the university’s ambitious $2 billion “Power the Roar” fundraising campaign. It features stories of campus achievements, profiles of influential alumni and donors and information on how the campaign will impact Mizzou’s future. 
Why it stood out: The project earned an Award of Recognition (Magazines – Uncoated) for its impactful design and execution. Printed on matte, uncoated paper for a modern, sophisticated feel, the Power the Roar issue managed to double as both a campaign marketing piece and a compelling publication. Bold use of Mizzou’s black-and-gold branding, inspirational photography of students and campus scenes,and well-crafted storytelling all came together to rally alumni support while still reading like a genuine magazine; a balance that was not easy to achieve and was rightly celebrated. 

Genii: October 2025 

What it is: The October 2025 issue of Genii, a monthly magazine for magicians and magic enthusiasts. Known as “The Conjurors’ Magazine” since its founding in 1936, Genii publishes interviews with magicians, how-to articles teaching magic tricks, historical retrospectives and industry news. The cover story for this issue featured magician Mat Franco and his post-America’s Got Talent career. 
Why it stood out: It received an Award of Recognition (Magazines), highlighting its outstanding quality in a niche category. Genii: October 2025 packed a lot into 80 pages, from step-by-step trick tutorials with photos to thoughtful articles, yet maintained an easy-to-follow layout and sharp print quality. For a publication with such a long legacy, continuing to uphold high production standards is an achievement. The award goes to show that even specialized hobby magazines can compete on craftsmanship and design, and Genii does so while preserving the charm of the magic community. 

bmonthly June 2025 – Visit Oklahoma 

What it is: The June 2025 “Visit Oklahoma” issue of bmonthly, a free community magazine in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. bmonthly typically combines local history, culture and events; this particular issue was geared toward celebrating Oklahoma tourism and attractions, featuring travel recommendations, state history tidbits and fun local summer activities. 
Why it stood out: It earned an Award of Recognition (Magazines) for punching above its weight in quality. Despite being a small-town publication, the “Visit Oklahoma” issue of bmonthly delivered engaging storytelling and design on par with larger magazines, complete with compelling photographs, friendly and polished layouts and a clear passion for local content.  

TM Chef’s Toys Wall Calendar 

What it is: A promotional wall calendar created for Chef’s Toys, a restaurant supply brand under TriMark. The calendar is coil-bound and meant to hang, featuring one month per page. Each month showcases either a beautiful food photograph or a spotlight on a particular piece of kitchen equipment sold by Chef’s Toys, blending aesthetic appeal with subtle product promotion. 
Why it stood out: It won an Award of Recognition (Calendars) for its excellence in design and production. The Chef’s Toys calendar isn’t just a generic date grid – it’s an eye-catching marketing piece that provides ongoing value. The calendar stands out for its sturdy construction, clear layout and the way it integrates the brand’s identity without sacrificing the calendar’s practicality.  

High School Daily Planner 

What it is: A 2025–2026 academic year planner for high school students, produced by Seton Home Study School, a Catholic homeschool organization. This spiral-bound planner provides daily and weekly calendar pages for students to track assignments and schedules, and includes additional features like goal-setting pages, inspirational quotes and holidays aligned with Seton’s curriculum. 
Why it stood out: It received an Award of Recognition (Lamination & Coating) for its durable and student-friendly design. The High School Daily Planner is built to endure an entire year of heavy use, featuring a protective laminated cover, sturdy tabs and a clean, writeable layout.  

2025 Teacher’s Plan Book 

What it is: A 2025 edition lesson planner for teachers (or homeschooling parents), also from Seton Home Study School. This planner is wire-O bound and provides a structured layout for planning lessons week by week, recording grades or attendance and organizing the academic year. It complements the student planner, tuned to the needs of the instructor. 
Why it stood out: It earned an Award of Recognition (Binding – Wire-O) for its combination of practicality and build quality. The Teacher’s Plan Book is designed to lie flat for easy writing, with a robust spiral binding that won’t snag or fall apart. With features like laminated divider tabs, reference pages and a full-art cover design, it exemplifies how a utilitarian product can still feel polished and reliable.  

New Orleans Garden District: Profiles in Preservation 

What it is: New Orleans Garden District: Profiles in Preservation is a deluxe hardcover book created in partnership between the Garden District Association of New Orleans and Hoffman Media. Released in late 2025, this coffee-table book spans over 300 pages and showcases more than 100 historic homes in New Orleans’ famed Garden District. Each home is accompanied by contemporary photographs by renowned photographer David Spielman, archival images and narratives about its history and architecture. 
Why it stood out: It received an Award of Recognition (Hardcover Books) for its stunning quality and meaningful content. Bound in cloth with a matching dust jacket, the book exudes elegance befitting the grandeur of the homes it features. Judges were impressed by the book’s excellent color reproduction, the clean, classic design and the overall execution that elevates it beyond a typical architecture book.  

Just Let Us: Rampages 2025 

What it is: A high school yearbook from Rampart High School in Colorado Springs, documenting the 2024–25 school year. Titled Rampages 2025 with the theme “Just Let Us,” this student-created volume is filled with vibrant stories and photos of campus life. 
Why it stood out: Just Let Us: Rampages 2025 earned Best of Category (Yearbooks) for its exceptional construction and cohesive design. The yearbook’s creative theme and quality printing made it a standout example of what a student team can achieve. 

Just Wait: The Stampede 2025 

What it is: The 2025 yearbook of J.W. Mitchell High School in Trinity, Florida, known as The Stampede. This edition was built around a playful “Just Wait” theme, showcasing the school year through engaging student photography and colorful layouts. 
Why it stood out: It received an Award of Recognition (Yearbooks) for its imaginative theme and visually engaging content. Just Wait: The Stampede 2025 was lauded for its dynamic design and the way it captured student memories with creativity and polish. 

Stay Golden: The Talon 2025 

What it is: The Talon 2025 is Olathe South High School’s yearbook, which used a “Stay Golden” theme. The book not only chronicles the school year but also features special print touches, notably an elaborately embossed cover that reflects its golden motif. 
Why it stood out: It earned an Award of Recognition (Embossing & Debossing) for its outstanding cover design. The raised, textured elements on the cover gave Stay Golden: The Talon 2025 a unique tactile appeal, complementing its strong content and making it memorable among yearbooks. 

Print Your Next Award Winner With è��AV 

These award-winning projects demonstrate the breadth and quality of work produced by è��AV, from student yearbooks and regional magazines to art books, corporate catalogs and specialty publications. Each project was unique in content and audience, yet they all shared a commitment to excellent design and print craftsmanship.  

With printing options ranging from large-scale offset to digital print-on-demand, è��AV brings flexibility, expertise and unmatched craftsmanship to each and every project. If you’d like to know more about the è��AV difference, get in touch with us today. 

The post è��AV Projects Shine at the 2026 GraphEx Awards  first appeared on è��AV.

Efficiency and Automation Take Center Stage

One of the biggest themes of this year’s CreativePro was the push to work smarter, not harder. Wamser, a longtime Adobe Certified Instructor, spotlighted the evolving automation tools in programs like InDesign. Features such as GREP styles, conditional text and improved data merge are helping designers create faster, cleaner and more adaptable layouts.

For professionals in high-volume or template-heavy environments like catalogs, magazines or yearbooks, these tools offer real advantages by increasing accuracy and saving time.

Smarter Design for a Changing World

Field shared how today’s creative tools are not just more powerful but also more purposeful. From interactive PDFs to variable fonts and responsive layouts, CreativePro sessions revealed how design is becoming more inclusive, adaptable and ready for what’s next.

Design today is about more than just visuals. Accessibility and clarity matter just as much as color and typography. Whether working in digital or print, the goal is to make your designs beautiful and functional for every audience.

