To All Awards

2023 Advertising Awards

Call for entries

Deadline: September 1, 2023

Eligibility Period: September 2022 - September 2023

Keep Climbing the Creative Ladder

The Applied Arts Advertising Awards have recognized creative excellence since 1992. For professionals, commercial, personal or unpublished across all streams of advertising and promotional work including these and many more categories is eligible to be submitted:

Entries submitted to the Advertising Awards competition is judged by an all-star lineup award-winning jury from different disciplines, backgrounds, geography, and gender. All jurors are actively working int the ad biz and continue to earn amass truckloads of local and international accolades for their work. Unleash the pangs of jealously in our judges. Reignite their spark of finding brilliant new ways to solve problems with creativity. Keep raising the creative bar and earn global recognition for you and your team. Enter today to keep climbing the creative ladder.

Be sure to review the Call for Entry kit and 2023 Categories Kit for important information and tips on entering.

2023 Call for Entry Kit 2023 Advertising Awards Categories Kit Enter Now


Enter Now


2022 Advertising Awards Jury

Our Advertising Awards jury panel is made up of creative directors, Canadian and International, who have a wide variety of expertise, and enough Lions, Pencils and other awards to fill a stadium. Whether these jurors work in large or small agencies, each one has honed in on the demands of an independent/small business to a multinational corporation. You can be sure this group can spot award-winning work!

Brian Allen
Executive Creative Director
MCCANN CANADA
Calgary, AB

Brian has worked across the country at some of Canada's best design studios, advertising agencies, experiential agencies and digital agencies. With all this varied experience he picked up an absolute devotion to design, craft and the pursuit of unorthodox ideas. He has led iconic brands globally and nationally, and throughout his career, he's garnered recognition at Cannes, D&AD, One Show, Clios, Epica & Communication Arts as well as every national show in Canada. Beyond industry recognition, his work has been featured on the Tonight Show, launched a small Alberta town to world fame, and been immortalized in Wikipedia. He is also not terrible at doing timesheets.

Catherine Allen
Group Creative Director
OGILVY CANADA
Toronto, ON

Currently Group Creative Director at Ogilvy, Catherine started her creative career as a designer over 20 years ago and switched her focus to art direction about ten years in. Since then she has led integrated campaigns for some of Canada's top brands. TD, Bell, Labatt, Tim Hortons, CAMH, Kraft, Yum, American Express and Scotiabank International are just a few of the brands to benefit from Catherine's design-led creative direction. Her work has won at Cannes, the One Show, D&AD, the Effies, Marketing, the ADCC, Applied Arts. Many more have recognized Catherine's work for both its creativity and efficacy. A deep passion for travel, music, art, design and architecture contribute to Catherine's unique perspective.

Marie-Eve Best
Executive Creative Director, Brand Storytelling
LG2
Montreal, QC

Marie-Eve Best has been working as a professional creative for over 15 years. Her background in bilingual copywriting, digital content creation and styling have helped to develop her holistic approach to brand storytelling. She has collaborated with national brands like Sico Paints, Bio-K+, Royal Canadian Mint and Desjardins as well as with international brands like Sephora, Nespresso and L'Oréal Paris. Marie-Eve has worked for some of Quebec's most celebrated independent agencies including Bleublancrouge, CloudRaker and LG2, where she is now Executive Creative Director, Brand Storytelling.

Dhaval Bhatt
Co-Founder, Chief Creative Officer
COURAGE INC.
Toronto, ON

Dhaval is the Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Courage, one of North America's fastest growing agency start-ups. His work has been awarded at every major international show, including Cannes Lions, the One Show, D&AD, the Webby's and Clio's. It has also been featured in outlets like The New Yorker, Time Magazine, Wall Street Journal, Ted Conference, Mashable and Fast Company, just to name a few. Dhaval is also on the Board of Directors at the Art Advertising and Design Club of Canada and the Diversity and Inclusion Board of Strategy Magazine. He's a proud first generation Canadian who grew up in Mumbai (Indian) and now calls Toronto (Canada) home.

