Annual Categories

3D

This work displays the use of computer-generated imagery to innovatively represent the three-dimensional surface of any object, being, effect or environment via specialised software whether the selected work is a moving image or a still. The judges will be looking for the accuracy in depiction of respected three dimensional objects, a highly skilled execution, attention to craft and the overall approach to the brief.


Advertising: Digital

Advertising work designed for distribution via digital channels, mobile or through a browser. The judges will be looking for cleverness in concept, a highly skilled execution and the overall approach to the client brief.


Advertising: Print

Work designed for distribution through any printed medium such as posters and/or magazine advertisements. The judges will be looking for cleverness in concept, a highly skilled execution and the overall approach to the client brief.


Advertising: TV

Film work designed for distribution via television. The judges will be looking for cleverness in concept, a highly skilled execution and the overall approach to the client brief.


Animation

Work created in a medium for animation of film both 2D and 3D, including stop-motion, graphic, silhouette, cel, computer or other methods. The judges will be looking for the following characteristics displayed in each film; rhythm, use of storytelling, expertise in the chosen medium, and overall originality.


Application

Application design, can be, but not limited to, any mobile app, software or online tool. The work includes the overall design, user interface, user experience and responsiveness for multiple devices. The judges will be selecting work based on a combination of usability, design, leverage of technology, and activation methods, taking into consideration the positioning in the overall marketplace.


Branded Content

Any work (film, print, integrated, social, et al) that puts storytelling rather than product features first, creatively connecting with the hearts and minds of their audience to promote brand affinity and achieve business goals. Judges will be considering originality, authenticity, consumer engagement, cleverness and the overall effectiveness and execution of the client brief.


Branding

Work that creates a new cohesive identity for a brand through mediums including; brand collateral, digital content, environment, packaging, print or stationery. The judges will be grading on cleverness, design, consumer engagement and the overall effectiveness and execution of the client brief.


B to B

Work that is focussed on business to business communication. Work can be in any medium but must be focussed on a B to B product or service. While creativity in idea and execution will be a factor on how the judges will score the work, judges will also take into account the product, the brand and the results in how effective this campaign and/or piece was in reaching the clients goals.


Copywriting

Work where the copywriting is a central theme to the creativity of the final piece. Includes copywriting from advertising, websites, digital services, games, apps and social media. To ensure the writing is judged uniformly the work needs to have been released in English.


Data

A campaign where the use of data is central to the idea or the execution of a campaign. The use of data can be to enhance an idea, increase commercial success, improve customer relations. The data can be anything from to a particular insight, use of personal data, location data or realtime data. Judges will be looking for a direct correlation between the use of data and the success of the campaign that would not have been achievable without it.


Digital

The use of digital technology to solve a brief. This can be both the use of digital tools specifically created or the use of existing technology with digital content. The judges will be looking at implementation, design, leverage of new technologies, customer activation, cohesiveness, overall strategy and effectiveness to fulfil the client brief.


Direct Marketing

Works of commercial literature sent through means of post; physical and digital to generate customer engagement. The judges will be looking for a skilled expertise in the use of chosen medium, effective messaging, customer activation, strong and unique call to action, along with weighing it against the overall design.


Effectiveness

The effectiveness category focuses on the measurable results of creativity. Submissions will need to demonstrate that the work had measurable and tangible positive business impact, and/or that the work was instrumental to cultural change, and/or that the creative had a direct impact on the profitability, reach or other business objective. The judges will be looking for a direct correlation between the creative and the results.


Experiential

Work that utilises the use of ambient, exhibition or installation platforms to generate customer interest and attention, which may be through the use of new technologies. The judges will be looking at the engagement with the target audience, use of innovative technologies, overall concept, and customer activation.


