Rules & Guidelines

About the DSVC

The Dallas Society of Visual Communications (DSVC) was founded in 1957 as the Dallas/Fort Worth Art Directors Club. As the Metroplex grew, however, 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.

The Dallas Show

The Dallas Show is the DSVC’s annual professional juried show and competition. Each year, individuals and agencies within the visual creative community across the globe enter their best selected professional work. Recognized work is selected for display and recognition at The Dallas Show, with awards (in the form of light bulbs – bronze, silver, and gold) going to the best work, as recognized by our judges. This year marks the 55th DSVC Dallas Show taking place at the Gilley’s South Side Music Hall on Friday, June 21st 2024.

The Judging Process

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 medals, 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 medals. Judges select medal winners from the pieces that are chosen for inclusion in the show, and do not award medals based on category. Because of this process, some categories may have several medal winners and some may have none.

Gold, silver, and bronze medals 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 medals, each of the five judges will also select a Judge’s Choice award, given to the piece that they alone judged to be the most outstanding piece in the show.

For questions about the judging process, contact the Dallas Show Chairs, Beverly and Kevin Marple, at dallasshow@dsvc.org

Awards and Recognition

Entries selected for inclusion in the Dallas Show will be notified by email shortly after judging. All pieces selected for inclusion in the 2024 Dallas Show will be displayed at the Dallas Show awards presentation and dinner on Friday, June 21st, 2024 at Gilley’s South Side Music Hall. Medalists will be announced, their work will be showcased, and awards will be presented. A separate announcement will be made about the event. A full list of medal winners will be posted to dallasshow.org the following week.

Eligibility

Work published from March 2023 to April 2024 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 instead be entered into the National Student Show; visit nationalstudentshow.com for details.

Deadlines

All entries must be registered and submitted online before 11:45 pm on Sunday, April 7th, 2024. See the entry process for more info.

Refund Policy

All entry submissions are final and entry fees are non-refundable.

Entry Process

Registration and Payment

Visit dallasshow.org to register. The early bird deadline will close 11:45pm on Monday, February 26th. All entries must be registered and submitted online by 11:45pm on Sunday, April 7th, 2024.
Payment can be made at the time of submission using a credit card.
If you wish to be invoiced so payment can be made with a check, a $75 handling fee will be assessed on your invoice, regardless of the number of entries submitted. Here are the instructions to get check payments:
- On the Payment section of the process, click “Save” to generate a link of your order. Save the link by copying or entering your email to have it sent to you.
- Send an email to paula@dsvc.org and Cc dallasshow@dsvc.org
- Email subject should be as follows: Invoice Request for Dallas Show.
- The body of the email should contain any other information you want the Dallas Show to know and the link.
- You will receive an invoice within 5 business day of the request

Hybrid Entry System

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, please contact the Dallas Show Chairs, Beverly and Kevin Marple, at dallasshow@dsvc.org.

Only the following category’s have the option to submit work physically:

Annual Report, Brochure, Booklet, or Other Company Literature
Books/Magazine
Direct Mail/Invitation
Packaging
Posters

Address package as the following:

FOR DSVC JUDGING
ATTN MEREDITH CLAMPITT
9207 Ambassador Row
Dallas, TX 75247

Entry Fees

Early Bird Deadline – February 26th, 2024 ⇒ $115
Regular Deadline – April 7th, 2024 ⇒ $130

DSVC Members get an additional $15 off for every entry. A discount code would be emailed on January 15th, 2024.

For questions about registration, submissions, guidelines, or categorization, contact the Dallas Show Chairs, Beverly and Kevin Marple, at dallasshow@dsvc.org

Accepted Entries

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.

Category Explanation

A detailed breakdown of each category and examples of work for submission is found below. If you have additional questions about submissions, guidelines, or categorization, please contact the Dallas Show Chairs, Beverly and Kevin Marple, at dallasshow@dsvc.org

Advertising

Institutional

Entries for these categories consist of projects typically done for a business, organization, institution, or similar unit promoting itself.

