This basically means focusing on all aspects of digital, ranging from the traditional executions of design teams, right through to innovative craftsmanship, which often results in those awesome little gems of wickedness.

Therefore we think you’ll find the categories a lot wider and more general, allowing for a greater variety of submissions from more areas of our industry.

So, as well as celebrating traditional creative, we’ll also be recognising a few unsung heroes.

It’s been an incredible year for all of us in the interactive field and BIMA want to celebrate what’s created a buzz in 2008 and who made it all happen.

The registration page on the BIMA Web site will be made available this week. You can enter as many categories and sub-categories as you like. Why not do the ground work now and paste your work of art when the site is ready.

The BIMA Awards 2008

We have reduced the overall number of categories from 21 to just 9 this year. It’s now easier to see where your work of art belongs, but it won’t be so easy to pick up one of the Industry’s most prized gongs.

1. B2B
2. B2C
3. Website
4. Games
5. Integrated Campaign
6. Social Media
7. Film & Animation
8. Student Award
9. Talent

Each Award Category will aim to have one BIMA Award Winner. If no segment warrants an award, then one will not be given.

Within an Award Category there are a number of sub categories of entry. If no sub category warrants an award, then again, one will not be given. As usual, there will be one BIMA 2008 Grand Prix Award. All of the category winners will be judged and a Grand Prix Award will be given out.

Why have we changed the categories this year?

The purpose of this new category structure is to capture the talents and merits that specific areas of design and development play in the creation of an interactive experience. Many unique skills and successes come together to make “magic” in modern digital media.

Our industry has evolved further this year than any other, and BIMA wants to identify the developments and achievements made by introducing new categories and disciplines.

We will also assume that all good interactive design will aim to be accessible and compliant.

B2B

This award category focuses on identifying solutions that challenge conventional ideas and expectations of the B2B genre. Judges will specifically look for creative solutions and strategies that excel (business-to-business products or services) or communications (supports corporate communications and operations) across all aspects of the designed solution.

All ideas will be considered, whether they’re big or small, from intelligent and insightful copy, to clever use of bespoke technology.

To succeed in this category we’ll be looking for unique and effective ways of meeting business objectives, as well as a mature use of integrated digital channels as part of the overall strategy. Oh… and not forgetting the most important criteria; brilliant design and exceptional creativity! This is not open to agency-to-agency projects as this is covered by another genre, the ‘Talent Award’ with ‘Best Agency.’

Entries can be in any interactive media, Internet, CD-Rom, DVD, mobile, installation, kiosk or interactive TV.

Awards

Best B2B

Overall winner in this category from the submissions in the sub-sections

Content & Design Award

• A piece of work within the category that is inspirational, innovative and unique in its creative concept, graphical design and execution. The pure aesthetics of design detail, the celebration of digital nuances, and the art of idea will be awarded.

Distribution & Media Award

• A piece of work within the category that, in its ambition to communicate a concept, explores the use of different channels and media types in a unique and compelling way. Use of new and clever methods of integration that demonstrate burgeoning effectiveness will be rewarded.

Measurements & Results Award

• A piece of work within the category that successfully engaged a far greater online/measured audience than expected through its innovative concept and deployment. Success in terms of audience numbers and those wunderbar page impressions are what count here.

Technology & Innovation Award

• A piece of work within the category that shows innovation within architecture, development and/or deployment. We celebrate the code!

Awesome Little Bit of Wickedness Award

• A work within the category that either has a detail to be revered and highlighted for all its gloriousness, or its just that damn good that you don’t want to put a finger on it… It’s just wicked. It’s that site that has the most incredible piece of animation, incredible sound effect, or a wondrous use of graphical design… It’s just a little bit of wickedness!

B2C

This category focuses on consumers and how they interact with commercial enterprises. It’s a lot more than just paying lip service to consumers needs though. We’ll be looking for a genuine understanding and proof that insights learned have been acted upon. Therefore the planning, and subsequent exploitation of digital channels should show compelling strategies to engage consumers at all levels of the solution. The converging of channels provide opportunities to enter a wide variety of work that balances technical, creative and business innovation to provide genuinely interesting and effective solutions. Innovative, ambitious and creative solutions are what the judges will be looking for in 2008.