Graphic

Work that projects ideas and experiences with visual and textual content in the field of graphic design. Any graphic design is open to be entered, including but not limited to adverts, posters, branding, magazines, books, calendars and/or digital media. The judges will be looking for the execution of an original idea in selected medium and at how the design to conveys the overall message. If the work consists of multiple assets, cohesion will also be taken into consideration.


Illustration

Best use of the illustration medium to communicate an idea or message to solve a client brief or for personal work. Submissions can be one image or multiple images relating to a larger story. The judges will be looking at the overall style of the work in question, and the uniqueness, context and relevance.


Integrated

This is the category for your full creative campaigns pushed out across multiple channels and/or medias. The judges will be looking at how well the creative is executed across all the mediums and how it fits into the overall approach to the brief. You should include in your submissions multiple examples across all the mediums used.


Music & Sound

Best use of original compositions and sound design arranged specifically for advertising, online, viral, branding, film work or ambient creative. The piece will be judged based on its originality, emotion, technical skill, and overall coherence with the visual content. If the work consists of multiple assets cohesion will also be taken into consideration.


OOH

Work designed for billboards, street posters, indoor posters, 3D billboards, digital billboards or ambient designs. The judges will be looking for an innovative use of new digital technologies, knowledge of traditional methods and modern methods, and overall customer activation.


Packaging

Works used to promote, sell or display items. The judges will be looking for the production quality, usability, innovation and originality, the ability to stand out, and the overall design. Other areas of consideration will be a description of the efficiency and environmental impact.


Photography

Best use of the photography medium to solve a client brief or for personal work. The submissions can be one image or multiple images relating to a larger story. The judges will be looking at the overall style of the work in question and the uniqueness, context and relevance.


Post Production

Work that displays an original film captured by a camera and those elements used to enhance the feature by computer generation. The judges will take into consideration the attention to detail, technical skill, consistency and overall accuracy to the brief. Please provide the judges with a clear definition of what VFX have been added to the production.


PR

Any PR campaign, offline, online or influencer marketing can enter this award. Your entry should outline the aim's of the campaign, the ideas, execution and results that made this campaign a success. Judges will be looking for the inspiration, innovative strategy from idea to execution, and managing any risk of the campaign.


Product / Industrial

Work that displays exceptional visual impact and brand experience through innovative design. The judges will be evaluating designs based on the following criteria; innovation, functionality, quality, ergonomics, problem solving, relationship with the user, ability to convey purpose, production, and environmental impact. This category includes: Automotive, Electronics, Home & Furniture Products, Fashion & Lifestyle goods.


Production

Work that contributes to the craft of creating an overall film project. The judges will take into consideration the aspects of production in their own right so please make sure this is outlined thoroughly in the project description. Judges will consider how the craft adds to the overall creative project to create fresh ideas with skilful execution.


Publishing

Work that consists of multiple page designs that contribute to a larger whole: magazines, books, annual reports, brand books and similar. The judges will be looking at content, style, format, design, and sequence when analysing entries.


Rebel

A campaign or idea or execution that breaks the mould. Work can be in any medium with the work looking to challenge current conceptions and go against the grain. This category is for the rule breakers. The judges will be looking to be shocked, awed or enlightened with a new way of seeing how things can be done.


Social

Work created specifically for social media use including but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, SnapChat, Instagram and YouTube. The judges will be looking for work that makes fantastic use of the platform’s attributes, customer engagement, use of technology, effectiveness and execution of client brief.


Social Good

Any work in any medium that is related to bringing social change. This includes both innovations pertaining to new products through to communications about initiatives and everything in between. Causes that can be supported include but are not limited to accessibility, animal welfare, diversity and inclusion, education, environment, human rights, hunger, mental health, public health, poverty and racial equality.


Typography

Work that consists of the creation and/or use of type to improve the communication and display an overall message. The judges will be looking at readability, cohesion, distinction, and the overall impression of the type.


