See images from this event on Flickr.

Event Review by Christine E. Tran

AIGA Chicago Design Week 2010 kicked off with Peer Proof, a showcase of local creative talent. The exhibition featured the work of designers, illustrators, photographers and students who submitted entries as they arrived to the event. Beyond the opening hour, attendees served as a moving cloud of peer judges.

“It's a whole new format. What you've got up here is work that is categorized in different areas ... There's advertising, graphic design, student work, multimedia,” said event host, Bob Faust, creative director of Faust Associates.

Throughout the evening, Faust rallied community spirit by encouraging a social atmosphere, engaging conversation, and even suggesting guests leave constructive feedback for contestants.

Using text messaging, Twitter or paper ballots, patrons had the opportunity to select their favorite work from different categories as each opened for a fifteen-minute voting period.

By far, students comprised the largest category. The diverse submissions ranged from non-profit advertisements, wedding invitations and marketing materials to interaction design, information graphics, hand-drawn illustration and photography.

Prior to opening the polls, Faust added an uplifting word to remind all attendees that their continued efforts drive the growth of the creative community:

“You can really do amazing work and be supported by it, and you know what happens? You're either going to be given all these great accolades for your great success, or you're going to fail terribly.

But the really cool thing is, in Chicago, people will be waiting for the next thing you do because you've tried really hard. When you try really hard in Chicago, people will give you another chance. And, in fact, they'll look forward to it, because they know you put yourself out there.”

The winners in each category will receive admission to Thursday’s AIGA Annual Members Meeting, where the winning work will be on display, in addition to being featured on the AIGA Chicago website.

Event Overview:
Our first event to kick off Chicago Design Week 2010 is a crowd-juried show titled Peer Proof. For the price of admission, attendees can showcase their best work in several categories. Work on display will be voted on by attendees via text message, Twitter or the good ole paper ballot. The winners within each category will win a FREE ticket to the Annual Members Meeting where the winning pieces will be on display as well as and showcased online.

Bob Faust, Event Host
Son, Brother, Cousin, Uncle, Godfather, Husband, Dad, Boss and Friend-as-needed. Doer, Dreamer, Developer, Teacher, Typographer, Taxpayer, Listener, Leader and Lover-of-stuff. Bob is also the founder and creative director of Faust Associates. He brings with these many titles more than 20 years of industry experience for clients such as Playboy Enterprises, McDonald’s Corporation and the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.

Bob’s non-secular approach to design fosters unexpected solutions to creative problems, void of formulaic, industry-specific executions. He has been recognized as a design leader by many prestigious publications and organizations and preaches on the subjects of creativity and life/work balance both in his sleep and in public. He recently served as sponsorship chair for AIGA Chicago and is currently a member of The School of The Art Institute of Chicago’s Fashion Committee.

PEER PROOF SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Who Is Eligible:
AIGA members and non-members.

Number of Entries:
One submission per attendee. Once registeration for the event is complete you will receive a confirmation email and link to the Peer Proof Entry Page.

Entry Fees:
Submission entry is included in the cost for attendance.

Entry Deadline:
All entries must arrive between 5:30-6:30pm the night of the event.

Interactive or Digital Work:
Any entries must be hosted on its own URL. The entries must be visible and accessible on the night of the event in order to be judged.

Video/Motion Graphics:
Entries must be hosted on its own URL. We recommend Vimeo or YouTube.
Entries must be visible and accessible on the night of the event in
order to be judged.

Radio:
Entries must be submitted at 256kbps or higher MP3 on the night of the
event.

Print/Physical Work:
Attendees who are submitting work must arrive between 5:30-6:30pm on the night of the event.

Awards:
Winners within each category will be revealed and on display at the
Annual Members Meeting on Thursday night.

CATEGORIES

1 Graphic Design
- Annual Reports
- Brochures/Catalogs
- Book Covers/Jackets
- Invitations/Announcements
- Letterhead/logos
- Posters/Flyers
- Editorial (magazine and newspaper covers/spreads)
- Self-Promotion
- Wearables (t-shirts, hats, bags, etc.)



2 Advertising
- Online (hosted to URL)
- Print
- Commercials
- Radio

3 Packaging (consumer goods, CDs, etc.)

4 Interactive Media
- Websites (hosted to URL)
- Kiosk or Installations (Video or interactive example)
- Virals (hosted to URL)
- Mobile applications (hosted to URL)
- Online games (hosted to URL)
- Self-promotion (hosted to URL)

5 Photography

6 Video/Motion Graphics (hosted to URL)

7 Illustration/Renderings

9 Environmental Graphics

Sponsors: Chicago Portfolio School, FiberMark