From mobile solutions, interactive TV to micro sites.

Entries can be in any interactive media, internet, CD-Rom, DVD, mobile, installation, kiosk or interactive TV.

Awards

Best B2B

Overall winner in this category from the submissions in the sub-sections

Content & Design Award

• A piece of work within the category that is inspirational, innovative and unique in its creative concept, graphical design and execution. The pure aesthetics of design detail, the celebration of digital nuances, and the art of idea will be awarded.

Distribution & Media Award

• A piece of work within the category that, in its ambition to communicate a concept, explores the use of different channels and media types in a unique and compelling way. Use of new and clever methods of integration that demonstrate burgeoning effectiveness will be rewarded.

Measurements & Results Award

• A piece of work within the category that successfully engaged a far greater online audience than expected through its innovative concept and deployment. Success in terms of audience and those wunderbar page impressions are what count here.

Technology & Innovation Award

• A piece of work within the category that shows innovation within architecture, development and/or deployment. We celebrate the code!

Awesome Little Bit of Wickedness Award

• A piece of work within the category that either has a detail to be revered and highlighted for all its gloriousness, or its just that damn good that you don’t want to put a finger on it…It’s just wicked.

Website

Put simply, this award category is looking to applaud the best website.
The judges will assess the whole experience comprising the idea, the overall design, the information architecture, navigation, and use of rich content such as motion graphics and video.

It’s all about the nuances that create the wonderful website experience you create, from innovative use of audio, through to the taxonomy and user experience. This years award is looking to find the great makers of the best websites out there, big or small…big budget or not.

*NB – Micro sites (by which we mean campaign specific sites which live separately from the main corporate or brand site and are designed with a limited life span) will not be awarded here. Micro sites are supported in most other genres in the subcategories.

Awards

Best Website 2008 Award

Overall winner in this category from the submissions in the sub-sections

Content & Design Award

• A piece of work within the category that is inspirational, innovative and unique in its creative concept, graphical design and execution. The pure aesthetics of design detail, the celebration of digital nuances, and the art of idea will be awarded.

Distribution & Media Award

• A piece of work within the category that, in its ambition to communicate a concept, explores the use of different channels and media types in a unique and compelling way. Use of new and clever methods of integration that demonstrate burgeoning effectiveness will be rewarded.

Measurements & Results Award

• A piece of work within the category that successfully engaged a far greater online audience than expected through its innovative concept and deployment. Success in terms of audience numbers, and those wunderbar page impressions are what count here.

Technology & Innovation Award

• A piece of work within the category that shows innovation within architecture, development and/or deployment. We celebrate the code!

Production Award

• A production of many parts that merits great reverence in its scale, its complexity, and/or its timelines and budget restraints.

Copywriting Award

• It’s all in the writing!

Awesome Little Bit of Wickedness Award

• A work within the category that either has a detail to be revered and highlighted for all its gloriousness, or its just that damn good that you don’t want to put a finger on it… It’s just wicked!

Games

This award recognises the most innovative and compelling example of interactive games and gaming, across any platform. As an example, what the judges are looking for is a game that challenges the overall excellence of design in a game, including game play, mechanics, effects, user experience, narrative, illustration and scenarios.

We welcome everything, including mobile, micro sites, kiosk, handheld, console, iTV or online games that break new visual, technical or narrative ground!

Also, games that have community elements, peer to peer and other innovative technological dynamics are also welcome.

Entries can be in any interactive media, internet, CD-Rom, DVD, mobile, installation, kiosk or interactive TV.

Awards

Best Games 2008 Award

Overall winner in this category from the submissions in the sub-sections (It was felt that Mobile and Handheld should not be separate, but one category)

Handheld Award

• A piece of work within the category that was designed and deployed specifically for handheld or mobile devices.

Online Award

• A piece of work within the category that was designed and deployed specifically for the online connection.

Console Award

• A piece of work within the category that was designed and deployed specifically for console.

iTV

• A piece of work within the category that was designed and deployed specifically for an iTV platform.