The Cutting Room Floor

Work that didn’t quite make it. Work that you championed, loved and pushed eagerly to the client only for it not to make it out to a wider world. All of us who work in the industry have a litany of projects, campaigns and work that has been held back or pushed back whether by the client or the ECD. Time for a second opinion and a second life for your ideas. Work should be close to complete, no scamps or ideas but can be for any medium. Judges will be looking for those that they think should have made it!


Wave (Innovation)

Submissions are not limited to any medium, product or service - the main purpose of the communication is to make a huge impact through entirely new or rarely explored technologies, mediums, and/or applications.
The judges will be looking at the use of technologies, customer activation, overall design, execution and messaging.


Web

Work that consists of the factors of creating an overall web page, responsiveness, user experience and user interface of any URL translated through a typical browser. Applicable to websites, microsites or similar. The judges will be comparing work based on its content, user interface, user experience, use of technology, and the overall execution.

Next Gen Talent of the Year

This will recognise a person who is a rising star in the industry, surpassing expectations and breaking boundaries in their creative field. The submission can be made by the individual or nominated by another person or team. Entrants should specify in the Notes Section of the submission details of what they have achieved and why they should be the Next Gen Talent of the Year.


Creative Leader of the Year

This will recognise a person who has demonstrated the highest calibre of creative excellence this past year. The submission can be made by the individual or nominated by another person or team. Entrants should specify in the Notes Section of the submission what they have achieved and why they should be the Creative Leader of the Year.


Agency of the Year

This will recognise an agency that has demonstrated the highest calibre of creative excellence over the past year. The submission can be made by the agency or nominated by another person or team. Entries should specify in the Notes Section of the submission what they have achieved and why they should be the Agency of the Year.


Independent Agency of the Year

An Independent Agency should have no parent company and be truly independent of a network. This will recognise an agency that has demonstrated the highest calibre of creative excellence over the past year. The submission can be made by the agency or nominated by another person or team. Entries should specify in the Notes Section of the submission what they have achieved and why they should be the Independent Agency of the Year.


Small Agency of the Year

For the purpose of this award, a Small Agency should have no more than 50 regular employees, including semi-permanent freelancers. This will recognise an agency has demonstrated the highest calibre of creative excellence over the past year. The submission can be made by the agency or nominated by another person or team. Entries should specify in the Notes Section of the submission what they have achieved and why they should be the Small Agency of the Year.


Creative Services Company of the Year

This award is open to the companies who often (but not always) work behind the scenes and don't always get the recognition for their outstanding contribution. It is open to the production, post production, illustration, photography, special effects, VFX, 3D and development companies that bring the creative work to life. The submission can be made by any representative of the company or nominated by another person or team. Entries should specify in the Notes Section of the submission what they have achieved and why they should be the Creative Services Company of the Year.


PR Agency of the Year

This award is open to any size PR agency. This will recognise an agency has demonstrated excellence in PR strategy over the past year. The submission can be made by the agency or nominated by another person or team. Entries should specify in the Notes Section of the submission what they have achieved and why they should be the PR Agency of the Year.


Brand Team of the Year

This award is specifically for work created internally within a brand. This will recognise a team that has demonstrated the highest calibre of creative excellence over the past year.. The submission can be made by the brand or nominated by another person or team. Entries should specify in the Notes Section of the submission what they have achieved and why they should be the Brand Team of the Year.


Best Agency to Work For

This award will recognise the agency or studio (creative, media, post/production) who have created the best workplace for its employees. This company has created an environment promoting outstanding career opportunities, compensation & benefits, culture, values, and work-life balance. The submission can be made by the agency or nominated by another person or team. Entries should specify in the Notes Section of the submission examples of the factors specified above.


Best Brand to Work For

This award will recognise the brand who has created the best workplace for its employees. This company has created an environment promoting outstanding career opportunities, compensation & benefits, culture, values, and work-life balance. The submission can be made by the company itself or nominated by another person or team. Entries should specify in the Notes Section of the submission providing examples of the factors specified above.