IAA, Dentsu Inc launch global student poster competition

The International Advertising Association (IAA) has launched an annual student poster competition based on the theme of climate change. The student teams will have to design a poster urging individual action on climate change.

The competition is being launched in support of the United Nations action on climate change, and is made possible by a donation from Dentsu Inc., according to an official release. The entries are invited from students studying advertising and marketing communications and design courses. The application forms and submission procedures will be available on IAA's website www.iaaglobal.org .

The competition is based on regional judging (Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, Middle East & Africa and US/Canada). A shortlist of regional winners will then proceed to the global judging stage with a global winner announced in May 2009. The awards ceremony will be held in June 2009. The judging for regional and global stages will be conducted by a jury of senior creative officers and advertising experts, chaired by Marcio Moreira - vice chairman, chief talent officer, global HR director, McCann Worldgroup.

"The brief to the student teams is simple yet challenging – the posters need to raise awareness of the impact of climate change, especially among peer groups and most importantly, motivate people to take action by bringing conservation-friendly initiatives into their lives and workplaces," said Indra Abidin, chairman and world president, IAA.

"Dentsu takes the responsibility theme very seriously, and is keen to be involved in projects such as these. We have had a long relationship with the IAA and are looking forward to contributing in our own way to the growth of responsible global society," said Tateo Mataki, chairman and CEO, Dentsu Inc.