2007 Maroon & Gold Awards

Awards FAQ

Q: I joined the Forum this year and have never entered the Maroon & Gold Awards program. Do I qualify to have my first entry fee waived?

A: No, the new member fee waiver offer applies only to those who become members at the same time that they enter the awards program. It is not a year-round benefit of membership. Since the awards are only given to Forum members, the waiver was adopted to encourage anyone interested in entering the awards program to join the Forum.

Q: I'd like to submit an entry for the print category of the Maroon and Gold Awards. The entry is a newsletter that comes out 3-4 times a year. Can I submit a year's worth of newsletters? Or should I just pick the one issue I like best?

A: If you submit a year's worth of newsletters, your category changes to a Series, rather than Print. The campaign/series category is the only category that allows for multiple entries. Your decision, then, is whether you want your newsletter to be assessed on the basis of one issue that represents the best of your newsletter (single Print entry) or whether you want to show the scope of topics, etc. that a year's worth of issues illustrate (campaign/series entry). Please read the descriptions of those two categories to learn more about the differences in how they are evaluated.

Q: If I submit something in the wrong category or in the wrong way, would it be disqualified or would I have the chance to resubmit it correctly?

A: No, you can't disqualify your entry by your choice of a category and/or classification. However, by categorizing and classifying your entry, you are making it easier for a judge to apply fair, balanced, and appropriate judgments by evaluating entries with the same or similar characteristics. We would contact you if we thought your entry was grossly misplaced and suggest an alternative for your approval.

Q: I want to enter a research study newsletter directed at investigators. I also do a series of patient handouts for participants in the study. If I submitted a year's worth of each, could it be considered one campaign/series for the research study? Or would it be two series, because they each have a different target audience?

A: The newsletter and handout are two separate campaign/series entries (if multiple copies are submitted) based on their different purpose, format, audience, etc. You need to decide whether you want to submit two entries, which we encourage. Again, in either case, you can choose to enter only one entry in the Print or Writing categories. It depends on what you want evaluated in the entry.

Q: What category fits my technical report so it's judged on its own merits? I'm proud of the report's design and typography despite otherwise very dry material intended for a niche reader. We don't have a big budget and I don't see it competing well against all the four-color, super-designed materials that usually get entered.

A: Categorizing your entry is a defining step in the process. Discuss it with others who worked on the project before you make your decision. According to your description, the entry could fit this category and classification:

Print
Criteria—Concept, writing, design, craftsmanship, structure/format, choice of paper stock, color/texture inks, typography, photos and graphics, printing, and budget.
Instructional—e.g., course materials, handbooks, manuals.

Your entry fits the print category since design and typography are its best features, not the writing. Reports are well suited to the instructional classification. The fact that it isn't listed as an example does not mean it wouldn't fit this classification. Your entry will be compared to others with a similar straightforward, practical purpose. Your design and typography components will be assessed on how well they facilitate the report's information. In this classification, a four-color, super-designed piece could potentially lose points by being "overdone" for its purpose.

Q: Can I submit a Web site that is password protected—such as a site that uses the University's username and password (X500) system?

A: Yes, but please do not submit password-protected sites that contain sensitive information or may cause concern for site security. Password protected sites may be submitted if a generic username and password is submitted with the entry. The username and password will be used only on a single day designated for judging (tentatively April 7, 2007).

Q: Do entries typically include regular staff time put into projects as an expense?

A: Freelance fees are usually given if they are part of the project's budget. However, staff time, even though it may be considerable, is typically not included. Factoring in staff time has several issues that interfere with an accurate accounting. Tracking staff time accurately on a project may be difficult, if not impossible, especially when a number of staff throughout the organization are involved over a period of months. Cost figures would only be meaningful by including salary information into the "cost" of doing the project. Given those barriers, staff time is not required as part of the project's cost.

Q: My entry url is too long for the space provided on the PDF entry form. What can I do?

A: Leave the field blank and after you've completed the rest of the form, hand write the url into the margin.

Q: I have a "creative team" question. We used a design firm for one of our projects. Should we list the company name or the two people at the company we worked with? Or both?

A: List the individuals and their company, e.g., Joe Jones, designer, Talented Creatives, to be consistent with the purpose of listing contributors. Listing the creative team members gives the Forum a chance to recognize the special collaboration of individuals within your department and, likewise, any contributors within an agency that was hired. If you just list the agency, which could have 100 employees, those individuals who lent their talent would go unacknowledged.

Q: I plan to enter a large (3' x 4') poster. How many copies are required? I only have a few extras that have been rolled up in a tube. Is a poster in a OK to submit instead of one in a frame?

A: You may submit one unframed copy of the poster. Since posters are mounted on the wall with artist's putty, one copy only is needed for simultaneous viewing by the judges. We ask for two copies of an entry for several reasons. For most entries, having two copies available during the judging process allows the judges to work at their own pace, reviewing an entry even though another judge may already be using one of the copies. Also, if you want your entry to be considered for the MIKE Award, we need a copy to display so voters can view it and cast their vote on the day of the conference. Gold and Maroon Award winners are also displayed on the day of the conference. If your poster won a Gold or Maroon award, we would need the second copy so the poster could be displayed among the winning entries as well as the MIKE display. One note: If the poster is valuable and you would like to have it returned, please indicate that on your entry form by writing "RETURN PLEASE" at the top.

Q: My entry would be appropriate for a Margo award. Looking at the entry form, though, it doesn't look like that's an award you actually apply for. Do judges make a decision as to whether something should get the Margo?

A: The judges identify entries that are potential MARGO recipients as they evaluate all of the entries in the show. At the end of the judging, one entry is selected from that group to receive the MARGO as the most elegant solution within the means available. You may read more about all of the awards on the awards page.

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