Applied Arts Illustration Awards

CLOSED

Eligibility Period: February 2024 - February 2025
Results Notification: Mid-March 2025

KEEP CLIMBING THE CREATIVE LADDER

Illustrators or animators—of all levels—professional or enthusiasts—Canadian, US or International—dabbling in stills or creating animations for film, TV or online—Have your work published in print, online Winners Gallery and the Awards Archive.

Eligible published, unpublished, or personal work created between February 2024 and February 2025 can be entered into nearly 50 categories, including advertising, conceptual, corporate, environmental & spaces, editorial, portrait, posters, promotional, and more.

Winning an Applied Arts Illustration Award will help you broadcast your work to top creative professionals in the advertising and design industries today. Winning could be a career changer!

This is an international competition open to all forms of commissioned, published, unpublished, and personal Illustration work, for illustrators of all levels — including newly minted professionals with 3 years or less industry experience.

For 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.

Applied Arts remains committed to recognizing talented artists who continue to pursue excellence in their creative projects. Our mandate is to showcase their exceptional craft that has resulted from years of hard work. We provide artists with the opportunity to grow their community and business by getting the eyes of established industry creatives on their work. Thus, Applied Arts will not accept generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the competition.

2025 Call for Entry Kit 2025 Illustration Awards Categories Kit

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

Illustration Awards Jury

Our Photography & Illustration Awards jury comprises award-winning creatives working in the industry today in Canada and beyond. Who better to view and judge your entries? After all, their work relies heavily on the imagery they choose for their winning campaigns.

Gerardo Agbuya
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
COURAGE
Toronto, ON

Gerardo Agbuya is a creative director at Courage Inc. He's an art director with a love for design and a passion for building brands through whatever mediums and ideas necessary. His work on Miller lite, Audi, Apple, KFC, Presidents Choice and more has been recognized on international and national award shows. His superpower is that he just genuinely loves this industry and doing the work.

Maria José Arias
ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR
HARD WORK CLUB
Toronto, ON

A Colombian Canadian visual communicator, Maria José, works in advertising and branding. She started her creative journey as an art director in Toronto, working with clients like Lululemon, the Directors Guild of Canada, and the Canadian Cancer Society. She also had the opportunity to head across the pond to work with the design team at 4Creative.

Marie-Elaine Benoit
EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR, BRANDING & DESIGN
SID LEE
Montreal, QC

Marie-Elaine Benoit is the lead creative director of Sid Lee's award-winning design and branding team. She's an advocate for creative intelligence in design and is internationally regarded for her cultivation of brand identities and experiences. Her work has been awarded by Cannes Lions, the One Show, ADC, the Type Directors Club, Applied Arts, Clio Awards, D&AD, Marketing Awards, Idéa, and more. In 2020 she was named one of Adweek's 11 Global Creative Leaders Shaping the World's Most Inventive Marketing. Marie-Elaine designs beyond the realm of aesthetics. Through purpose-driven ingenuity and storytelling, she creates meaningful and relevant work capable of shaping the people and places it envelops.

Dustin Black
EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR
COLE MCVOY
Minneapolis, MN

As executive creative director at Colle McVoy, Dustin helps manage the award-winning creative department and leads the work on numerous accounts. He's known for his unique, inspired and infectious creativity. His work has been recognized by the Clios, DA&D, Communication Arts, Cannes Lions, The One Show, Obie, the Telly Awards, and the Effie Awards. His experience spans a wide variety of consumer brands including Perdue, Craftsman, Cub Cadet, 3M, MSNBC, Subaru, Jackson Hole Tourism, SPAM, Purina, Hormel, Caribou Coffee and Tillamook Cheese.

Jessica Brasil
SENIOR DESIGNER
LG2
Toronto, ON

With over 10 years of design experience, including nearly four years at LG2, Jessica has established herself as a senior creative, contributing to both the branding and design team as well as the broader creative department. She has led projects for clients such as The Bay, LCBO, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Keilhauer, and Health Hut, successfully managing multiple initiatives. A multidisciplinary creative, Jessica delivers award-winning work while mentoring junior talent and staying ahead of industry trends. Whether for local businesses or national brands, she thrives on design challenges, creating impactful, meaningful work.

Marcella Coad
GROUP CREATIVE DIRECTOR
INNOCEAN
Huntington Beach, CA

Marcella is a group creative director at Innocean USA, leading the brand social and retail teams on the Genesis account. She began her career in Calgary Alberta nearly 19 years ago and has worked at innovative agencies such as R/GA, Anomaly, RPA, Sid Lee, and TAXI, and 5 years working internally at Amazon. A visual storyteller, Marcella loves all mediums that can capture experiences and emotions in a compelling way. Whether film, digital, social, or experiential, Marcella looks to push conceptual storytelling to deliver breakthrough, strategic, award-winning work.

