What is InShow
The AIGA InShow, a statewide design competition in South Carolina, has built a reputation of being a tough competition and one that designers are eager to have their work selected for. The history is now a fifteen-year tale, which began in 1995 with a simple concept of wanting to create an awards show for “designers.”
Prior to the founding of AIGA South Carolina in 2004, the Columbia Communicating Arts Society (CCAS), an independent organization providing programming for designers, photographers and other creative professionals in Columbia, created the “InShow.”
The competition was designed to be the “Anti-Addy's,” meaning that instead of having a huge category structure with many tiers and multiple awards, InShow’s concept was a simple one: You’re either “In” or your “Out.” (Long before Heidi Klum and Project Runway adopted it!).
The entries, due in late September, now include four broad categories: Print, Interactive, Broadcast and Student.
Entry drop-off locations are set up in Columbia, Charleston and Greenville to make it easy for designers to submit their work.
Once submitted, work is divided up by category and three judges from outside of the South Carolina market decide their fate by judging it either “In” or “Out.” Judges are not given quotas, or rigid judging requirements, so the show totals and types of entries vary from year to year.
At a Gala, held in November, winners are presented with the famous “InShow Cube,” a tradition started some years back, of the trophies resembling a cube made from different materials. Special Judges Awards are also presented at the gala, as well as, the “Best of Show” award “the Howie,” named for famed Columbia Creative, Howard Hellams.