Official WBC Competition Judging Standards
Large & Medium Sculptures
The Large and Medium Balloon Sculpture entries will be judged in the seven categories listed below. Each category will have equal weight with criteria as follows:
1. Principles & Elements of Design: Does the piece illustrate effective use of color, harmony, balance, etc.? Are all design elements in sync?
2. Proportion & Scale: Is each component of the design in proportion to all other components relative to the overall design concept?
3. Construction & Mechanics: Are the framework and all design components durable and stable? Do motion, lights, illusions, etc. work correctly? Do all design components have a professional finish and appearance?
4. Originality & Uniqueness: Does the design convey a sense of freshness, newness of style, or a concept created along new or unconventional lines? Creative expression is not necessarily practical or easily reproduced.
5. Overall Visual & Artistic Composition: Does the piece elicit a positive response and provide artistic appeal? Does it follow the theme, if applicable?
6. Attention to Detail: Are all mechanics hidden?
7. Adherence to All Rules, Regulations, & Guidelines: This includes time deadlines for construction of entries, completion of Entry Forms and Job Cost Forms, preconstruction guidelines, dimension restrictions, etc. (This category will be evaluated by the WBC Competition Officials, not the Official WBC Competition Judges.)
Balloon Fashion back to top
The Balloon Fashion entries will be judged in the seven categories listed below. Each category will have equal weight with criteria as follows:
1. Principles & Elements of Design: Does the piece illustrate effective use of color, harmony, balance, etc.? Are all design elements in sync?
2. Proportion & Scale: Is each component of the design in proportion to all other components relative to the overall design concept?
3. Construction & Mechanics: Are the framework and all design components durable and stable? Do motion, lights, illusions, etc. work correctly? Do all design components have a professional finish and appearance?
4. Originality & Uniqueness: Does the design convey a sense of freshness, newness of style, or a concept created along new or unconventional lines? Creative expression is not necessarily practical or easily reproduced.
5. Overall Visual and Artistic Composition: Does the piece elicit a positive response and provide artistic appeal? Does it follow the theme, if applicable?
6. Balloon Manipulation Skills: Was a high degree of difficulty used in the creation of the piece? How precise were the techniques used?
7. Adherence to All Rules, Regulations, & Guidelines: This includes time deadlines for construction of entries, completion of Entry Forms and Job Cost Forms, preconstruction guidelines, dimension restrictions, etc. (This category will be evaluated by the WBC Competition Officials, not the Official WBC Competition Judges.)
Deliverable Sculpture back to top
The Deliverable Sculpture entries will be judged in the nine categories listed below. Each category will have equal weight with criteria as follows:
1. Unity & Harmony: Do all elements seem to belong together, resulting in a single statement or effect? Does each element complement and coordinate with the others in shape, color, texture, etc.?
2. Proportion: Is each element in proportion to all other elements and to the piece as a whole?
3. Clarity of Sentiment: Does the sculpture clearly state the sentiment so that it is immediately apparent what the occasion is?
4. Visual Impact: Does the sculpture have strong visual impact so it demands attention when it’s brought into a room?
5. Ability to be Transported: Is the design easy to transport and present to the recipient?
6. Mechanics: Is the design stable and durable? Are all mechanics hidden? Is there attention to detail? Does the work meet professional standards? Do hand-drawn and hand-lettered elements have a professional finish and appearance?
7. Overall Composition and Principles & Elements of Design: Does the sculpture elicit a positive response? Was it constructed with a strong sense of design?
8. Originality & Uniqueness: Does the design convey a sense of freshness or a concept created along new or unconventional lines?
9. Adherence to All Rules, Regulations, & Guidelines: This includes time deadlines for construction, completion of Entry Forms/Job Cost Forms, preconstruction guidelines, dimension restrictions, etc. (This category will be evaluated by the WBC Competition Officials, not the Official WBC Competition Judges.)
