The International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) have recently revealed the winner of the yearly-anticipated World Accreditation Day poster contest. 

A total of 98 entries from different economies showcased a diverse range of artistic expressions, each aiming to encapsulate the World Accreditation Day 2024 (WAD 2024) theme “Accreditation: Empowering Tomorrow and Shaping the Future,” through their designs.

Among the various participants from accreditation bodies and designers around the world, Ms. Japhet Tolosa Celis and Ms. Jazzy April Macogue Tolosa (a freelance graphic designer), representing the Department of Trade and Industry - Philippine Accreditation Bureau, emerged as the victors. Their captivating design effectively embodies this year’s theme and highlighted the crucial role of accreditation in shaping a secure and sustainable future.

Their recognition comes with the first-place prize of USD 1,500. Their winning design will also serve as the official cover of the WAD 2024 brochure. This brochure will be utilized by accreditation bodies and interested parties during the WAD Celebration on June 9, 2024.

Ms. Japhet Tolosa Celis is presently working for the DTI-Philippine Accreditation Bureau (PAB), where she serves in the Promotion and Documentation Division. One of her key roles is to create Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) products such as brochures, news releases, and presentations. Her concentration is on effectively communicating the importance of accreditation, its associated advantages, and other relevant topics to various stakeholders.

Ms. Jazzy April Macogue Tolosa, Celis’ sister-in-law, is a freelance graphic designer and has worked in a wide range of industries and platforms, including print, ecommerce, marketing, agencies and more, in both the public and private sectors. She describes art as the expression of her heart. 

Design Inspiration

Celis said that the inspiration behind their design is the art of clay pottery. She further explained that clay pottery and accreditation of conformity assessment both utilize diverse techniques. “In clay pottery, artists use various methods like hand-building, wheel-throwing, and sculpting to create unique pieces. Similarly, accreditation of conformity assessment ensures products and services meet certain standards through adapting methods suited for different industries, ensuring quality and safety. Both clay pottery and accreditation encourage creativity and innovation while upholding standards, and fostering diverse approaches to achieve excellence.”

According to Celis, both are also mediums of transformation and innovation. “As a malleable medium of artistic expression, clay, through an artistic hand, can be transformed into a useful, symbolic, and cultural artifact. Comparably, accreditation also acts as a medium for transformation across various sectors and industries by setting standards and encouraging continuous progress. This concept strongly resonates with the theme, “Accreditation: Empowering Tomorrow and Shaping the Future,” of World Accreditation Day 2024.”

About the Contest

The World Accreditation Day poster contest is an annual event hosted by ILAC and IAF. Based on the contest rules, “anyone over 18 years old can enter the contest, except for directors, executives, secretariat staff and officers of the organizers, and their respective spouses, parents, siblings, and children. IAF and ILAC member organizations and their staff are eligible to participate if they are not from those excluded above. Both individuals and teams are eligible for participation.”

Those who have a passion for design and believes in the power of accreditation may watch for the announcements regarding the 2025 competition from the IAF website, and the ILAC website. The contest rules and guidelines for entry are usually posted before the end of the year.

Release Date: 11 April 2024.