Collaboration and Cloud Tools Are Essential

As more teams work in remote or hybrid settings, collaboration tools are more important than ever. The hosts highlighted how Creative Cloud Libraries, Share for Review and version tracking are becoming must-haves for modern design teams.

These features help teams stay in sync across locations and time zones while maintaining speed and consistency. They offer a smart solution to the real-world challenges of team-based creative work.

AI Is an Opportunity for Designers

Artificial intelligence was a major talking point at the conference, especially Adobe’s Firefly and Sensei tools. While AI can help with tasks like image generation or layout suggestions, both presenters agreed that creativity is still a human skill.

Instead of replacing designers, AI can free them to focus on ideas and strategy. Learning how to use AI tools effectively is quickly becoming a valuable skill in every creative toolkit.

Accessibility Is a Core Priority

Sessions at CreativePro emphasized that accessibility is no longer optional. From PDF reading order to alt text, designing for everyone is now part of professional best practices. The hosts encouraged designers to think beyond compliance and focus on creating content that serves all users.

Accessible design broadens your audience, supports inclusion and adds long-term value to your work.

Stay Curious and Keep Learning

To close, Wamser and Field reminded attendees that the best designers never stop learning. Software evolves, client needs shift and design standards rise. Staying curious and willing to explore new tools or techniques is essential for success.

Whether you’re just starting out or a seasoned pro, this session made one thing clear: there’s always something new to learn at CreativePro.

The post What We Learned at CreativePro: Top Takeaways from the Industry’s Leading Design Conference first appeared on è��AV.

About the PEA Awards

The PEA Awards, hosted by the Graphic Media Alliance (GMA), recognize exceptional print products in Michigan, Ohio and Northern Kentucky. For è��AV, the PEA awards are a chance for our company to show off our customers’ amazing work as well as our own craftsmanship. The submissions are judged by printing experts, so the awards are regarded as a true sign of printing excellence.

“We appreciate Graphic Media Alliance offering this opportunity to showcase the outstanding work that we produce,” said Deb Holloway, Quality Control Supervisor at è��AV – Saint Joseph. “We don’t get feedback nearly enough as to the great work that everyone does, so it was very exciting to be recognized for our efforts in this way. It was also exciting to share these awards with our customers, who are very excited to proudly display their awards!”

Here are è��AV’s 2025 PEA award winners:

Luxury Homes and Lifestyles

Coldwell Banker’s 2024-2025 edition of Luxury Homes and Lifestyles not only won gold in the Web Press Printing category, but earned è��AV the Best in Show award for the same category.

Michigan Residential Architects

Architects Publishing Network’s MIRA 9 edition of Michigan Residential Architects was awarded gold in the Web Press Printing category.

The American Quarter Horse Journal

From the American Quarter Horse Association, the March/April 2024 edition of The American Quarter Horse Journal took home silver in the Web Press Printing category.

Michigan Alum

The University of Michigan’s commemorative football edition of Michigan Alum was awarded silver in the Web Press Printing category.

Texas Land

CoStar’s Winter 2024 edition of Texas Land took home silver in the Web Press Printing category.

Potomac Lifestyles

Lifestyle Publication’s January 2025 edition of Potomac Lifestyles was awarded silver in the Web Press Printing category.

Celebrate! Arkansas Calendar

From Celebrate Publishing Group, the 2025 Celebrate! Arkansas Calendar took home silver in the Calendars category.

Cook Nuclear Plant Emergency Information Calendar

From Holte Bosse, the 2025 Cook Nuclear Plant Emergency Information Calendar for Berrien County took home bronze in the Calendars category.

First Indochina War Map

Finally, from Decision Games, the First Indochina War Map was awarded silver in the Posters category.

Congratulations to our Winners!

We would like to congratulate all of our customers whose print projects received awards, as well as the talented employees at è��AV – Saint Joseph who created these projects. If you’d like to learn more about è��AV’s 88 years of print expertise, get in touch with us today.

