To All Awards

2026 Advertising Awards

Call for Entry: May 25, 2026
Deadline: July 24, 2026
Eligibility Period: July 2025 – July 2026
Results Notification: late August 2026

THE WORK THAT PUSHES THROUGH

THE IDEAS THAT HOLD UP

YOUR WORK, RECOGNIZED

The Applied Arts Advertising Awards recognize the ideas, craft and creative thinking that continue to make impact. Whether you are an agency looking to showcasing award-winning campaigns or a creative individual looking to stay connected in the industry, the Applied Arts Advertising Awards offer industry recognition, national exposure and a respected benchmark for creative excellence.

Whether you're showcasing breakthrough campaigns, building your reputation, or strengthening your Creative Report Card ranking, the Applied Arts Advertising Awards put your work in front of the industry professionals who matter most.

There are nearly 100—traditional, digital, experiential/experimental categories—open to all forms of commission, published, unpublished and personal work created between August 2025 and August 2026, excluding entries submitted to the 2025 Advertising Awards competition. Entries will be given one score based on three criteria – creative merit, technical excellence and suitability for end use in the category it was submitted to.

Winning an Applied Arts Advertising Award puts your work in front of leading ad & marketing professionals — a career-boosting platform for your creativity.

Who Can Enter

Current students, there is a stand-alone competition where work is judged alongside your peers at a similar level of experience. Visit the Applied Arts Student Awards to enter or for more information.

2026 Call for Entry Kit 2026 Advertising Awards Categories Kit Enter Now

Jury & Judging Process
Categories & Entry Fees
Entry Material Guidelines
How to Enter
Payment & Refunds
Winner Recognition
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact
Disclaimer

Enter Now

Jury & Judging Process

Our Advertising Awards jury built to recognize the work that holds up. This year's Applied Arts Advertising Awards jury brings together leading creative voices from across Canada and the U.S. to recognize the ideas, craft and creative thinking that continue to push the industry forward.

Natalie Armata
CO-FOUNDER, CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER
G&G ADVERTISING – A DIVISION OF ACART
Toronto, ON

Natalie Armata is co-founder and chief creative officer of G&G Advertising, a division of Acart. She helped launch G&G 14 years ago, building it into a top-ranked agency recognized by Ad Age Small Agency of the Year Silver, PROFIT 500, and Top Employer for Young People. Named to Strategy's top CCO list three years in a row, Natalie blends art, business, and mentorship, with training from OCAD University and Edinburgh Business School. As a Juror, Natalie looks for unique strategic insight, a creative big idea, and exceptional craft.

Gabriel Barrea
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
BBDO CHICAGO
Chicago, IL

Gabriel Barrea is a creative director at BBDO Chicago, where he leads global brands such as Extra Gum and M&M's. His work has been recognized by major international award shows including Cannes Lions, D&AD, The One Show, and the Clio Awards. As a Juror, Gabriel looks for ideas with cultural energy, emotional clarity, and craft strong enough to travel.

Sandra Baumander
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
PUBLICIS
Toronto, ON

Sandra Baumander is an award-winning Creative Director and Art Director whose work spans brands including Canadian Tire, Dr. Oetker, WestJet, and Mondelez. Known for combining strong visual thinking with strategic clarity, her work has been recognized by Cannes Lions, The One Show, Clio Awards, and numerous national and international award shows. As a Juror, Sandra is drawn to work with strong ideas, refined craft, and the ability to create lasting impact.

Derek Blais
CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER
LIFELONG CRUSH
Toronto, ON

Derek Blais is chief creative officer at Lifelong Crush and Canada's only Indigenous creative executive. As a Juror, Derek looks for cultural honesty, emotional power, and work brave enough to challenge expectations.

Philippe Brassard
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
COSSETTE
Montreal, QC

Philippe Brassard is a Montreal-based creative director, copywriter, and runner who has spent the past decade at Cossette. With a background in advertising, communications, and strategy, he is driven by bold, culture-shaping ideas anchored in a clear point of view. As a Juror, Philippe looks for work rooted in simple, human truths and brought to life with care.

