For 40 years, Applied Arts Media has inspired, informed and celebrated the creative community. Through editorial coverage and the Applied Arts Awards, we showcase the ideas, craft and innovation shaping visual communications in Canada and beyond—and recognize the work that holds up.
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Creative Excellence. Celebrated.
The Applied Arts celebrate creativity in visual communications. Since 1992, we've helped advertising agencies, design firms, photographers, illustrators, and emerging artists gain industry-wide exposure—building careers, collaborations, and community across Canada and beyond.
All Entries are judged by an Internationally recognized jury of award-winning professionals who are actively working in advertising and design.
Winning work is showcased: in Applied Arts magazine, online in the Winners Gallery and archive, and shared across social media.
Winning work is showcased in Applied Arts magazine, online Winners Gallery and archive and shared across our social channels.
Opportunities for every stage
- Young Professionals: Explore Young Blood categories—open to entrants with under five years of professional experience in advertising or design, and under three years for Photography and Illustration.
- Small-Community/Business Professionals: Exclusively for CANADIAN creators in smaller markets or single-establishments. Small Community categories weigh local resources and budgets during judging.
- Students: If you're currently in secondary, post-secondary or graduate studies, you're only eligible for the Student Awards, where entries are judged alongside peers at a similar level.
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News
Featured Drew Shannon
August 18, 2026
A Room of One's Own, Drew Shannon, for Renaissance Magazine. Big characters, bold shapes and plenty of personality—Drew Shannon’s illustrations know how to make an entrance. A London, Ontario native now based in Toronto and represented by i2i ...
+ Read MoreHolding the Line: How the Producer's Role Has Evolved
August 11, 2026
By Julie Bélanger As an executive producer with nearly 20 years of experience in commercial stills and motion production, I co-founded Full Serve Productions (2007–2021), where I produced campaigns for photographers, agencies, and brands across N ...
+ Read MoreCossette's Big Drop
August 6, 2026
To launch Hostess Craze, Cossette Marketing & Communications agency didn't just create a campaign—it staged a spectacle. Movie-style teasers, social-first storytelling and a record-breaking skydive starring the brand's puppet mascot, G.O.A.T. ( ...
+ Read MoreFeatured: Sabina Fenn
August 5, 2026
Farmer's Market, Sabina Fenn Toronto illustrator and artist Sabina Fenn has built a career celebrating the beauty found in everyday life. Represented by i2i Art Inc., her vibrant illustrations have attracted an impressive range of editorial, publi ...
+ Read MoreCurrent Issue
Discover the year's best creative work in the Summer issue of Applied Arts. Featuring the winners of the Photography, Illustration, and Design Awards, this collector-worthy edition delivers more than 150 pages of award-winning inspiration from today's top creative talent. The issue also features Brace for Impact, a compelling look at how artists and designers are using their work to challenge convention, provoke dialogue, and shape culture. Subscribe or order your copy today.
Click here for more information about the issue or for a list of our stockists.