The post è��AV’s 2025 Print Excellence Awards: Best in Show and More first appeared on è��AV.

Here’s a closer look at è��AV’s award-winning entries:

Books

Welcome to Carmel, Liberty Press

Category: Books, Hardcover – Offset

Welcome to Carmel is an oversized Smyth-sewn coffee table book with a glossy dust jacket, printed with vibrant images and color to showcase the beauty of Carmel, California. Welcome to Carmel won both Best in Category and Gold in the ‘Best of KS/MO’ category.

Historic Style, Missouri Life Media

Category: Books, Hardcover – Offset

is another Smyth-sewn hardcover coffee table book that received high praise. Curated by designer Kelee Katillac, the book showcases historic houses through vibrant design and stunning photography. Historic Style also won Platinum, the highest award available, in the ‘Division 3’ category. Division 3 represents printers with 101+ employees.

Possibilities, Volume 10, �AV

Category: Printer’s Self-Promotion – Offset (individual pieces)

Possibilities, Volume 10, received a Best in Category award for Printer’s Self-Promotion. Possibilities showcases 352 pages of outstanding yearbooks printed by è��AV, from creative covers to stunning theme design. Jenica Hallman, CJE, Managing Editor of Possibilities, Volume 10, oversaw this project from conception to print, while Stephanie Streicher provided the amazing design. The book features Smyth-sewn, four-color covers with embossed and debossed applications, spot gloss UV coating and matte lamination.

Catalogs

Amscan Halloween Costumes 2024 Catalog

Category: Catalogs – Web (Over 32 pages, including cover)

������������’s Halloween Costumes catalog was recognized as Best in Category in recognition of è��AV’s printing prowess. The full-color, perfect-bound catalog effectively showcases a wide variety of Halloween costumes, from fairy to scary.

Magazines, Periodicals & Publications:

Original Living Magazine – December 2023

Category: Magazines, Periodicals & Publications – Digital

A Best in Category winner for digital-printed periodicals and publications, is an international fashion, lifestyle and entertainment publication showcasing the world’s most talented designers, luxury stores, products and fashion shows. Original Living was also awarded Bronze in Best of KS/MO.

Nashville Lifestyles – December 2023

Category: Magazines, Periodicals & Publications – Web

Nashville Lifestyles was awarded Best in Category for web printed magazines, periodicals and publications. offers the very best of Music City, with a focus on food, fitness, entertainment, culture and fashion. Nashville Lifestyles creates cutting-edge content, combined with stellar photography, to paint a picture of life in Music City.

flourish

Category: Magazines, Periodicals & Publications – Web

Another testament to è��AV’s web printing expertis, is Southeast Missouri’s women’s magazine created by rustmedia. The magazine, founded on truth, goodness and beauty, connects women and men throughout the region by sharing their stories, questions and joys through interviews, long-form essays and art.

KC Options Magazine

Category: Magazines, Periodicals & Publications – Web

is yet another Best in Category award winner for web-printed magazines. The magazine features vibrant photography and heartfelt content that highlight the people, food and culture that make Kansas City a gem in the heartland of America.

Yearbooks

Lake Brantley High School Yearbook – “50 Golden Years”

Category: Yearbooks – Offset, They Said It Couldn’t Be Done

è��AV’s cutting-edge printing process is on spectacular display in this double award-winning yearbook. Lake Brantley’s yearbook, “50 Golden Years,” won two Best in Category awards: Yearbooks – Offset and ‘They Said It Couldn’t Be Done,’ which recognized unique and creative printing applications. PIA MidAmerica lauded this yearbook for its plexiglass cover that looks onto a graphic display of fireworks, achieved by functional lights embedded in the front endsheet, celebrating the school’s 50th anniversary in fabulous fashion.