Carle Coppens
Chief Creative Officer
HAVAS CANADA
Montreal, QC

Carle Coppens is Chief Creative Officer at Havas Canada. His work has been recognized with numerous awards, most notably by Cannes Lions, the One Show, Clio Awards, D&AD, ACT Responsible Tribute Awards, EPICA Awards, Marketing Awards, Communications Art, Atomic Awards, Applied Arts and IDÉA Awards. He chaired the jury of the 2016 Créa Awards, an annual show that recognizes the best advertising in Quebec. Carle has also been part of several advertising juries from the Marketing Awards, Canada Young Lions and Applied Arts. Carle Coppens is also an author and a finalist for the Governor General's Literary Awards.

Geneviève Duquette
Creative Director
COSSETTE
Montreal, QC

Genevieve has spent 20 years in advertising, starting her career as a Copywriter at Sid Lee and LG2. She is currently at Cossette as a Creative Director. She developed her expertise in the telecommunications, banking and retail food sectors. Geneviève's talent and leadership have allowed major brands like Metro, VIA Rail, the SAQ, Bimbo Canada, Loto-Québec, and Amnesty International to shine both here and abroad. Her work has gained industry recognition and has won several awards at both the provincial and national level.

Ari Elkouby
Chief Creative Officer
WUNDERMAN THOMPSON CANADA
Toronto, ON

Ari Elkouby is a Chief Creative Officer at Wunderman Thompson Canada where he creatively oversees a diverse portfolio of clients across North America including Mazda Canada. His two decades of industry experience has seen him work across a broad spectrum of clients on both sides of the border including stops at Zulu Alpha Kilo, Proximity, FCB and Fallon Worldwide. His work has appeared in industry publications including AdAge, Campaign Magazine, the Most Contagious List as well as Fast Company and The New York Times. His work has garnered him accolades including multiple Cannes Lions, the Webby Awards, Communication Arts, One Show pencils and Clio Awards.

Meg Farquhar
Evp, Executive Creative Director
DDB CHICAGO
Chicago, IL

Meg Farquhar is an Executive Creative Director. She joined DDB Chicago after spending much of COVID leading the Ogilvy Canada creative team as CCO of Canada. Meg's fearless and dynamic work ethic have carried her across the globe throughout her 17+ years of experience in the industry—Ogilvy Brazil, Ogilvy Singapore and David the Agency Brazil creating award-winning campaigns for top brands like Coca-Cola, Burger King, and Unilever. Upon her return to the US, Meg spent time at Mono, Mekanism, Leo Burnett, and EnergyBBDO lending her talents to the pro-bono account, the National Safety Council (NSC). NSC's, "Prescribed to Death," was Energy's most awarded campaign of the year taking home six Lions (three of them Gold), the Designism Cube for Good at ADC, and three D&AD Pencils.

Sally Fung
Associate Creative Director
FCB
Toronto, ON

Sally Fung is an Associate Creative Director at FCB Canada. Throughout her career she's worked at some of the most awarded agencies in Canada, helping to grow global brands like Amazon, IKEA, Google, BMO, Adidas, and the Canadian Down Syndrome Society. Her work has been recognized in local and international shows including the Effies, the Webby's and Cannes Young Lions. She loves mystery novels, tech podcasts, "accidentally" dropping popcorn around her dog, and all things internet. Her not-so-secret dream is to be on Survivor one day.

Pedro Izzo
Associate Creative Director
PERFORMANCE ART
Toronto, ON

Pedro Izzo is an Associate Creative Director at Performance Art with a strong background in art direction. Originally from Brazil, he has lived in Toronto for the past decade. With over 20 years of experience in the advertising industry, Pedro has worked at several top agencies in the country, including Cossette, CP+B, Leo Burnett, and Sid Lee. His impressive portfolio includes award-winning campaigns for global brands such as McDonald's, TD Bank, Lyft, Black&Abroad, Yellow Pages, and many more. Pedro's work has been recognized at prestigious industry events like the Cannes Lions, the D&ADs, the One Show, the LIAs, the ADCC, and the Webby's.

Graham Lang
Chief Creative Officer, North America
TAXI
Toronto, ON

A creative leader with global experience, Graham is the North American Chief Creative Officer at TAXI (Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, New York). Over his career, he's won every major industry award across multiple disciplines. Graham regularly serves on key creative juries at both the local and international level. His work has been exhibited at the V&A Museum in the UK, has been included in the Canadian Medical Association Journal and has received the Governor General's Award for Innovation.