Broadcast » Commercials or ads aired over television (for radio ads, please see Radio category)
Digital » Web-banner ads (static, animated, pop-ups), social media advertising (ads on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc), and mobile device ads (ads for smartphones or tablets)
Direct Mail » Print ads delivered directly to mailboxes
Editorial » Advertising in editorial, consumer magazine/newspaper, trade magazine/newspaper
Email Advertising » Digital ads delivered through email
Miscellaneous » Anything not covered in other advertising categories
Nontraditional/Guerrilla » Unique and experimental forms of advertising to your audience using unexpected methods. Please submit as images or video less than 3 minutes in length
Online Video » Paid online commercials, webisodes, viral videos, etc
Out of Home » Billboards, ads in transit areas such as bus, train stations and airports, and other place-based ad media
Point of Purchase » In-store advertising, displays, or packaging placed next to the purchase it is promoting
Poster » Print advertising promoting a brand, event, or message
Radio » Advertisements and promotions aired over radio or podcasts

Public Service

Entries for these categories are limited to projects done for nonprofit or not-for-profit organizations or causes for whom creative services have been waived (pro bono) or significantly reduced.

Broadcast » Commercials or ads aired over television (for radio ads, please see Radio category)
Digital » Web-banner ads (static, animated, pop-ups), social media advertising (ads on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc), and mobile device ads (ads for smartphones or tablets)
Direct Mail » Print ads delivered directly to mailboxes
Editorial » Advertising in editorial, consumer magazine/newspaper, trade magazine/newspaper
Email Advertising » Digital ads delivered through email
Miscellaneous » Work not covered in other advertising categories
Nontraditional/Guerrilla » Unique and experimental forms of advertising to your audience using unexpected methods. Please submit as images or video less than 3 minutes in length
Online Video » Paid online commercials, webisodes, viral videos, etc
Out of Home » Billboards, ads in transit areas such as bus, train stations and airports, and other place-based ad 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
Radio » Advertisements and promotions aired over radio or podcasts

Full Campaign

Entries for this category consist of a full advertising campaign. Entries must consist of at least 5 pieces, a majority of which must fall into advertising categories, but may include work from design and interactive categories (Example: a program that includes magazine ads, direct mail, web banner ads, a microsite, and packaging). If a case study video is entered as the submission, the video should be no longer than 3 minutes.

Digital » Digital media such as online videos and banner ads – but can include traditional components – entered as a campaign
Traditional » Traditional media such as magazines, broadcast, out of home – but can include digital components – entered as a campaign

Design

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).

Miscellaneous » Work not included in other categories (Example: calendars, bags, digital items, etc)
Paper Goods » Greeting cards, stationary, etc
Print/Poster » Print design for brand, event, or message

Institutional

Entries for these categories consist of projects typically completed for a business, organization, institution, or similar unit promoting itself.

Annual Report » Report covering an organization’s activities throughout the preceding year. Includes corporate social responsibility environmental reports
Brochure, Booklet, or Other Company Literature » Print or digital informative documents about the company
Business Papers » Items such as letterhead, envelopes, business cards, etc for a business
Catalog » Design for organizing ideas about a product or service
Environmental » Items such as signage, architectural graphics, and wayfinding. On-screen applications should be entered in the Interactive sections.
Identity Manual/Style Guide » Items for creating a unified vision for a brand
Invitation/Announcement » Invitations for company events, gala dinners, annual shows, or other announcements promoted by an organization
Miscellaneous » Work not included in other categories (Example: menus, wearables, calendars, displays, vehicles, icon set, etc)
Motion Graphics » Animated items with text or sound. Commercials should be entered in the Advertising categories
Newsletter » Design items circulating news about the organization to its members or customers
Packaging/Labeling » Boxes or label designs promoting an organization
Poster » Print advertising promoting a brand, event, or message
Trademark » Design distinguishing a company or organization from its competitors. Logos that have more than one version count as a single entry.

Public Service

Entries for these categories are limited to projects done for nonprofit or not-for-profit organizations or causes for whom creative services have been waived (pro bono) or significantly reduced.

Annual Report » Report covering an organization’s activities throughout the preceding year. Includes corporate social responsibility environmental reports
Invitation/Announcement » Report covering an organization’s activities throughout the preceding year. Includes corporate social responsibility environmental reports
Miscellaneous » Work not included in other categories (Example: wearables, calendars, etc)
Newsletter » Design items circulating news about the organization to its members or customers

Publication

Entries for these categories include designs for books, consumer or trade magazines, and interactive/digital publication (Example: tablet editions, book apps). Websites should be entered in the Interactive section.

