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AWARDS

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Can you envision the future of the industry? We’re looking for ideas from global creatives age 30 or younger, whether you’re a student, full-time agency creative, or freelancer. Entries must convey this year’s brief and be original work. 

The winning design will become the cover of Ad Age’s Cannes Lions issue.

The competition is FREE to enter! 

Winner will be released as the cover of our June 14 issue.

Entries closed

Watch coverage of last year's winner here

 

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2021 COMPETITION INFO 

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The contest is free and open to global creatives and students age 30 and under on June 14, 2021. 

Deadline to enter has been extended! New deadline is: April 22, 2021 at 5 p.m. EDT. 


Please read the brief and download the below PDF for all design specs and info regarding your submission:

DESIGN SPECS

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THE BRIEF

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Last year when we debuted our annual Young Creatives Cover Contest, the industry (the whole world, for that matter) had been upended by the pandemic and social unrest. We asked contestants to illustrate how creativity had helped to fuel us through the chaos.

Today, the struggles continue, yet agencies and marketers have evolved quickly to keep up, developing new ways of working and proving just how agile and inventive they can be. With this in mind, for this year’s contest, we are hoping to look further, into the wild beyond, and explore where evolution will take the industry next. We want you to imagine what Ad Age’s cover will look like ten years from now. What will be captivating advertisers and marketers’ attention in a decade, what will the agency of the future look like, what will be the biggest trend in marketing, what will be advertising’s most difficult challenge? These are just some of the ideas you can explore in your design.

As always, we suggest you avoid cliches (we’ve seen many lightbulbs, brains, Lion trophies, pencil shavings and such over the years, so if you do decide to feature often used symbols like these, make sure it’s in a fresh, surprising way).

Deadline to enter has been extended! New deadline is: April 22, 2021 at 5 p.m. EDT. 

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Entries closed

 

The competition is FREE to enter! 

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WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO ENTER

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The Ad Age Young Creatives Cover Competition is open to students, full-time agency creatives, and freelance creatives who are age 30 or under at the time the Ad Age Cannes issue releases on June 14. You must be 30 or younger on June 14 to qualify.

Our contest is designed to tap into the talent of young creatives, inspire them to join in important industry gatherings, and offer a career-enhancing opportunity to those who are still junior in the business and not as likely to have agency financial support to do so otherwise.

Ad Age will announce a number of finalists, but only one winner (or creative duo) will be selected.

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THE ULTIMATE PRIZE

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The winning entry will be used as the cover image for the Ad Age Cannes issue. This issue is sent to all Ad Age subscribers. The winner will also receive a virtual pass to this year's Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in June.

In addition to the grand prize winner, we will also announce a number of finalists.

 

Entries closed

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THE LEGAL STUFF

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Before submitting your entry, please click below to review the terms and conditions for the 2021 Ad Age Young Creatives Competition.

Terms & Conditions

 

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CONTACT US

Got questions? We're happy to help.

Award Inquiries:  aaevents@adage.com