The First-Ever AACE Awards

Illustration winner Michael De Pippo (far left) receiving his AACE Award from Applied Arts founder Georges Haroutiun (far right).

The best of the best are celebrated in a gala evening organized by Applied Arts.

On Nov. 1, 2012, we held the first-ever AACE Awards in Toronto. About 400 people gathered in the cavernous space of Artscape Wychwood Barns in Toronto, which had been set up with all the winning entries from our 2012 Awards programs: Photography & Illustration, Design, Advertising, Interactive and Student.

With wine and beer in hand, those in attendance had a chance to admire the work, to connect with peers and sample fare at food stations. Proud winners could often be found standing near their entries, holding court with well wishers. With the evening well underway, our AACE hosts, Will Novosedlik, of Idea Couture, and Gary Holme, of Dorsey/Holme Experience took the stage and kept up a comic patter to introduce the six winners (the top scorers from each of our contests), who came to the stage one by one to accept their unique cube award, specially designed by Applied Arts founder, Georges Haroutiun, and to give a few words of thanks.

The evening was a blast. Here is the list of winners and finalists, as well as event promotional videos, created by Asylum Artists in Toronto.

Photography
AACE: Raina+Wilson (Industry Portrait—Mike And Mikey)
Finalist: Kristopher Grunert (Kg *World Arch Tour—Phase 1 [China])

Finalist: Roger Lemoyne (Egyptian Revolution)

Illustration
AACE: Michael De Pippo (Muppets Electric Mayhem Concert Posters)
Finalist: Frank Viva (Along A Long Road) 
Finalist: Taxi Canada (Wvrst Poster Series)

Design
AACE: Lg2boutique (Banques Alimentaires Québec Annual Report)
Finalist: Lowe Roche/Amuse Atelier (The Joy of Books)
Finalist: Departement (Typographic Circus)

Advertising
AACE: BBDO Canada (Mercedes-Benz Blur)
Finalist: Lg2 (Magic Hat)
Finalist: OPC (Poker Wingman Bunny)

Interactive
AACE: Cundari (Pain Squad)
Finalist: National Film Board of Canada (Bear 71)
Finalist: Lowe Roche/Amuse Atelier (The Joy of Books)

Student
AACE: Petra Cuschieri, George Brown College (Cuff & Collar) 
Finalist: Stanley Chen, Art Center College of Design (Architecture And Design Museum)
Finalist: Markus Wreland, Capilano University (District Mill Bakery)