SAN JOSE, Calif.--Jan. 20, 2004-- Adobe Systems Incorporated today issued a call for entries for the 2004 Adobe Design Achievement Awards. The fourth annual awards program recognizes and honors the most talented and promising student designers, illustrators, digital filmmakers and computer artists from leading U.S., Canadian and British design schools. Using software and design tools provided by Adobe, students submit projects in seven categories such as print, photography and digital collaboration. Five distinguished and independent design professionals, including Alexander Gelman of Design Machine in New York and Karin Fong with Imaginary Forces in Los Angeles, will serve as judges and select winners based on overall impact, design execution and technical capabilities. Winners will receive a trip to San Francisco to attend the awards ceremony, the opportunity to showcase their work and meet with design industry professionals attending the awards event. Additionally, first place entries will receive US$5,000 and their choice of 10 Adobe products. "We continue to encourage and nurture the blending of creativity and technological innovation through this unique event for student designers to gain exposure to professionals in the creative community," said Melissa Dyrdahl, senior vice president of corporate marketing and communications at Adobe. "We are continually impressed by the creativity the students exhibit and we proudly honor them for what they have accomplished as well as for what they represent." Last year nearly 1,000 college students from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom submitted entries. Many of the student winners go on to successful careers in creative professions. For example, 2003 Design Achievement Award winners in the Group Digital Media category Evan Schoonmaker and Eric Finkelman from the School of Visual Arts both landed careers with famous motion graphics/video design firms in New York. "Winning an Adobe Design Achievement Award was an incredible feeling," said Schoonmaker. "The design industry offers a dynamic, exciting field of opportunities for aspiring students and events like this provide an amazing venue for young designers to show our work and encourage us to confidently pursue our education and career goals in the arts." Students will be able to submit entries from April 1, 2004 to May 17, 2004 (see rules at www.adobe.com/education/adaa.html). The entries will be judged in early June, with the finalists contacted shortly thereafter. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on July 29, 2004 at The Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco.