The Applied Arts Awards
Recognizing outstanding creative excellence
Since 1992, the Applied Arts Awards have helped advertising agencies, design studios, and creative individuals gain credibility, which can significantly enhance their reputation and attract new clients or open new career opportunities. Additionally, the competition helps foster a sense of community and collaboration within the applied arts industry in Canada and beyond.
We help recognize creativity at different levels in the creative profession with specialized categories to give an added boost of confidence.
- Young Blood is a specialized section of a limited number of categories for newer professionals with a limited number of years in the industry to enter. See each of the Award competitions for eligibility.
- Student competition is open to high school, post-secondary, graduate studies, or individuals who graduated up to 1 year ago. Work submitted to the student competition is judged alongside your peers at a similar level of experience.
Find over 400 categories across our five (5) competitions, including these and many more: creative advertising, cinematography, copywriting, animation, design, editorial design, environmental design, illustration, interactive media, packaging, and photography.
For categories, eligibility or to submit your work, click on the competition of interest.
2025 Photography Awards
Opens: November 18, 2024
Deadline: February 7, 2025
2025 Illustration Awards
Opens: November 18, 2024
Deadline: February 7, 2025
2025 Design Awards
Opens: November 18, 2024
Deadline: March 21, 2025
2025 Student Awards
Opens: November 18, 2024
Deadline: May 23, 2025
2025 Advertising Awards
Opens: May 12, 2025
Deadline: August 29, 2025
Note: To current students completing their secondary, post-secondary or graduate level - you are ONLY ELIGIBLE to enter the Student Awards Competition where work is judged alongside your peers at a similar level of experience.
Reap the benefits now to be rewarded later with our easy awards management system.
- Stop and restart at any time during the entry process.
- Easy to use Awards interface to enter across multiple competitions.
- All submissions are digital, with a simple upload process and clearly defined entry material requirements.
- Simple processes for entering creative credit roles – once creative credit roles are inputted; they can be reused for subsequent entries.
- Copy entries into multiple categories and or across competitions.
You've created the work. Now it's your turn to get recognized
Here are the many benefits winners receive in recognition for their outstanding work:
- Winning entries are featured prominently in the corresponding Applied Arts Awards Annual, showcasing the best creative work in the industry. The Awards Annual provides winners with valuable exposure and recognition within the creative community and will be received by all winners.
- The winning work is showcased in the Applied Arts Awards online gallery, a digital exhibition of the awarded entries. The gallery is preserved to ensure visibility for years to come.
- Winners are granted the right to display the Applied Arts Awards winners' badge on their website, portfolio, or marketing materials. This badge serves as a visual mark of distinction and can help enhance their professional reputation.
- Winners receive an official award certificate acknowledging their achievement in the Applied Arts Awards competition. This certificate serves as a tangible symbol of their accomplishment and can be used for promotional purposes.
- The Applied Arts Awards are highly regarded within the creative industry. Winning an award can significantly enhance a professional's reputation and credibility. It can also attract attention from potential clients, employers, collaborators, and peers.
Enter your work for an opportunity to showcase your talent, gain recognition, and connect with the creative community. Enter today!