Bob Glenister

The names of the judges, were Gavin Turner CEO of Avery Africa, Dyelan Copeland CEO of Sign Africa. Bob Glenister CEO of Roland Africa. Gerald Yapp was the independent Art Critic and the person who designed the creative briefs. Withholding the judges names is standard practice until after the competition closing as their should be no undue influence placed on these individuals before the last entry is in.

I hope this clarifies the issue.

Bob

Rohan

Hi

Regarding this whole debate issue; I obviously think this lucien guy is out of line although I also hate the fact that a deadline was moved (I do understand the whole Sunday thing - so ja). But just out of interest I would like to know who the independent art critic was and what he has done. I think not releasing the names of the judges takes away credibility.

So that's that. I'm not a finalist. This is just my opinion. next year I hope I have a chance of such a competition again.

Rohan

Bob Glenister

Hi Everyone,
I have reviewed most of the posts on the Blog and overall I think, although some of the discussions have been uncomfortable for all of us some good hopefully will come out of this experience.

I have picked up on some of the issues raised, hopefully I can help to clear these up for you.

1. Winners profiled: No profiling is done, we in actual fact have tried this year to broaden the base of entrants and we have been pleasantly surprised by the diversity of the people that have entered with even some Junior Schools entering. This will hopefully expand and we will need to expand the prizes for next year to include a Junior element. I stress the judges had no idea of the entrants names or identities when viewing the entries. (Lesson1: next year we will video the judging process so that you all can understand the difficulty the judges have at making their choices.)

2. Finalists who were finalists in previous years, this is a lesson for all of you, we as judges were surprised to be advised, that finalists from previous years were once again in the finalists mix once we handed them to the administration staff. These individuals and companies have honed their skills from year to year and should be applauded, that given the quality standard increase that they have not remained in one spot but bettered their skills. Everyone should learn from exposure to better and better competition as this improves the overall impression of the graphics industry from outsiders and makes us all walk a little prouder. as graphics designers.

3. Eliminating Roland customers, this would not be fair at all. The judges are chosen, so their is no bias. Avery and Sign Africa service the complete industry which includes our competitors they cannot be seen to be biased to Roland as the other suppliers in the industry would not support them and they would go out business in an instant.. Plus if you asked Roland to exclude their customers you would have to ask Avery and Sign Africa to do the same. We would be left with less than 30 entries. and the objective of the competition to improve the quality of all your work would fall flat as you would exclude some of South Africa's best designers. The independent Art critic has no interest in printing machines or vinyl. We were very careful in loading the judging in this way so that we could never be accused of bias.

4. Closing date, this was necessary due to an overload on our server which is located in Germany and unfortunately it fell on a Sunday and we could not get hold of our service provider as the closing date was a Sunday. (Lesson 2. Don't choose a closing date on a Sunday.)

5.Voting at the competition and being allowed to promote your own work. This is a market reality and remember this is a Commercial Art competition not a Fine Arts competition. The market rules and kicks butt. Promotion is part of the game you as artists need to learn if you are to survive in this dog eat dog world.

I think I have answered most of the concerns raised if not, please feel free to send me a mail or post a question.

Have a wonderful weekend and most of all have fun and think how you can make this competition more fun.

We are investing 2 Million in you guys, you have a choice use this to create positive energy in the industry or use it negatively. If you insist on using it negatively, I think you all realise that I will be gone.

Bozo the clown.

Bob Glenister

This Blog has been created in the interest of receiving as many posts as possible to understand how to serve you better next year or if at all.

Any constructive criticism is gladly accepted. The judges were not aware of anybodies identity when we chose the winners. The judges were made up of one representative from Roland one from Avery, one from Sign Africa and one independent Art Critic.

Each Judge had to loose some of their favorites in the process of judging as it was democratic vote (one vote per judge) this is inevitable.

One of the things that struck us this year was the quality of the entries and hence the introduction of a wild card vote as we all thought that some of our favorites
were eliminated in the voting process, the disadvantages of democracy.

We have tried to be fair by creating this blog so that people can express their opinions, but I would like people to desist from bashing each other. This only creates bad feelings and is not helpful in building constructive energy.

Constructive criticism allows you to stand on the shoulders of the person you assisted. Destructive criticism allows you to walk on their bones, this leaves you in one place and does not allow you to become taller and greater.