Table Arrangement back to top
The Table Arrangement entries will be judged in the nine categories listed below. Each category will have equal weight with criteria as follows:
1. Unity & Harmony: Do all elements seem to belong together, resulting in a single statement or effect? Does each element complement the others in color, shape, texture, etc.?
2. Proportion & Scale: Is each element in proportion to all other elements and to the piece as a whole?
3. Balance: Is there visual and physical stability in the arrangement?
4. Rhythm & Line: Do the elements and framework create motion, leading the eye through the piece?
5. Space: Is space utilized to allow each element to stand apart? Are there any visual holes?
6. Mechanics: Is the arrangement stable and durable? Are all mechanics hidden? Is there attention to detail? Do hand-drawn and hand-lettered elements have a professional finish and appearance?
7. Overall Composition: Does the piece elicit a positive response? Does it follow the theme?
8. Originality & Uniqueness: Does the design convey a sense of freshness or a concept created along new or unconventional lines?
9. Adherence to All Rules, Regulations, & Guidelines: This includes time deadlines for construction, completion of Entry Forms/Job Cost Forms, preconstruction guidelines, dimension restrictions, etc. (This category will be evaluated by the WBC Competition Officials, not the Official WBC Competition Judges.)
Delivery Bouquet back to top
The Delivery Bouquet entries will be judged in the nine categories listed below. Each category will have equal weight with criteria as follows:
1. Unity & Harmony: Do all elements seem to belong together, resulting in a single statement or effect? Does each element complement and coordinate with the others in shape, color, texture, etc.?
2. Proportion: Is each element in proportion to all other elements and to the piece as a whole?
3. Clarity of Sentiment: Does the bouquet clearly state the sentiment so that it is immediately apparent what the occasion is?
4. Visual Impact: Does the bouquet have strong visual impact so it demands attention when it’s brought into a room?
5. Ability to be Transported: Is the design easy to transport and present to the recipient?
6. Mechanics: Is the design stable and durable? Are all mechanics hidden? Is there attention to detail? Does the work meet professional standards?
7. Overall Composition & Principles & Elements of Design: Does the bouquet elicit a positive response? Was it constructed with a strong sense of design? Does it follow the theme?
8. Originality & Uniqueness: Does the piece convey a sense of freshness or a concept created along new or unconventional lines?
9. Adherence to All Rules, Regulations, & Guidelines: This includes time deadlines for construction, completion of Entry Forms/Job Cost Forms, preconstruction guidelines, dimension restrictions, etc. (This category will be evaluated by the WBC Competition Officials, not the Official WBC Competition Judges.)
Balloon Column back to top
The Balloon Column entries will be judged in the nine categories listed below. Each category will have equal weight with criteria as follows:
1. Unity & Harmony: Do all elements seem to belong together, resulting in a single statement or effect? Does each element complement and coordinate with the others in shape, color, texture, etc.?
2. Principles & Elements of Design: Does the piece illustrate effective use of color, harmony, balance, etc.? Are all design elements in sync?
3. Proportion: Is each component of the design in proportion to all other components relative to the overall design concept?
4. Visual Impact: Does the Column have strong visual impact so it demands attention?
5. Rhythm & Line: Do the elements and framework create motion, leading the eye through the piece?
6. Construction & Mechanics: Are the framework and all design components durable and stable? Do motion, lights, illusions, etc. work correctly? If illusions are involved, viewers should be moved to ask, “How did they do that?”
7. Originality & Uniqueness: Does the design convey a sense of freshness, newness of style, or a concept created along new or unconventional lines? Creative expression is not necessarily practical or easily reproduced.
8. Overall Visual Appeal: Does the Column convey a pleasant and eye-catching design?
9. Adherence to All Rules, Regulations, & Guidelines: This includes time deadlines for construction of entries, completion of Entry Forms and Job Cost Forms, preconstruction guidelines, dimension restrictions, etc. (This category will be evaluated by the WBC Competition Officials, not the Official WBC Competition Judges.)
Balloon Hat back to top
The Balloon Hat entries will be judged in the five categories listed below. Each category will have equal weight with criteria as follows:
1. Construction & Mechanics: Are the framework and all design components durable and stable? Do motion, lights, illusions, etc. work correctly? Do all design components have a professional finish and appearance?