Dean Lee
Executive Creative Director
ZULU ALPHA KILO
Vancouver, BC

In April of 2022, Dean Lee joined Zulu Alpha Kilo as an Executive Creative Director to help lead the Vancouver office. An art director by trade, he was most recently ECD at DDB, where he had a stellar 25-year creative track record going back to the days when it was Palmer Jarvis. During his time at the agency, he worked with brands including McDonald's, Pepsi Co, SunRype, Labatt to name a few and helped launch Netflix in Canada. Dean has been ranked as one of Canada's leading creatives according to Strategy Magazine, including top honours for art direction. His work has been recognized at national and international advertising shows including Cannes, the One Show, Communication Arts, the Clios, the D&AD, London International Awards and Applied Arts. Dean also co-chairs The James Lee Foundation to help aspiring creative talent break into the advertising world.

Lance Martin
Chief Creative Officer
DONERNORTH
Toronto, ON

Lance is an agency veteran with over 30 years of experience in the industry. At DonerNorth his focus is on creating ideas that get down to business (aka memorable work that actually sells products). Before that he was integral in the creation of iconic Canadian work for clients like MINI, Nike, Viagra, and Canadian Tire. His work has been recognized by the Marketing Awards, the D&AD, Cannes, the One Show, 
and more.

Jeff McLean
Creative Director
RAY
St. Johns, NL

Jeff McLean has spent the past 30+ years working as a Designer and Art Director in Edmonton, St. John's, Toronto, and Vancouver, winning many international accolades. He also has the ability to transcend advertising into powerful social initiatives, most notably for his work with the NHL for the invention of Pride Tape. Jeff loves advertising in general, and has a keen eye when it comes to design and branding. His work is featured in the permanent collections at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. as well as the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

Alanna Nathanson
Co-CEO Chief Creative Officer
G&G ADVERTISING
Toronto, ON

Alanna is one of those rare creatives that actually loves business, so...she started one. She's grown brands in every category, while winning a multitude of top industry awards. 10+ years in, she's proud to have helped build G&G into an A-list indie shop, which has won both creative and business accolades, including Top Employer for Young People 5 years in a row, Canada's Growth 500 for fastest growing companies and Silver Ad Age Agency of the Year. While overseeing meaningful, memorable work that drives success, she has also instructed/mentored at the Miami Ad school, Co-Founded the Mighty Women List, launched a gin company and most impressive, binged all of Netflix.

Shiran Teitelbaum
VP, Creative Director
DEUTSCH
Los Angeles, CA

Shiran started her creative career in Toronto, where she worked at Leo Burnett and BBDO (she misses the close-knit Toronto ad scene. Is the Pilot still a thing?). She is now an award-winning Creative Director at Deutsch LA who always tells her US-based creatives to think like a Canadian (powerful ideas with scrappy budgets). Whether it's modernizing Snapple Facts with the help of ChatGPT, or enlisting stunt doubles to perform her first dance at her wedding, Shiran is passionate about earned ideas that generate headlines.

Steven Tiao
Associate Creative Director
KING URSA
Toronto, ON

Steven Tiao is a Toronto-based Associate Creative Director and Designer who creates, illustrates, and will occasionally code things for the web. He's worked on clients ranging from car brands, major banks, internet and mobile service providers and a whole lot more. His work has been recognized by the ADCC, Applied Arts, Cannes Lions, Cannes Young Lions, the Cassies, Communication Arts, Kinsale Sharks, the One Show and the RGD, among others.

Morgan Tierney
Partner, Executive Creative Director
RETHINK
Vancouver, BC

Morgan was born and raised in Vancouver, BC. Growing up she paid unusually close attention to the commercials during Hockey Night In Canada and always believed deep down that she could do better. In 2011, Morgan abandoned her career as a government legal secretary, landed a copywriting internship at Rethink, and never left. Her work has been recognized by the D&AD, Cannes Lions, the One Show, Communication Arts, the Advertising Design Club of Canada, Applied Arts, Marketing Magazine, and her mom, Cindy.

Kathryn Whiteside
Executive Creative Director
FUNDAY
Revelstoke, BC

Kathryn Whiteside is the Executive Creator Director at Funday with 15 years of experience crafting campaigns for notable brands such as AT&T, Lululemon, Clorox, Greenworks, Glad, Brita, Mitsubishi and Nissan. Originally from Calgary, she attended the Alberta University of Arts before it was called that and gained brand and design experience working in the outdoor industry. She currently leads the global creative team at Funday, focusing on bringing culture and technology together to shape the future of storytelling. You can find her attempting to catch her first fish on the river outside her home in Revelstoke, BC.

