AIGA BOOM! Competition
Special event planning and identity design
BOOM! is a biennial design competition presented by the American Institute of Graphic Artists (AIGA), providing young designers the opportunity to enter their best work.
ADDY Award, Ad Club of the Triangle, February 2008
BOOM! is a biennial design competition presented by the American Institute of Graphic Artists (AIGA), providing young designers the opportunity to enter their best work. The competition is judged by a national panel of design professionals and the winners are published in a commemorative book and celebrated at the Gala and Exhibition. As the official Design Sponsor for the competition, Kelly MarCom developed and managed the entire competition--from conceptualization and design to event logistics and management.
Kelly MarCom was enlisted to create a compelling, interactive event for all BOOM! participants including judges, sponsors and participating designers. Using its own award-winning design talent, Kelly MarCom brought a fresh look to BOOM!, resonating well with the rising and forward-thinking design talent of the competition’s young designers. Over the course of a year’s planning, Kelly MarCom led the efforts for securing sponsorships, establishing event locations, scheduling judges, promoting participation from agencies and in-house corporate designers, setting up a special dinner with the judges, handling the Gala and Exhibition details and the post-gala traveling exhibition, and designing the Call for Entries promotion and exhibition book. Kelly MarCom elevated the profile and caliber of the judges’ panel, utilized a larger and more desirable venue, and emphasized the design process—a first in BOOM! history—by including project descriptions in the exhibition book.
Kelly MarCom’s contribution to an outstanding competition experience resulted in a record number of entrants, leading to more than twice the amount of profits raised for AIGA than the previous six years. We were also pleased that our recommendation to hold the Gala and Exhibition at the Nasher Museum of Art helped to elevate BOOM!’s stature in the industry to that of a truly superlative, annually-anticipated arts extravaganza. Kelly MarCom is proud to continue our involvement in AIGA through support of the BOOM! competition.
“One of the most well-planned and thought-out design competitions I’ve ever been a part of.”
– Debbie Millman | BOOM Judge / President, Sterling Brands
“Wow, what a great night—we were completely surprised and totally thrilled! Thank you for putting so much hard work into it; everything was seamless and beautiful!”
– Caroline Okun | BOOM Best in Show winner
“It was an honor to be part of the BOOM competition. You folks put on one hell of a show! The contacts made and the compliments paid to our company are invaluable to me. I’m glad I was able to share in it.”
– Mike Dohn | Sales Representative, Blue Ridge Printing (Official Printing Sponsor)
