
The ADC Annual Awards, celebrating 102 years of excellence in design and craft, is an iconic award show that honors the best creative talent and groundbreaking work across many different creative disciplines, from graphic design to illustration, from publishing to packaging, from advertising to photography and all points in between.



ADC 102nd Annual Awards Highlights

The first ADC gold medal winning work in 1921
ADC Historic Timeline
On August 13, 1920 the advertising and design worlds were changed forever with the incorporation of the Art Directors Club of New York, also known as the ADC. Founded by Louis Carl Pedlar with the lofty goal of raising the standards of commercial art to those traditionally associated with fine art, ADC has set the tone for creative excellence that the industry continues to follow a century later.
To celebrate this centennial, we at The One Club for Creativity in partnership with C&G created an online timeline to showcase the people, the historical artifacts, the thoughts and opinions, and of course the work of the past century. You'll be able to browse through every single ADC annual, read essays from across the decades — stay tuned for the 1940s debate on whether women should be permitted to join the organization — and learn about the ADC's deep history. It's a history of the very industry we all love, and we can't wait to share it with you over the coming year.
Freelancer of the Year
In partnership with Working Not Working, all ADC 102nd Annual Awards Gold Cube-winning entries submitted through the freelance level of the show’s tiered pricing structure will be judged again by a separate jury that includes the WNW community. This jury will determine the top entrant, who will receive the honor at the ADC 102nd Annual Awards.

The Manship Medallion, ADC's very first medal designed by Paul Manship

ADC 1938 call for entries
Tiered Pricing
ADC has established a tiered pricing structure, designed to make it easier for smaller agencies, studios and freelancers to participate. Smaller shops get a discount on entries (amount varies by discipline) and freelance creatives and one-person shops are eligible for an even greater reduction in their entry fee.
“At a time when other awards shows continually look for ways to increase their entry fees, it’s literally unheard of for a show to reduce their fees,” said Kevin Swanepoel, CEO, The One Club for Creativity. “This tiered pricing structure reflects our new mission to support and celebrate the success of the global creative community, no matter the agency location or size.”
New Gaming Discipline
This new discipline highlights the art and craft of animation, art direction, and sound design as well as the technical aspects of gaming.

Original certificate of incorporation of the Art Director's Club founded in 1920
CATEGORIES & FEES
The ADC 102nd Annual Awards feature 17 different disciplines, judged by 16 separate juries. Special awards include Of the Year honors, Best of Discipline, Designism and the Black Cube for Best of Show.



ELIGIBILITY & DEADLINES
All entries must have been printed, published, or aired for the first time between the dates listed below in any country.
ELIGIBILITY DATES:
January 1, 2021 – March 3, 2023
The ADC 102nd Annual Awards has three deadlines for entry:
REGULAR DEADLINE:
January 27, 2023
EXTENDED DEADLINE:
FEBRUARY 17, 2023
FINAL EXTENDED DEADLINE:
March 3, 2023
PAST WINNERS