Leesburg High School Yearbook – “Leaving Our Mark”

Category: Thermography

This win showcases è��AV’s capability in thermography, a unique printing technique that adds a raised, textured effect to book covers. Leesburg High School’s yearbook, “Leaving Our Mark,” received high praise and a Best in Category award for their unique cover, which appears dark and minimalistic at room temperature but shifts to vibrant color under heat.

Partner With �AV To Create Award-Winning Print Projects

Ready to earn recognition for your book, catalog or publication? Our knowledgeable and experienced staff have the tools to take your project to the next level. Get in touch with us today to start your print journey with �AV.

The post �AV Wins Big at the 2024 GraphEx Awards first appeared on �AV.

è��AV’s award-winning entries, printed at è��AV – Ripon, spanned a diverse range of categories, showcasing a variety of unique printing applications.

Here’s a closer look at è��AV’s 2024 GLGA triumphs:

Cookbooks: We Energies’ 2023 Cookie Book took home the top prize for Cookbooks, demonstrating è��AV’s ability to bring culinary delights to life on the page.

The Cookie Book is a holiday tradition dating back to 1928 when it promoted the use of electric appliances for baking. The 2023 Edition is dedicated to our country’s first responders and features 27 pages of unique recipes from lemon kiss cookies to homemade dog treats.

School Textbooks: The intricate details of the Atlas of World Geography, 6th Edition, published by Rand McNally, were recognized with a Best of Category win in School Textbooks.

The Atlas of World Geography features 176 pages of engaging educational content, detailed maps, engaging photography and much more. The book is intended for classroom instruction for grades 6-12.

Magazines: è��AV’s printing prowess for magazines shone through with Luxury Portfolio – Spring 2023 Volume 13, Issue No. 1, published by Unique Homes Media. This issue won Best in Category for Magazines (Cover: Sheetfed, Interior: Web).

Luxury Portfolio is a 196-page publication that features stunning photography, design tips and luxury real estate listings from around the world.

They Said It Couldn’t Be Done: Morris Media Group’s The MILEPOST (76th Edition) defied expectations, earning a Best of Category award in “They Said It Couldn’t Be Done,” a category that highlights creative and non-conventional printing applications.

The MILEPOST is a highway travel guide and general interest trip planner for visits to Alaska. Today’s MILEPOST book is a large format, full-color, perfect-bound book of over 600 pages, and is the world’s best-selling guide to Alaska.

Web Press Printing, Uncoated Paper: Stone Road Press’s National Parks Maps 2023 impressed the judges, winning Best of Category in the Web Press Printing, Uncoated Paper (Four or More Colors, Heatset or Coldset) category.

National Parks Maps features 187 pages of full-color maps, itineraries, driving distance charts and more. Accompanying the maps are helpful tips for first-time visitors, ensuring national park road-trippers are well-prepared for their visits.

Learn More About è��AV’s Award-Winning Print Capabilities

Ready to find the right printer for your book, magazine or catalog? �AV offers a wide range of coatings, applications and binding types across our five printing facilities, so you can create your next award-winning print project that exactly matches your vision. Contact us today to get in touch with one of our experts.

The post �AV Wins Top Honors at 2024 GLGA Graphics Excellence Awards first appeared on �AV.

Event coverage can be specifically tailored to the needs of your association. It can go in-depth on conference sessions, generate excitement and engage the audience in interactive activities, and package the content in ways most useful to your association. The right event coverage partner can keep your association within a set budget while meeting the coverage needs of the association.

Event coverage is no small undertaking. Most associations won’t have the resources or expertise available within their organization. Finding the Right Event Coverage Partner for Your Association can help you narrow down the characteristics to look for in an event coverage partner. You’ll need to consider the type of coverage you desire, the size and specifics of the event, and the budget for event coverage.

Return on investment won’t be immediate. This eBook explains what to expect, how to measure ROI and the timeline to expect. It explains how to define success and the questions that need to be asked when creating that definition.

