This is placeholder content. Once a year, the doors close on a room full of the region's best creative work, and a panel of judges from outside our market gets to work. For everyone who's ever submitted an entry and wondered how the decision gets made, here's what actually happens on the other side of that deadline.
The most important thing to know up front: ADDY judges are not from here. That's by design. Bringing in professionals from other markets keeps the scoring honest — no relationships, no local politics, just the work on its own merits.
The judges never see your name. They only see the work.
What the Judges Are Looking For
Placeholder body copy. Break down the core criteria judges weigh — idea, craft, execution, and results — and how each is scored. Replace with guidance from an actual ADDY judge or committee chair.
- The idea. Is there a real creative concept, or just a polished layout?
- The craft. Typography, art direction, copy, production quality — the details that separate good from great.
- The fit. Does the execution actually solve the brief it was built for?
Gold, Silver, and the Cut Line
Placeholder body copy. Explain the scoring bands, how a Gold is distinguished from a Silver, and why some strong entries still don't place. Add a note on the People's Choice and special awards.
How to Give Your Entry Its Best Shot
Placeholder body copy with practical entry tips — clean presentation, a tight case for context, and choosing the right category. Replace with the real checklist from the ADDY committee.
Understanding the room doesn't guarantee a statue — but it does help you enter smarter. When entries open for the 2027 American Advertising Awards, you'll know exactly what the judges are hoping to find.