Domain Cigars and its printing partner MEDiAHEAD! have earned a Gold Award for Technical Excellence at the 2026 Printing and Imaging Association of MidAmerica (PIA) MidAmerica Graphic Excellence (GraphEx) Awards. The awards recognized the technical production of Domain Cigars’ bands and packaging.
The GraphEx Awards, presented by the PIA of MidAmerica, recognize achievements in commercial printing, packaging, finishing and other areas of print production. Domain’s entry competed against printed products from a variety of industries rather than exclusively against other cigar companies. The award recognizes the technical execution of Domain’s cigar bands, which combine digital printing, metallic foil, embossing and precision die cutting.
MEDiAHEAD! produced the bands using an HP Indigo 6800 seven-color packaging press, followed by copper metallic foil stamping and embossing. The finished bands were then precision die cut. In addition, the project also involved Universal Engraving and Infinity Foils, both part of the UEI Group. Universal Engraving produced the precision dies, while Infinity Foils supplied the specialty foils used in the project.
“We spend an enormous amount of time designing these bands, but the design doesn’t mean anything if you can’t physically manufacture it,” said Daniel Lance, co-founder of Domain Cigars. “MEDiAHEAD! has been willing to keep pushing the production side with us. Winning Gold in a competition that exists outside the cigar industry is meaningful because the work is being judged simply as print craftsmanship.”
The Gold Award also puts Domain and MEDiAHEAD! in contention for the Americas Print Awards, where regional winners will compete at the national level later this year.
Photos supplied by Domain Cigars
