About the ADDY Competition
Ideas don’t care where they came from. They don’t care what college they attended, or what fraternity they joined. They don’t care if they came from the agency or corporate world, or if they originated from a conference room, cubicle, restaurant napkin or ivory tower. Good ideas know they start with a single inspiration and get better with great execution. Good ideas know no boundaries. But they deserve to be recognized.
With over 100 categories covering all aspects of advertising, the AAF-Inland Empire ADDYs® are the first step in the advertising industry’s largest and most representative competition, attracting over 50,000 entries every year in local ADDY competitions.
Conducted annually by the American Advertising Federation (AAF), the local ADDY Award is the first of a three-tier, national competition. Concurrently, all across the country, local entrants vie for recognition as the very best in their markets. At the second tier, local winners compete against other winners in one of 15 district competitions. District winners are then forwarded to the third tier, the national ADDY Awards competition. Entry in your local ADDY competition is the first step toward winning a national ADDY.
Entering the ADDY competition supports our entire industry, because the AAF and its local and district affiliates use the proceeds to enhance advertising through programs such as public service, internships, advocacy groups, advertising education, and consumer awareness.
Selection of the most creative entry in each category is affected by a scoring process in which a panel of judges evaluates all creative dimensions of every entry. A GOLD ADDY is recognition of the highest level of creative excellence and is judged to be superior to all other entries in the category. Entries that are also considered outstanding and worthy of recognition receive a SILVER ADDY. The number of awards given in each category is determined by the judges, based on the relative quality of work in that category.
The Student ADDY Awards is also a three-tier national competition, which is sponsored by the AAF and National Ad 2. Occurring in conjunction with the prestigious ADDY Awards, the Student ADDY Awards recognize and reward creative excellence by students.
Who Can Enter? Professionals and Students
If your company (e.g. advertising agency, business, printer, and illustrator) produced advertising work (e.g. TV or radio spot, newspaper advertisement, brochure, website, annual report) in the Inland Empire and this work appeared in the general public media between January 1 and December 31, 2012, consider yourself eligible!
Likewise, if you are a student and attend a college or university in the Inland Empire and produced advertising work (e.g. TV or radio spot, newspaper advertisement, brochure, website, annual report) for a course assignment or simply for enjoyment between January 1 and December 31, 2012, consider yourself eligible! NOTE: Student intern work is eligible if the student was not paid for the work.
How to Enter
Entering the ADDY Competition involves 3 steps:
Step 1: Download a Copy of the Competition Rules
Download a PDF copy of the ADDY Competition Rules for Professionals or ADDY Competition Rules for Students (see below for links). The Competition Rules documents contain detailed information about the 100+ professional categories such as sales promotion, branding, collateral, out of home, radio, television, photography, illustration and digital advertising. For students there are 26 categories!
This year we are requiring digital uploads of corresponding entries. In the case of TV, radio, internet commercials and related categories (see page 8 of the competition rules for complete details), our panel of judges will utilize these assets directly for the competition.
Non-video and audio entries (e.g. brochure, website) also require a corresponding JPG or PDF, but these entries will not be judged from their digital file(s). These entries will be judged from the traditional entry process. Instead the digital files for these entries will be used by the ADDY Committee to prepare the content for the ADDY Gala.
Step 2: Register for the Competition
Since this process is new, we recommend downloading a short PDF presentation to guide you thru the ADDY Registration and Submission Process (see below for link). It takes about 2 minutes to register and 5-10 minutes to complete each entry, depending upon the complexity (e.g. individual vs. campaign) of the entry. Although the process is easy, we recommend getting started ASAP as this is a new process for everyone.
This year we have provided the ability to pay online for your ADDY entries or you can pay by check.
If your company needs an invoice to pay by check, please let us know as soon as possible to get this process started by contacting ADDY Chair John McCarthy at HelloJohnMcCarthy@Gmail.com or (909) 921-1062.
Step 3: Drop off Your Entries
After registering and submitting electronic copies of the ADDY entries online, you need to print, sign and return the Manifest Form with your entries per the instructions in the Competition Rules (professionals see pages 11-12 and students see page 10).
The Manifest Form is important in that it confirms that all the information is correct, acknowledges that proper rights were obtained, verifies the entry was created within the local area and you have permission to release the entry for the competition.
Once completed, drop your entries at our ADDY Drop-off location:
Red Fusion Media
104 East State Street, Suite P
Redlands, CA 92373
Red Fusion Media is open 8-5 pm Monday thru Friday. If you running early or late, we recommend calling to confirm a time. Their number is (909) 798-7092.
Another way to drop off your entries is at our ADDY Drop Off Party on January 31st at Logan’s Roadhouse in Fontana. Drop off your entries in one convenient location and mix & mingle with your friends from the AAF-IE.
FREE registration for the ADDY Drop off Party
ADDY Competition Registration & Downloads
ADDY Competition Rules for Professionals
ADDY Competition Rules for Students
ADDY Registration & Submission Process
Sponsorships
If you are a business in the Inland Empire and desire to make a personal connection with advertising decision makers (e.g. agencies, media buyers and sellers, supportive service suppliers), consider 1 of our 5 sponsorships for the 2013 ADDY Gala. We reach nearly 500 contacts of which 300 people attend our ADDY Gala. By sponsoring the ADDY Gala it supports the Inland Empire and it is just good business for your business!
Learn about 5 sponsorships for the ADDY Gala.
