Eight Designers Highlight Their Inspiration in DDB Paris Campaign for ADC 101st Annual Awards

Image: Dani Choi

A diverse group of eight talented illustrators, animators and artists from around the world have been selected to showcase what’s behind their great work as part of the ADC 101st Annual Awards call for entries campaign, developed by DDB Paris.

Using the theme 'Creativity 101 - Each Cube Has a Story to Tell', the campaign kicked off last October with branding focused on how creatives go through all states of mind when searching for an award-winning idea, and depicts the unique story behind a great piece of work. A playful approach is used to illustrate the creative process and deconstruct the work to reveal what went into it.

As an extension of the campaign, DDB Paris and The One Club for Creativity invited a diverse group of talented creatives — both well-known and up-and-comers, many of whom are Young Guns winners — from around the world to create images that convey what goes into one of their great ideas, their search for inspiration, and all the secret ingredients needed for them to generate amazing creative work.  

Kicking off today, the first work designer featured in the campaign is by Alexandre Nart, a talented illustrator, animator and director based in Paris. Over the next few weeks, new work will follow from Max Guther, illustrator, animator, director, Berlin (who is a One Club Young Guns 16 winner); Dani Choi, illustrator, Brooklyn (YG19); and Vikki Zhang, illustrator, Shanghai (YG 19).

Other young artists participating in the campaign, which runs through mid-February, are Debora Cheyenne Cruchon, multidisciplinary artist, Paris (YG18); Mihailo Kalabić, digital artist, Belgrade (YG18); Jaedoo Lee, illustrator, animator, New York (YG18); and Armando Veve, illustrator, Philadelphia (YG15).

“Working with such a variety of talented creatives has been an incredible opportunity to celebrate the creative community in a playful way,” said Alexander Kalchev, CCO, DDB Paris. “We gave each illustrator as much freedom as possible to tell their very own story of what it takes to win an ADC Cube. We’ve loved receiving each very personal and wonderful interpretation of the brief, each story is unique and truly shows the diverse creative process that lies behind winning each coveted and iconic ADC Cube.”

Entries can be submitted now, with fees increasing after each deadline period. Deadline for entry is January 31st, 2022, with extended deadline of February 18th, 2022, and final deadline March 4th, 2022.  No physical entries will be accepted this year due to the ongoing pandemic, all entry media must be uploaded into the online entry system.

A special tiered pricing structure makes it easier for smaller agencies, studios and freelancers to participate. Larger agencies and brands pay the standard entry fee; 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.

The diverse jury for the ADC 101st Annual Awards will judge entries online in March 2022, with finalists announced in May. ADC 101st Annual Awards Gold, Silver and Bronze Cube winners will be announced during Creative Week in May 2022. 

Founded in 1920, the ADC Annual Awards is the world’s longest continuously running awards program recognising global excellence in craft and innovation in all forms of advertising and design.  

Unlike for-profit awards shows, The One Club is a non-profit organisation that puts revenue generated from awards entries back into the industry in the form of programs under its four pillars: Educations, Inclusion & Diversity, Gender Equality and Creative Development.  

These programs include the annual Where Are All The Black People diversity conference and career fair, ONE School free portfolio program for Black creatives, ONE Production free training program to bring greater diversity to the production side of the business, Creative Boot Camps for diverse college students, Right the Ratio Summits addressing gender equality, Creative Leaders Retreats, Mentor & Creative providing mentorships at agencies for nearly 200 young creatives, bi-annual Saturday Career Workshops for high school students and more.

The One Club for Creativity, producer of The One Show, ADC Annual Awards, Type Directors Club Communication Design and Typeface Design awards, Young Guns and Creative Week, is the world's foremost non-profit organisation whose mission is to support and celebrate the global creative community. The One Show is a top global awards show for advertising, design and digital marketing, focusing on the creativity of ideas and quality of execution. Established in 1921, the global ADC Annual Awards are the world’s longest continuously running creative award for advertising and design, honouring excellence in craft, design and innovation. Creative Week takes place in May, and is the preeminent festival celebrating the intersection of advertising and the arts.