Creative Categories
Recognizing achievement since the beginning of 2025 in all creative management, copywriting, art direction, editorial, audio-visual production, animation, illustration, photography, etc., functions.
Nominations that won in the 2026 ABAs may be resubmitted for consideration in the 2027 ABAs. If they have been updated with recent achievements, they may be submitted to the same categories in which they won. If they have not been updated, they must be submitted to categories different from those in which they won.
Information to be submitted online for entries in these categories for the 2027 ABAs will include
a. An essay of up to 4,900 characters describing the nominee’s accomplishments since January 1 2025, OR a video of up to five (5) minutes in length describing the same.
b. In bullet-list form (up to 1,150 characters), a brief summary of up to ten (10) of the nominee’s chief achievements since January 1 2025. Required
c. Optional (but highly recommended), add to your entry up to 10 webpage links and up to 10 document uploads to support your case to the judges. These might be press articles, press releases, videos, or images, for example.
K01. Achievement in Art Direction & Visual Design
Recognizes outstanding achievement in art direction, graphic design, visual identity, or other visual creative disciplines. Entries should demonstrate originality, quality of execution, and the effectiveness of the visual approach in communicating its intended message or creating a distinctive experience.
K02. Achievement in Creative Production
Recognizes excellence in bringing an original creative concept to life through exceptional production and execution. Eligible work may involve video, audio, photography, animation, experiential production, digital media, or multidisciplinary creative production.
K03. Achievement in Creative Strategy (New for 2027)
Recognizes outstanding strategic thinking that led to an innovative and effective creative solution. Entries should demonstrate how audience insights, research, positioning, or other strategic considerations informed the creative approach and contributed to measurable results or impact.
K04. Achievement in Motion, Animation & Visual Effects
Recognizes outstanding creative achievement in animation, motion graphics, visual effects, or other forms of motion-based visual storytelling. Entries should demonstrate originality, technical execution, and the effectiveness of the creative work in engaging audiences or communicating its intended message.
K05. Achievement in Photography & Imaging
Recognizes outstanding creative achievement in photography or image-making for commercial, editorial, organizational, or communications purposes. Entries should demonstrate originality, artistic or creative excellence, technical execution, and effectiveness in communicating the intended concept or message.
K06. Advertising or Design Agency of the Year
Enter this category if you wish to recognize everyone who works at your advertising, marketing, or design agency, regardless of their function, location, seniority, or position.
K07. Breakthrough Creative Use of Technology
Recognizes innovative applications of technology in creative projects, such as AI-driven designs, AR/VR experiences, or interactive campaigns.
K08. Creative Department of the Year
Enter this category if you wish to recognize everyone who works in creative functions in your organization, regardless of function, location, seniority, or position.
K09. Creative Executive of the Year
Enter this category to recognize the achievements of individual creative executives.
K10. Creative Individual of the Year
Enter this category to recognize the achievements of individuals not at the executive level.
K11. Creative Team of the Year
Enter this category if you wish to recognize some subset of your entire creative organization, such as a specific animation, video, event-production, or client-creative team, for example. The team may be multidisciplinary, may stretch across multiple organizations (your own organization, client organizations, and agency or vendor organizations, for example), and may be a permanent team or a temporary team that was assembled only for a specific task or assignment.
K12. Most Innovative Creative Project
Honors singular creative projects that demonstrate originality, innovation, and exceptional impact.