Awesome Little Bit of Wickedness Award

• A piece of work within the category that either has a detail to be revered and highlighted for all its gloriousness, or its just that damn good that you don’t want to put a finger on it… It’s just wicked.

Integrated Campaign

This award goes to the best example of digital work in the context of an integrated campaign. The winning work will successfully demonstrate the use of a big creative idea expressed across multiple channels. This could encompass on and offline media, but MUST demonstrate an innovative use of online and / or mobile.

Judges will look for the design and creativity of the piece, not just how successful it was in terms of distribution.

Entries can be in any interactive media, Internet, CD-Rom, DVD, mobile, installation, kiosk or interactive TV.

Awards

Best 2008 Integrated Campaign

Overall winner in this category from the submissions in the sub-sections

Content & Design Award

• A piece of work within the category that is inspirational, innovative and unique in its creative concept, graphical design and execution. The pure aesthetics of design detail, the celebration of digital nuances, and the art of idea will be awarded.

Distribution & Media Award

• A piece of work within the category that, in its ambition to communicate a concept, explores the use of different channels and media types in a unique and compelling way. Use of new and clever methods of integration that demonstrate burgeoning effectiveness will be rewarded.

Measurements & Results Award

• A piece of work within the category that successfully engaged a far greater online audience than expected through its innovative concept and deployment. Success in terms of audience and those wunderbar page impressions are what count here.

Technology & Innovation Award

• A piece of work within the category that shows innovation within architecture, development and/or deployment. We celebrate the code!

Awesome Little Bit of Wickedness Award

• A piece of work within the category that either has a detail to be revered and highlighted for all its gloriousness, or its just that damn good that you don’t want to put a finger on it… It’s just wicked.

Student

This category is open to a student, or a team of students that demonstrate the best use of interactive work within digital media. The project should have been undertaken as part of a course and is open to anyone who is currently in full-time education.

The judges will be looking for exciting and innovative creative ideas in interactive design and functionality. Entries can be in any interactive media, Internet, CD-Rom, DVD, mobile, installation, kiosk or interactive TV and the entry must be accompanied by an introduction from the tutor of the course outlining the degree achievable from the course.

Social Media

To blog or not to blog… that is the question. Our judges are looking for the most innovative experiences within the ever-evolving social media space. From an incredibly poignant blog, to the juiciest avatar, we want to celebrate our social designs!

Awards

Best 2008 Social Media Award

Overall winner in this category from the submissions in the sub-sections

Best Blog Award (Personal or Corporate)

• A blog within the category that is innovative, informative and entertaining. Open and honest a compelling read that inspires and engages visitors to return to day after day. Whether the content is incredible personal and poignant or just good fun, this is blog is championed by a loyal audience who share this site with friends and contacts both online and off.

Best Network Application

• A piece of work, within the category, that has been adopted by a broad audience. An audience that recognise the benefits that this innovative application brings to their day-to-day lives. Whether it is just about connecting people or staying in touch it will make everyday online tasks ‘easy’ and ‘convenient’ whilst generating huge page impressions!

Viral Campaign

• The online destination, site, video clip, tool, application or experience that everyone is talking about and visiting, that taps into popular culture. Cutting edge, this experience is so compelling, emotional, edgy, mysterious and exciting that the advertisers work is done for them when an online audience begin to share it with friends and colleagues and it goes on to join a pantheon.

Awesome Little Bit of Wickedness Award

• A piece of work within the category that either has a detail to be revered and highlighted for all its gloriousness, or its just that damn good that you don’t want to put a finger on it…It’s just wicked. This could be an uncategorised piece of UGC, a wondrous widget that sits within a social space or just the most incredible piece of social media that’s incredibly wicked!!!

Talent

The talent award 2008 should actually speak for itself. We basically want to celebrate true greatness within the interactive industry.

Awarded to an individual, team, agency or client, the talent award 2008 is here to enable BIMA to identify the work of the makers and craftspeople among us. Applicants can come from all disciplines, all corporate levels and currently working and building a digital portfolio. An individual or a team who are truly innovative and inspiring. Up and coming stars that are worth keeping an eye on.