You all have a beautiful evening

Bob

Lucien

Candice,

All the entries are still online, my entries were 91, 96, 111, 114, also, the 24 finalists designs are on displayed if you look on the wrap to the max introduction page.

There are some nice designs in the finalist’s category and to be honest, when it comes to art and design it’s all really up for interpretation. In no way am I saying that my work was better than anyone else’s.

I do not wish to belittle anybodies work or say that this or that design should not have made it. My issue is that some or all of the finalists were not chosen because of their design work but rather because of WHO they are. Again this is just speculation on my part based on the early knowledge of who the finalists would be and the coincidence with the timing of my photo.

My impression from the emails I’ve received so far is that some or all of the finalists were previous competitors and one lady even confirmed knowing someone that won last year. There seems to be some relationship here.

The speculation on my part is that the contestants were profiled, photo’s used for recognition purposes, it was really a matter of WHO should be a finalist.

I would like to point out that these are purely my views on this matter and that none of the other contestants are in cahoots with me. Roland is welcome to exercise their right to take any action they feel necessary against me.

Candice Bradfield

Hi Lucien

Out of interest, which category did you enter? It's a pity they have changed the website as I would have liked to look at all the entries. Like you said, some of them were cut and paste jobs, and I would even go as far as to say that most of the entries (in the grand format prize section) did not constitute good design. The scale of this particular project makes it really amazing, there is so much you can do with the whole side of a building - yet most of the entries looked like your
standard level poster. Please excuse my ranting, but I was very excited to take part in the competition.

I feel sorry for those people who were still waiting to hear the results. When Tracy (I think it was, but stand corrected) called me to ask if I was attending the Awards Party, I said that I wasn't sure and asked if the finalists were going to be notified. When she told me politely that the finalists had already been told I did feel like a bit of a tool. I don't think it was made explicitly clear that the finalists had been told in the email sent on 19/08/08. Is there anything to stop them from announcing the winners before the party? Obviously they know, and would have told their friends so it's no state secret. I will be interested to see how they respond further to the situation.

Lezanne Bekker

I'm just going to reply what I have replied to Lucien. I have no idea what the problem really is, so I'm not going to say anything regards to Lucien's comments, since I'm not too sure what to do.
Personally I think, and what I've told him is that I think the judges had enough time to decide. It's Roland's competition. It's Roland's rules. The competition ended early August which I believe gave the judges far enough time to decide what they're looking for. It's not for us to decide who should be finalists or not. I think the judges judged according to specific specifications that they were looking for. And personally I'm more than thrilled to have known that I'm a finalist even before the week of the 25th of August.

How and what Roland decides I think is purely their own since it's their competition. Maybe I'm wrong in this aspect but as for me, I really dont have or see any problems whatsoever.

Hope I do not offend anyone in this matter or through my comment Whatever happens from here on depends on Roland. As I said, it's their competition.

Kind Regards

Lezanne

Wes

I have read through all of the posts regarding this email, and in my opinion there are aspects that I agree and disagree with in Lucien's emails. The only aspect that I agree with, is that the extension of the closing date from the 11th to the 12th should not have been allowed. I do understand that there must have been a lot of people submitting their entries on the 11th, but the people who could not submit in time should have planned this deadline in advance.

With regards to the announcing of the finalists, I personally think that a week is ample time to make a final decision on less than 400 designs. It's the initial 10 to 30 seconds of viewing that should make the impression, as this is generally the time period the target audience will view a billboard or wrapped car while driving past. Your design needs to make the impact in this time period otherwise it is unsuccessful in my opinion.

With regards to Lucien having an issue with submitting a photograph, I think it's absurd. I'm not sure if he is aware of the process of the previous Wrap to the Max competition, where we were requested to submit a photograph as well and the reason behind that is it is nice to put a face to the design when all the designs are put up at Sign Africa. I personally think it's a nice touch.

I have been informed that this year the voting will be done differently from last year which I think is great. I think it's really good to get the public involved in the final voting as after all they are the people who will be viewing the adverts out there in the market. I was also informed that the competitors are allowed to be at the Roland stand at Sign Africa encouraging the public to vote for their designs. Unfortunately I strongly disagree with this. I'm not sure if the other contestants feel the same way, but this is meant to be a competition based on how good your design is and how successfully it communicates to the public, not how skilled you are at selling your design to the public. I personally feel that by allowing contestants to be present, a swaying in the public's decisions may occur. I also do not feel it is fair, as some contestants might not be able to be there as a result of travelling distances or work commitments and so forth. I welcome your opinion, but I do think the creativity should be left within the design itself and not with regards to ones selling abilities.

