Design

*Effective design communicates a visual message. Design awards will be evaluated on creativity, audience appeal, design (typography, color, illustration), and quality of craft. Please link your eventbrite entry to a PDF or image file for judging. *

+ Print Design

The award for print design is given for the best individual print project, such as a school/conference/union magazine. Submissions are judged by the quality of design, which includes effective use of design principles, and the use of the print medium, which can encompass paper choice, print quality, and specialty printing techniques. Awarded to editors, designers, art directors, and/or creative directors. Entry example: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1007&context=envision

+ Website Design

The award for website design is given for the best website. Submissions are judged by the quality of design, which includes an effective use of design principles; an easy-to-navigate, mobile-friendly layout with comprehensive information for ministries, services, and events; and the use of the digital medium, which can include user experience animations and transitions. Awarded to design teams involved in the entry. Team members and responsibilities must be listed.

+ Interactive Design

The award for interactive design is given for the best non-website, interactive project, which can include apps, or other new media and interactive projects. Submissions are judged by the quality of experience design, which will be evaluated against similar projects in the industry and the use of the particular medium. Awarded to design teams involved in the entry. Team members and responsibilities must be listed.

+ Comprehensive

The award for comprehensive design is given for the best overall campaign design branding system, spanning print and/or digital pieces. Campaigns may include or consist of postcards, posters, brochures, and other print pieces; websites, emails, social media posts, and other digital pieces. Submissions are judged on the quality of design, creative yet consistent extensions of the design system across applications, and use of the included mediums. Awarded to designers, art directors, and/or creative directors.

+ Campaign

A campaign is a collection of communication or marketing pieces with cohesive visuals and messaging created for the purpose of branding, advertising, or promotion. Campaigns may include or consist of postcards, posters, brochures, magazines, as well as other print pieces; websites, emails, social media posts, and other digital pieces; and spoken word, video, or other time-based mediums. Submissions are judged by messaging, strategy, management of resources, and creative direction. Awarded to directors, communication managers, web managers, and/or social media managers.

+ Artistic/Design Photography

Fine-art photography is created in line with the photographer's vision as an artist, using non-newsworthy photography as a medium for creative expression. The goal of fine-art photography is to express a clearly defined idea, a message, or an emotion in a single image. Must submit metadata and software used for editing.

+ Journalistic Photography

Journalistic photos are the communication of news through photographs. These images tend to appear in print newspapers, magazines, online media sites, and microblogging. Stories must be well defined and framed clearly and depict the story. Entries must include a dynamic caption and metadata. Awarded to the photographer.

+ AI Photography

This award recognizes the most compelling use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology to create a captivating and thought-provoking biblical illustration. The winning submission will demonstrate exceptional creativity, technical skill, and alignment with biblical themes. Each submission must include information on the AI website or company used, specific algorithms employed, and any additional software or resources utilized. Transparency regarding the AI technology utilized is essential. Submissions must be accompanied by the exact prompts used to generate the desired image(s), and the relevant Bible verse that correlates with the image's thematic content. The chosen verse should provide context and enhance the viewer's understanding of the illustration's message.

+ News Writing

News article entries should reflect effective reporting and will be judged according to the quality of writing, clarity, design, construction, and originality. Stories must be well-defined and framed clearly. Published in print or online. Awarded to writers. Example: https://record.adventistchurch.com/2023/12/22/adventists-respond-to-far-north-queensland-floods/

+ Longform Feature Writing (magazines, newsletters, blogs)

Long feature pieces or will be judged according to the quality of writing, clarity, design, construction, and originality. Long feature piece(s) should effectively represent the organization and convey organizational messages. Published in print or online. Awarded to writers and editors. Example: https://adventistreview.org/news/from-condemned-to-cornerstone/ https://record.adventistchurch.com/2023/07/28/more-than-just-a-soccer-player/

+ Shortform Feature (500 words or less)

A short feature piece that is 500 words or less will be judged according to quality of writing and reporting as well as clarity, design, construction, and originality. Published in print or online. Awarded to writers. Example: https://record.adventistchurch.com/2024/03/01/go-make-disciples-dont-leave-it-to-your-pastor/

+ Micro-Copy (ad copy, social media)

Contextualized phrase or short sentences that makes an impact to a targeted audience and moves/inspires them to action. Published online. Awarded to writers.