“Sometimes there is just that raw talent in the team who goes the extra mile. The talent that create masterpieces. The designer who just has that flair and polish, the developer who invents and never tires, the planner who is just god’s gift…and the boss, who really is the leader”

Awards

2008 Talent Award

Overall winner in this category from the submissions in the sub-sections

BIMA Star

• A talent within the category that illustrates great personal talent through their portfolio of interactive achievements.

Agency of the Year

• An agency within the category that illustrates great talent through their portfolio of interactive achievements. Client and agency nominations required.

Client

• Time to thank the ones that make it happen…Who’s been the best from this year… (Submission: Examples of work, Up to 500 word synopsis of talent and any other additional digital assets that support the submission.)

Film & Animation

The moving image is a core part of the interactive and digital experience and always will be. These days it is an on and offline interactive expectation. This award recognises the innovation and art within film, entertainment and animation within an interactive experience.

Whether it’s a mobile drama, a flash animation, an interactive installation or a video short on a social network. The important thing is that it must be an original production or adaptation that is innovative and groundbreaking in its own right, marrying the art of motion and digital together.

The judges will be looking for innovative concepts, production values and originality.

Entries can be in any interactive media, Internet, CD-Rom, DVD, mobile, installation, kiosk, VHS, Digi-Beta or interactive TV.

Awards

2008 Film & Video Award

Overall winner in this category from the submissions in the sub-sections

Online Production

• An original piece of work created for viewing online, via interactive or mobile only.

Event

• An original piece of work created for an installation, a performance, Experiential, a VJ set, launch material or other such event.

Writing Award

• It’s all in the writing!

Awesome Little Bit of Wickedness Award

• A piece of work within the category that either has a detail to be revered and highlighted for all its gloriousness, or its just that damn good that you don’t want to put a finger on it…It’s just wicked. This could be an uncategorised piece of UGC, a wondrous widget that sits within a social space or just the most incredible piece of animation that’s incredibly wicked!!!

The deadline for the Call for Judges is close of business 11th July 2008

The judging panel will comprise exclusively of senior practitioners working within the interactive and associated industries. When the selection has been made, all applicants will receive an e-mail to advise them whether they have been successful.

Deadline for entries to the BIMAs 2008 is close of business on 31st July 2008 (the entry form will be available on the BIMA Web site shortly)

BIMA Awards Gala Dinner, Thursday 27th November 2008 at the Bloomsbury Club, London

Good luck!

BIMA is now calling for judges for the BIMA Awards 2008 (The BIMAs™).  If you would like to be considered for selection as a judge for this year’s event, please go to this page on the BIMA Web site, complete the form and submit your details online.

The deadline for the Call for Judges is close of business 11th July 2008

The judging panel will comprise exclusively of senior practitioners working within the interactive and associated industries.  When the selection has been made, all applicants will receive an e-mail to advise them whether they have been successful.

Deadline for entries to the BIMAs 2008 is close of business on 31st July 2008  (the entry form will be available on the BIMA Web site shortly)

BIMA Awards Gala Dinner, Thursday 27th November 2008 at the Bloomsbury Club, London

Good luck!

BIMA

Established in 1985, the British Interactive Media Association (BIMA) is the industry’s longest established association to represent the diverse interests of the UK interactive industry.

In short, it’s BIMA’s mission to ensure the UK remains the centre of excellence worldwide for creativity within the interactive industry.

The BIMA Awards

The BIMAs™ now rightly take their place on the top shelf of prestigious Awards, alongside the BAFTAs, the Brits and the Oscars.

To win a BIMA, therefore, is truly the highest accolade in a very competitive world.

BIMA has never shrunk from its responsibility to reflect the very highest standards of creativity and innovation and caused controversy some years ago when it considered that the measure of work in one particular category was not of sufficient merit to be awarded a winner’s trophy. More recently, the industry applauded BIMA’s decision when it announced that the judge’s favourite – the BIMA Grand Prix – was the winning entry in the student category.

