The Association for Data-driven Marketing and Advertising (ADMA) has unveiled the finalists for its new Australian Creativity and Effectiveness Awards (AC&E).
Building on over 35 years of awarding work that works, the AC&E Awards charts a new course for ADMA and the industry, rewarding campaigns that demonstrate creativity and effectiveness in equal measure.
ADMA received nearly 550 entries this year, which have been reviewed by 52 industry-leading judges specialising in areas such as marketing, media, data, content, technology, social and creativity.
To see the list of AC&E Awards finalists click here.
The winners will be announced at a gala dinner at the Star in Sydney on Thursday, 30 October 2014. Trophies for best in class will be handed out and highly commended work will also be showcased.
On the night ADMA will also bestow its Excellence Awards to outstanding individuals, an overall Customer Experience Award, and the ultimate accolade of the AC&E Awards: the Grand Prix for the best overall campaign.
Judges supportive of new direction for awards
ADMA CEO Jodie Sangster says the judges were impressed with the quality and variety of campaigns that met the joint creativity and effectiveness criteria.
“It is great to see the industry embracing the concept that truly exceptional marketing and advertising requires an equal proportion of creativity and effectiveness. We’ve seen this in the record number of entries and it will be demonstrated in the winning campaigns,” she said.
“It was also great to have so many industry leaders evolved with judging. If we are going to judge awards, you have to have the best industry minds involved. This ensures the winning campaigns will be the right ones.”
Steve Coll, executive creative director, Droga5, and chair of the Craft (copywriting, art direction) judging panel added: “Our jury set a high bar, and rightly so. It’s not enough for the work that wins at ADMA to be effective or creative — it has to be both. That’s a good challenge.”
Nick Baker, CMO of Tourism Australia, and chair of the Promotion and Activation judging panel said: “The entries showed a great depth in integration across platforms and a real push into the world of relevant contextual content, and some great case histories.”
Matt McGrath, Chief Brand Officer, Network 10 and chair of the AC&E Digital awards panel said: “There were several brilliant case studies and out-of-the-box ideas this year that demonstrated the best creative thinking along with tangible business success.”
John Sintras, Chair of Starcom MediaVest Group and a judge on the AC&E Content/New Technology judging panel said: “There were very strong entries in the content and technology categories this year and the competition for winners was intense. Importantly, we were looking for commercially successful innovation and excellent craft. The stand-out entries didn’t just use content and new technology for the sake of creativity and innovation alone. The use is also strategically relevant for the brand, driving significant commercial outcomes.”
Sangster concluded: “I congratulate the finalists and look forward to joining them and the marketing and advertising community at large to celebrate at the AC&E Awards Gala Dinner.”
