The Department of Economics (DE), CEM, UPLB held a logo design contest entitled "[de]sign" last July 13-30, 2004 in line with the department's desire to create a definitive symbol of the institution as the department envisions itself to remain at the forefront of Economics instruction, research and training with the aim of supporting national goals and objectives.

The event was publicized by officially posting approximately 50 complete advertisements all over the UPLB campus and nearby establishments in Los Baņos such as coffee shops, stores, etc. The event was also published on DE's website (www.uplb.edu.ph/cem/de). The advertisements included the mechanics of the contest, and the online ad contained the legal terms and conditions of the contest as well.

A total of 21 entries was received last July 27, 2004. After properly dissociating the identity of the participants from their respective entries, the 21 entries were posted as an exhibit along the DE Faculty Corridor for the judging and selection process.

The judging process had two stages. First, the 21 entries were judged on July 28-29 by the faculty members of the department based on the following criteria (total of 10 points):

• use of color and overall design (2 points);
• relevance to the department image and vision (5 points);
• appropriateness of the logo for (but not limited to) department correspondence (i.e. letterheads, envelopes, etc.), presentation materials, promotional materials and/or items, and publications (2 points); and
• clarity and distinction of the logo and its design even when reproduced in small sizes (1 point).

The top 4 entries (having an average score of 30% and above) from the initial judging were then chosen as finalists for the final screening of winners. The scores were erased, and the 4 finalists were judged for the second screening on July 30 by 11 by DE faculty members again, based on the same criteria as above.

The winning entry had a final score of 88% (name: Pedro F. Dayag III, BSAE, CEAT) with prize money of PHP 2,000.00. The 1st Runner-Up garnered a final score of 83% (name: Alexander A. Asuncion, BSDC, CDC) with prize money of PHP 600.00. The 2nd Runner-Up had a final score of 79% (name: Deiter A. Dizon, BSCS, CAS) with prize money of PHP 400.00. (Click here to see the winning entries).

An awarding ceremony took place last July 30, 2004, 4-5pm at CEM 103 to announce the winning entries. The ceremony was presided over by Prof. Jose V. Camacho, Jr., Mr. Romel R. Saplaco and Mr. Robert Dominick Mariano as members of the [de]sign Steering Committee. A number of participants, DE faculty members, staff and students were present during the ceremony. Also, representative students from the UP Alliance of Economics and Management Students (UP AEMS) performed their Group Singing and Dance numbers as winners in these two categories of this year's CEMplangan Talents Night. Mr. Robert Dominick Mariano was the master of ceremony.