For over 35 years, Applied Arts Media has been the go-to destination for creative advice, insight and inspiration. The Applied Arts Awards celebrate innovative creativity, and capture the current visual arts landscape in Canada and beyond.
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.
News
The Art of Dissent
October 30, 2025
This sticker was meant to be posted in people’s front windows to ward off the incursion of ICE agents into the Chicano neighbourhoods of Los Angeles. The artist laughingly admits that, because of the Catholic image of the Virgin Mary, they were ...
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Manic Type: The Studio Behind Publicis Nouveau, an Award-Winning Typeface
October 29, 2025
In 2024, Manic Type was commissioned to create a custom typeface for Publicis Canada’s rebrand. The result, Publicis Nouveau, captures the agency’s ethos to “lead the change” and has since earned multiple awards, including recognition at the ...
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Turning the table on Pete Nguyen
October 27, 2025
Applied Arts is turns the table on 2025 Design Awards juror Pete Nguyen. The co-founder of Sea Change Brewing Co. and Shiddy's Distilling, brings his bold and irreverent style to every venture he touches. His award-winning work spans murals, storytel ...
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The Local Collective Makes Visibility a Superpower
October 21, 2025
2025 Applied Arts Advertising Awards winner, Toronto-based The Local Collective, has released a powerful new campaign for Safehaven Toronto, a charity that supports medically complex children and their families. The campaign challenges Canadians to u ...
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A celebration of Indigenous design. In this issue of Applied Arts, editor Will Novosedlik highlights the global resurgence of Indigenous culture, particularly in the context of historical colonization and ongoing reconciliation efforts. Ultimately, this issue aims to broaden awareness and appreciation among non-Indigenous readers, emphasizing that reconciliation is a continuous and meaningful journey.
Click here for more information about the issue or for a list of our stockists.