The next Annual deadline is just a few days away!
To help you with your submissions we have collected answers to the 10 Most Asked Questions about The Annual.
1. How do I submit my work?
It all starts on your Creativepool profile. Choose the work you would like to enter, gather your assets, then upload your projects/case studies here.
Then you can submit your work into any of the categories that are available to you. (please note that we have a different page for individual and company entries so make sure you are logged into the right account!)
2. What are the entry requirements?
For most categories, projects/case studies should be for commercial work and have been released to the public between 1st January 2023 and 23rd May 2024.
We recommend downloading the entry pack for a more detailed explanation for each category.
If you are entering any "Of the Year" awards eg. Agency of The Year, there is no criteria other than being awesome. Note that nominations are entered through a different form.
3. Can I enter the same project/case study in multiple categories?
Yes you can. In fact, it is encouraged, as this way your project can receive multiple awards across different categories. Your work likely has multiple disciplines involved, so you should check if there is a category specific to each part.
And yes. you can also enter different projects/case studies into the same category.
4. Can I save my entries to submit later?
Yes. If you run out of time while submitting, you can click on "Save For Later" at the bottom of the page and save your entries for when you are ready to complete them.
Please note that this only applies to project/case study entries. Nominations need to be completed in one go, we suggest you write this offline and then copy and paste to submit.
5. Can I see my entries after I submit?
Unfortunately, it is not possible to see your entries after submission. You can however tweak your project/case study on your profile right up until judging.
If you need to make any amendments to your entries, please get in touch with the team and we'll be able to assist you.
6. Will I compete against others in my category?
No. With The Annual, each entry only competes against itself.
There is no first, second or third – our scoring system ensures equal opportunities to win in any category.
If you look at previous years you will see (as an example) multiple "silver" awards in the same category. This is due to the fact that all that matters is what score your work gets.
7. How does the scoring system work?
Our esteemed judges will score your entries against a set of stringent criteria. We then calculate the average of these scores to select the winners.
Entries that achieve an average of 7 or higher are awarded Bronze, Silver 8 or higher, while our prestigious Gold is awarded to work with an average of 9 or higher.
The Annual is the only creative award that gives you 2 ways to win, with, the People's Choice award. Separate to the judges scoring this is calculated by the number of votes given by the community.
8. How do I choose the best category for my work?
The best place for you to start is to review this year's categories where a small synopsis is given on the requirements for each category.
Often you will find that your work will span different categories, so your preference will often come down to what category your work excels at and which categories you would like your possible win(s) to be associated with.
You can always enter your work into multiple categories to give yourself more chances to win. We are always on hand to give you guidance if you need it.
9. What awards are free to enter?
This year we have 2 categories that are free to enter: Social Good and The Cutting Room Floor.
In our Nominations awards: Best Agency to Work For, Best Brand to Work For and Next Gen Talent of the Year, all of these will always be free to enter.
10. Do I need to fill out all the fields on the entry form?
The short answer is - No.
Not all the fields are necessary for all entries. And due to the nature of being a creative award, not all work will fit neatly into "the boxes" provided.
In general the more succinct information that you give the judges the better. Build up a story around your work so that they can see what went on behind the scenes.
Don't get too hung up on the fact that you don't have, for example, the full results of the campaign. Give the judges the best information that you have at the time of submitting. Focus on the information that puts your work in the best light.
Submissions Close - 25th April
Late Submissions Close - 23rd May
Need some help with your submission? Get in touch with one of our award experts!