Valerie Carlson
GLOBAL CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER
CRITICAL MASS
Los Angeles, CA

Valerie Carlson is global chief creative officer at Critical Mass, where she leads work across experience, design, content, brand, creative strategy, visual systems, digital marketing, social, gaming, film, and experiential. Val believes that the door for truly great work that makes you question, laugh or cry has been closing rapidly this year. And that it's time to kick it back open! As a Juror, Valerie looks for fine details, craft, unique instincts and insight that comes from the gut.

Debbie Chan
EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR
NARRATIVE XPR
Toronto, ON

Debbie Chan is an award-winning creative with more than 18 years of experience in the industry. With a background in design, she spent much of her career as an Art Director before becoming Executive Creative Director at Narrative, working with brands including Nike, Converse, KFC, Scotiabank, and Volvo. Her work has been recognized by Cannes Lions, D&AD, The One Show, Applied Arts, Communication Arts, Effies, and Clios. As a Juror, Debbie is drawn to work with strong ideas, sharp craft, and clear human connection.

Pierre Chan
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
BERLIN
Edmonton, AB

As a naive teen, Pierre's dream was to become a constitutional lawyer. Bombing the LSAT was the best thing that happened to him. Today, he has 234 followers on Instagram, boasts a 4.91 rating on Uber, and leads the creative department at Berlin—an indie shop in Edmonton. His non-litigation work has been recognized by Cannes, D&AD, One Show, Clios and Applied Arts. As a Juror, Pierre is drawn to work with a provocative point of view that isn't afraid to piss people off.

Mélissa Charland
EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR
VML CANADA
Montreal, QC

Montreal-based VML Canada ECD Mélissa Charland builds award-winning work with a simple rule: never lose the fun. As a juror, she hunts for clarity, audacity, and ideas that connect with real people. She believes advertising is one of the best jobs in the world. She works fiercely to guard her team's spirit, which keeps her up at night almost as much as her son sneaking into her bed at 3 AM. As a Juror, she looks for three things: clarity, audacity, and ideas that resonate beyond the industry, connecting with people in a meaningful and lasting way.

Rachel Leblanc
ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR
RETHINK
Toronto, ON

Rachel LeBlanc is an associate creative director and art director at Rethink Toronto. After six years in the industry, her work has been recognized by The One Show, Cannes Lions, D&AD, and the Clio Awards. As a Juror, Rachel looks for ideas with sharp craft, cultural relevance, and the confidence to feel simple, human, and unexpected.

Lisa Lebedovich
EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR
WILL
Vancouver, BC

Driven by a passion for ideas and collaboration, Lisa has spent 25 years creating standout campaigns at top agencies like Rethink, TAXI, Cossette and now WILL, where she leads the agency's advertising mandate. Her award-winning work has been recognized by Cannes, the One Show, LIA, ADCC, the Clios and Applied Arts. As a Juror, Lisa looks for confident ideas that uniquely address human truths to pack an emotive punch.

Dean Lee
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Vancouver, BC

Dean Lee is an award-winning creative director with a background in art direction. His work blends strategic thinking with visual restraint, creating ideas that are emotionally and culturally connected. As a Juror, Dean looks for work with a clear point of view and the confidence to do something differently.

Tyler Mckissick
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
LEO TORONTO
Toronto, ON

Tyler McKissick is an award-winning Toronto art director and creative director at Leo Toronto who believes making ads should still be fun. His work has been recognized by Applied Arts and shaped by a love of personality, humour, and sharp visual ideas. As a Juror, Tyler looks for work with personality, humour, and the ability to surprise people.

Vicki Murphy
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
M5 THE AGENCY
Atlantic Canada

Vicki Murphy is creative director at m5 in St. John's, one of Canada's largest independent agency groups. With more than 25 years of experience, her work has been recognized by Applied Arts, the Cassies, ICE Awards, and Gold Quill. As a Juror, Vicki looks for creative rooted in human insight but executed in a surprising way.

