This year’s judges spent the first morning of the London Stationery Show reviewing some 400 entries covering 11 product categories, plus a new category for ’Good Design’ and their own ’Judges’ Choice’.
Judging panel chair, Henri Davis - independent retail consultant and chair of the Giftware Association - commented, “We have really enjoyed seeing such an interesting cross section of new products being entered and from such a variety of new and established suppliers.
“The judges commented that seeing the products in a judging environment helped them identify products and suppliers to go and talk to that they wouldn’t normally visit – surely having this opportunity to be seen by these buyers and to be showcased at the front of the show is enough of a reason to enter next year.”
The judging panel were: Jo Irons of Bureau Direct, Sidonie Warren, founder at Papersmiths, Simon and Amanda Walker of Cult Pens and Lucy Wilson of Waterstones.
The details of the category winners and commended products are below:
Filing
Joint Winners: Tied by the Flatty Wallet and Compack (document holder) – both from JPT Europe
Commended:
Mini Moderns document wallet – from Portico Designs
Social Stationery
Winner: Green in Bloom Notecards – from Laura Stoddart Ltd
Commended:
Decoupage Card Kit Freshly Cut Flowers – from West Design Products Ltd
Fawn Boxed notecards – from Portico Designs
Everyday Writing
Winner: Construction Liliput pen by Troika - from Lime Stationery & Art
Commended:
The Clarity Fountain Pen – from Manuscript Pens
The Faber-Castell Grip Fountain Pen 2010 - from Stone Marketing
Novelty
Winner: Calendar Stickers – from Carpe Diem
Commended:
Teeny Weeny Tape from Legami – Lime Stationery & Art
Cactus Paper Clip by Alice Scott – from Portico Designs
Sloth Sticky Notes – from West Design Ltd
Vajournal – from Thames & Hudson
Gift Packaging & Wrap
Winner: Hand tie-dyed gift wrap - from Paper Mirchi
Commended:
When Puffins Go Shopping gift wrap book by I like Birds – from Quadrille/Hardie Grant
Christmas Wrap - Holly and Mistletoe – from Laura Stoddart Ltd
Licensed
Winner: Christian Lacroix New York A5 Notebook – from Abrams & Chronicle
Commended:
Lulu Guinness stickers and labels – from Quadrille/Hardie Grant
Diaries, Organisers and Calendars
Winner: New Octagon Collection - from Octagon Design (LaunchPad Winner)
Commended:
Legami Star Diary – from Lime Stationery & Art
Palm Springs Desk Pad – from Ohh Deer
Birthday Calendar – from Laura Stoddart Ltd
It’s a Sloth’s Life organiser – from West Design Products Ltd
Writing Instruments (over £25)
Winner: LAMY aion – from LAMY
Commended:
Caran D’Ache 849 Nespresso Ballpoint Pen – from Stone Marketing Ltd
Construction Spectrum – from Lime Stationery & Art
Notebooks
Winner: Troika Lilipad and Liliput – from Lime Stationery & Art
Commended:
Back Pocket Notebooks – from Back Pocket Notebooks
The Celestial Journal – from Peter Pauper Press
Casanova-Fenice- Vivaldi – Gruppo Padovana srl
Desk Accessories
Winner: The Never-Ending Notebook – from Abrams & Chronicle
Commended:
Max 10-NL compact stapler – from Lime Stationery & Art
Original Crown Mill Keyboard Notepad – from Lime Stationery & Art
Arts & Crafts
Winner: Colour Happy Big Box – from edding UK Ltd
Commended:
Tombow Beginners Hand Lettering Set – from Stone Marketing
Faber-Castell Starter Hand Lettering Set – from West Design
Artline Supreme Brush Marker – from Shachihata Europe Ltd
Deluxe Modern Calligraphy Set – from Manuscript Pen
Good Design
Winner: Back Pocket Notebooks – from Back Pocket
Judges’ Choice
Joint Winners:
The Lilipad & Liliput – from Lime Stationery & Art
The Octagon Collection – from Octagon Design
Judge’s comments:
Sidonie Warren of Papersmiths said about Good Design Winner Back Pocket:
“Rob’s intricate and punchy typography coupled with GF Smith’s innovative Extract paper make this my top design find at the show.”
General comments about the Judge’s Choice Awards:
’Lilipad - a great pen and multi-tool. The perfect size, perforated and great paper…’
’Octagon Design - the new collection offers undated planners to use as you wish. They lay flat which is an absolute must for a planner. Punchy orange brightens up your day, or shop window!’