Book, Cover Only » Print or digital front and/or back cover design
Book, Entire Book » Print or digital design throughout the entire book
Magazine Cover, Spread, or Single Story Design » Print or digital design for a portion of the magazine
Magazine, Entire Issue » Print or digital design of the entire magazine issue

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 institutional categories.

Brochure, Booklet, or Other Company Literature » Print or digital informative documents about the company
Direct Mail » Print promotional materials delivered directly to mailboxes
Invitation/Announcement » Invitations for company events, gala dinners, annual shows, or other announcements promoted by an organization
Miscellaneous » Work not included in other categories (Example: packaging, calendars, displays, etc)
Poster » Print promoting a brand, event, or message
Wearables » Design on items such as hats, t-shirts, etc worn on the body promoting the organization

Typography

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

Applied Typography » Print or digital projects that use type as a primary element in trademarks, brochures, posters, books, annual reports, invitations/ announcements, packaging, wearables, etc.
Typeface Design » Typefaces created as commissioned works or as part of a commissioned project. Submissions must be submitted as a full typeface.

Branding

Entries for this category include projects for a comprehensive identity or branding program. Entries must consist of at least 5 pieces, a majority of which must fall into design categories, but may include work from advertising and interactive categories (Example: a program that 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.

Integrated Branding Program » 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.

Illustration

Illustrations entered in the advertising, animation/ sequential, book, editorial, for sale, institutional and self-promotion categories below must be published. Unpublished images can be entered in the unpublished/uncommissioned category. Animation/sequential may be entered in more than one category.

Advertising » Illustration commissioned for advertisements (print ads, outdoor, direct mail, broadcast, digital, etc)
Animation/Sequential » Includes animation, motion, and multi-image projects. Videos should be edited/clipped to 3 minutes or less in length: longer videos will be judged by the first 3 minutes of play.
Book » Illustrations commissioned for books, print or digital
Editorial » Illustrations commissioned for magazines or newspapers, print or digital
For Sale » Illustrations created for posters, prints, stationary, greeting cards, licensing/stock, gallery sale, etc for sale by the illustrator or authorized representative/licensee
Institutional » Illustrations commissioned for institutions and promotions (packaging, brochures and booklets, annual reports, catalogs, institutional websites, etc) excluding advertising applications
Self-Promotion » Images used in printed or digital promotions for illustrators, design firms, agencies, art schools, printers, paper companies, etc
Unpublished/Uncommissioned » Illustrations commissioned but not published, and uncommissioned personal or experimental illustrations

Interactive

Apps

Apps created for mobile devices (smartphones and tablets) and desktop. Entries should be self-contained apps. Website-based apps should be entered in the website categories; editorial and book apps should be entered in the publications section.

Entertainment, Game Apps » Single or multiplayer apps for recreational play
Informational, News, Sports, Travel, etc. » Apps for notifying users of updates and important information (scoreboards, cruise on-board agendas, etc)
Other/Miscellaneous » Apps not included in other categories
Productivity, Utility/Tool, Calculation Apps » Apps for tracking, computing, or sharing information
Social Networking Apps » Apps for communicating or messaging to public and private circles

Miscellaneous

Any project not covered in the other categories where interactivity is integral to the user experience. Projects entered in this category can be submitted as a series of images (limit 15) or as a video case study less than 3 minutes in length.

Miscellaneous » Any project not covered in the other categories where interactivity is integral to the user experience. Projects entered in this category can be submitted as a series of images (limit 15) or as a video case study less than 3 minutes in length.

Virtual 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.

360 Videos » 360 videos made for the web or 360 videos VR headsets
Virtual Reality Experiences » Virtual reality experiences made for a specific head-mounted display or virtual reality game

Websites

Entries for these categories include any web projects with pages connected to a URL. All sites must be original work – Websites created using a paid-for template (Squarespace, Wix, etc) may not be entered and will be disqualified from judging if found.