Please advise me on your thought regarding this matter.

Kind Regards,
Wes

Lucien

Leigh Bradfield

Thank you so much for the support. Please pass this exact email on to the wrap to the max email address as they want to know people's opinions on this. I have no proof that any finalist is a business acquaintance of Roland but judging by the slander I've received from some of the finalists its seems many of them are previous entrants. Was this a prerequisite?

And dont worry, you are not alone, many were shocked to hear that the finalists were chosen last week, some were sitting in anticipation of a phone call right until yesterday. Is'nt this wrong and cruel and degrading?

Candice Bradfield

Hi Lucien

Out of interest, which category did you enter? It's a pity they have changed the website as I would have liked to look at all the entries. Like you said, some of them were cut and paste jobs, and I would even go as far as to say that most of the entries (in the grand format prize section) did not constitute good design. The scale of this particular project makes it really amazing, there is so much you can do with the whole side of a building - yet most of the entries looked like your standard level poster. Please excuse my ranting, but I was very excited to take part in the competition.

I feel sorry for those people who were still waiting to hear the results. When Tracy (I think it was, but stand corrected) called me to ask if I was attending the Awards Party, I said that I wasn't sure and asked if the finalists were going to be notified. When she told me politely that the finalists had already been told I did feel like a bit of a tool. I don't think it was made explicitly clear that the finalists had been told in the email sent on 19/08/08. Is there anything to stop them from announcing the winners before the party? Obviously they know, and would have told their friends so it's no state secret. I will be interested to see how they respond further to the situation.

Regards
Candice

Johan Pretorius

This is crazy!!!!! bad looser looser looser oops did I repeat that!!!

Don't waste your time on this guy. His designs are horrible!!

Regards
J

Pamela Woest

I am, speachless. When I decided to enter this competition, I was really excited, I still am, and I'm looking forward to the Awards Evening, as this was my first Graphic Design Competition. I am going to enter more in the future.

When I entered, I thought to myself, it'll be great to have my own digital printer, even a Laptop for that matter. As I only have a Desktop PC out of the stone age, but it works. I did't get a monthly Laptop, I am not a Finalist, but, that's Ok. Yeah it would've been nice to win something, But, what matters the most, I enjoyed myself doing those designs, taking it from the design theme to the end design. Man, that was fun, and so rewarding. I sat up till late at night, just thinking what to do. That's the main point, having fun. And, donating the money to charity.

And about the foto, I like to put a face to a design. It's the same as putting a face to a voice you've heard over the phone. I am going to the Sign Africa with camera in hand, I am just excited to actually see my designs printed. It's the same as putting a face to a voice you've heard over the phone.

Well, just a pity, someone whould make a "lekker" competition into something so ugly.

Looking forward to the Show and rewards party.

Last Thought, I am proud to have taken part in the competition, and still like showing my designs to people.

Best Ragards

Pamela Woest

Lucien

Mattheus

From your remarks you strike me as being disrespectful of the next person's opinion so this is the last you wll hear from me. I think you are not even aware of the disrepect that was showered upon you. As for my design's your opinion means little to me. I have great pride in what I do and that is why we are here now. I'm sorry you feel so little for your work. Roland is welcome to take me to court. You are the first one though to not hold up an Aids Orphan as some talisman against me.
Good day to you.

Ryan Roberts

Hey Guys, though i don't agree with Lucien's comments and actions, I think it's pretty cool that some entrants are posting their opinions. It shows that the competition is making a difference and doing right! If there was no value/interest in this competition, nobody would bother to comment!

A Wrap to the Max Blog for 2009 would be great, it will encourage debate and greater overall interest in the competition!

Zunica Joao

Hi,

I do agree with Lucien about the extension of the dates, after the deadline due to the large number of entries. I don't think that was fair on anyone who gave it in on time. Deadlines are there for a reason. But as for everything else, if he found it so immoral to donate money to charity, then he shouldn't have entered in the first place. Roland gave him the choice to enter and those were the terms.