Judging Process

All work is entered digitally and judged digitally. There are no hard copies. Therefore, please read our RECOMMENDED BEST PRACTICES to see how you can help our judges.

The judges are divided into groups, with each viewing a different and random group of entries. Each judge reviews and scores entries separately. Judges do not confer or discuss their work, and there is only one round of judging.

Entries are given one total score, based on three criteria only:

  1. Creative merit
  2. Technical excellence
  3. Suitability for end use in the category it was submitted to.

NOTE: Entries submitted Young Blood and Community categories are judged with the level of experience and/or available resources taken into consideration.


Eligibility

Open internationally to all forms of commissioned, published, unpublished and personal work from professionals and enthusiasts created between Septmeber 2022 and September 2023 (but not entries that have been submitted into last year's competition). Only digital entries are accepted for this competition.

Young Blood
For professionals that have graduated within the last 5 years.

Community
Exclusively for Canadian artists and firms working in smaller communities or with smaller businesses or budgets, to help them get the recognition they deserve.

To be eligible to enter Community categories, you must be Canadian and meet one of the following criteria:

Students
There is a stand-alone awards competition for students studying in a creative arts program at the post-secondary or high school level. Work from any year of study is eligible and may be entered up to one year after graduation. Students are only eligible to enter the Student Awards competition.


Categories & Entry Fees

Entry fees vary per sub-grouping and category. Please be sure to download the 2023 Advertising Awards Categories Kit for detailed pricing.

INTEGRATED CAMPAIGNS - $150
Artificial Intellegnece - New
Brand Activation
Corporate Responsibility
Digital Engagement
Entire Advertising Campaign
Entire Online Advertising Campaign
Pro Bono/Public Service/Charity
PR/Influencer

ADVERTISING - SINGLE: $65/SERIES: $85
Agency/Artist Self-Promotion
Branded/Sponsored/Native Offline Content
B2B Print
B2B Direct Mail/Collateral
Cause-Related Advertising
Consumer Print
Consumer Direct Mail/Collateral
Experiential/Event
Out-of-Home
Promotional Collateral
Point-of-Purchase
Pro Bono/Public Service/Charity Offline Advertising
Transit Vehicles

DIGITAL ADVERTISING – SINGLE: $100/SERIES: $125*
Augmented & Virtual Reality
Branded/Sponsored Digital Content
Experiential/Dgital Engagement
Experiential/Artistic
Mobile/Tablet
Online Banner Ad
Pro Bono/Public Service/Charity Digital Advertising
Social
Website/Microsite

AUDIO/TV – SINGLE: $100/SERIES: $125*
Branded or Sponsored Content
Podcast
Pro Bono Radio/Video
PSA/Charity Radio/Video
Radio
Video
Low Budget Video

ADVERTISING CRAFT – SINGLE: $100 /SERIES: $125*/CAMPAIGN: $150
Animation
Art Direction
Cinematography
Copywriting
Direction
Editing
Ideation
Image
Music
Printing
Special Effects
Typography

YOUNG BLOOD and COMMUNITY – SINGLE: $50/ SERIES: $65/CAMPAIGN: $85
Entries can be from any application from the groupings of categories above.

*Rates vary by category. Refer to the 2023 Advertising Categories Kit for details.


Entry Material Guidelines

All entries are submitted digitally only. Hi-res, final files are to be submitted for judging. These files will be used for publication, if selected as a winner.

Main Entry Files

REQUIRED
Your Main Entry File(s) must clearly show the creative to be judged (ideally with no additional graphics) in hi-res format.

PERMITTED

IMPORTANT NOTE RE MULTI-PAGE PDFS: Use a PDF with multiple pages to incorporate any additional images while still adhering to the maximum number of media (or applications) allowed. For example, the PDF could have several pages that show the image/illustration in final context, inside pages from a book or multiple views of 3D entries such as packaging, etc. but it only counts as 1 file. This allows you more opportunities to show your work, without going over the file limit.

NOT PERMITTED
~ Case studies are not permitted as your Main Entry File. See below for more info.
~ Any files submitted should not identify the entrant information) except for self-promotion work.