Promotional Website » Website used to advertise a project or service, can be entered as several pages or the full site
Public Service Website » Website used to promote a non-profit organization, service, or initiative can be entered as several pages or the full site
Self-Promotion Website » Website used to promote a design firm, ad agency, illustrator, or photographer. Personal websites (blogs, announcement sites, portfolio sites) may be entered.

Environmental

Interactive installations, trade show and museum exhibits, kiosks, tables, in-store/window displays, out-of-home experiences, corporate showrooms, interactive presentations, etc. Projects entered in this category can be submitted as a series of images (limit 15) or as a video case study less than 3 minutes in length, and should be entered as a series.

Exhibit » Interactive installations for museums, zoos, educational institutions, etc
Retail » Interactive installations for advertising products, services, etc – kiosks, tables, in-store/window displays, etc
Trade » Interactive installations for trade applications – booths, showrooms, etc

Photography

Photographs entered in the advertising, book, editorial, for sale, institutional, self-promotion, and video/sequential categories below must be published. Unpublished images can be entered in the unpublished/uncommissioned category. Video/sequential pieces may be entered in more than one category.

Advertising » Photographs commissioned for advertisements (print ads, outdoor, direct mail, broadcast, digital, etc)
Book » Photographs commissioned for books, print or digital
Editorial » Photographs commissioned for magazines or newspapers, print or digital
For Sale » Photographs created for posters, prints, stationary, greeting cards, licensing stock, gallery sale, etc for sale by the photographer or authorized representative/licensee
Institutional » Photographs commissioned for institutions and promotions (packaging, brochures and booklets, annual reports, catalogs, institutional websites, etc) excluding advertising applications
Self-Promotion » Images used in printed or digital promotions for photographers, design firms, agencies, art schools, printers, paper companies, etc
Unpublished/Uncommissioned » Photographs commissioned but not published, and uncommissioned personal or experimental images
Video/Sequential » Includes animation, motion, and multi-image projects. Videos should be edited/clipped to 3 minutes or less in length: longer videos will be judged by the first 3 minutes of play.

The Golden Trash Can

This is a light-hearted award given to work that was created and presented but was ultimately killed by the client – whether it be in Advertising, Interactive, Design, Illustration, or Photography (Example: Created a rebranding for a bar, but the client went out of business before the items were placed in the business). It’s a fun way for some of our “award-winning” ideas to see the light of day.

Emerging Creative

Entrants must submit a five-piece mini-portfolio of work that best represents their skills. The projects submitted must be work that you played a major contributing role on or were the sole creator of. This self-curation of work must include at least three pieces of professionally published work that would fit into any of the Dallas Show categories, and a maximum of two personal unpublished projects that may or may not fit into one of the previous categories. Projects entered have to have been created and published within the first five years of your professional creative career outside of education. No student work is eligible.

Submitted pieces do not need to be all the same media type or fit within the same category. If a project entered was made as part of a team, you must have played a major contributing role, and that role will be the only aspect of the project judged. If a majority of your professionally published works were made as part of an expansive team effort, we recommend you use at least one slot for work you created individually or as a personal project.

Personal projects are defined as work that was created outside of full-time employment but within the first 5 years of your creative career that fits into any of the Dallas Show categories, or work that shows off other skills and interests that extend outside of your professional creative career. Drawing, painting, photography, videography, ceramics, woodworking, fiber arts, etc…are all acceptable options for personal projects that might not fit into one of the Dallas Show categories.

Along with the 5 pieces of self-selected work, entrants must provide their full name, the year started in their creative career, current employer, a paragraph telling about themselves and how they ended up into their creative career, a headshot to share at the awards show if chosen, and at least one professional reference.

Winners will be chosen based solely on the strength of their five pieces by the judges who judge the Dallas Show each year. No personal information will be provided to the judges so as to remain impartial and unbiased during the process. Chosen winners will then be awarded the Emerging Creatives award and title, as well as have their work showcased at the 54th Dallas Show, on our social media accounts, and other DSVC platforms. Winners will also take part in an interview to further showcase their talents to the creative community. If you were not chosen you are eligible to re-enter to be selected up until your 5th year in your creative career has passed. Previous winners are no longer eligible to receive this recognition in the future.

Any questions regarding the Emerging Creative category or how to submit your work please send to dallasshow@dsvc.org with the subject line Emerging Creative.