He stated "I would also like the general public to know how strongly you felt about our “large donation” that we made to your competition as I’m sure you are a tax payer and you too might think your “large donation” to the government gives you the right to criticize how this country is run." Why did he pay it in the first place...he made the choice and he is accountable for that, I mean I think it's just wrong that he would even make an issue out of that.

He sounds like a sore loser to me. Its okay to mention issues, but the whole way he is going about it, is in bad taste.
Kind regards
Zunica

Ryan Roberts

I would like to make it clear that my opinion and comments are based on my understandings and beliefs.

In no way am i associated with Mr Khan motives of this matter. Everyone by law has the freedom to voice their opinion but one must not accuse if lack of evidence is not present. I hope the majority will rule in the case of wrongful judgement of runners up.

Thank you

Jay

WTF are these guys on about...?!! If ever I saw a sore looser this guy would be it...

I have been entering for 3yrs now and haven't won anything as of yet but that ain't gonna stop me from entering again next year.

This whole competition is aimed at charity and if they are to stingy to give a 200 odd rand for people less fortunate than themselves, then maybe they should go somewhere else.

This competition to me is merely an opportunity to express myself as an artist and to help others. If it so happens that I win something for my effort that would be great but if not, I still win and feel good that I as an individual has made a difference in someones life.

They should come right and wake up..!!! This is life and not everybody can
be winners at the same time... Wait your turn and if your good enough then
they will be the next winners.

I personally want to thank you guys for doing such an amazing job and many thanks to Roland for donating these machines. I look forward to the year my design meets the criteria of the judges and the competition so that I to can walk away with one of your great products.

Thank you all for making this possible each year and you can count on my support every year.

Kindest Regards

Jay

Jeremy Dannheisser

Here's my take on it.
1. He has every right to speak his mind
2. He is being foolish by making threats
3. He has a serious case of sour grapes
4. I can't find 114 but the other 3 are ordinary to say the least (I can
say this as my entry was pretty ordinary as well)
5. You enter a competition knowing that when there is a creative
decision to be made it will be a subjective thing and very seldom will
everyone agree on the winner
6. I protest cause I'm not a finalist (only joking)
7. I for one look forward to this competition every year. It must be one
of the highest "return for your investment" competitions in the country
and very probably in the world (roland america didn't give such a prize
in their wrap to the max). The spirit in which it is done is truly
commendable. I only hope that Bob and his team do not see this person's
"mindspeak" as the feeling out there.
8. Sometimes you need to go and speak your mind in a cupboard by
yourself before you speak it out in public. It could save you loads of
embarrassment.

Just my 2c worth

Regards

Mariana De jager

Hi there,

who votes by SMS?
If I pay all my friends the R2.00 per SMS I can easily win the notebook and it'll still cost me a fraction of the price - so u can actually buy the notebook monthly prize.

I also agree that there were much better designs than the ones that were chosen as finalists. Who are the judges? Do they have any idea about advertising? To me it looked like u picked the most busy designs instead of looking for real good design. Just my opinion. And I know taste difffers, but a good design is good - no matter what! Shouldn't the judges be objective?

m

Guy Adam Ailion

Hi

I am a Masters Architectural student at the University of the Witwatersrand making me a member of the immediate public.
I am one of the finalists, entree 153.

Guy Adam Ailion

Lucien

Dear Sally,

Thank you for voicing your opinions here. I respect your point of you. I am not surprised that this is not your first year in this competition. Please refrain from personal remarks about me or my designs as they are not for you to judge. The issue here is the date the finalists were chosen and if the process was rushed.

I dont know what the role of the NLB is but I have filed a complaint and requested them to point me in the right direction.

Do not use the needy or unfortunate as a shield against me. It is disrespectful, they are not your tool.

Good Day.

Lucien

Thank you for this opportunity.

I have been in touch with some of the contestants to debate this issue and find some closure, some do feel that I am wrong, that your judges had enough time. Others were hurt to find out that your finalists had already been chosen a week ago, they have been eagerly anticipating your phone call as your website and application forms clearly state, 25^th August 2008, I think this was a cruel thing to do.

