CATEGORIES
Entrant categories for both students and professionals
01 Advertising Design
Design for digital or print applications that promotes or sells products, services, organizations, or messages. It may involve a single piece or multiple components within a campaign.
02 Integrated Brand System
Fully designed campaign supported with multimedia deliverables such as print, web, packaging, wearables or environmental graphics.
03 Announcements & Invitations
Published announcement or invitation
04 Book Design
Complete bound book, book cover, or book jacket
05 Collateral
Single piece: brochure, booklet, handout, menus, iconography, calendars, leave behind, wearables, and merchandise
06 Editorial Design
Magazine covers and spreads, annual reports, newspaper layouts, and general design for publications. Can be single or multiple spreads. Can be print or digital applications.
07 Environmental Graphics & Design
Billboard, wayfinding, murals, interior/exterior building signage, vehicle graphics, architectural graphics, museum exhibits, tradeshow exhibits, point-of-purchase displays
08 Identity Mark
Symbol, logotype and/or trademark by itself
09 Identity System
Application of a logo used in a business card, letterhead and/or envelope. (More extensive systems should be entered in Integrated Brand System)
10 Illustration
Includes flat, dimensional, or digital styles, hand lettering, editorial designs, standalone illustrations, and comics. Can be single or series.
11 Video Spot*
Any length filmed spot used for promotion. Includes title graphics, commercials, and documentary work.
12 Photography
Single or series of images used for print or digital ads, posters, editorial, client websites, products, or documentary applications.
13 Poster Design
Single or series of any size printed poster.
14 Sales Promotion & Packaging
Single or series of designs for packages or a packaging line, labels, shopping bags, direct mail, sales kits, etc.
15 Self-Promotion
Work that promotes your design business or company. Includes client gifts or seasonal work.
16 Website & App Design*
Websites and microsites, app design, game design, VR or AR. (Include URL in submission form. Websites and apps must be published online at the time of submission)
17 Social Media Content Design*
Single or multi-piece campaign for social media platforms. Includes graphics, images, reels and videos (up to 30 secs).
18 Animation & Motion Graphics*
Animated spot, ad, stop motion, GIF, stand alone animation, etc.
19 NEW: Design for Social Impact/ Public Service
Single pieces, series, or campaigns produced for nonprofit organizations that speak to the public good. Ex. Museums, Orchestras, Ballet Companies, Zoos, etc.
20 Unpublished
Unpublished work created with a graphic application in mind. (For Professionals Only)
Unpublished work is not eligible for Best of Show.
*For categories that require an additional URL, please include the full URL in the submission form. If a password is required to view, include it in the notes area when submitting. For website, animation, and videos, a JPEG file with thumbnails is required with each entry.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Rules
Submission Requirements: All work entered in the ADAI exhibition must have appeared between February of 2024 to February of 2025. All entries must meet eligibility and deadline requirements, be entered in the appropriate category, and be correctly labeled.
Submit only one JPEG file per project entry at the correct dimensions, file size, and file labels.
All information that is submitted through the online entry form will print exactly as listed on any credits and/or awards – ADAI is not responsible for incorrect or incomplete information. All submissions must be paid through the website.
Entrants accepted into the exhibition will be notified via email once judging is completed. Those not accepted will not be notified. Those accepted can find out what entrants were accepted at the day of the exhibition.
Title each JPEG entry exactly as follows:
The file naming process has changed since 2024. Please follow file naming structure as follows – entrants labeled incorrectly are at risk for not being eligible.
Do not include company or personal names in file name in order to remain anonymous.
Do not include any special characters in file name.
Professionals:
Pro_CategoryNumber_EntrantTitle.jpg
Example: Pro_16_MoviePoster.jpg
Students:
Stu_CategoryNumber_EntrantTitle.jpg
Example: Stu_16_MoviePoster.jpg
Suggestions for successful entries:
Multiple pages/items: combine into one organized layout. For books, editorial layouts, and collateral, you may want to include a closeup of typographic detail. It is not necessary to include every page or spread. For visual reference, view our previous year’s exhibition winners.
Requirements
Image width: 3820 pixels
Image height: 2160 pixels
Max file size: 10 MB
File format: JPEG
Awards
Students and professional entries will be judged and awarded separately. Every entry accepted into the show, including both students and professionals, will receive an Award of Excellence. For each category, an entry may be recognized with a Best of Category award. A Best of Show award will be given to one entry selected from the Best of Category award winners. The Best of Show award will only be awarded to published work. Each judge will choose an entry to be recognized with a Judges Choice award. ADAI will provide one award to each “best of” selection. Duplicate awards may be available for an additional fee
Entries Due
FEBRUARY 20, 2025
Entries registered after February 20, 2025 require a late fee of $5 per entry. No entries can be registered after February 22, 2025.
All entry submissions are final and entry fees are nonrefundable.
$40
Professionals
Per Entry
$15
Students
Per Entry
