As an Austin based creative director and designer, I'm continually inspired by our local design and film communities. But in 2008, while serving on the board of the AIGA Austin, it occurred to me that the film and design worlds don't cross pollinate often enough. Sure, I knew some designers that created film posters for their independent filmmaker friends, but would then see their posters fighting for attention at film festivals. Something about that didn't sit well with me. It seemed that since a festival celebrates independent film, it could easily celebrate the posters that communicate a film's essence. Simply by curating the SXSW film posters in a gallery setting, we could celebrate the collaboration of filmmaker and designer as well as give festival goers a great place to explore the SXSW accepted films. Fortunately, when I approached the SXSW Film team with the idea, they immediately saw the potential and told me to make it happen. It was a huge success.

I think my vision for the competition would be to continue finding ways of celebrating the collaboration between filmmaker and designer. At some point we may add new title design categories, film, TV, student, conference, etc. But, that will depend entirely on what filmmakers and designers decide to enter. It's important that we allow the body of work and the quality of work to help guide us in that regard.

I think another natural step might be to start looking at the collaboration between filmmakers and interactive designers or game designers. I love the idea of tapping into the SXSW Interactive audience and feel like this could be an exciting way to do so.

My hope for the SXSW Film Design Awards is that they become one of the most prestigious awards within the film and design community. But my ultimate hope is that the competition serves as an inspiration to all filmmakers and designers to continue pushing themselves creatively.

Both categories have their own process. Since all posters are from accepted SXSW films, we simply curate the gallery and then invite the judges in to vote on the winners. Each juror gives every poster a score on their ballot sheet and then all the ballots are tallied. The top 10 become finalists and then the jurors deliberate to pick the winner out of the top 10. The jury is comprised of both film and design professionals. There is also an audience award that is voted upon by festival attendees.

The title sequence category is an open category. We receive entrants from all over the world. The SXSW film team selects the finalists and then these finalists are screened for the jury panel. Each juror selects their favorites and then tally the votes and deliberate immediately after the screening. The audience members in attendance at the screening vote for the audience award.

Every year am continually surprised by the creativity and ingenuity of filmmakers and designers. So, is it a surprise if I expect it to happen? Mostly, I'm a sucker for simple concepts brilliantly executed. But any bold or ambitious creative gesture is by nature a surprise. And I see lots of them every year.

The ideas and the energy. I've never seen anything like it. Everywhere I turn, I'm inspired. I can't believe how lucky I am to live in the same city where SXSW takes place every year. But most of all I look forward to working with the SXSW Film team. They are a small group that puts together an incredible event. It's very inspiring to play even a small role of their festival.

I would not have been able to pull off my portion of the SXSW Film Design Awards without the help and support of AIGA Austin. They have been immensely supportive to the vision of this competition since its inception. The simple act of curating the poster exhibition is a massive task that takes at least a dozen volunteers. Ideas are easy. Execution is hard. The SXSW Film Design Awards is where it is today because of the help and support of AIGA Austin. Last year, after seeing our poster gallery, a film blogger tweeted how awesome it was and he wondered why every festival doesn't do it. I can tell you why. Because it's SXSW Film and AIGA Austin that are making it happen.