Anton Mwewa
ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR / ART DIRECTOR
DIAMOND
Toronto, ON

Anton Mwewa is an award-winning associate creative director and art director creating culturally resonant work for brands like Canadian Blood Services, Pizza Hut, and Maple Leaf Foods. Outside advertising, he's usually behind a camera as a photographer or advocating for stronger BIPOC representation across the industry. As a Juror, Anton looks for creative that pays attention to culture, people, and the weird little tensions everyone else overlooks.

Keli Pollock
PARTNER + CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER
DAUGHTER
Calgary, AB

Keli Pollock has spent more than three decades building brands that leave a lasting mark. She's behind two of her city's most visible and lasting brand legacies: the rebrand of Calgary as Blue Sky City, and the creation of the brand world for Calgary Wild FC, the city's first professional women's soccer team. As partner and chief creative officer, she's helped grow Daughter Creative into a nationally recognized agency. Her work has earned recognition at all of the industry's major international award shows throughout her career. As a Juror, Keli is drawn to ideas with a distinct point of view, emotional intelligence and the craft to leave a lasting impression.

Dave Roberts
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Montreal, QC

Dave Roberts is a creative leader whose work spans brand platforms, digital products, and storytelling for brands including Adidas, L'Oréal, and the Toronto Raptors. Formerly executive creative director at McCann Canada, Dave has also held leadership roles at Sid Lee and CloudRaker, helping shape a more connected, experience-driven approach to contemporary advertising. As a Juror, Dave looks for ideas that feel culturally aware, emotionally intelligent, and built for how people actually engage with brands today.

Morgan Starr
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
TBWA CANADA
Toronto, ON

Morgan Starr is a creative director at TBWA Canada whose work has reached both the Super Bowl and the top of Cannes. She recently worked on Instacart's Super Bowl spot starring Ben Stiller and Benson Boone, directed by Spike Jonze. Her Dove "Cost of Beauty" campaign won Gold Lions at Cannes, Best in Show at The One Show, and earned an Emmy nomination. As a Juror, Morgan looks for sharp ideas with cultural awareness, strong writing, and a clear reason to exist.

Josh Stein
PARTNER & CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER
LG2
Toronto, ON

Josh Stein is a cornerstone of Canadian advertising, having led creative powerhouses like McCann and BBDO before shaping LG2 Toronto. He brings a rare mix of agency grit and entrepreneurial fire, constantly pushing the boundaries of digital narrative. As a Juror, Josh looks for bold, transformative ideas that integrate storytelling with flawless digital craft.

Jesse Wilks
GROUP CREATIVE DIRECTOR
COURAGE
Toronto, ON

Jesse Wilks is a group creative director at Courage. He's spent the last 13 years alongside his partner Gerardo creating culturally resonant work that moves the needle. Known for ideas that balance emotional impact with sharp humour, Jesse believes the best creative work should move people, influence culture, and leave things better than before. As a Juror, Jesse is drawn to work that pushes beyond expectations - or just work that makes him a little jealous.

Natalie Armata
CO-FOUNDER, CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER
G&G ADVERTISING – A DIVISION OF ACART
Toronto, ON

Natalie Armata is co-founder and chief creative officer of G&G Advertising, a division of Acart. She helped launch G&G 14 years ago, building it into a top-ranked agency recognized by Ad Age Small Agency of the Year Silver, PROFIT 500, and Top Employer for Young People. Named to Strategy's top CCO list three years in a row, Natalie blends art, business, and mentorship, with training from OCAD University and Edinburgh Business School. As a Juror, Natalie looks for unique strategic insight, a creative big idea, and exceptional craft.

Gabriel Barrea
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
BBDO CHICAGO
Chicago, IL

Gabriel Barrea is a creative director at BBDO Chicago, where he leads global brands such as Extra Gum and M&M's. His work has been recognized by major international award shows including Cannes Lions, D&AD, The One Show, and the Clio Awards. As a Juror, Gabriel looks for ideas with cultural energy, emotional clarity, and craft strong enough to travel.

