The Applied Arts Awards

Your Creativity, Celebrated.

Your Work, Published.

Your Talent, Respected.

Since 1992, the Applied Arts Awards have showcased and elevated the best in advertising, design, interactive/digital, illustration and photography. Winning boosts credibility, attracts clients, and opens career doors—while fostering a vibrant creative community across Canada and beyond.

We help recognize creativity at different levels in the creative profession with specialized categories to give an added boost of confidence.

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.

Explore 400+ categories spanning advertising, cinematography, copywriting, animation, design, editorial, environmental design, illustration, interactive media, packaging, photography, and more.

2026 Key Dates

Celebrated. Published. Respected.

Enter today!