Unfortunately your response has come too late to prevent my complaint to the NLB as I’ve already sent it off to them, I will feel terrible if your judging was totally fair and they find some other technical reasons to stop this competition as I did try my best to get satisfactory answers from you before taking action. I honestly did not want to involve them but I did find the glaring discrepancies in your dates a huge issue. I put a huge amount of effort into my work and I expect it to be treated with the kind of respect it deserves, your judges should have taken all the time allocated to them to make their decisions.

I feel terrible about all this as it all started as a good natured competition and if I am wrong simply apologizing will not fix things in the end. I still feel I am right and you still maintain that you are right. Let a third party decide.

Good Day.

Paul Crafford

Sour grapes! That is all i have to say. I really tried my best to make the finals, but I didn't. I can probably think up a million different excuses why i didn't make the cut, but in the end it comes down to my design and the work I put into it.
These "klakouse" are just too closed-minded to rate their own creativity or question their "brilliance".

Thanks for the cool competition.
See you guys next year.

Paul Crafford

Darren & Suzette

Dear Bob & the TEAM@TELPRO

We in response to the matter pertaining to your company & the complainant,...... as my colleague said to me this morning, in any competition there are winners & there are losers......thats just LIFE!

However during these last four weeks your competition has brought about so much excitment amongst us, that we thank you & the team at Telpro, although we didn't make the finals, just like many of the contestants out there, we had a BLAST!

We look forward to the forthcoming Wrap to The Max Competition

Keep up the good work

Kind Regards
Darren & Suzette
Entry 189

Mattheus Odendaal

Please stop forwarding me on this crap.

Your design is not great at all, and I wouldn't have chosen your design if I was one of the judges.
Regardless of what you look like.

I think you are taking this way too far, besides the judges had a cut off time and the finalists were announced after cut off.

It makes no difference that they announced the finalists early.

In fact if Roland really wants to they can take you to court on defamation charges, and I think they would scrape your ass on the floor, as I am pretty sure they have enough resources to take this all the way.

My advise to you would be to keep quiet, admit the fact that your design was not good enough, try again next year and most importantly send apologies to Roland.

Lucien

Ryan

Thank you for voicing your opinion on this issue. I am sorry that it is now turning into a political debate.

I have received some scathing comments from other contestants who have made it through and some of them feel that I am wrong to question any organization that does so much for the needy. I cannot respect people who use the needy or underprivileged as a shield against public enquiry.
If there is something wrong here I have every right to ask the questions I have asked. I will not be humiliated or intimidated into silence.

Ryan Roberts

Well in response to all these political views...

My name is Ryan Roberts and i too entered the roland wrap to the max competition. Its my second time entering. This first wrap to the max comp was great and the runners up/winning designs were really great!
Unfortunatly the same cannot be said about these runners up. As i understand this competition is about design and conceptual ability aswell as "thinking out the box". Maybe i have misunderstood the brief and the entire competition but i have to say i am disappointed in the judging so far.
Please do not get me wrong, there are very descent design qualities in some of the 342 entries, but a couple, particularly in the top 24, caught my undisputed attention. I am not sure how much time was spent analysing the designs, who the judges are and how the judging was executed but unfortunatly, i have to say again, it was a half hearted attempt.

I am not sure what the entrants points of view are on this matter but i am pretty sure most of them would feel very strongly about this. I am sure you guys would agree in saying that most of the entrants have many years of design expertise behind them and, personally, i would not like to challenge that. I reckon some passionate people spent hours of hard dedicated thinking and planning on their concepts. To have an entrant in the runner up position with a design that, looks like, was just entered to maybe get an extra buck and that was done in what looks like Microsoft Word with which has no design ability in at all, just enrages me..

All i can say is that this will be unfortunalty the last wrap to the max comp i enter, which is a pity because my R150 will not be going towards those unfortunate kids who need it most.
If you guys are so concerned as you say you are about the welfare of the "AIDS orphans" picture this. A HIV positive child asking for as little as a blanket to keep them warm at night. My donation will provide that warmth but because the competition was not judged in the proper manner that child will not get one.

Before you reply shouting sour grapes and rambling on about legal issues maybe you should ask yourselves what you can do to prevent this problem in future.

I also recommend you posting a blog so you can get feed back from all 342 entrants, I am sure you will be well surprised!

Thank you for your time.

Wayne Love

Hi There,

I also got a mail from Lucien ranting on about how unfair the judges chose the final 24 and how he feels that when he sent in his photo when requested to do so where prejudiced because of the way he looks.