The Association is run by 12 strong Executive team with me at the helm as Chair. I know I know, I don’t look old enough

Until now, the Awards Committee has included only members of the Executive. For the first time ever, the Committee for 2008 is made up of Executives and non-Executives. This demonstrates how the Association is more engaging and transparent.

The bold move is already proving to be the right thing to do. The enthusiasm amongst the team is electric. Watch out for a new format. If you thought it was difficult to win a BIMA before, wait for 2008. It will be easier to identify where your work fits in, but we’ve halved the number of trophies. Why sit through 21 announcements when you could be enjoying a fantastic gala followed by a cool after-party.

So, here it is, the committee…

BIMA Awards Committee

Clare McDonald

Committee Chair
Creative Director, Interactive Media Agency, Bskyb

Having started life as a print designer of unwearable computeraided fashion, Clare realised that her passion for the pixel needed to be directed into a relevant world. No one ever was going to wear her LCD coats!!! While studying at the RCA Clare worked on the very first RCA CDRom for the end of year show and helped push forward the concept of digital design and its marketing potential within the fashion department and beyond. This left Clare with both a huge passion for collecting shoes, wearing odd outfits, dodgy CDRoms and also a desire to help people achieve their ambitions. It also allowed her to truly develop her cross platform approach to the design process and solution building. She also fell in love with “the web”. Over the next 15 years a series of interesting positions in the UK and the US in fashion, interactive and entrepreneurial businesses landed Clare finally as Creative Director of the Interactive Media Design Agency in Bskyb.

Responsible for the creative direction of interactive properties, Clare helps build visual strategies and creative solutions with her award winning team to develop online, mobile, interactive tv, blue sky thinking and brand solutions for Bskyb. This is a highly directional and strategic position, that is forging a new creative force within Bskyb and the European entertainment market. Utilising earlier experience with early online video and projects for the likes of Microsoft, Office Shoes, IT Network, Open TV and the likes Clare and her team are truly pioneering online entertainment design. The future is looking incredibly interesting for Sky and a future that marries Clare’s cross media approach, mixed with a bit of pizzazz will have great results.

Paul Walsh (me)

Chair, BIMA
CEO, Segala

I’ve been Chair of BIMA since 2006, after serving the previous year as a member of the Executive.

I’m the Founder and CEO of Segala, a specialist in Web based standards compliance certification.

I was one of the first to join AOL as a small startup in the mid 90’s where I was a key member of the team developing AOL’s UK presence and assisted with the launch of other AOL European territories. I’ve got international experience within the Telecommunications Industry and have consulted for companies such as Vodafone, O2, Orange, CMG and ADC Metrica.

I’m an advisor to the British Council, helping it to build and improve a digital pioneer programme with Hong Kong and a 3 year entrepreneurial related project with India.

In my spare time; I’m a non-Executive Director at Newspepper.com and a mentor to the CEO of 3 Dynamics; a Hong Kong based games companies.

Matthew Gorzkowski

Managing Director, Play

Matthew Bagwell is Conchango’s Creative Director and founder of creative agency, SignalOrange. Matthew has been called digital evangelist, offering insight into how people want to interact with organisations through multiple channels. He is capable of bridging the gap between inventing experiences made possible by web 2.0 phenomena and delivering them in reality.

Matthew Bagwell

Creative Director, Conchango

Matt began his Marketing career working for Saatchi & Saatchi in Europe and Shafter Advertising in the US where he helped to launch new products for major brands including Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo, Fujitsu and Nokia.

Recognising the potential of digital media, Matt joined Itraffic in San Francisco as Account Director. Here Matt led key accounts such as Disney and Buena Vista Entertainment before returning the Europe to join Itraffic London as Client Services Director where he oversaw the interactive marketing activity of brands such as British Airways and Hilton. In 2005, Matt co-founded Pay in conjunction with M&C Saatchi and former Itraffic colleagues Jon Sharpe and Ethan Segal.

Dr. Scott Gallacher

Director of Online & Partner Marketing, BskyB

Scott is responsible for Sky’s online sales & marketing across their full product portfolio including digital TV, Broadband, Telephony, HD, Mobile TV & Sky +. Sky, according to Nielsen, are the largest online spender in the UK underlining a commitment to digital, with their pioneering work in Behavioural Targeting winning the 2007 award for best use of research in media.