Entry Support Materials

Support Files are for clarity to assist the judges. They are not for publication (except where noted) and do not count towards the file limitations noted above. A maximum of 1 file/URL maybe be Uploaded. Upload these to the "Entry Supporting Materials" sub-section of ENTRY MATERIALS on the entry form.

Please note these important required vs. optional Support Files for certain entries:

REQUIRED
~ English translations for non-English entries:  Include any important text (i.e. headlines, entry title), either as Support File or within a multi-page PDF as your Main Entry File.
~ Scripts for Radio entries. Include an English script.

PERMITTED
~ Case studies: While not recommended (as outcomes are not a criteria for judges in scoring), case studies can be added ONLY as a Support File and should be limited to max 45 seconds. REMINDER: You must include the actual creative to be judged as the Main Entry File.
~ Explanatory notes for the judges: Although not recommended (except where noted in a category), brief descriptions/explanations of up to 50 words may be added for clarity for the judges (or up to 10 seconds in the case of audio/video files).

NOT PERMITTED
~ Uploading the same creative as a Support File: Don't submit the same creative file or URL if it's already been submitted as the Main Entry Material.
~ Files submitted, be they Main Entry Files or Support Files (including URLs), should not identify the entrant (except for self-promotion work).

Acceptable File formats

STILLS

AUDIO & VIDEO

URL

RECOMMENDED BEST PRACTICES

Entries are judged online. Here's how to help the judges:


How To Enter

The entry form consists of five (5) steps. You will have the option to save your progress during each step of the process.

Create your 'MY ENTRIES' Account.

This is your Applied Arts Awards account for all Awards competitions. Once logged in personal account information can be updated, a new entry can be started, copied from an existing one, or edited, and you can pay for all or some entries.

Bookmark https://www.appliedartsmag.com/myentries/ for easy access to your account later.

NOTE: If you've entered the Applied Arts Awards previously, please use the email address associated with your account.

All entrants must complete an online entry form in My Entries, regardless of payment method, to be eligible for entry.

Step 1: entry information

Select from one of the Awards competitions, choose a sub-group, category and add your entry title.

Step 2: Entry Materials

Entry format: All entries are to be submitted digitally only. See ENTRY MATERIAL GUIDELINES section above for detailed specifications and helpful tips.

Step 3: Winners' Information

This section is for publication only and is not visible to the judges. Please review the information carefully. There will only be 48 hours to edit this information after the Winners have been notified.

The 'Winner' field is the primary company or individual you want to be credited on the piece (i.e. company name, photographer, illustrator, Young Blood, etc.).

NOTE: In the instance that a team (e.g. AD & writer) worked together (typically for the Young Blood or Student categories), enter only the first individual of the team as in the "Winner" field. The other team member(s) should be added in the CREATIVE CREDITS section. (See Step 4: CREATIVE CREDITS for further explanation on how to enter additional names so that they are properly credited as "Winners").

Optional fields: Phone, email, web address, social handles, and the URL to the winning entry (typically, for websites and motion entries). If these are entered, they will be published beside your winning work.

NOTE: We recommend including the URL as, due to file sizes, we don't upload the MP4 files directly for viewing in the Winners Gallery. They are only used for judging.

Description of Entry: For the purpose of providing a brief creative summary of the project to be published beside your winning entry. The description is limited to a maximum of 500 characters (includes spaces).

NOTE: The "Descriptions of Entry" are for publication use only and are not shown to the judges. If additional clarity is needed for the judges, a description/explanation may be added to either your Main Entry file(s) or as a Support File. Please limit it to 50 words or a max 10-second intro for radio/video.

Step 4: Creative Credits

Credits are a summary of the individuals or companies that have worked on the project.

A credit can be designated with an individual's name or an organization. A credit role is a job function (e.g. Creative Director, or Production House). Multiple names can be assigned to one credit role (i.e. if you have two Creative Directors, they are counted as only one credit role).

A maximum of 6 creative credit roles will be published in the Annual, however, any/all creative credits you entered will appear in the online Winners Gallery.

