The Sixth lnternational Biennial of the Poster in Mexico aims at reinforcing the graphic design practice in Mexico, as well as acting as an international point of reference and encounter for professionals in the field of design.

Dates: The fifth edition of the Biennial will take place in Mexico city, from October, 2000 to January, 2001. Requests for entry forms will be accepted from June 28, 1999. All submissions must be sent before May 30, 2000. For posters sent by mail or other means, the postmark or the carrier ticket date will be considered.

Entry Fee

Design Books will be accepted as entry fee. These books will become part of the Trama Visual AC library.

Rules and Regulations

The competition is open to graphic designers, plastic artists, photographers or graphic arts professionals and students, regardless of their age or nationality, to participate either individually or as a group, with posters published between May, 1998 and May, 2000, except for category 'D' .

Each participant may submit a maximum of 4 posters or series of posters that constitute a single work.

No special format or printing technique is required.

A Selection Committee, formed by outstanding graphic designers, will pick out the best posters received. This committee will be presided by the International Jury Chairman, and will include a representative from international organizations.

Participants may submit posters within the following categories

A. Cultural posters

B. Political, ideological or social posters

C. Publicity or commercial advertisement posters

D. Unpublished posters under the obligatory subject: "The future are children"

Designers or design students will be able to participate in this category, with unpublished poster dummies, which will be done in collaboration with children under twelve years old. The designer must incorporate in his poster's creative process ideas, concepts or drawings thought or made by children.

The themes shall be related to the children's rights and future such as:

a) Children and education

b) Children and environment

c) Children's respect and integrity

d) Children's right to have nice spaces to live in

e) Children's right to be well nourished and healthy

f ) Children's right to be different

g ) Children's right to play and rest

h ) Children's right to keep themselves from becoming employed

i ) Children's right to express their opinion and be listened to

The author will decide whether or not to include any allusive text to the Biennial's subject, and will present the original in a compulsory format of 60 x 90 cm, printed in plotter or silk-screen process. No rigid formats will be accepted.

The author should also submit the digital archive so that, in case the poster is selected it can be easily reproduced in the catalogue. The specifications for the poster's digital archive are the following: created archives with graphic design software TIFF or EPS format, A4 or letter size, including its images with a minimum resolution of 300 dpi; convert the typographic fonts in vectors or if you prefer send the fonts used in the archive.

In categories A, B, and C (published poster), two copies must be sent compulsorily. The author has the option to present extra copies, as his contribution to the financing of the Biennial. The auction of donated posters will be held during the Opening Ceremony and the funds will be used in the financing of the following edition of the Biennial.

The information in the entry form must be typed or sent by e-mail.

The entry forms must be enclosed in a sealed envelope along with the posters. A copy of the entry card must be fixed with adhesive tape (not glue) to the lower-right corner on the reverse of each poster.

In order to guarantee good reproduction quality,

damaged posters will not be accepted, so we suggest to package the posters carefully.

The organizing committee is authorized to publish submitted works in the Biennial's catalogue, promotional material and other electronic means of information, giving full credit to the authors.

Each selected participant will receive a 30% rebate in the purchase of conmemorative material, posters and catalogues.

All submitted posters will become property of the Trama Visual AC Archive.

The organizing committee has the right to reject posters considered culturally or morally offensive to any country, as well as those which fail to fuIfill the contest rules.

Posters designed by members of the selection comittee won't be able to win any prize. Such works will be able to be selected though.

Awards

Each category will have three prizes:

First prize, $ 3,500 USD, gold medal and diploma

Second prize, Silver Medal and diploma

Third prize, Bronze Medal and diploma

The International Jury, composed by distinguished graphic designers, will also grant the Excellence José Guadalupe Posada Gold Medal, to the best participant or country in the contest with a great professional path and international recognition in the field of poster design.

The selected participants will receive a certificate of participation.

The winners will be invited to present a collective exhibit of their work on posters in the program of the next Biennial.

Shipment

Posters and Books must be sent with a non-commercial value statement, to the following address:

TRAMA VISUAL, AC

Apartado Postal No. 7-900

México 06700 D.F.

MEXICO

For further information, contact the Biennial's office:

Álvaro Obregón 73, col. Roma, México, D.F., 06700

Tel. (52 5)   514 81 37 Fax (52 5) 525 42 65

http://www.bienalcartel.org.mx