ICMA Honors Card Design and Innovation (July 2013)

The International Card Manufacturers Association (ICMA) continues to honor innovators in card manufacturing through its Élan Awards for Card Manufacturing Excellence, and many prepaid programs were recognized as finalists and winners this year. The awards were presented last month during the association’s Annual Card Manufacturing and Personalization EXPO in Washington, D.C.

“The graphics on many of the winning cards were stunning,” says Bill Crawford, ICMA Élan judge and technical director at Klöckner Pentaplast of America. “With the correct balance of opaque and translucent inks across ‘full face foil’ print stock, art departments are able to create moving swooshes and graphics that seem to blink as if internally powered. A static photograph of these cards does not do them justice. The cards must be held in your hand and moved slightly to visualize the effect intended,” he says. Crawford also notes that cards with a colored edge continue to create interest for the user.

Plastic Innovation in a Virtual/Mobile World

In the midst of the virtual/mobile wallet buzz, Crawford notes that plastic is still relevant and manufacturers continue to find ways to help their clients make bold brand statements. “Our group of manufacturers seems to believe a plastic card will continue to be issued even with accounts that are rolling out NFC programs. These extreme graphics and bling effects will be difficult to reproduce on your smartphone screen, so pulling a card from your wallet or purse to make a transaction will exist for a while longer,” he predicts.

David Tushie, ICMA standards and technical representative and another Élan judge, adds, “For payment cards currently both Visa and MasterCard require that a companion card be issued for every NFC payment application loaded on a smartphone. Additionally, the need for a ‘backup’ solution will continue for a long time while powered devices like smartphones prove they have the reliable functioning and connectivity that physical cards have exhibited for decades now.”  

Based upon nine unique judging criteria, an independent panel of card industry experts recognized one winner and two finalists in each award category. Awards are presented to both winning manufacturers and their card customers.

A sampling of the 2013 finalists and winners (see full list below):

Best Gift Card Finalist: CPI Card Group  For the Small Animal Multi Card Manufactured for CSVS/Petsmart	Best Gift Card Finalist: Production Services Associates (PSA) For the Sketched Flowers Card Manufactured for SVS-Target	Best Gift Card  Winner: Production Services Associates (PSA) For the Holiday Village Card Manufactured for Mills Fleet Farm
Best Personalization and Fulfillment New Product, Service or Project Winner: CPI Card Group  For the process that created the ION Visa Debit Card	Judges’ Choice, People’s Choice & Best Unique Innovation  Winner: CompoSecure, LLC   For the JPMorgan Chase Palladium Card Manufactured for JPMorgan Chase	Best Financial Card  Winner: CPI Card Group  For the Discover it Card Manufactured for Discover Card People’s Choice Finalist
Best Government Identification Card  Winner: Arroweye Solutions  For the City of Oakland Municipal ID/Prepaid Card Manufactured for City of Oakland, California   Best Personalization and Fulfillment New Product, Service or Project Finalist: Arroweye Solutions  For the process that created the  City of Oakland Municipal ID/Prepaid Card	Best Government Identification Card  Finalist: ABnote North America  For the Nicaragua Social Security Card Manufactured for ABM de Costa Rica	People’s Choice Finalist: Giesecke & Devrient America, Inc. For the JPMorgan Chase Liquid Card Manufactured for JPMorgan Chase
Best Transportation Card Winner: Smartstripe Marketing Pte Ltd. For the Wonders of Marina Bay Sands Limited Edition EZ-Link Card Manufactured for Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

Complete List of Finalists and Winners

Best Supplier/Vendor New Product, Service or Innovation
Bayer MaterialScience AG
For their Makrofol ID Superlaser Film 

Best Personalization and Fulfillment New Product, Service or Project
Finalist: Arroweye Solutions 
For the process that created the City of Oakland Municipal ID/Prepaid Card

Winner: CPI Card Group 
For the process that created the ION Visa Debit Card

Best Financial Card
Finalist: Goldpac Secur-Card Ltd.
For the Citibank PremierMiles Card
Manufactured for Citibank

Finalist: CompoSecure, LLC
For the JPMorgan Chase Marriott Rewards Card
Manufactured for JPMorgan Chase

Winner: CPI Card Group 
For the Discover it Card
Manufactured for Discover Card

Best Gift Card
Finalist: Production Services Associates (PSA)
For the Sketched Flowers Card
Manufactured for SVS-Target  

Finalist: CPI Card Group 
For the Small Animal Multi Card
Manufactured for CSVS/Petsmart                                   

Winner: Production Services Associates (PSA)
For the Holiday Village Card  
Manufactured for Mills Fleet Farm

Best Retail/Gas Card

Finalist: VALID USA-NJ
For the Saks Fifth Avenue Saks First Diamond Card
Manufactured for Saks Fifth Avenue

Finalist: VALID USA-NJ
For the Lands’ End Happy Holidays Card
Manufactured for Lands’ End

Winner: Giesecke & Devrient America, Inc.
For the JPMorgan Chase BP Card
Manufactured for JPMorgan Chase/BP

Best Government Identification Card

Finalist: ABnote North America  
For the Nicaragua Social Security Card
Manufactured for ABM de Costa Rica

Winner: Arroweye Solutions 
For the City of Oakland Municipal ID/Prepaid Card
Manufactured for City of Oakland, California

Best Loyalty & Promotional Card
Finalist: Smartstripe Marketing Pte Ltd
For the Marina Bay Sands Paiza Diamond Membership Card
Manufactured for Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

Finalist: Signature Card
For the Alana Jewelry Card
Manufactured for Swipe It Technologies

Winner: Smartstripe Marketing Pte Ltd
For the Genting Club Card
Manufactured for Resorts World Singapore

Best Unique Innovation

Finalist: VALID USA-NJ
For the First Citizens Visa Infinite Card
Manufactured for First Citizens Bank Limited

Finalist: Bristol ID Technologies
For the Venture Express Business Card
Manufactured for PIP Printing/Dynamark

Winner: CompoSecure LLC 
For the JPMorgan Chase Palladium Card
Manufactured for JPMorgan Chase

Judges’ Choice

Finalist: Smartstripe Marketing Pte Ltd
For the Genting Club Card
Manufactured for Resorts World Singapore

Finalist: Giesecke & Devrient America, Inc.
For the JPMorgan Chase BP Card
Manufactured for JPMorgan Chase/BP

Winner: CompoSecure, LLC
For the JPMorgan Chase Palladium Card
Manufactured for JPMorgan Chase

People’s Choice

Finalist: Giesecke & Devrient America, Inc.  
For the JPMorgan Chase Liquid Card
Manufactured for JPMorgan Chase

Finalist: CPI Card Group 
For the Discover it Card
Manufactured for Discover Card

Winner: CompoSecure, LLC  
For the JPMorgan Chase Palladium Card
Manufactured for JPMorgan Chase

Best Transportation Card

Finalist: Huangshi G&D Wanda Security Card Ltd.
For the Year of the Snake Crystal Card
Manufactured for Beijing Municipal Administration & Communications Card Co., Ltd.

Winner: Smartstripe Marketing Pte Ltd.
For the Wonders of Marina Bay Sands Limited Edition EZ-Link Card
Manufactured for Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

Best Access Control/ID Card
Finalist: Signature Card
For the University Club Card
Manufactured for GESI Hospitality

Finalist: Signature Card
For the Super Bowl XLVII ESPN VIP Credential Card
Manufactured for Bright Spot Creative, LLC

Winner: Bristol ID Technologies
For the Little League World Series 2013 VIP Credential Card
Manufactured for Lenel