IMPORTANT NOTES:
• In instances of a team entry (e.g. Young Blood or student group project), enter the subsequent names here (Reminder: you entered one name in the "Winner" field). Choose the 'Other' role and enter Young Blood (or Student, or Winner) as a custom role field. They will not be counted towards your 6 credit roles, and will be credited together as the "Winners". These individuals may also be added a second time, identifying their specific roles on the project (e.g. Art Director, Writer).

• Credits only need to be entered once. Credits automatically get saved to your account to be used for any competition. For subsequent entries, select either a saved credit or add a new credit. To change the order of your credits, change the number from the sort column and select 'Update Sort' when finished.

• We strongly recommend credits be completed at the time of submission. If selected as a winner there will be only 48 hours to edit or add the creative credits. Be sure to review your creative credits carefully, particularly the credits to be the printed in the Annual.

Step 5: Certificate information

Winners will receive one certificate for each winning entry. Complete the winning company/individual and/or client you wish to appear on the certificate. The entry title and the category the project won in will automatically be included on the certificate. You will have the opportunity to order additional certificates once winners have been notified.

Next: Finalizing your Entry
After step 5, the entry form is complete. Press the "Save" button to return to "My Entries" dashboard to submit a new entry, copy an existing entry to a new category, or submit payment.

IMPORTANT: A submitted entry is not final and entered in the competition until you pay for it. You may edit an entry at any time until it's been paid. Once payment has been processed, it is final.

Enter Now


Payment & Refunds

Entry fees vary. Check the categories kit for each Awards competition for entry fees. Some or all of the entries can be paid for at any given time - just select which entries to pay. Once an entry is paid it is officially in the competition and cannot be modified.

Payments can be made by Visa, MasterCard or American Express (AmEx is for Canadian payments only at this time), or PayPal. US and international entry fees are payable in US funds.

NOTE: For US/International entrants, select PayPal as your Payment type, then click the "Pay with Credit Cards or VISA debit".

We only accept cheque or direct deposit in special circumstances. These cases must be pre-approved. Contact awards@appliedartsmag.com with your request.

If you are entering a piece as both a Single and as part of a Series, ensure there are two separate entries on My Entries - one for the Series and one for the Single.

Keep a record of your submissions.


Winners

All entrants will be notified by October 2023 via email. At that time, you will have only 48 hours to correct or finalize any creative credits and descriptions that may or may not have completed when entering

To ensure you don't miss the results notifications, add winners@appliedartsmag.com to your address book.

What Winners receive

ADD-ON OPPORTUNITIES FOR WINNERS*

  • Order additional certificates for your creative team, client, etc. with an option to order a plaque-mounted certificate
  • Order a personalized, engraved Awards trophy. This attractive and original Lucite cube is 3.5x3.5x3.5 square inches

*Additional fees apply


Frequently Asked Questions

Eligibility FAQ

Can students enter? No. Students may enter the Student Competition. Go here for categories, eligibility and deadlines for the Student Awards competition.

Can I enter something I entered last year? Not in the same competition, but if it meets the eligibility period for a different competition, then yes.

Can I enter something in multiple Awards competitions? Yes. Each competition has different eligibility periods; please check each competition for eligibility requirements.

Judging FAQ

Will the judges see my descriptions during the judging? Judges do not see the creative descriptions you have entered. These are only for publishing beside your entry if chosen as a winner. If you feel judges need an explanatory note, you may include a brief description as a Support File (no more than 50 words or 10 seconds for radio/video).

Categories FAQ

Can I enter a piece in multiple categories? Yes. In your account on the My Entries home page, click "Copy" on any entry you've created. Be sure to change the discipline and/or entry category to the new one you want to submit to.

Which category does my entry belong in? Often the best way to understand a category is to see previous work that won in that category. Check our online Winners Gallery for examples. If you still have questions regarding our categories or require assistance in selecting the appropriate category, contact awards@appliedartsmag.com.

NOTE: Applied Arts reserves the right to move an entry to another category if we feel it unsuitable or incorrectly categorized.

What is a single, series, and campaign? A single means one piece. Series means you are submitting more than one piece of the same project to a maximum of three. A campaign is up to 9 pieces. NOTE: Exceptions are noted in specific categories. If an entry contains more than the specified images, we will either contact you to split the submission into multiple entries, or choose which ones will be judged, so it's best to stick to the to the indicated number of pieces.

