Celebrating its fourth year focusing on the original communications delivery device, International Print Day (IPD) will open its virtual doors to the global print community on Wednesday, October 18th – and everyone is invited.

This is the chance to join a worldwide conversation without borders and share your passion for print through social media. The initiative spans all time zones and all types of print, beginning at 6 pm ET on October 17th (*11 pm GMT, 9 am AEST) and finishing 24 hours later on October 18th at 6 pm ET.

There are many ways for students and artists, printers and their supply chain partners to participate. During IPD, share your work, your favorite print samples and applications or simply share a moment with fellow enthusiasts using the hashtag #IPD17. Interact and network with the global print community to share your passion for print. Last year, the IPD hashtag on Twitter generated  30-million timeline deliveries in just under 24 hours, so the push for 2017 is to go bigger.

IPD’s annual theme is born from the community that gathers for a weekly #PrintChat held every Wednesday on Twitter at 4 pm ET, and this year it’s ‘#PrintUX’, providing another way for stakeholders to interact. “Print is an evolving technology with a proud history and a vibrant future,” says Deborah Corn, principal at Print Media Centr and the driving force behind the day. “PrintUX represents ‘The Print Experience’ as related to print’s role in the world, print’s role in our lives, and the industry’s role in providing the tools and technology to manifest imagination through the printing process. We’re expecting to see printers, designers, marketers and entrepreneurs connecting throughout the day sharing samples and stories of great print – plus ideas, suggestions and opportunities to collaborate.”

One such collaboration is through #PrintChat, taking place at 4 pm ET (*9 pm GMT) on October 18th. This community endeavor attracts influencers from across the sector, discussing products and services, multi-channel marketing and dreams for a future of print. On this occasion, it will represent the pinnacle of a visionary day of smart, print-related sharing.

Another collaboration reflects the Print Experience in the form of a poster created by Craig Bower of Designs That Rock, with an Augmented Reality assist provided by Robert Young and the team at Miralupa. The PDF poster is available in English and French can be downloaded on the IPD site. Download the free THRUBOX app from your mobile store to access the AR experience.

Corn sees IPD as a way for individual print providers to also engage with their local community. “There are no limits to what can happen on International Print Day,” she states, noting that there are advocates guiding the sharing in Australia, Europe and the Americas to create a non-stop activity that is tipped to trend globally. “If you’ve been thinking of inviting customers or students in to see your shop, why not do it on International Print Day? It’s the perfect excuse to blend fun with being informative, and there are no boundaries as to what you can do.”

Anyone can host an International Print Day Hotspot, with whatever degree of formality they choose. A Hotspot can be registered with IPD so that the organizing team can help promote it as an official activity. The United Nations Library Geneva, LIA Queensland, and Xeikon Café North America are already registered for 2017, hosting events in honor of International Print Day.

“In 2015 the United States Capitol Building recognized IPD by sharing pictures of their printed admission tickets,” Corn recalls. “In 2016, Good Morning America gave us a shout-out, which was incredible considering their massive following. But when the United Nations Library Geneva reached out to share their 2017 event news, I felt that International Print Day was validated as a legitimate global celebration of print. Now the rest is up to us. So, be as inventive as possible and let’s get print and its possibilities trending around the world.”