Now my comment is that, Roland understands and surely have the resources and have the infrastructure to run with such a competition. And sad to say that my personal opinion is that he is a bitter individual and perhaps does not understand the judging process, because Roland did not involve him in that. As I for instance knew what the requirements where to enter the completion apart from just sending in a design. And why at the judging stage have to ask him to send in his picture??? Surely Roland didn't have to do that, according to me if you enter a competition and do not meet the criteria, you will either be disqualified or not listed as a contestant.

The Olympics just ended, but just to make a quick example!
Michael Phelps has 8 gold medals. And when he entered the competition where told to have a swim suite on and a swimming cap. Apart from swimming he had to have a few things in order to participate.
Now, do you think he would have had the opportunity to dive into the pool if he didn't have a cap on???
So I'm glad that your open for a debate and think we should not debate about one person's foolishness but maybe debate on maybe getting a new system in future that will show you the amounts of votes you have as soon as the person voting receives the confirmation sms. Like myself, a lot of people voted for me through out the month. But I lost at the last day of every month because I thought to myself that I have gotten enough people to go onto the Roland site check out my design and vote for me. But I'm not bitter about the fact that I've lost the monthly laptop, and in order to win in life you must be able to lose.

Thank you guys at Roland that helped set up a competition like this, as I enjoyed the fact that I could express myself in such a way!

Regards
Wayne Love

Lucien

Riana, thank you so much for your reply. I am struggling with many issues here and I really appreciate your input. I understand what you’re saying about voicing my opinion at the start of the competition. The problems I’ve experienced only came about after learning the date that the finalists were chosen.

At the start of the competition and on your entry form you will see “Finalists will be informed the week of the 25^th of August 2008”. When I entered I was not aware that the finalists would be phoned a week before time to tell them who they will be so I could not complain about that then. I have no issues with the late entries being allowed into the competition.

The issue I had with the photo was also related to the timing of the finalists being chosen, I had to get my photo in, for the latest, the very day or day before the finalists were chosen.

I totally understand the social needs in this country and please don’t think I am complaining about donating to these very worthwhile institutions. I also ask you to consider that these are real people you are talking about and not just a tool to be used as a shield against public enquiry.

I am glad for you that you have made it into the finalists categories for the schools, I do feel that the school prizes and the wild card prizes were open to everyone. I am questioning how the finalists for the two main categories, the building and the vehicle wrap, were chosen a week before the time advertised.

Also consider the feelings of other contestants who up until yesterday have been sitting in eager anticipation of a call from Roland, they were not informed that finalists were already phoned a week ago because the entry forms and website clearly state, 25^th August 2008. How would you have felt? Empathy is not something that should only be reserved for the needy. We are all human and deserve to be treated equally and with decency.

Thank you for respecting my freedom to voice my concerns about all this and good luck to you at the awards evening. I am truly sorry for putting a damper on all this for the rest of you but there are many issues here that cannot be openly dismissed.

Thank you for taking the time to respond.

Lucien.

Sally Schiffer

Hi all,

I am deeply disturbed that someone like Lucien Khan is throwing around allegations that are completely unfounded and frankly, a little "off the path". So I would like to set some things on record. I understand that being outspoken may put my entry in a precarious position, but since the final round is a public decision at Sign Africa, I say "Let the public decide" and let the best man win! We may not come anywhere this year, but it was great being a part of it anyway.

So here goes the open debate:

Three years ago, one of my staff members won the Wrap to the Max 2006 competition. She is neither a client of Roland or has purchased a single thing from them, just an independent designer. Last year, we entered the competition and came second - it was a company team effort. We are also not a client of Roland's and also have never bought a thing from them. This year we submitted 2 designs, and only one made it through to the finals. Again, we have never bought a thing from them. We are just a bunch of VERY good designers, and as such, I believe our designs were chosen on merit - not on any relationship or business connection we have with Roland...clearly there is not a business relationship at all, or even a personal one - we enter every year to sharpen our design skills and to support the fund for AIDS orphans. Also, I believe healthy competition between designers country-wide is good for the industry and helps all of us improve. Mr Khan's approach is something that spoils that.

