Judges Corner with Jasmin Brochu

Still Here, a multiple-category winner in the 2026 Applied Arts Photography & Design Awards. Creative by Cossette Quebec; photography by Brühmüller Studio, Quebec, QC.

“When judging I was looking for both creative ideas, or a fresh way to tell a story, and also technical mastery and attention to detail. For me, winners should cover all these bases.”
—Jasmin Brochu, Art Director, Cossette Quebec, QC

In a landscape increasingly shaped by automation and artificial intelligence, what does it mean for creative work to truly stand out? 

For Jasmin Brochu, Art Director at Cossette Québec and first-time Applied Arts judge, the experience offered both inspiration and perspective. Reviewing the entries, he was struck by the range of work—and by how clearly the strongest submissions distinguished themselves. What quickly became apparent was that strong work shared a common thread: intention.

This balance—between concept and execution—is where distinction emerges. A compelling idea alone is not enough; neither is technical precision without a point of view. The most memorable entries were those that managed to hold both.

Yet beyond craft and creativity, Brochu found himself returning to something more intangible: the presence of the human hand. 

“In an age where AI takes more place each day, I was looking for work featuring human experience and work that let the craft shine through.”
—Jasmin Brochu, Art Director, Cossette, Quebec, QC

It is a perspective that challenges a growing tendency toward polish for its own sake. In a time when tools can simulate perfection with ease, authenticity becomes increasingly meaningful. The choices, imperfections and individual perspectives behind the work can reveal something technology alone cannot replicate: the experience and intention of the person who made it.

 Bē:  jasminbroc9578

For Brochu, the work that stands out is ultimately the work where you can still feel the human behind it.