What is the Young Blood category? Young Blood is a series of categories open only to entrants who have been out of school up to a certain number of years (three for Photography and Illustration, and five for Design and Advertising). As with all categories, they are judged on creative excellence, technical merit and suitability for end use, but the jury also takes into account the level of professional experience. You will be required to specify the name of the Young Blood entrant to qualify.

What is the Community category? The Community Awards was our newest Awards program, launched in 2017, to help Canadian artists and studios working on smaller communities or with smaller budgets local clients get the recognition they deserve. In 2019, Community Awards categories were rolled into each of the four competitions (Design, Illustration, Design and Advertising) for added exposure.

Entry Material FAQ

At what specs do I need to submit my entry? Refer to ENTRY MATERIAL GUIDELINES section for specifications.

Can I submit a hard copy or disk? No. Only digitally-uploaded entries are accepted.

The program crashed. Did I lose everything? No. You are saving your work as you go through each section of the entry form. If the program crashes as you are completing a certain section, it may not have been saved in that section.

The file I uploaded won't show me a preview. Why? You may not see the image preview if you haven't followed the specs outlined in ENTRY MATERIAL GUIDELINES. Check your file and re-upload. If you continue to experience difficulties, try clearing your browser history or contact awards@appliedartsmag.com.

I uploaded the wrong file. Can I change it? Yes. You can resubmit images at any time until payment is made. Click the 'X' beside the appropriate file and re-upload your image.

NOTE: The thumbnail image may not correctly display your new image. If this happens close your browser and log back into My "Entries" for the changes to show. If you continue to experience difficulties, try clearing your browser history or contact awards@appliedartsmag.com.

Rights FAQ

Do I need to get the rights of the subjects or material used from external sources in my entry? It is the responsibility of the entrant to ensure copyright is not infringed. Upon entry you must grant us the rights to reproduce the image or images for both our online and print publications, so you would most likely need to have these rights in place to protect yourself. Although you do not need to send us a copy of the release forms, we do suggest that you have them. Entrants who request we don't run their winning work because they don't have the rights will not be refunded for their entry. NOTE: Student work is often exempt from copyright rules.

What rights do I retain if my work is chosen? You retain all rights to your images.

My client has revoked the right for me to enter work I've won for. What do I do? We do not issue refunds in these cases, but please contact awards@appliedartsmag.com if you need the entry removed from the Winners' pool.

Payment FAQ

Can I submit more entries after paying? Yes. In My Entries, you will have the opportunity to submit additional entries even if others already entered have been paid. This will simply generate a new confirmation email when you complete your entries with payment.

I want to change something after I've paid. What do I do? Once an entry is paid, you cannot change the category, entry title, entry format, Winners information, description of entry or creative credits. A paid entry is final, so check it carefully before proceeding to the payment fields. If chosen as a winner, you will be given a small window of time add or edit information.

Can I get a refund? Entries are non-refundable; costs cover administration, processing and the judging of the entry. A submission of entry acknowledges acceptance of these rules.

My client has revoked the right for me to enter work I’ve already paid for. What do I do? We do not issue refunds, but contact awards@appliedartsmag.com if you need the entry removed from the judging or winners' pool.

I'm getting error messages when I try to pay. What do I do? If you entered your payment information incorrectly on your first attempt, any subsequent attempts would be declined, even if you change your payment type. Close your browser and log back into My Entries. You should now be able to proceed with payment. If you continue to experience difficulties, contact awards@appliedartsmag.com.

Winners FAQ

If I win, what image will you use for reproduction? We will use the image(s) you submitted on entry. In the case of series, campaign, broadcast digital or motion, we select a sampling at our discretion from the images/files submitted.


Contact

Questions? If you've checked all of the above sections and cannot find the answer to your question, or if you are having difficulty entering, contact awards@appliedartsmag.com.


Disclaimer

Applied Arts reserves the right to amend these rules throughout the competition. Applied Arts assumes all entries are original and the property of the entrant, with all rights granted therein. Applied Arts reserves the rights to publish or exhibit entries for our print or electronic formats, or related promotions. Entries are non-refundable. Costs cover administration, processing, and the judging of the entry. Entries may be moved to a more suitable category, if Applied Arts deems the category chosen unsuitable. All descriptions and credits are subject to be edited for length, clarity and grammar in accordance with the Applied Arts editorial style guide. A submission of entry acknowledges acceptance of these rules.