FESPA Awards - celebrating excellence in interior décor and textiles

The FESPA Awards contains 18 specialist categories, all entries are assessed per category by a professional panel of judges. The FESPA Awards 2023 once again highlighted the best and most creative in printing, design and sustainability. This article summarises 3 winners of the FESPA Awards 2023 in the Printeriors and roll-to-roll textiles categories.

These entries won gold and silver awards in their categories. The Look Company also achieved Sustainability winner and All About Graphics won Best In Show award.

Printpac’s Wallpaper for En Fuego Restaurant at Atlantis The Palm (Silver Award - Printeriors)

UAE-based Printpac won the Silver Award in the Printeriors category for their amazing work at the En Fuego restaurant in Atlantis The Palm. The project, designed and developed in Adobe Illustrator by Bishop Design, transformed the restaurant into a bright South American-inspired space using vibrant wallpaper prints. The wallpaper was printed using a HP Latex 1500 with water-based inks on HP PVC-free durable suede wallpaper. The production was REACH compliant and GreenGuard Gold certified for safe use in food service environments.

Printpac’s thorough approach involved highly skilled installation, ensuring every detail was perfectly executed. Their commitment to sustainability was also important, they used eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient machinery. The company optimised material use, reduced waste, and recycled leftover materials, making the project as environmentally conscious as possible.

The Look Company (Gold Award & Sustainability Winner - Roll-to-Roll Printed Textiles)

The Look Company took home the Gold Award and the Sustainability Award for their work on the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Founded in North America, the company was tasked with producing branded elements across multiple venues, including the eight main stadiums. The inspiration of the project came from the magnitude and global significance of the FIFA World Cup.

One of the main focuses of this project was sustainability. The Look Company used 100% recycled materials, eco-certified processes, and recyclable substrates; the company was also part of FIFA’s third-party sustainability audit programme. Their solar-powered lighting systems and locally produced aluminium profiles further reduced the environmental impact of the project. Also, they repurposed branding textiles into tote bags, reinforcing their commitment to sustainable practices. The company's creative and sustainable approach ensured the project was not only visually successful but also environmentally successful.

All About Graphics (Gold Award - Printeriors & Best in Show)

All About Graphics (AAG), based in Australia, claimed Gold in the Printeriors category, along with the Best in Show award, for their work on the Daniel Johns: Past, Present & FutureNever exhibition. This immersive exhibition was designed to promote Johns' album FutureNever and engage with his audience after his hiatus from traditional touring. AAG transformed a vacant space on Collins Street, Melbourne, into a multi-level visual journey, combining music, art, and memorabilia from the artist's career.

The project involved printing and installing various media, including vinyl, fabric, and fine art whilst collaborating with a wide range of creatives, including artists, designers, lighting specialists, photographers and projectionists. The production timeline was challenging, with only 3 weeks to complete the installation. The venue also presented unique limitations, such as restrictions on fixing anything to walls or floors, which required the team to design freestanding and removable structures. Despite these challenges, AAG delivered an exhibition that far exceeded expectations and the album became Australia's highest-selling album in 2022.

Sustainability was also a consideration, with AAG using PVC-free materials and ensuring that panels and mounting systems could be recycled or reused in future projects. Their director, Mark Burley, emphasised the importance of eco-friendly products and techniques, reflecting the growing demand for sustainability in the industry.

Join us in 2025 for the next edition of FESPA Awards, alongside the FESPA Global Print Expo in Berlin. Applications are now open, apply here!  If you are interested in visiting FESPA Global Print Expo 2025 taking place from 6 – 9 May at Messe Berlin, Germany register your interest here.