Scott is well regarded industry commentator & speaker, Chairing last year’s Revolution conference on Brand Advocacy and speaking at the Economist Marketing Director summit in March on the challenges facing marketing in the next 5 years as well as addressing Cranfield business school on the maturing of digital marketing.

Previous to BSkyB, Scott worked at OgilvyOne as Client Services Director for the American Express International Online account covering 38 countries. Prior to this he served as a Vice President for Digitas. Scott holds a PhD in Multimedia innovation & social learning from Edinburgh, M.Sc. in Human Computer Interaction from Heriot Watt and a BCom in Business Studies from Edinburgh.

Chris Clarke

Executive Creative Director and President, Digitas London

Chris has been at the forefront of the digital industry since the late 90s. In 2000 as a UK founder of pioneering digital agency Abel & Baker, Chris brought a new level of creative excellence to the nascent digital industry and won a number of awards including Campaign Direct, Revolution, Clio and Cannes Cyberlions for clients such as Virgin Mobile, The AA and MTV.

In 2002 Abel & Baker was bought by leading web agency Wheel. While at Wheel, first as Creative Director of Abel & Baker then Executive Creative Director of Wheel, Chris helped turn the creative reputation of the agency around, delivering award winning work and driving an extensive change management process to make Wheel an ideas led creative business. Key client achievements at Wheel include winning BT, the global roll out of Brahma beer, and bringing prestigious clients such as ABSOLUT Vodka and Sony PlayStation Europe on board. Chris also oversaw numerous corporate website projects for clients such as Allied Domecq, United Biscuits and Unilever for whom Wheel managed the global rollout of Unilever.com in 26 languages.

Since joining Digitas London in April 2006, Chris has re-invigorated the creative product, winning new business with Vauxhall, Shell and HP, rolling out a network of offices in Europe and winning a Campaign Digital Award.

Chris is a multi-award winning creative with Cyberlions, LIAA, Clio, Revolution, Campaign Direct, Campaign Digital and D&AD awards to his name. As a founder in the UK of digital pioneers Abel & Baker, Chris was responsible for some of the first Rich Media and viral work done in this market.

Daniel Birch

Creative Director, Freestyle Interactive

As a Creative Director who has worked at a number of top London agencies LBi (then Oyster), AKQA and twentysix Daniel now leads the creative and delivery teams at the midlands largest digital agency Freestyle Interactive. This gives him genuine perspective across all aspects of digital channels.

As a Creative Director of Freestyle it is his role to lead and define the user experience on their clients. With wide ranging experience in leading multidiscipline teams of designers, developers, writers and architects he is able to bring the right solutions to a wide range of online of projects.

As the board level role responsible for project delivery through the project management team Daniel has a clear understanding of the delivery challenges faced by project managers and can appreciate what it takes to deliver an awarding winning creative solution.

Daniel’s belief in balancing the desire to win awards with developing the right user experience for client’s customer puts him in a unique position. As a Creative Director Daniel has found the opportunity to have an opinion on all this creative but will be frequently found client side asking awkward questions or bothering project manager’s to try and understand how Isle Interactive can be more efficient – all with the goal of giving the creative a better chance to design better and with more insight.

A genuine understanding of all aspects of the digital build process and experience across kiosk, mobile web and iTV means Daniel is able to combine a wealth of experience to developing a framework for creative teams to work in. A desire to work on projects that are created in a less that ideal situation, short time frames, limiting timeframes or conservative outlook means he has an affinity for recognising others who have succeed in this conditions.

The client list is long and varied, as you’d expect from nearly 12 years of working in the industry. From mobile guidelines for Orange to ground up redesigns for Natwest and Abbey and campaign work for Volvo and Drambuie the experience is there.

