INSTALLAWARDS
WHY THE INSTALLAWARDS ARE DIFFERENT
With fewer than two weeks before the entry deadline for the InstallAwards, I want to share with you some of the thinking behind them. After all, there are other awards events in the industry – so why has Installationthrown its hat into the ring? Simply put, it’s because we think we can bring something new and different to the awards process. When we set about devising the categories for the InstallAwards, we were keen to
come up with a way of recognising all the factors that go into a successful installation. Of course, the overall design of the installation is particularly important – the way the different elements are selected and made to work together is at the heart of what integrators do. So recognising best projects in our various categories was an obvious starting point. But system designs have to take physical shape, and that requires the input of many different people: consultants, acousticians, product specialists, programmers and others. And then there are the unexpected problems that can crop up mid-project and require creative thinking and possibly calling in the odd favour to solve. So we’re also recognising the best examples of teamwork among the projects that are submitted.
‘Public votesare all well and good for creating a buzz around an awards event, but they’re surely more of a measure of a company's marketing clout and networking ability than about the quality of its products, or their suitability for any given application’
We also wanted to involve manufacturers in the awards process. But how do
you compare, say, a 64 x 64 matrix switch against a 64-channel audio console? Well, one way to do it is to judge them in the context of the projects in which they are used: why was this particular model selected? What are the unique characteristics that this installation shows off? Also, by looking at what’s being selected and installed currently, reliable workhorse products get considered as well as those that are being spotlighted by marketing departments at the moment. Plus, by looking at how well projects are served by single products, we have a means whereby projects of different sizes can be compared on a more equal footing. And then there’s the voting procedure. Public votes are all well and good for
creating a buzz around an awards event, but they’re surely more of a measure of a company’s marketing clout and networking ability than about the quality of its products, or their suitability for any given application. We prefer to recruit judges from all around the industry, and invite them to cast their votes. Apart from our 15th anniversary awards, the winners of which we select ourselves, we don’t get involved at all. We keep the judges’ names secret up to the end of the judging process, to shield them from external influences. So there you have it. We believe that the InstallAwards offer a different way
of recognising and rewarding excellence across a wide variety of installation projects, job roles and technologies – using a process that is objective and transparent. Don’t miss your opportunity to take part in the InstallAwards: entries close on Friday 14 March, and tickets to the awards event, which takes place on Thursday 12 June, are on sale now.
Paddy Baker Editor, Installation
ISCE LENDS ITS SUPPORT We’re pleased to announce that the Institute of Sound and Communications Engineers has come on board as a Supporting Partner of the InstallAwards. ISCE is a professional society, committed to promoting technical excellence within the sound industry. Membership is available for technical and non-technical individuals, as well as corporate members, who show their support for the Institute's aim to improve technical standards and practices. It offers extensive training, online technical advice and networking opportunities at its organised events. The ISCEx2014 exhibition and seminar day is on 5 March 2014 at Holiday inn, Birmingham, UK.
www.isce.org.uk
www.installation-international.com March 2014 11
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