Categories

• Broadcast Audio

  Advertisements and promotions aired over radio or podcasts.

• Broadcast Video (Commercials, Ads over TV, Video)

  Commercials or ads aired over television (for radio ads, see “Broadcast Audio” category).

• Digital Campaign

  Digital media such as online videos and banner advertisements entered as a holistic campaign. (Must contain at least 5 pieces that primarily fall under “Advertising” categories, but may include work from “Design” and “Experiential” categories.)

• Digital (Web Advertising, Email)

  Web-banner ads (static, animated, pop-ups) and mobile device ads on smartphones or tablets.

• Direct Mail

  Print ads delivered directly to mailboxes.

• Magazine/Newspaper/Trade Publication

  Advertising in editorial, consumer magazine/newspaper, or trade magazine/newspaper.

• Miscellaneous

  Any work not covered in other advertising categories.

• Mixed Media Campaign

  A campaign spanning various media entered as a holistic campaign. (Must contain at least 5 pieces that primarily fall under “Advertising” categories, but may include work from “Design” and “Experiential” categories.)

• Nontraditional

  Unique and experimental forms of advertising using non-standard methods. Please submit as images or videos less than 3 minutes in length.

• Out of Home

  Billboards, ads in transit areas and other location-based media.

• Point of Purchase

  In-store advertising, displays, or packaging placed next to the product it is promoting.

• Poster

  Print advertising promoting a brand, event, or message.

• Social (via TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, etc. Paid or Organic)

  Advertising content, both paid and organic, created for social media platforms (static, sequential, video).

• Video

  Paid online commercials, webisodes, etc.

• Annual Report

  Report covering an organization’s activities throughout the preceding year. Includes corporate social responsibility environmental reports.

• Branding

  Entries for this category include projects for a comprehensive identity or branding program. Campaign Entries must consist of at least 5 pieces, a majority of which must fall into “Design” categories, but may include work from “Advertising” and “Experiential” categories (This includes business papers, collateral, packaging, signage, a website, and direct mail). If a case study video is entered as the submission, the video should be no longer than 3 minutes.

  • Branding Campaign: Media including advertisements, retail promotions and services, product design, print collateral, website and digital marketing, video, out of home and guerrilla campaigns—entered as a campaign.
  • Identity Manual/Style Guide: A brand identity system collected and featured for the purpose of educating others regarding usage.

• Brochure, Booklet, Catalog

  Print or digital informative documents about a company.

• Business Papers

  Items such as letterheads, envelopes, business cards, etc. for a business.

• Environmental (Exhibit, Retail, Trade, Miscellaneous)

  Items such as signage, architectural graphics, and wayfinding. (On-screen applications should be entered in the “Experiential” section.)

• For Sale

  Entries for these categories include original works by designers, studios, agencies, printmakers, photographers, and illustrators, produced for sale by the creator (not commissioned by a client).

• Invitation/Announcement

  Invitations for company events, gala dinners, annual shows, or other announcements promoted by an organization.

• Logo/Trademark

  Work acting as a brand’s primary mark.

• Miscellaneous

  Any work not covered in other “Design” categories.

• Motion, Animation & Video

  Animated work with text, illustration, and/or sound. Commercials should be entered in the appropriate “Advertising” category.

• Packaging/Labeling

  Boxes or label designs promoting an organization.

• Poster

  Print pieces promoting a brand, event, or message.

• Publication

  Entries for these categories include designs for books, consumer or trade magazines, and interactive/digital publications. (Websites should be entered in the “Experiential” section.)

• Self-Promotion

  Entries for these categories include projects that are promotions for design studios, ad agencies, printers, paper companies, art schools, illustrators or photographers. Entries would include agency/studio self-promotions, projects created for design organizations and clubs, paper companies, printers, etc. All work that does not fall into the categories below should be entered in the other “Design” categories.

• Typography

  Entries for these categories should include projects in which typography is the primary visual element of the piece(s).

Illustrations must be published to be entered in the following categories:

• Advertising

  Illustration commissioned for advertisements (print ads, outdoor, direct mail, broadcast, digital, etc.).

• Design

  Illustrations commissioned for print and/or digital pieces that incorporate elements of design.

• For Sale

  Illustrations created for posters, prints, stationery, greeting cards, licensing/stock, gallery sale, etc for sale by the illustrator or authorized representative/licensee.

• Miscellaneous

  Work not included in other categories.

• Motion / Animation / Video

  Includes animation, motion, and multi-image projects. Videos should be edited/clipped to 3 minutes or less in length. Longer submissions will be judged by the first 3 minutes of play.

• Publication

• Self-Promotion

  Illustrations—both static and animated—used in printed or digital promotions for illustrators, design firms, agencies, art schools, printers, paper companies, etc.

Interactive pieces that include mobile and desktop apps, as well as augmented and virtual reality, while prioritizing UX/UI and emphasizing appearance

• Desktop App/Software

  Interactive applications for use on desktop.

• Miscellaneous

  Work not included in other categories.

• Mobile App

  Interactive applications for use on mobile devices.

• Self-Promotion

  Experiential application used to promote a design firm, ad agency, illustrator, or photographer. Personal websites (blogs, announcement sites, portfolio sites) may be entered.

• Virtual/Augmented Reality

  Entries for these categories include any projects utilizing artificial environments to immerse the viewer. Please contact dallasshow@dsvc.org for special accommodations or to discuss how to best experience your entry.

• Website

  Entries for this category include any web projects with pages connected to a URL. All sites must be original work. Websites created using a paid-for template (Squarespace, etc.) will be disqualified.

Photography must be published to be entered in the following categories:

• Animals/Nature

  Work showcasing animals and/or nature as primary subjects.

• Architecture

  Work showcasing architectural elements as primary subjects.

• Beauty/Cosmetics

  Work focusing on beauty and/or cosmetic products.

• Fashion

  Work focusing on the display of fashion clothing and items.

• Food/Beverage

  Work showcasing food and/or beverage for the use of recipe books, menus, etc.

• For Sale

  Work created for posters, prints, stationery, greeting cards, licensing stock, gallery sale, etc for sale by the photographer or authorized representative/licensee.

• Lifestyle

  Work capturing people in situations or movements to evoke artistry.

• Miscellaneous

  Work not included in other categories.

• Product

  Work featuring products or packaging.

• Portraiture

  Work capturing the personality, expressions, or emotions of one or more people.

• Self-Promotion

  Work used in printed or digital promotions for photographers, design firms, agencies, art schools, printers, paper companies, etc.

• Transportation

  Work showcasing automotive elements as primary subjects.

Time to show off some of the great work that has never seen the light of day. Those ‘award-winning’ ideas you have kept filed away in creative purgatory. Entries are limited to any work you created and presented but was killed by the client — whether it be in Advertising, Design, Illustration, Interactive, or Photography.

The Emerging Creative award is open to all creatives, regardless of age or previous professional experience, who are in the first 5 years of their creative career and are currently working as a fulltime creative or freelance creative. Entrants must be professionals working in a creative field such as, but not limited to, graphic design, photography, illustration, advertising, interactive design, animation, and more.