Major Annual Events & Awards Ceremonies
The Design, Advertising and Digital Awards (D&AD)
The best in the world enter for a D&AD award, with specialist juries critiquing ideas and the top specialists in the world deciding the winners. Held each year in May, the D&AD Awards attract the best of the best from all over the world. A glittering drinks reception, three course dinner, awards ceremony and after party celebrations make this awards ceremony the highlight of the London advertising year. Be sure to take your business card for some high-octane networking action.
The Clio Awards
Groundbreaking creatives covet winning a Clio, which can reward teams and individuals who push the boundaries out inventively during advertising campaigns. This year's awards take place in October, in the epicentre of global commerce, New York City. The awards evening has the feel of the Oscars, with the glamour of the red carpet-style entrances heralding the arrival of advertising's big-hitters.
The Webby Awards
Online advertising is becoming a force to be reckoned with in the advertising industry, and the Webby Awards are the most highly regarded by global agencies. If your team is down for a Webby nomination, get your best frock on, and prepare to party. The Webby crowd is younger and cutting edge, and the apres action is a great place to meet fellow talented creatives. Hosted each May by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS), the Webby's are in their 19th year, and fast-becoming the most highly prized internet award for excellence.
The Roses Creative Awards
Run by The Drum industry magazine, this UK-based awards ceremony caters for excellence in advertising campaigns, designs, and individual advertisements - primarily for broadcast - although more recently design and digital categories have been added. The Roses are a prestigious national awards ceremony recognising the best of British and the odd international talent. It's a bit like the BAFTA's for those who work in advertising outside London. The Roses Creative Awards are much desired by those who don't work in the London advertising scene, and are producing excellent advertising campaigns from regional locations in the UK and Ireland.
Advertising Events
Working and networking are interchangeable terms for most advertising industry people. The ability to think on your feet, chat to anyone, and assess their value to your career or company, is as vital a skill as pencil-drawing is to the advertising illustration department. It doesn't take very long before you hear of one of the following events, where the advertising industry meets up to network and make firm contacts.
Advertising Week Europe - London, March 2014.
The most prestigious advertising industry festival of the year attracts celebrities, launch party invitation-only events, exclusive access to advertising's biggest names and is known as a must-attend event for anyone who is anyone. Enjoy cocktails, parties, and the opportunity to truly enter the epicentre of creative networking in London. Steve Coogan was a key-note speaker this year. Need I say more?
Sitecore Digital Trendspot - London, April 2014.
This is a one-day event designed to combine training, panel expertise, and syndicate team-working together to re-focus on a brand of your choice. Concentrating on the customer experience, the day is designed to re-invigorate those creative ideas and inspire people to invent fresh perspectives for the most demanding agency customers.
Internet Week - New York, May 2014.
This one week conference combines business, technology and culture to bring together top business leaders and creative minds. The sponsorship companies make for interesting reading, and ensure an interesting list of speakers. A bit like technology and TED combined, it is one of the best conferences for networking potential advertising accounts if you are a tech-savvy digital advertising outfit.
Major annual events and awards are a great way to meet other advertising professionals. The more you are seen at these events, the more industry people you will get to know. London's advertising sector runs on networking, informal business lead prospecting, and above all, exceptionally talented and creative people.