Adobe® Systems Incorporated today announced the launch of the second annual Adobe® Asia Pacific School Innovation Awards. The company will be accepting submissions starting immediately. Inaugurated in 2009, the program generated extensive interest in its first year, with 550 entries from across Asia Pacific. This year the competition will once again be open to 14-19 year old students in Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.

Aiming to provide a platform for the brightest creative minds in the region to display their talents and digital media skills, this competition also serves as a showcase for the next generation of creative professionals across Asia Pacific to demonstrate their ideas and work to an international audience.

In 2009, Australia’s Marco Riotto did his mentor, school and country proud by walking away as the “Best-of-Best” winner.

With two winners in the “Print and Web category” and four finalists, the Greater China Region continued to show why it is one of the fastest growing creative hubs in the world with the most number of top entries in the inaugural competition.

With Taiwan submitting 60% of total entries for last year’s competition, the high participation rate was indicative of the success of recent government initiatives to boost and develop the country’s creative industry.

Last year there were 51 entries from India, from which 3 were selected among 45 shortlisted entries.

“Last year’s competition saw the region’s participants pushing the envelope and displaying an astonishing degree of creative talent, setting the bar high for the 2010 Adobe Asia Pacific Innovation Awards,” said Mark Phibbs, Senior Director Marketing Adobe APAC. “Creative industries are vital to the economic well-being of all Asia Pacific countries. This significant contribution is demonstrated by the importance governments place on educating and encouraging digital media skills and development in their nations’ youth. In 2010, we hope that young people across the Asia Pacific region will continue to surprise us with their ability to create and we look forward to receiving even more extraordinary works from tomorrow’s creative leaders.”

With an Open Theme, students this year have been presented with the luxury and challenge of a blank canvas and are encouraged to develop and illustrate an idea or story through their submission. Students may compete in groups or as individuals in three categories:

·         Graphic and Print Design — Appropriate entries include illustrations, postcards, logos, labels, packaging, photography, yearbooks, advertising, magazines, posters, brochures, books and newsletters..

·         Web Design and Development — Appropriate entries include web sites, blogs, interactive CDs/DVDs, animation, learning objects and mobile design.

·         Film and Video— Appropriate entries include live action projects, documentaries, short films, motion graphics, animations and public service announcements..

Selection of Winners and Prizes

There will be two finalists and one winner in each category, as well as one winner from every region selected by a team of Adobe judges.

·         Category Winners — Category winners will receive a copy of an education version of Adobe Creative Suite® 5 Master Collection software (estimated  retail price US$999), a Hewlett Packard Elitebook 8440w Mobile Workstation (estimated retail price US$1,649)  and a certificate of commendation.

·         Category Finalists — Category finalists will receive a copy of an education version of Adobe Creative Suite 5  Design Premium (estimated retail price US$599), Web Premium (estimated retail price US$599) or Production Premium software (estimated  retail price   US$599) and a certificate of commendation.

·         School — Schools of Category Winners will receive 20 licenses of Adobe Creative Suite 5 Master Collection software for use on up to 20 seats in the school.

·         Mentors — Mentors or teachers of Category Winners will receive a copy of an education version of Adobe Creative Suite 5 Master Collection software (estimated retail price US$999).

·         Regional Winners — There will also be one winner from each of the five regions defined as:  (1) Australia and New Zealand, (2) Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, (3) India, (4) South Korea, and (4) China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Regional winners will each receive an education version  of Adobe Creative Suite 5 Master Collection software (estimated retail price US$999), a Canon EOS 500D Kit with EFS 18-55IS lens (estimated retail price US$600) and a certificate of commendation.

Adobe began accepting submissions on September 30, 2010. The deadline for submissions is December 20, 2010 and winners will be announced before January 15, 2011 and notified via email. For more information about categories, prizes and entry requirements, go to https://www.adobe-eduapac.com/award.