The 3rd Annual Wave Web Winner 2004, has proved yet again that we can. The 3rd Annual Wave Web Winner Awards took place on 25 Feb. at Yala Maya Kendra, Patan. The contest, which aims at encouraging creativity among local designers, was started in 2002. ITNTI was the event's official sponsor and Xtremenepal.com and DVD.com the co-sponsors, this year.
The contest saw a lot more participants in comparison to the two earlier years. There were over 150+ entries received this time and while it may not exactly be a flood, it proved that the interest in the event has grown, boding well for the future. "While Internet service started in Nepal only 10 years ago, we have come a long way since. There were a few good designers in late 1990s, but the last three years in particular has seen a tremendous improvement in graphics, designs and websites made by Nepalis," said Kashish Das Shrestha, Editor of WAVE Magazine at the event.
However, despite the increase in entries, it appeared that the leap forward has been in quantity and not quality. The few entries with genuine quality screamed their cause and it was heard. The initial selection was a breeze as the quality entries stood out in sharp contrast to the mediocre ones. There was, however, a very thin line separating the best from the better ones.
A downside of the event, which was organized with the basic idea of honing the creative streak amongst our young Nepali designers, was the lack of originality. "Most sites were either Flash based or else cybernepal.com clones," pointed out one of our judges. But at the same time, there were also some that reeked 'original' and were, likewise, rewarded.
The 4th Annual Wave Web Winner 2005, to be held between November 05 - Early 2006, will introduce two more categories - Best Site in Nepali - Visual Appeal and Best Site in Nepali – Content, to encourage not just Nepali designers, but also designs in Nepali. To quote Kashish Das Shrestha, "Nepali designers are now working for companies like Walt Disney and designing for Grammy winning artists to international organizations. Some of the participants here today have the potential to reach just as far."
Along with the Trophy and title, the WWW 2004 also got the following prizes: 50MB Web Space, 15 POP Mail boxes of 5MB capacity each and 350 MB Monthly Traffic from ITNTI. 100 MB Web Space, 30 POP Mail boxes of 10 MB capacity each and 700 MB monthly traffic from Xtremenepal.com. Gift hamper from Dvd.com, Pulchowk.
Winners for the all the 5 categories were awarded 20MB Web Space, 10 POP Mail boxes of 5MB capacity each, 250MB Monthly Traffic from ITNTI. 40 MB Web Space, 20 Pop Mail Boxes of 10 Capacity each and 500 MB monthly traffic from Xtremenepal.com. Gift Hamper from DVD.com
All the winners also got a year's subscription of WAVE while all the participants were given 5 MB Web Space from Xtremenepal.com.