+ Broadcast Special Feature Video

Entries will be judged according to their effectiveness in communicating to the viewer through the use of broadcast television special feature video; criteria include skillful use of writing, videography, editing, music (if any), and broadcast technical standards. Content must be original, with appropriate broadcast licenses for the use of any copyrighted or trademarked material with air dates and broadcast locations listed. Awarded to production teams that had significant creative input in the program. Team members and responsibilities must be listed. Example: https://youtu.be/yyiHTfoItD0?si=bz6PvgTvALJ9yBBU

+ Web Video

Entries will be judged according to their effectiveness in communicating with the viewer through the skillful use of writing, photography, editing, music (if any), and videography. Content must be original, with appropriate Internet licenses for the use of any copyrighted or trademarked material. Submissions must include an accessible viewing link, with analytics provided. Also, please indicate if the submission is part of a weekly series or a stand-alone program. Awarded to production teams that had significant creative input in the program. Team members and responsibilities must be listed. Example: https://youtu.be/dPCzWNsEBIc?si=aV4NDBKwi1LzCxF_

+ Short Film

Entries will be judged according to their effectiveness in communicating through short film (up to 15 minutes) through the skillful use of writing, videography, editing, music (if any), and high quality. Content must be original, with appropriate short film licenses for the use of any copyrighted or trademarked material. Submissions must include storyboards. Awarded to production teams that had significant creative input in the program. (Team members and responsibilities must be listed). Example: https://www.sonscreen.com/videos/those-were-the-good-days

+ Podcast

Entries will be judged according to their effectiveness in communicating to the listener through the skillful use of writing, editing, music (if any), natural effects (if any), and high technical standards. Content must be creative or thought-provoking, original, with appropriate licenses for the use of any copyrighted or trademarked material. Provide analytics, available platforms, and release schedule - weekly, monthly, or bi-monthly. Awarded to the production crew that had significant creative input in the program. Example: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-14-victoria-bennett-witchcraft-spiritualism-the/id1485746888?i=1000469509965

+ Radio: Station of the Year

Entries will be judged in three parts, each representing an equal 1/3 of the total: Audio excerpt (maximum 5 minutes) - Submit a highlight reel of your station's programming featuring host talent and radio personalities. Entries will be judged on sound quality. Community involvement – Explain how your station and station talent are involved in the community; submit PDFs or Word/Google docs for documentation. Industry leadership – Tell us how your station is reaching out to the next generation of broadcasters through educational initiatives and career fairs; job shadowing and internships; station tours, etc.

+ Best Marketing/Promotional Campaign

A campaign is a collection of communication or marketing pieces with a cohesive visuals and messaging, created for the purpose of branding, advertising, or promotion. Campaigns may include or consist of postcards, posters, brochures, magazines, as well as other print pieces; they may include or consist of websites, emails, social media posts, and other digital pieces; and they may include or consist of spoken word, video, or other time-based mediums.

Submissions are judged by messaging, strategy, management of resources, and creative direction. Awarded to directors, communication managers, web managers, and/or social media managers.

+ Student award

The student award is designed to recognize students who have demonstrated excellence not only in the classroom, but on-the-job as well. Nominees should not only have an exemplary academic record, but seek involvement in professional organizations, extracurricular activities, internships and on-the-job training.

+ Young Professional Award

The Young Professional award recognizes young talent in the communication field. Nominees should be 35 years old or younger and have not only demonstrated strong communication skills, but made significant contributions to the field.

+ Lifetime Achievement Award

The Lifetime Achievement Award is designed for a professional who has worked in communication for at least 25 years and has made a substantial contribution to the field.