2015 Vehicle Graphics Contest — An Introduction

After several years of having ST’s Vehicle Graphics Contest judged locally, I took the show on the road to the Valley of the Sun. Avondale, AZ-based azpro’s Jason Prenovost, the shop’s president, had asked for years about having his shop serve as the contest judges. At last, circumstances lent themselves to granting this wish.
Our 9th Annual Vehicle Graphics Contest generated precisely 300 entries – a slight uptick from last year’s 290. However, considerably fewer shops participated (40 companies sent submissions, versus 59 last year). I sincerely hope that more will join the fray next year. However, we’re glad many of the shops that participated were heavily invested in the competition.
As usual, the Service Vehicles category generated the most entries – 82 . Promotional Vehicles followed closely behind with 73 submissions. Unique Vehicles, which span the gamut from vans with 3-D graphics to wrapped dune buggies, yielded 58 projects. Food Trucks drew 37 entries, and the remaining categories – Signshop Vehicles, Transit Vehicles and Watercraft Graphics – attracted between 10 and 20 projects. The next competition may feature a category devoted to personalized wraps that comprise matte-finish, carbon-fiber or other unprinted wrap vinyl. They undoubtedly represent a growing market segment.
Now, back to the competition at hand. Joining Prenovost in AZ Pro Wraps’ judging contingent were Star Padilla, the company’s brand and marketing manager; Jim Carpenter, the director of client services; and Mick Urias, its creative director. The shop, which opened in 2004 with an approximately 1,000-sq.-ft. facility – Jason and his brother, Chris, ruefully remembered the days of wrapping outside in the searing Arizona heat – now operates within a 30,000-plus-sq.-ft. facility with a staff of approximately 60, with additional, seasonal help as needed. According to Prenovost, AZ Pro Wraps divides its work relatively evenly between vehicle wraps and 3-D POP for retail customers.
Several years ago, I realized the advantages of enlisting one shop’s crew to judge a competition, rather than bringing strangers into a room to evaluate the field. Coworkers generally feel uninhibited about sharing their opinions, and these exchanges provide helpful insight other judges may have overlooked, such as an improperly executed seam or too much or too little negative space in a design. This is why my roster of judges typically includes professionals with a mixture of design, production and marketing experience.
Several familiar faces emerged as victors. Dan Antonelli, a Washington, NJ-based wrap designer, and his partnering service providers have gained a strong niche with HVAC companies, as is evidenced in the Service Vehicles category. Wicked Wraps (Mukilteo, WA), which the husband-and-wife team of Wade and Katherine Becker operate, again prevailed in Watercraft Graphics. Metro Wrapz (Hollywood, FL) captured Unique Vehicles’ top spot with a vintage fire truck decked out with graphics that creatively pay tribute to firemen’s heroism.
Absolute Perfection (Sykesville, MD), which won last year’s Food Trucks category, generated a vigorous encore, and captured Best of Show with its bedecked van for Harbor Vapor, a Fells Point, MD shop that offers electronic-cigarette supplies. If you’ve witnessed large social gatherings of the under-30 crowd, you know how popular “e-cigs” are. We received four entries for e-cig shop wraps; I expect more in the future.
Enjoy the gallery – hopefully, they’ll provide some inspiration for your wrap designs. And, we hope they’ll inspire you to enter next year.