Tom Froese
ILLUSTRATOR, TEACHER AND PODCASTER
Yarrow, BC

Tom Froese is an award-winning Illustrator, teacher, and speaker known for his vibrant maps, characters, and scenes. Since 2013, he's collaborated with clients like Yahoo!, Airbnb, and The Wall Street Journal. Through teaching, Tom shares his accessible approach to illustration and has presented workshops at events like ICON and DesignThinkers. He is also the host of Thoughts on Illustration, a podcast for illustrators. Tom lives and works in Yarrow, BC. In his spare time, he loves to get outside and run.

Jenn Hicks
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
WILL
Vancouver, BC

A graduate of the IDEA program at Capilano University, Jennifer Hicks is a creative director, designer and art director with nearly 20 years of experience. Her ability to translate brand opportunity into visually arresting design and strong conceptual thought has been recognized by several local and international awards shows.

Suzanne Huitsing
ART DIRECTOR
ZGM
Edmonton, AB

Suzanne is an art director with over a decade of experience in advertising and design. Her commitment to create beautiful, impactful work has earned her numerous industry accolades, including the Clios, Effies, and Communication Arts.

Lionel Michée
ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR
COSSETTE
Montreal, QC

Lionel is deeply committed to creating meaningful brand identities and tackling design challenges. With 19 years of experience in graphic design, he has built his expertise in studios such as Trafik (Lyon, France) and Studio Feed (Montreal) and now serves as associate creative director of design at Cossette. His work spans a variety of industries, including culture, fashion, and advertising, with projects ranging from Roses FC Montreal and Destination Canada to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and BRP, to name a few.

Gira Moin
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
THE KITCHEN
Toronto, ON

Gira graduated from OCAD University with a degree in design advertising, and she's been putting it to good use ever since. With nearly two decades of experience, she's worked with a range of big brands—like, Budweiser, Toronto Raptors, BMO, Google, CIBC, Kraft Heinz, and Nissan. Her work is a little bit of everything—sometimes fun, sometimes heartfelt, but always aiming to make a genuine connection between people and brands.

Túlio Pinto
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
WKND DIGITAL
Sacramento, CA

Tulio Pinto graduated from the Graphic Design program at Miami Ad School Brazil. He has worked at several agencies, including the four-time Agency of the Year Rethink, Toronto/Montreal/Vancouver/New York. Tulio has been recognized by nearly every award show, including Cannes Lion, The One Show, and SIA, and he made it to the fifth spot on the Strategy Creative Report Card in 2023.

Yannick Robitaille
ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR
BLEUBLANCROUGE
Montreal, QC

Yannick Robitaille has more than 20 years of experience in advertising. After five years at Cossette, he joined BleuBlancRouge in 2022. As a senior art director, he conceptualizes, designs and crafts campaigns for renowned brands such as Desjardins, General Motors of Canada, Goodfood, SAQ, Telus, McDonald's, Saputo, Coors Light, the Dairy Farmers of Canada, IGA and BMW Canada. Driven by boundless curiosity, exceptional talent, attention to detail and an obsession with results, Yannick has constantly innovated throughout his career. His work has been recognized at Applied Arts, Communication Arts, Lürzer's Archive, Marketing Awards, SIA and Idéa Awards.

Sophie Rubin
CO-FOUNDER, CREATIVE DIRECTOR
WePlayDesign
Lausanne, Switzerland

Sophie Rubin is an art director and the co-founder of the Swiss design studio WePlayDesign. She has dedicated her career to practicing design and teaching art direction and graphic design. Together with co-founder Cédric Rossel, Sophie has received numerous awards and international recognition. Their work has been exhibited at biennials and events around the world, including in China, the USA, Japan, Mexico, Bolivia, Russia, France, South Korea, Switzerland, and beyond.

Natasha Wittke
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
ARRIVALS+DEPARTURES
Toronto, ON

Natasha is a passionate, creative director with a focus on design and human insights. She believes that every brand possesses a compelling story waiting to be told. As the founder and chief creative officer of a successful lifestyle brand of over ten years, she uses her background to approach business challenges and client needs with a fresh and innovative mindset combining creative thinking, strategic planning and analysis. These are the tools to create compelling brand experiences that resonate with audiences across different platforms. After all, we are in the business of relationships with our clients and consumers. Whether a digital campaign or a physical product, Natasha focuses on the user experience.

