Carlsbad, Calif., - May 7, 2008 – The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) was recently awarded the “American InHouse Design Award,” a premier showcase for in-house design excellence presented by Graphic Design USA.

GIA was honored for its 2007 Career Fair campaign marketing collateral, which included its Career Fair invitation, program, advertising campaign and Career Fair microsite.

The competition evaluated creative materials produced by corporate, nonprofit and institutional in-house marketing and design departments.  More than 5,000 entries were submitted from all over the nation, and roughly 500 departments were recognized for excellence.

Kathryn Kimmel, GIA’s vice president and chief Marketing officer said, “This award is a precise reflection of the excellence in design to which our Marketing team adheres. I am very proud of their meticulous efforts to create and put forward such innovative and effective work.”

Award categories focus on the activities and strengths of in-house design departments – from brochures and collateral, logos and identity programs, direct mail and announcements, and even corporate and annual reports.  It also judges packaging and point-of-purchase design projects, sales promotions, news letters and publications, and conference and event materials.

Each entry is judged against itself, based on its creativity, effectiveness, performance and success, as well as sensitivity to the challenges and constraints that in-house designers face.

The GIA Jewelry Career Fair in New York at the Jacob Javits Center will take place on Friday, July 25, 2008 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. and on September 12 in Carlsbad, California at the Institute’s headquarters.  The fair is free and open to those interested in a career in jewelry.

Career Fair was founded by GIA and The Jewelers 24 Karat Club of Southern California. The Nielsen Jewelry Group is the prime sponsor of the New York Career Fair.

For more information visit, www.careerfair.gia.edu.