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    American Advertising Awards

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    ABOUT THE AWARDS

    The American Advertising Awards is the advertising industry’s largest and most representative competition in the United States. The mission of the American Advertising Awards competition is to recognize and reward the creative spirit of excellence in the art of advertising. 

    HOW IT WORKS:

    Conducted annually by the American Advertising Federation (AAF), the Lexington chapter competition is the first of a three-tier, national competition. Concurrently, across the country, local entrants vie to win ADDY Awards—recognition as the very best in their markets. At the second tier, local ADDY winners compete with winners from other local chapters in one of 15 district competitions. District ADDY winners are then forwarded to the third tier, the national stage of the American Advertising Awards. 

    Entry in your local competition is the first step toward winning a national ADDY. Entering the American Advertising Awards supports the entire advertising industry, because the AAF and its local and district affiliates use the proceeds to enhance advertising through programs such as public service, professional development, internships, advocacy groups, advertising education, and consumer awareness

    WHAT IS ELIGIBLE TO ENTER?

    1. Work must of been completed between January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025
    2. Work entered must have been the result of paid creative services and/or media placement in the normal course of business. (Student or Pro-bono are exceptions)
    3. Entries must be submitted where the work was created

    WHY ENTER?

    AAF Lexington strives to recognize and reward creative excellence in the legitimate everyday workplace of advertising in our local market. In addition, winning an ADDY allows you 12-months of bragging rights amongst your peers.

    SUBMIT TODAY!

    CATEGORY BREAKDOWN – WHAT YOU CAN ENTER?

    SALES PROMOTION: 

    Product or Service Sales Promotion 

    • Catalog, Sales Kit or Product Information Sheets, Menu, Campaign

    Packaging

    • Single Unit, Campaign

    Point of Purchase 

    • Counter Top or Free Standing, Point of Purchase Campaign

    COLLATERAL MATERIAL:

    • Stationery Package – Single or Multiple Pieces, Printed Annual Report
    • Printed Newsletter: Single Newsletter, Campaign
    • Brochure: Single Unit, Campaign
    • Publication Design: Cover, Editorial Spread or Feature, Magazine Design, Magazine Design Series, Book Design
    • Special Event Material: Card/Invitation/Announcement Single Unit, Campaign

    DIRECT MARKETING 

    Direct Mail

    • Flat—Single Unit, Flat—Campaign, 3D / Mixed—Single Unit, 3D / Mixed—Campaign

    Specialty Advertising

    • Apparel, Other Merchandise, Campaign

    PRINT ADVERTISING

    Magazine Advertising:

    • Full Page or Less—Single Unit, Spread, Multiple Page or Insert, Campaign

    Newspaper Advertising:

    • Full Page or Less, Spread or Multiple Page—Single Unit, Specialty Advertising—Single Unit,  Campaign

    Branded Content & Entertainment:

    • Branded Content & Entertainment—Any Print Medium

    OUT-OF-HOME & AMBIENT MEDIA

    Ambient Media

    • Guerrilla Marketing
    • Installations: Single Installation, Multiple Installations
    • Events: Single Event, Multiple Eve

    Out-of-Home: 

    • Poster: Poster—Single Unit, Poster—Campaign
    • Outdoor Board: Single Board,  Multiple Boards, Animated/Video Boards, Outdoor Board  Campaign, Large Venue—Single, Out-Of-Home Campaign

    ONLINE/INTERACTIVE

    Websites: 

    • Consumer,  B-to-B, Microsites

    Social Media:

    • Single Execution, Campaign

    Apps, Games, Virtual Reality:

    • Mobile & Web-Based Apps, Games, Tools & Utilities, Virtual Reality—Single

    Advertising & Promotion:

    • Web Banner Ad or Website Takeover, Campaign, Email

    Blogs & Digital Publications:

    • Blogs, Blog Series, Digital Publication—Single, Digital Publication—Campaign

     Branded Content & Entertainment:

    • Branded Content & Entertainment for Online/Interactive

    FILM, VIDEO & SOUND

    Audio/Radio Advertising: 

    • Audio/Radio Advertising—Local: Single Spot :30 seconds or less, Single Spot more than :30 seconds, Campaign
    • Audio/Radio Advertising—Regional/National: Single Spot :30 seconds or less, Single Spot more than :30 seconds, Campaign

    Television Advertising:

    • Television Advertising—Local (One DMA): Single Spot :30 or less, Single Spot :60 seconds or more, Campaign
    • Television Advertising—Regional/National: Single Spot—Up to 2:00, Campaign

    Online Film, Video And Sound:

    • Internet Commercial: Single Spot—Any Length, Campaign
    • Podcast: Single Podcast, Campaign
    • Webisode(s): Single Webisode, Series

    Branded Content & Entertainment:

    • Branded Content & Entertainment for Online Film, Video & Sound: Single Entry—:60 seconds or less, Single Entry—more than :60 seconds, Branded Content & Entertainment for Television, Branded Content & Entertainment—Non-Broadcast, Branded Content & Entertainment Campaign

