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Published on March 29, 2008

This year saw 453 entries, up from 304 last year, in the Cyber Lotus category covering websites, viral marketing, blogs and banners that allow interactive communication.

Vinit Suraphongchai, Adfest's founder and permanent chairman, said yesterday the digital trend of new media channels playing a bigger role than television channels in the advertising industry throughout Asia-Pacific had actually started three years ago.

Advertising competitions worldwide have seen an increase in entries in the new-media category and that would continue for many years to come, he said.

Overall, entries for Adfest this year rose only 3 per cent to 5,148 - lower than the usual increase of 10-15 per cent - as the economy continues to be sluggish from last year, he said. The delegate turnout also increased at the same rate to 1,457, coming from 70 cities throughout the region.

Ad agencies from Bombay entered the highest number of works at 771, followed by Tokyo with 639 and Bangkok with 638. The winners will be announced today.

Stefan Sagmeister, executive creative director of Sagmeister from New York and jury president for the print craft and design categories, said his members saw less overproduced works this year. Most of the examples had more reasonable execution. They also showed impressive skill in using Photo Shop.

Nitida Asawanipont

The Nation

Pattaya