Sandra Baumander
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
PUBLICIS
Toronto, ON

Sandra Baumander is an award-winning Creative Director and Art Director whose work spans brands including Canadian Tire, Dr. Oetker, WestJet, and Mondelez. Known for combining strong visual thinking with strategic clarity, her work has been recognized by Cannes Lions, The One Show, Clio Awards, and numerous national and international award shows. As a Juror, Sandra is drawn to work with strong ideas, refined craft, and the ability to create lasting impact.

Derek Blais
CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER
LIFELONG CRUSH
Toronto, ON

Derek Blais is chief creative officer at Lifelong Crush and Canada's only Indigenous creative executive. As a Juror, Derek looks for cultural honesty, emotional power, and work brave enough to challenge expectations.

Philippe Brassard
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
COSSETTE
Montreal, QC

Philippe Brassard is a Montreal-based creative director, copywriter, and runner who has spent the past decade at Cossette. With a background in advertising, communications, and strategy, he is driven by bold, culture-shaping ideas anchored in a clear point of view. As a Juror, Philippe looks for work rooted in simple, human truths and brought to life with care.

Valerie Carlson
GLOBAL CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER
CRITICAL MASS
Los Angeles, CA

Valerie Carlson is global chief creative officer at Critical Mass, where she leads work across experience, design, content, brand, creative strategy, visual systems, digital marketing, social, gaming, film, and experiential. Val believes that the door for truly great work that makes you question, laugh or cry has been closing rapidly this year. And that it's time to kick it back open! As a Juror, Valerie looks for fine details, craft, unique instincts and insight that comes from the gut.

Debbie Chan
EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR
NARRATIVE XPR
Toronto, ON

Debbie Chan is an award-winning creative with more than 18 years of experience in the industry. With a background in design, she spent much of her career as an Art Director before becoming Executive Creative Director at Narrative, working with brands including Nike, Converse, KFC, Scotiabank, and Volvo. Her work has been recognized by Cannes Lions, D&AD, The One Show, Applied Arts, Communication Arts, Effies, and Clios. As a Juror, Debbie is drawn to work with strong ideas, sharp craft, and clear human connection.

Pierre Chan
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
BERLIN
Edmonton, AB

As a naive teen, Pierre's dream was to become a constitutional lawyer. Bombing the LSAT was the best thing that happened to him. Today, he has 234 followers on Instagram, boasts a 4.91 rating on Uber, and leads the creative department at Berlin—an indie shop in Edmonton. His non-litigation work has been recognized by Cannes, D&AD, One Show, Clios and Applied Arts. As a Juror, Pierre is drawn to work with a provocative point of view that isn't afraid to piss people off.

Mélissa Charland
EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR
VML CANADA
Montreal, QC

Montreal-based VML Canada ECD Mélissa Charland builds award-winning work with a simple rule: never lose the fun. As a juror, she hunts for clarity, audacity, and ideas that connect with real people. She believes advertising is one of the best jobs in the world. She works fiercely to guard her team's spirit, which keeps her up at night almost as much as her son sneaking into her bed at 3 AM. As a Juror, she looks for three things: clarity, audacity, and ideas that resonate beyond the industry, connecting with people in a meaningful and lasting way.

Rachel Leblanc
ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR
RETHINK
Toronto, ON

Rachel LeBlanc is an associate creative director and art director at Rethink Toronto. After six years in the industry, her work has been recognized by The One Show, Cannes Lions, D&AD, and the Clio Awards. As a Juror, Rachel looks for ideas with sharp craft, cultural relevance, and the confidence to feel simple, human, and unexpected.

Lisa Lebedovich
EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR
WILL
Vancouver, BC

Driven by a passion for ideas and collaboration, Lisa has spent 25 years creating standout campaigns at top agencies like Rethink, TAXI, Cossette and now WILL, where she leads the agency's advertising mandate. Her award-winning work has been recognized by Cannes, the One Show, LIA, ADCC, the Clios and Applied Arts. As a Juror, Lisa looks for confident ideas that uniquely address human truths to pack an emotive punch.