If your association is ready to create buzz around your next event and increase the engagement of attendees, but don’t have a coverage team at your disposal, download Finding the Right Event Coverage Partner for Your Association to begin the process.

The post Finding the Right Association Event Coverage Partner first appeared on �AV.

Christy Huggins is the social media manager at . She knows a thing or two about successful event promotion, so we asked her for tips.

When should marketers start promoting an event?

Marketers should implement their as soon as they know the date of their event. Create an event page that lists the most important details, even if you haven’t figured out the nitty gritty yet. Once the page is published, let your previous attendees know first and offer early bird discounts/incentives to encourage attendance.

How should an organization handle social media marketing for their event?

The first step to social media marketing for an event is to decide what your goals on social media are and select the best social platforms that will help you achieve those goals. From there, put together a content plan to get your messaging to your desired audience and keep them engaged year round, not just in the weeks leading up to your event when you need to sell tickets. Develop a consistent voice, tone and message, including a hashtag that you use for all event-related content. Adapt your content to fit each platform so you’re delivering the right content to the right people at the right place and time.

Make sure you’re trying to engage potential ticket-buyers in conversations, not just selling to them. People aren’t always in a “buying” frame of mind on social media, but you can still stay top of mind by creating relevant, engaging content. This would be a good place to tap into the “4:1:1 Rule”: for every promotional post you make, retweet or share a relevant post, and then post 4 pieces of relevant content written by other people or brands.

Which channels are best for promoting an event?

This depends on your event and your audience. Is your audience more male than female? What’s their average age? Are you hosting a professional event? Asking yourself the right questions about the demographic you’re trying to reach and where they might be most active on social media will help develop a social strategy to capture that group.

How does an organization determine what is right for them?

can help you determine which social media platforms are right for your event.

How should social media be used to promote an event before it happens?

You can use social media to drive interest ahead of your event, share behind the scenes content to build excitement and anticipation, and to answer any questions event-goers may have. Promote the event page regularly along with targeted, purposeful content. Share blog pieces that have tips for event-goers. Host contests and ticket giveaways to create a lot of engagement with your audience and their audiences. And use your social presence to build your event brand and help potential attendees understand what to expect from your event.

Make sure all the key players (speakers, sponsors, etc.) know your event hashtag and are promoting the event to their audiences as well. A great way to do this is to provide some suggested social posts to them to make it even easier for them to share and help promote.

How should social media be used once the event has started?

Use your social media accounts to add to the experience of attendees, as well as to show non-attendees what they’re missing! Facebook live, Instagram Stories, Snapchat and live-tweeting are great promotion strategies to engage those who are unable to attend ̶ and 30% of people who watch a livestreamed video will attend that same event the following year, so you can lay the groundwork for next year’s sales during this year’s event.

It’s also key to get your attendees involved in social media at your event so they can spread the word to their networks. Make sure your hashtag is visible, and consider displaying user-generated content that uses your hashtag onsite to encourage others to post.

What are some new or non-traditional marketing methods organizations should be using to promote their event?

Use your past attendees to your advantage by incentivizing them to promote the event on your behalf. They are already convinced of your value and will have a great experience to share, especially if you consider offering them referral benefits if they refer new attendees. You can also do this on a larger scale by tapping into social media influencers and working with them to introduce your event to their large, engaged audiences.

Using an event management platform will work wonders when it comes to organizing and marketing your event. Eventbrite that allows you to target event-goers based on filters like location and behavior. Since potential attendees turn to sites like this when looking for events in their area, this tool provides an easy way to get in front of more eyes.

Do you have any examples of really great event promotion you’ve seen in recent years?

Experiential marketing is making a big splash in the world of event planning and promotion. From live displays to gamification, really engage attendees during the event and provide a big story to tell when promoting it.

Christy Huggins is the senior social media manager at , where she develops social media presence and strategy, among many other tasks. She has many blog posts on event promotion.

The post Key Insights into Successful Event Promotion first appeared on �AV.