2. Originality & Creativity: Does the hat convey a sense of freshness or newness of style? Was it created with a new technique?
3. Balloon Manipulation Skills: Was a high degree of difficulty used in the creation of the piece? How precise were the techniques used?
4. Overall Visual and Artistic Composition: Does the piece elicit a positive response and provide artistic appeal?
5. Adherence to All Rules, Regulations, & Guidelines: This includes time deadlines for construction of entries, completion of Entry Forms and Job Cost Forms, preconstruction guidelines, dimension restrictions, etc. (This category will be evaluated by the WBC Competition Officials, not the Official WBC Competition Judges.)
Balloon Figure back to top
The Balloon Figure entries will be judged in the five categories listed below. Each category will have equal weight with criteria as follows:
1. Originality & Creativity: Does the figure convey a sense of freshness or newness of style? Was it created with a new technique?
2. Mechanics: Is the figure stable and durable—will it withstand normal handling? Are all mechanics hidden? Do hand-drawn and hand-lettered elements have a professional finish and appearance?
3. Quality of Likeness: If the figure is supposed to be Santa Claus, does it look like Santa?
4. Balloon Manipulation Skills: Was a high degree of difficulty used in the creation of the piece? How precise were the techniques used?
5. Adherence to All Rules, Regulations, & Guidelines: This includes time deadlines for construction, completion of Entry Forms, preconstruction guidelines, etc. (This category will be evaluated by the WBC Competition Officials, not the Official WBC Competition Judges.)
Terms & Conditions
1. Applicants, upon acceptance of their entry by the WBC, become WBC 2012 competitors.
2. If a competitor is disqualified because of his/her failure to follow the rules, regulations, terms, or conditions, the competitor shall not be entitled to a refund of the entry fee. Their rights to display shall be forfeited immediately; however, it is at the discretion of the WBC as to whether or not the entry will be displayed. The WBC shall not be liable to the competitor for the competitor’s expenses.
3. In the event that because of war, fire, strike, government regulations, public catastrophe, act of God, the public enemy, or other cause, the competition is prevented from being held or is canceled by the WBC, the WBC shall refund to the competitor the entry fee paid by the competitor. The WBC shall not be liable to the competitor for any of the competitor’s expenses.
4. Neither the WBC, nor the Headquarter Hotel or any of their officers, agents, employees, or other representatives, shall be held accountable or liable for, and the same are hereby released from accountability or liability for any damage, loss, harm, or injury to the person or any other representatives, resulting from theft, fire, water, accident, or any other cause. Neither the WBC, nor the Headquarter Hotel, will obtain insurance against any such damage, loss, harm, or injury. All property of the competitor is understood and agreed by and between the competitor and the WBC to remain in the competitor’s custody and control by transit to and from the Headquarter Hotel.* It is understood between the competitor and the WBC that the WBC provide an opportunity for the competitor to display his/her entry to persons attending the competition. The competitor understands and agrees that the WBC cannot guarantee either attendance, sales by competitors, or climatic and other conditions outside or inside the Headquarter Hotel.
5. The applicant hereby agrees to indemnify, defend, and protect the sponsor/producers of the WBC and the Headquarter Hotel against, and hold harmless from, all claims, demands, suits, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, attorney fees, and expenses which, by nature, might result from or arise out of any action or failure to act of the applicant or any of its officers, agents, employees, or other representatives, including, but not limited to, claims of damage or loss of property, or from or out of any damage, loss, harm, or injury to the person of the applicant or any of its officers, agents, employees, or other representatives.
*Competition judging and photography will take place at random times and may require moving of entries within the Headquarter Hotel.
Interpretation and application of judging standards, rules, and scores is at the sole discretion of the WBC Staff. Selection of judges is at the sole discretion of the WBC Staff and will remain anonymous. The WBC Staff will make every effort to ensure a fair, impartial, and balanced competition.
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