Jerry Yang
SENIOR ART DIRECTOR
LEO BURNETT
Toronto, ON

Jerry has been pretty lucky in his career. He has always had the opportunity to work with great clients who share his ambition. This has resulted in him creating campaigns that have earned some of the most prestigious international awards. But he's been even luckier in his personal life, as his daughter thinks he's the world's best dad. After all, it's definitely easier to be number one when you're the only one.

Gerardo Agbuya
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
COURAGE
Toronto, ON

Maria José Arias
ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR
HARD WORK CLUB
Toronto, ON

Marie-Elaine Benoit
EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR, BRANDING & DESIGN
SID LEE
Montreal, QC

Dustin Black
EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR
COLE MCVOY
Minneapolis, MN

Jessica Brasil
SENIOR DESIGNER
LG2
Toronto, ON

Marcella Coad
GROUP CREATIVE DIRECTOR
INNOCEAN
Huntington Beach, CA

Tom Froese
ILLUSTRATOR, TEACHER AND PODCASTER
Yarrow, BC

Jenn Hicks
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
WILL
Vancouver, BC

Suzanne Huitsing
ART DIRECTOR
ZGM
Edmonton, AB

Lionel Michée
ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR
COSSETTE
Montreal, QC

Gira Moin
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
THE KITCHEN
Toronto, ON

Túlio Pinto
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
WKND DIGITAL
Sacramento, CA

Yannick Robitaille
ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR
BLEUBLANCROUGE
Montreal, QC

Sophie Rubin
CO-FOUNDER, CREATIVE DIRECTOR
WePlayDesign
Lausanne, Switzerland

Natasha Wittke
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
ARRIVALS+DEPARTURES
Toronto, ON

Jerry Yang
SENIOR ART DIRECTOR
LEO BURNETT
Toronto, ON

Judging Process

All work is entered and judged digitally. There are no hard copies. Therefore, please read our RECOMMENDED BEST PRACTICES, under the ENTRY MATERIAL GUIDELINES section ensure you submit your work properly for maximum impact.

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 the work and there is only one round of judging.

Each entry is judged independently on its own merit. Judges are asked not to rank or compare entries.
We have no predetermined quota of winners. If a category has no winners, it is eliminated. Similarly, a category may have multiple winners. All entries above the cut-off score are declared winners and are published.
We do not rank winners (i.e no gold, silver, etc.). Every entry above the cut-off score is given equal exposure as a winner.

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

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

NOTE: Entries submitted to the Young Blood 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 February 2024 and February 2025 (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 three (3) years.

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. Visit Student Awards for eligibility and deadlines.

Categories & Entry Fees

Entry fees vary per sub-grouping and category. Download the 2025 Illustration & Illustration Categories Kit for detailed pricing.

ILLUSTRATION SINGLE: $40 / SERIES: $65
Advertising Illustration
Arts & Culture Illustration Cartoon/Comic Illustration
Conceptual Illustration
Corporate Illustration
Editorial Illustration
Environmental Factor Illustration Environmental/Spaces
Fashion & Beauty Illustration
Gallery Illustration
Packaging Illustration
Photo-Illustration – Submit through the Photography Awards competition
Portrait Illustration
Poster Illustration
Promotional Illustration
Pro Bono/PSA/Charity Illustration
Self-Promotion
Small Community/Business Illustration
Unpublished/Personal Illustration

MOTION – SHORT: $100 / LONG: $115
Animated Character
Animation
Explainer videos
Promotional Social Media

YOUNG BLOOD - SINGLE: $30 / SERIES: $55
Entries can be from any application from the above groupings of categories.

Entry Material Guidelines

Submit entries in digital, hi-res format.
Do not add a watermark that identifies the entrant Self-promotion work is exempt.
Where applicable, include the image/illustration in context (e.g., show the finished ad if an Advertising Photography), IDEALLY as a support file.
Entries must be in English or include an English translation for any important text (e.g. headlines AND entry titles).
At the entry stage, complete the Winners' Information, including the Description of Entry and Creative Credits. NOTE: Winners will only have 48 hours to review and make edits.

Acceptable file formats and restrictions

STILLS

File Format: PDF*, JPG, PNG, GIF
File Dimensionst: 8-inches (or 2,400 pixels) on the longest dimension
Resolution: 300 DPI (min.)
Colour Mode: RGB
File Size: Max. 5 MB

IMPORTANT NOTE RE MULTI-PAGE PDFS: These are recommended when incorporating additional images while still adhering to the maximum number of files allowed. For example, the PDF could have several pages that show the image/illustration in its final context, inside pages from a book, or multiple views of 3D entries such as packaging. It only counts as 1 file.

