PIM Star Awards
Printing Industry Midwest (PIM) Star Awards is a prestigious program that honors excellence across every aspect of the graphic communications supply chain from innovative content creation to flawless print production and beyond. Whether you are looking to showcase your company’s finest printed work or recognize a standout team member, the Star Awards are your opportunity to shine. This is more than an awards program, it is a platform to tell your story, honor craftsmanship, and inspire excellence.
PIM proudly welcomed 270 industry professionals to the 2026 Star Awards Banquet on June 18, 2026, recognizing the exceptional talent, innovation, and leadership shaping the future of print. The event provides valuable opportunities for networking, collaboration, and recognition among peers and industry partners. Review 2026 awards winners and event details
BENEFITS OF WINNING
Winning a Printing Industry Midwest (PIM) Star Award offers more than just a trophy, it is a strategic opportunity to elevate your brand, recognize your team, and grow your business. Here is what you gain:
- Industry Recognition: Increase your company’s visibility and credibility across the Midwest printing and graphic communications industry.
- Media Exposure: A press release announcing all winners will be distributed to leading trade publications. Putting your name in front of key decision-makers.
- Exclusive Branding Rights: Winners receive exclusive use of the official Star Awards winner logo for websites, email signatures, social media, and promotional materials.
- Client & Partner Engagement: Present a personalized award to your customers or project collaborators to showcase the success of your joint efforts. A powerful relationship-building tool.
- Feature in PIM Publications: Gain additional exposure in PIM’s printed newsletter, The Loupe, and the annual Print Buyers Guide & Membership Directory.
- Free Entry to National Competition: All Best of Category winners are automatically entered — at no cost to you — into the Americas Print Awards, a prestigious national competition. Entry fees are covered by PIM.
GET READY FOR 2027
The countdown to PIM’s 2027 Star Awards has begun! Do not wait until the deadline, start collecting your standout pieces and nominations now! This is more than an awards program, it is a platform to tell your story, honor craftsmanship, and inspire excellence. Here are two tips to help you…
1) Select a “Star Awards Coordinator”
Throughout the year this person will collect your flawless printed pieces and collecting information for people to nominate. This person should not be required to find all your entries and nominations on their own. Involve everyone at your company so be involve to find your stars!
2) Start a “Star Awards Box”
This box can hold your projects and testimonials for employee nominations. When it comes time to enter in the winter, you will have everything you need in one spot. Remember you can send in your entries before the deadline.
2026 Call for Entries is closed. Get ready for next year, 2027 Entries will open fall 2026. 2026 forms are below for information only, new 2027 forms will be posted in the fall.
HOW TO ENTER FOR…
SUBMIT PRINTED PIECES
1. SELECT YOUR BEST PIECE(S): Select your best piece(s) to enter that you produced between January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026. You will need to send in two (unmounted) samples for each category you wish to enter. PIM will not return your submissions after the competition is complete. Remember to enter your pieces honestly. Only enter a piece under a category, if you did the work and had a direct role in the production of the printed piece(s) entered.
2. REVIEW CATEGORY LIST: Next, review the Category List for descriptions about where your projects will fit. One entry can be submitted into multiple categories.
*New 2027 forms will be posted in the fall 2026*
3. COMPLETE ONLINE MASTER FORM: Complete one online Master Entry form for all submissions entered. One form per company. The way you list your “Company Name” and “Entry Title” must match the Item Entry forms and ID tags that you print off (step 4).
*New 2027 forms will be posted in the fall 2026*
4. PRINT & FILL OUT: Review the rules and program details. Next, print out the Item Entry form (page 4) and ID Tags (page 5).
*New 2027 forms will be posted in the fall 2026*
5. MAIL: Mail completed forms (Item Entry Form & ID Tag) and your entries to PIM’s Office (8011 34th Avenue S. Suite 150, Bloomington, MN 55425) by the due date.
6. JUDGING: In February, a team of industry experts will review all entries. An entry is judged first on technical expertise and quality of printing; next on design features and overall graphic appeal. Entries with visible technical flaws will be disqualified from the judging process. Please check your samples carefully. Judges will not know which company submitted the entry (except in the case of self-promotion category).
7. RESULTS: PIM will reach out with the results in March. You will be able to order duplicate or custom awards at this time. All awards and the Best of Show winner will announced at banquet. Promote and announce your wins in February or wait until after the banquet to announce or do both.
7. CELEBRATE: PIM’s Star Awards Banquet will be held in June at the JW Marriott Minneapolis Mall of America, Bloomington, MN. We encourage everyone to attend the banquet to celebrate.
2026 Call for Entries is closed. Get ready for next year, 2027 Entries will open fall 2026. 2026 forms are below for information only, new 2027 forms will be posted in the fall.
HOW TO ENTER FOR…
NOMINATE CO-WORKERS
1. REVIEW THE FORMS: There are nine different awards you can nominate co-workers for awards. Review the nomination process, click here. Next, click the below links to fill out the nomination forms. *New 2027 forms will be posted in the fall 2026*
- Creative Professional
- Customer Service Representative (CSR)
- Financial Professional
- Human Resource (HR) Professional
- Manager
- Production Professional
- Team
- Young Professional
2. FORMS: PIM is only accepting online nomination forms. No paper base or email forms will be accepted.
It is free to nominate co-works and there is no limit to how many people you can nominate.
Collect testimonials or supporting documents that help demonstrate why your employee is award-winning.
3. FILL OUT & SUBMIT: Complete the online forms by answering each question. There is a “SAVE AND RESUME LATER” button at the bottom of each form. By clicking this, your form will be saved for 30 days and a unique link will be created for you to access and resume working your form.
Please complete the online form(s) by the due date.
3. JUDGING: In February, a committee will review all nominations.
4. RESULTS: PIM will reach out to the nominator with the results in March. Please do not tell the nominee if they won. The identity of the winner will remain a secret until the Star Awards Banquet. All nominations will be recognized and the winners will be announced at banquet. Winners will receive a framed certificate and everyone else will receive a certificate in a folder.
5. CELEBRATE: PIM’s Star Awards Banquet will be held in June at the JW Marriott Minneapolis Mall of America, Bloomington, MN. We encourage everyone to attend the banquet to celebrate. It is an honor to be nominated!
