About

The Dallas Society of Visual Communications (DSVC) was founded in 1957 as the Dallas/Fort Worth Art Directors Club. As the Metroplex grew, the club broadened its scope to embrace all professionals involved in marketing communication, including writers, photographers, illustrators, broadcast producers, Internet professionals, and the many partners and suppliers who support them. In 1975, the Club officially changed its name to The Dallas Society of Visual Communications (DSVC) — a change that coincided with the emergence of Dallas/Fort Worth as a center of accomplishment in advertising, design, filmmaking, and numerous other facets of visual communication.

Over the years, the DSVC has grown to become one of the largest independent clubs of its kind. Along the way, it has continually sought to elevate the standards of the industry and promote the value that creative professionals add to commerce and the community-at-large.

Work published from March 2024 to April 2025 is eligible for entry. Regardless of its name, the Dallas Show is open to all creative companies and individuals, regardless of company location or what market(s) entered work appeared in. Only final, published work may be entered in the Dallas Show. Spec work for a real client, solutions created but not published for a real client, or fictitious work created as exercises or experiments may not be entered. The only exception is the Golden Trash Can category; see the Categories section for more info.

Student work cannot be entered in the Dallas Show and should be entered into the National Student Show; visit nationalstudentshow.com for details.

While all work must be registered and submitted online, select categories have the option to also mail in physical work for judging to Clampitt Paper. All entries submitted physically must have “For DSVC Judging” written clearly on the outside of the package as well as a print out of your entry registration. Physical submissions will not be returned. For questions or concerns, contact the Dallas Show Chair at dallasshow@dsvc.org.

Only the following categories have the option to submit work as physical entries:

• Books/Magazine
• Direct Mail/Invitation
• Packaging
• Posters
• Publications

Please address the package as the following:

For DSVC Judging
ATTN: Meredith Clampitt Whaley
9207 Ambassador Row
Dallas, TX 75247

The Dallas Show is judged by five nationally recognized creatives from across the country. Judges are asked to select work by category to be included in the show and to award bulbs, with no persuasion or interference from anyone within the DSVC organization.

The number of pieces selected for inclusion in the Dallas Show is at the sole discretion of the judges, as is the number of pieces that will be included in each category. Once the judges have determined which pieces will comprise this year’s Dallas Show, they decide as a group which pieces will receive awards. Judges select bulb winners from the pieces that are chosen for inclusion in the show, and do not award bulbs based on category. Because of this process, some categories may have several winners and some may have none.

Gold, silver, and bronze bulbs are awarded to signify the level of excellence the judges determine a piece to have, and do not represent first, second, or third place in a particular category. In addition to these awards, each of the five judges will also select a Judge’s Choice award, given to the piece that they alone deem to be the most outstanding piece in the show.

For questions about the judging process, contact the Dallas Show Chair, at dallasshow@dsvc.org

Notification of accepted entries will be emailed promptly after judging. Due to the high volume of entries, entrants whose work is not accepted will not be notified.

Following judging weekend, entries selected for inclusion in the Dallas Show will be notified by email, and a separate announcement will be made about the event. If your work is selected, instructions on how to submit printed work for display in the Dallas Show gallery will be provided. All pieces selected for inclusion in the Dallas Show will be displayed at The Dallas Show 56 awards presentation and dinner on Thursday, June 5, 2025 at the Granada Theater. At the show, selected work will be showcased, award winners will be announced, and light bulb awards will be presented to top work as chosen by the judges. Please note: being selected for inclusion in the show is a recognition of achievement, and not all work selected by the judges will receive an award. A full list of medal winners will be posted to dallasshow.org following the show.