Editorial
Lookin ' forward to hittin ' the road for fall events Filomena Tamburri
Trade shows provide great learning opportunities and much fun
It ’ s been a long , hot , quiet summer , not that I ’ m complaining . News announcements have slowed to a trickle . Emails have dwindled , and I ’ m all caught up cleaning out my inbox . It ’ s all been a welcome respite because the fall is about to get super busy again with trade shows and conferences . I hope I ’ ll see many of you as I walk the exhibit halls in Chicago , Las Vegas , and right here at home in Toronto .
Going to these events and shows has long been a favourite part of my job . While there are various ways of learning about what ’ s going on in this industry , having it all come together under one roof with thousands of people just helps to crystallize many trends and concepts being talked about . Plus , it ’ s a great way to get caught up with friends .
First up on the schedule is Sign Expo Canada , September 21 and 22 at the International Centre in Toronto . It ’ s the only national graphic arts show in Canada this fall , and if you ’ re at all interested in exploring the complex and fascinating world of signage in all its guises , this is the place to be .
All the leading manufacturers will be there showing off their newest wares . Receptions and a golf tournament will round out the fun . Contests and competitions will feature some of the best sign creations in this country , and this year the organizers are featuring a special screening of the web documentary The Signmakers of Montreal ( Les Enseignistes de Montréal ), about the people and techniques behind the over-sized words and images in urban spaces across the world , with a special focus on Montreal and its experienced signmakers , a selftaught sign painter , and two sign collectors .
Our next stop is the newly renamed PRINT show at McCormick Centre in Chicago , one of my favourite US cities . Formerly called Graph Expo , this is the largest event aimed largely at commercial printers , but with an expanding outreach to other segments . A big attraction this year , beside the exhibitors , the technology , the seminars , and the Chicago blues clubs , is a keynote address by marketing guru Seth Godin .
I ’ m particularly looking forward to this presentation and hearing insights from one of the most high-profile marketing voices around . To get in the mood and get a flavour for Godin you might want to check out his blog , simply called Seth ’ s blog . Also check out the Red Hot Technology Recognition program — the key technologies you have to take in during the show as chosen by an industry panel — and special tours that focus on various themes .
The last stop of the fall tour for me is SGIA Expo in Vegas , baby . The city does not rank terribly high on my list of great places to see more than once , but as most of us will be staring at the approaching winter by mid-October , a few days of heat is no bad thing . And Vegas does have some pretty nice restaurants and great visiting performers , so you could get lucky and spend the evening with Elton John . If you ’ re prepared to part with at least a week ’ s pay .
The expo itself is huge , with exhibitors and technology that will image on just about anything . Last year , fabric printing visually dominated the exhibit hall . If you want to explore the boundaries of what printing can be , this is the show for you . You ’ ll also find dozens of seminars , several printing competitions , and a few parties scattered around the Vegas strip .
For those of you who keep up with trade show developments , this is the last outing for SGIA in its current incarnation . Next year , the event will rebrand as Printing United and move to Dallas , after SGIA struck a deal with NAPCO , the US-based publishers of Printing Impressions , to create a giant event that will cater to the entire breadth of the graphic arts industry . All eyes will turn toward Texas to see how that plays out .
Enjoy the last days of summer . Get your comfy shoes ready and see you on the floor .
Filomena Tamburri is editor-in-chief of Graphic Arts Magazine . She can be reached at filomena @ graphicartsmag . com
6 | September 2018 | GRAPHIC ARTS MAGAZINE graphicartsmag . com