Dean Lee
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Vancouver, BC

Dean Lee is an award-winning creative director with a background in art direction. His work blends strategic thinking with visual restraint, creating ideas that are emotionally and culturally connected. As a Juror, Dean looks for work with a clear point of view and the confidence to do something differently.

Tyler Mckissick
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
LEO TORONTO
Toronto, ON

Tyler McKissick is an award-winning Toronto art director and creative director at Leo Toronto who believes making ads should still be fun. His work has been recognized by Applied Arts and shaped by a love of personality, humour, and sharp visual ideas. As a Juror, Tyler looks for work with personality, humour, and the ability to surprise people.

Vicki Murphy
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
M5 THE AGENCY
Atlantic Canada

Vicki Murphy is creative director at m5 in St. John's, one of Canada's largest independent agency groups. With more than 25 years of experience, her work has been recognized by Applied Arts, the Cassies, ICE Awards, and Gold Quill. As a Juror, Vicki looks for creative rooted in human insight but executed in a surprising way.

Anton Mwewa
ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR / ART DIRECTOR
DIAMOND
Toronto, ON

Anton Mwewa is an award-winning associate creative director and art director creating culturally resonant work for brands like Canadian Blood Services, Pizza Hut, and Maple Leaf Foods. Outside advertising, he's usually behind a camera as a photographer or advocating for stronger BIPOC representation across the industry. As a Juror, Anton looks for creative that pays attention to culture, people, and the weird little tensions everyone else overlooks.

Keli Pollock
PARTNER + CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER
DAUGHTER
Calgary, AB

Keli Pollock has spent more than three decades building brands that leave a lasting mark. She's behind two of her city's most visible and lasting brand legacies: the rebrand of Calgary as Blue Sky City, and the creation of the brand world for Calgary Wild FC, the city's first professional women's soccer team. As partner and chief creative officer, she's helped grow Daughter Creative into a nationally recognized agency. Her work has earned recognition at all of the industry's major international award shows throughout her career. As a Juror, Keli is drawn to ideas with a distinct point of view, emotional intelligence and the craft to leave a lasting impression.

Dave Roberts
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Montreal, QC

Dave Roberts is a creative leader whose work spans brand platforms, digital products, and storytelling for brands including Adidas, L'Oréal, and the Toronto Raptors. Formerly executive creative director at McCann Canada, Dave has also held leadership roles at Sid Lee and CloudRaker, helping shape a more connected, experience-driven approach to contemporary advertising. As a Juror, Dave looks for ideas that feel culturally aware, emotionally intelligent, and built for how people actually engage with brands today.

Morgan Starr
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
TBWA CANADA
Toronto, ON

Morgan Starr is a creative director at TBWA Canada whose work has reached both the Super Bowl and the top of Cannes. She recently worked on Instacart's Super Bowl spot starring Ben Stiller and Benson Boone, directed by Spike Jonze. Her Dove "Cost of Beauty" campaign won Gold Lions at Cannes, Best in Show at The One Show, and earned an Emmy nomination. As a Juror, Morgan looks for sharp ideas with cultural awareness, strong writing, and a clear reason to exist.

Entries are judged digitally by award-winning creatives working in Canada and beyond.

Current students, you are ONLY ELIGIBLE to enter the Student Awards Competition, where work is judged alongside your peers at a similar level of experience.

Categories & Entry Fees

Entry fees vary per sub-grouping and category.

INTEGRATED CAMPAIGNS - $150
Artificial Intelligence
Brand Activation
Corporate Responsibility
Digital Engagement
Entire Advertising Campaign
Entire Online Advertising Campaign
Pro Bono/Public Service/Charity
PR/Influencer
Small Community/Business Integrated Campaign

ADVERTISING/PROMOTIONAL - 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
Point-of-Purchase
Promotional Collateral
Pro Bono/Public Service/Charity Offline Advertising
Transit Vehicles
Small Community/Business Offline Ads

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

FILM, VIDEO & SOUND – SINGLE: $100/SERIES: $125*
Branded or Sponsored Content
Podcast
Pro Bono, 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 – SINGLE: $50/ SERIES: $65/CAMPAIGN: $85
Entries can be from any application from the sub-groupings above.