MOTION

File Format: MP4, URL to a video-sharing site (e.g. YouTube, Vimeo).
File Size: Max. 80 MB
IMPORTANT re MP4: Video files will be resized by our system to 800px wide keeping aspect ratio.

RESTRICTIONS

Password–protected sites not allowed.
MPEG, WMV are unsupported.
Uploading materials through file sharing sites such Dropbox, Google Drive, WeTransfer, etc.

Main Entry Files

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

PERMITTED

SINGLE | One Image*/max. 1 file

A single piece, such as a single image, illustration, exhibit, storefront, or multipage unit, such as a book/publication/brochure, etc.

SERIES | 2-5 Images*/max. 5 files

A series of images/illustrations that relate to one another by topic or product.

*Exceptions are noted in specific categories.

Support Files

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. These files can be added to your main entry material or uploaded to the "Entry Supporting Materials" sub-section of Entry Materials Section. Only one file/URL may be uploaded.

REQUIRED
~ English translations for non-English entries: Include any important text (e.g. headlines and the entry title) either as a Support File or within a multipage PDF as your Main Entry File.

PERMITTED
~ Brief descriptions: Are recommended in cases where the use/intention is not obvious or to provide further clarity for the judges. Limit to 50 words in English (10-second intro for motion).
~ Case studies: Not recommended (as outcomes are not a consideration for judges in scoring), case studies can be added ONLY as a Support File and should be limited to max. 50 words in English (or up to 45s for videos). REMINDER: The actual creative is to be judged as your Main Entry File.

NOT PERMITTED
~ Uploading the same creative: Do not submit the same creative either as a file or URL if it's already been added as the Main Entry File.
~ Entrant information: Do not add a watermark that identifies the entrant on the Support files/URLs.

RECOMMENDED BEST PRACTICES

Judging is online. Here's how to help the judges:

A multipage PDF is preferred over multiple, individual PDF or JPG files.
More is not better. Curate your images to the maximum indicated for each category, except where noted below.
Give the judges the full picture at-a-glance. Show multiple views of 3D pieces, zoom in on small print or details and show complex/novel work in the context of how the audience saw it.
Include supporting material within a multipage PDF as your Main Entry File when requested.
Look at your entry on a smaller screen and ensure all important details are legible at that size, as that's how a judge may view it.

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 Account.

This is your Applied Arts account. To start entering or to review existing entries, go to My Account and click on the Awards Entries link. Account information can be edited by clicking the "Edit Profile" on the My Account homepage.

Bookmark https://www.appliedartsmag.com/myaccount/ 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 Awards Entries, regardless of payment method, to be eligible for entry.

View a sample entry

Step 1: entry information

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

Step 2: Entry Materials

Entry format: All entries are to be submitted in digital format. See the 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. After the winners have been notified, you will only have 48 hours to make edits.

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 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.

Step 4: Creative Credits

Credits are a summary of the individual's or companies that have worked on the project.

A credit can be designated with an individual's name or an organization's. 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.
Creative Credits must 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

One certificate will be given 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 "Awards 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 it's paid for. Entries may be edited until paid. Once payment has been processed, it is final.

Payment & Refunds

Entry fees vary. Check the categories kit for entry fees. 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.

We only accept cheques or direct deposits in special circumstances. These cases must be pre-approved. To request them, contact awards@appliedartsmag.com.

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

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.

Winners

All entrants will be notified by mid-March 2025 via email. At that time, you will have only 48 hours to correct or finalize creative credits and descriptions.

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

Award recipients will earn the following recognition for their outstanding work

Published in Applied Arts Magazine: Winning entries are featured prominently in the Summer 2025: Photography, Illustration & Design 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.
Online Gallery: Showcasing the Winners' work in the Applied Arts Awards online gallery, a digital exhibition of the awarded entries. This online presence can increase exposure and visibility for the winners' work.
Digital Winners' Badge: 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.
Award Certificate: Winners receive an official certificate acknowledging their achievement in the Applied Arts Awards competition. This certificate is a tangible symbol of their accomplishment and can be used for promotional purposes.
Industry Recognition: The Applied Arts Awards are highly regarded within the creative industry, and winning an award can significantly enhance a professional's reputation and credibility. It can also attract attention from potential clients, employers, collaborators, and peers, opening up new career opportunities and collaborations.

ADD-ON OPPORTUNITIES FOR WINNERS*

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

*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 broadcast/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. 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 digital uploads 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 "Awards 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 credits. A paid entry is final, so check 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 in these cases, 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.