Janice Cable

Principal Administrator, BIMA

When she joined BIMA, Janice brought with her the experience of a lifetime working with trade associations, mainly in the music industry where she considered herself extremely privileged to be able to work with some of the most influential industry doyens and talented composers, artists and broadcasters in the UK.  She has considerable experience in arranging and coordinating exhibitions, seminars and conferences, both in the UK and abroad, and was responsible for organising industry social events, both lunches and black tie. Her previous involvement has been extremely valuable for the administration of the BIMA Awards as, amongst many other tasks, she prepared and managed the selection of the UK entry for the Eurovision Song Contest.  She hasn’t done this for ten years which, incidentally, was the last time the UK won!

If you’re a BIMA Member and would like to sit on the Awards Committee, please get in touch and tell us why you would like to get involved and what you can bring to the committee. Closing date to register your interest is 15th February and I’ll announce the names sometime before the 22nd February.

About the Awards

The BIMAs™ now rightly take their place on the top shelf of prestigious Awards, alongside the BAFTAs, the Brits and the Oscars.

To win a BIMA, therefore, is truly the highest accolade in a very competitive world. Check out the video of last years Awards Gala.

What is being part of the Awards team about?

Continuing a 23 year tradition of acknowledging excellence in interactive design. The team’s objectives include steering what is important as judging criteria, making the process happen, ensuring that there is appropriate awareness, driving submissions, seat sales and success on the night.

What is the single most important thing about the Awards team?
You need to have time.

What is the benefit of being on the Committee?
You get to raise your profile and contribute to the Industry’s most prestigious awards dedicated to creative excellence.

What is the time for?
February

1. Establishing a relationship with Digital Arts (our Awards Partner) that is professional and mutually beneficial.
2. Editing the award categories – do we have the right number and type and how well are they performing year on year? A discussion and then editing. For example, we should discuss the mobile related categories with a media partner such as Mobile Monday London
3. What we will be awarding this year – either overall vision or by category? This tends to be a discussion and then iteration of categories
4. Chair of the Judging Panel – should we have one and if so, how do we involve them? Discussion and then personal approaches. The Chair of the Judging panel must be there on the judging day
5. Sponsorship packages. Discussion and agreement on pricing and levels
6. Identity of the awards – DA did this last year and would do it again if we don’t want to. Nevertheless it needs to be supported

7 hours a month

March – May

1. Agree with media partners for specific categories, the relationship and process. For example, Mobile Monday London is interested in discussing this further for the mobile related categories.
2. The awards judging panel selection – review and discussion – several hours.
   Blogging – weekly. This should be done by the Awards Chair. I’m happy to help. I’m happy to do the actual blogging if I’m given the material.
3. The ‘how to win awards’ night was quite good last year. This could be repeated
4. PR activity

14 hours a month

May – Sept

1. Judging. OK this is where it all gets heavy. The system for doing this needs to be reviewed. Nevertheless it is fair to say it works. However there is a lot of work involved and the final shortlisted work is all judged on one day. The first batch of entries must be filtered so we don’t give the entire list to judges to review on one day. This day needs to be well organised and well managed. It takes about a day beforehand, a day to do and a day or two after to collect in all the feedback – a part of the process we should optimise. I think the Committee should be responsible for filtering all entries so that the judging day is spent reviewing the best of breed. Perhaps we could ask a few judges if they want to get involved at this stage also.
2. Marketing of the event begins

7 hours a month apart from the judging week (2 days)

Oct – Nov

1. Prep meetings for the final event – running orders
2. Compilation of content for Book of the Night and ‘show’
3. Involvement of the Chair of the judges
4. Speakers briefing

14 hours a month

The night
Forget it. Its the whole day and take the day after off too!

Register your interest now if you want to be considered for a place on the Awards Committee. Email janice.cable@bima.co.uk

If you have any comments or questions please leave a comment here. Janice is not likely to have time to go through them by email and you might not be answered in time for you to submit your entry.

Since the BIMA Awards were first introduced in 1984, they have undergone continuous development and always strived to encompass the constant changes within the interactive industry.

BIMA has never shrunk from its responsibility to reflect the very highest standards of creativity and innovation and caused controversy some years ago when it considered that the measure of work in one particular category was not of sufficient merit to be awarded a winner’s trophy. More recently, the industry applauded BIMA’s decision when it announced that the judge’s favourite – the BIMA Grand Prix – was the winning entry in the student category.