Entry Material Guidelines

Main Entry Files

REQUIRED
Main Entry File(s) must clearly show the images, ideally without additional graphics to be judged in hi-res format.

PERMITTED

SINGLE | 1 file

A single ad or promotional unit – Such as a print ad, advertorial piece, website, TV or radio spot.

SERIES | 3 files maximum

2-3 ads or promotional units – a series of print ads, transit shelters or TV or radio spots.

CAMPAIGN | 9 files maximum

Up to 9 applications/units from an entire campaign to promote an event, brand, product, service or business.

*Exceptions are noted in specific categories.

NOTE ON MULTIPAGE PDFS: Recommended when incorporating any additional images into the maximum number of files allowed (e.g. the image in context, inside pages from a book, or multiple views of 3-dimensional entries such as packaging). It only counts as 1 file.

Support Files

Support Files help clarify your entry for judges. They are not for publication (unless noted) and do not count towards your main file limits. Only one (1) file or URL may be uploaded.

REQUIRED
~ English translations for non-English entries; must be included either as a Support File or within a multipage PDF as your Main Entry File.

PERMITTED
~ Brief descriptions: Optional, recommended if the use or intention is not obvious. Limit to 50 words in English (10-second intro for motion).
~ Case studies: Optional, ONLY as a support file. Limit 50 words in English or 45s for videos. Note: judges score the creative, not the outcomes.

NOT PERMITTED
~ Uploading the same creative: Do not submit the same creative either as a file or URL if it's been added as the Main Entry File.
~ Entrant information: Do not add entrant-identifying watermarks on support files or URLs (self-promo work excluded).

RECOMMENDED BEST PRACTICES

Judging is fully online. Here's how to make your entry clear and impactful:

How To Enter

The Entry Form consists of five (5) steps. You can save your progress at any point.

Log in or sign up for an account

View a sample entry

Step 1: entry information

Choose the Awards competition, sub-group, category, and add your entry title.

Step 2: Entry Materials

Upload all required digital files. Follow the Entry Material Guidelines for specs and tips.

Step 3: Winners' Information

For publication only, not for judging.

Step 4: Creative Credits

List the creatives who worked on the project and specify their roles.

Step 5: Certificate information

Provide the winning company/individual and/or client name to appear on the certificate.

One certificate will be given for each winning entry. Additional certificates can be ordered later.

FINALIZE & PAY

Click Save to return to your dashboard to add or copy entries.

Payment completes the submission—entries are not officially submitted until payment is processed.

You may edit entries up until payment. After payment, only limited edits (e.g., Winners' Information) are allowed. Once results are released, there will be a 48-hour window to update Winners' Information and creative credit role.

Enter Now

Payment & Refunds

Entries are non-refundable. If an entry is submitted to the same category, entrants will have the option to move the entry to another category or enter new work in its place.

Keep a record of your submissions.

Winner Recognition

Award recipients receive:

OPTIONAL ADD-ONS*

  • Extra certificates for your team or client (with optional plaque mounting).
  • Additional copies of the Awards Annual at a discounted rate.
  • A personalized, engraved Lucite AACE trophy (3.5 × 3.5 × 3.5 in.).

*Additional fees apply

Frequently Asked Questions

Eligibility FAQ

Can students enter? No. Students may only 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 Awards 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 (five pieces for the Photography & Illustration competitions). A campaign is up to nine pieces (six pieces for the Student competition). 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 indicated number of pieces specified.

What is the Young Blood category? Young Blood is a series of categories open only to entrants who have been out of school for up to a certain number of years (three for the Photography and Illustration competitions and five for the Design and Advertising competitions). 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.

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 Awards 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 field. 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 Awards 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, complete, campaign, we select a sampling at our discretion from the images/files submitted. For digital or motion, we will contact you to provide us with final image selects.

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.