After three years of experience with this competition, I am well positioned to comment on the conduct of the organisers, judges and the entire process. Any competition has rules, and if rules are not adhered to, like sending in your photograph, then you will find yourself disqualified. As far as I am aware, the judging takes place without the judges knowing who the individual is. If Mr Khan is suggesting that his designs were not chosen because the judges need know what he looks like, then is he really accusing them of running a beauty pageant or something? Actually, the fact that the finalists designs were chosen by the Monday without Mr Khans photo being present but with his designs being present, proves that the designs were chosen on merit.

And don't the organisers have the right to judge the designs in their own good time? As long as the judging was done correctly, with sound art/design principles and using independent people, who cares how long it takes...1 day or 1 week is irrelevant. On the issue of human rights groups, et al, I find this surprising. Leave those groups to defend REAL human rights issues, like xenophobia, rape, child abuse and war-ravaged refugees. Also, as for comments surrounding the Lotto, this Wrap to the Max competition involves real merit, like design and artistic skills etc - not simply depositing money in an account as with the FNB Million-a-month where anyone can win, and one certainly can't "merit" winning a BMW, so Vodacom was out of line......is Mr Khan is suggesting that every competition that involves merit, such as the Advertising Lourie awards or event the Noble Peace price, which also comes with a good fortune, should be dissolved. Get real! The Lotto does not have sole mandate on competitions...if you think they do, then you have even missed the point of the Lotto itself!

Mr Khan, you say you have access to so many public forums/contacts etc - are you trying to rally support for what is clearly a case of sour grapes. I understand that there are more non-finalists than there are finalists, so some of them may be tempted to join your crusade. But to ALL the entrants,
I suggest trying again next year and maybe your design skills will have improved so that you can be a finalist. This is a great competition which deserves your support. I for one, welcome the competition and am thrilled that the entries were so good this year. The categories are growing and there are more prizes every year, so there is more opportunity for all. (Oh and for the record, the prizes are real and tangible.) Mr Khan, I have had a look at your designs, and have my own personal comments which I will not raise here. If you really want to grow as a designer, please feel free to contact me and I will gladly give you my comments if you are open to constructive criticism.

With kind regards, and with respect to everyone who reads this,
Sally Schiffer

Krispin Davies

Dear Wrap to the Max team,

Just wanted to say, I'm so sorry that you guys have to deal with this absolute crazy, unreasonable and ridiculous affair. I'm actually just dumb-founded by this guy's nerve and arrogance, its so sad that he's trying to spoil the whole thing for everyone.

What makes it even more crazy, his designs are probably part of the weakest 10%, bottom-of-the-barrel type entries!

As last year's Grand prize winner, you have my support and testimony if you need it! I'm sure Neil feels the same.

Well done for opening up such a wonderful competition with such fantastic, generous prizes to the public. Don't let this insignificant and bitter individual get you down, you're doing a great job.

Warm regards,

Krispin Davies
Designer

THE DREAM ROOM
advertising, design & creative concepts

Riana Botha

I am a contestant that took the AMUZ theme and entered one entry in each category. I know the topic is as you said, tongue in cheek... but this was meant to be all about having a laugh and fun. I really wanted to bring some humor into the comp. Life is so serious and as South Africans we have learnt to laugh about it.

I am a finalist for the schools category and will be donating the prize (if I win) to a school for disabled children. I don't know any of the judges, don't have a Roland, printer and don't buy Avery materials directly from Avery so they have no clue who I am... I know why I did not get through on the vehicle (Silly me, fonts not converted), but I will admit last year I went to the party and they explained why the entries that won made it that far... they look at things like contact info and originality, and other principals that we don't always take into consideration.

I think that if you really want to voice your opinion you should do so at the start of a competition (then you will not be classified as a sore loser). I personally think it is a nice thought putting the pic next to the entry, I am not very photogenic and definitely did not get though because of my looks. The organizers did a lot for charity last year and I think it is unfair for criticizing them for making an effort in providing more prizes for all the extra entrants. It is not supposed to be a carrot in front of you but rather an incentive to get people to view your design and vote.. at the end of the day the more people vote the more will go to charity and that is the reason
behind this competition. I think that the decision to extend the deadline was fair as e-mailing could have provided problems.

I really hope that you come to the party regardless. All the tickets sold at the door also go to charity and there is a draw on those tickets as well. My entry numbers are 144, 172 & 171

Kind Regards,
Riana Botha