The BIMAs™ now rightly take their place on the top shelf of prestigious Awards, alongside the BAFTAs, the Brits and the Oscars.

As Chair of BIMA I’m very proud to show off our awards with this short video. Thanks to Hermione from Newspepper.com for doing a fantastic job.

With less than 5 hours until the doors at the Truman Galleries open for the industry’s finest in interactive design and the brands they help to create and promote, the butterflies are starting to kick in. Now in their 23rd year, this year looks like it’s going to be the best ever.

My table includes

Paul Walsh, CEO, Segala, BIMA Executive Director & Chair (me)
Amanda Lorenzani, Head of Excite UK
Victoria Fields, Head of Marketing, Chelsea Football Club
Richard Daish, Head of Mobile Services, Chelsea Football Club
Scott Rutherford, Director, Cominded
Matthew Bagwell, Creative Director, Conchango, BIMA Executive Director & Chair of the Awards Committee
Hal Robinson, Managing Director, Librios, BIMA Executive Director
Michael Collins, Director, i-Publishing. BIMA Executive Director
Juliet Blackburn, Head of Digital, AAR, and BIMA Executive Director
Robin Howard, Chief Engagement Director, British Telecom, BIMA Executive Director
Julie Lane, Sales & Marketing Director, BIMA Executive Director
Jonathan Kingsbury, Head of External Supply, BBC Future Media & Technology
Charles Billot, Marketing Director, Soup, BIMA Executive Director

Unfortunately I haven’t got the time to include every person going. Given that there are over 400, I’m sure you don’t want me to either.

3 days left and counting…

It’s a pleasure to Chair BIMA, host to the most prestigious awards in the UK dedicated to the creatives in the Interactive Industry. The Awards celebrate creative excellence and best practice in interactive design.

Given that the UK is the centre of excellence for creativity worldwide, does that make the BIMA’s the most prestigious awards worldwide? I think it does.

This year, to mark the outstanding achievement of our winners, we have selected a venue at a location which has become one of the most popular areas for companies in the creative, interactive industries. The Midnight Gardens is situated at the Truman Galleries, Elys Yard, Hanbury Street, London E1.

BIMA practicing what it preaches

As some of you know, I spend much of my time networking and consuming new tools and techniques to help keep my finger on the digital pulse. As we polish the remaining logistics for the Awards, it looks like I’m going to spend half the evening on stage handing out trophies to the lucky winners. Matthew Bagwell, the Awards Chair (who I may add, is doing a fantastic job!), will be up there for the other half.

So, I’m not going to get the opportunity to Twitter for the entire evening. I could, but I might look a little weird with an award in one hand and a mobile phone in the other.

Sam Sethi has kindly agreed to twitter live, so make sure you subscribe to his Twitter feed in order to find out who’s picking up each award as it happens.

I’ll Twitter throughout the evening so feel free to subscribe to my feed also. If you’re attending the awards, be sure to grab my attention for a quick chat over a tipple or two

For those who were unsuccessful this year, please do think about putting your name forward next year. Moreover, why not see how you can get involved with BIMA by checking out the Web site. Alternatively you could drop me a note and I’ll chat to you about all the initiatives we have on the go!

Thanks again.

We’d like to thank those who put their own name, or a colleague’s name forward as we know how time consuming it can be. It’s very much appreciated.

Check out last years judging panel to get a taste for the quality of judges and to see how our panels represent all the stakeholders within the Industry.

The BIMAs 2007 looks set to be the best for a very long time.

So while we have a good idea of how we’ll fill the evening, if you are coming (and even if you’re not), feel free to ask questions of the panel in advance. What is it that you’d hope would be covered?

And see you next week, you’ll recognise me, I’ll be the one on a stretcher. Find out why here

http://www.justgiving.com/mattbagwell

The judging panel will comprise exclusively of senior practitioners working within the interactive and associated industries.

50% of the judges will be selected from applicants who are BIMA members.

If you would like to be considered as a judge for the BIMA Awards 2007, please complete the form on the BIMA Web site.

Check out the judging panel from last year.