    Cinema Advertising:

    • Movie Trailer, In-Theatre Commercials or Slides

    Sales Promotion:

    • Audio/Visual Sales Presentation

    Music Videos: 

    • Music Video

    CROSS PLATFORM

    Integrated Campaigns:

    • Integrated Advertising Campaigns: B-to-B Campaign—Local, B-to-B Campaign—Regional/National, Consumer Campaign—Local, Consumer Campaign—Regional/National, Integrated Brand Identity Campaign—Local or Regional/National, Integrated Branded Content Campaign—Local or Regional/National

    Online/Interactive Campaign: 

    • Online/Interactive Campaign

    ELEMENTS OF ADVERTISING

    Copywriting:

    • Copywriting

    Visual:

    • Logo Design, Infographic
    • Illustration: Illustration—Single, B Illustration—Series
    • Still Photography: Black & White—Single, Color—Single, Digitally Enhanced—Single, Black & White/Color/Digitally Enhanced—Campaign
    • Art Direction: Art Direction—Single, Art Direction—Campaign

    Film & Video:

    • Cinematography—Single, Cinematography—Campaign, Animation, Special Effects or Motion Graphics, Computer Generated Imagery (CGI), Video Editing
    • Sound: Music Without Lyrics—Single, Music with Lyrics—Single, Music with/without Lyrics—Campaign, Voiceover Talent, Sound Design—Single, Sound Design—Campaign
    • Digital Creative Technology: Interface & Navigation,  Augmented Reality, User Experience, Data Driven Media, Innovative Use of Interactive / Technology, Copywriting Single, Creative Element(s) Single, Copywriting Campaign, Creative Element(s) Campaign

    CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
    SALES & MARKETING

    Corporate Social Responsibility Collateral:

    • Brand Elements, Annual Report (printed or digital)

    Corporate Social Responsibility Marketing & Specialty Advertising:

    • Single Unit, Campaign

    Corporate Social Responsibility Print Advertising:

    • Single Unit—Any Size, Campaign

    OUT-OF-HOME & AMBIENT MEDIA

    Corporate Social Responsibility Out-Of-Home:

    • Poster, Out-Of-Home, Campaign

    Corporate Social Responsibility Ambient Media:

    • Single Occurrence, Campaign

    Social Responsibility:

    • Corporate Social Responsibility Campaigns: Integrated Media Corporate Social Responsibility Campaign

    ONLINE/INTERACTIVE

    • Corporate Social Responsibility Online/Interactive, Corporate Social Responsibility Online/Interactive Campaign 

    FILM, VIDEO & SOUND

    • Corporate Social Responsibility Television, Corporate Social Responsibility Radio, Corporate Social Responsibility Film, Video & Sound, Corporate Social Responsibility Non-Broadcast Audio/Visual, Corporate Social Responsibility Campaign

    PUBLIC SERVICE

    Public Service Collateral: 

    • Public Service Print Advertising: Single Unit—Any Size, Campaign
    • Public Service Out-Of-Home: Poster, Out-Of-Home, Campaign
    • Public Service Ambient Media: Single Occurrence, Campaign
    • Public Service Online/Interactive: Single, Public Service Online/Interactive Campaign
    • Public Service Television
    • Public Service Radio
    • Public Service Online Film, Video & Sound
    • Public Service Non-Broadcast Audio/Visual
    • Public Service Campaign
    • Integrated Media Public Service Campaign
    • Public Service Collateral: Brand Elements, Annual Report (printed or digital), Brochure/Sales Kit
    • Public Service Marketing & Specialty Advertising: Single Unit, Campaign

    ADVERTISING/MEDIA INDUSTRY SELF-PROMOTION

    Collateral:

    • Brand Elements, Direct Marketing & Specialty Advertising (printed or digital), Special Event Materials (printed or digital) 
    • Magazine Self-Promotion: Single Unit—Any Size, Campaign
    • Newspaper Self-Promotion: Single Unit—Any Size, Campaign
    • Out-Of-Home Self-Promotion: Single Unit, Campaign, Advertising Industry Self-Promotion Out-Of-Home
    • Ambient Media Self-Promotion: Advertising Industry Self-Promotion Ambient Media
    • Online/Interactive Self-Promotion: Advertising Industry Self-Promotion Online/Interactive/ Virtual Reality
    • Audio/Radio Self-Promotion: Single Spot—Any Length, Campaign
    • Television Self-Promotion—Local: Single Spot—Any Length, Campaign
    • Television Self-Promotion— Regional or National: Single Spot—Any Length, Campaign
    • Advertising Industry Self-Promotion Film, Video & Sound
    • Ad Chapter or Marketing Chapter
    • Advertising Industry Self-Promotion Campaigns: Single-Medium Campaign, Integrated Media Campaign

    Ready to Enter? You can always visit AAF National for more details about each entry.

    SUBMIT TODAY!