The design industry's premier event will be held in Sydney in October 2004

Sydney (May 27, 2004)—Aquent, a leading specialist staffing firm in marketing, communications and creative, has signed on as major sponsor for the 7th AGDA (Australian Graphic Design Association) National Awards in 2004.

Established in Melbourne in 1992, the AGDA Awards is recognised as the design industry's premier event. For the first time in its 12 year history, this year's Awards are being held over two nights in Sydney; the first night Friday 29th October is the Awards exhibition cocktail party, followed by the Awards presentation dinner on Saturday 30th October. The four members of the Sydney Awards steering committee are Simon Pemberton, David Minnett, Annette Harcus and Paul Garbett.

Designated as "The Official Career Partner of the Australian Graphic Design Association," Aquent provides an array of support services and professional training opportunities for AGDA members, including hands-on career workshops, product demonstrations, and sponsorship of AGDA exhibitions, seminars and educational activities.

"As a company that is dedicated to recognising and developing the careers of design professionals, we look forward to working with the AGDA on this and other programs in support of Australia's design community," said Greg Savage, Aquent's CEO for Asia-Pacific.

"It is my great pleasure to welcome Aquent as the major sponsor for the 2004 AGDA National Awards. They have actively supported AGDA over the last four years with national projects like the 2002 National Awards, international speakers tours and the current salary survey of the design industry," said Rita Siow, AGDA's General Manager.

Through its office in Sydney and 11 other offices in Asia-Pacific, Aquent has provided flexible staffing solutions through temporary help, contract professionals, freelancers, temporary to permanent and permanent placements. Aquent's suite of services includes; executive search on local, national or international levels; outsourcing on and off-site or off-shore; and project solutions on or off-site, in the Marketing, Communications and Creative arena.

About Aquent:
Aquent (aquent.com) is a global professional services firm that delivers total staffing, consulting and outsourcing solutions for Marketing, Communications and Creative. Through a network of nearly seventy offices in fifteen countries, Aquent services in the areas of print and Web design and Production; Advertising and Media, Marketing, Public Relations and Marcomm support. In its seventeen-year history Aquent has made nearly 400,000 matches of independent professionals with client companies worldwide. The company's Asia-Pacific headquarters are in Sydney.