Tech, gender sensitivity in the spotlight as entries open for Creative Abbys 2016

The Goafest Abbys, the highly coveted advertising awards that recognises the best in advertising and marketing in a three-day celebratory event, has called for entries for the Creative Abbys 2016.

The last date for entries is February 23, 2016. Campaigns released in the period between January 1, 2015 and February 15, 2015 will be adjudged by a reckoned jury panel. The entry forms for the awards can be downloaded on the Ad Club website starting February 9, 2016 from www.theadvertisingclub.net and www.aaaindia.org. This year, the Creative Abby Awards will see the addition of two new categories. The awards need to be uploaded online on the site on the site www.abbyawardsentries.com.

New this year at the Creative Abbys

The two new categories introduced are – Category 26: Special Abby (Gender Sensitive) and Category 27: Young Abby.

Design vertical will have new sub-categories of Typography Design and Best Integrated Design, involving two or more sub-categories. 

Print Craft will also see the introduction of a new sub-category – Computer Generated Imagery.

Announcing this major development, Awards Governing Council Chairman Ramesh Narayan, said, “This year’s Abby Awards will have three very significant improvements. Firstly, to make the Awards more in line with global practices, entries for almost all categories can be uploaded online. Secondly, to reinforce the idea that ‘what’s good, is good for the industry’, there will be a special category for Gender Sensitive Advertising. Thirdly, to bring youth and the future onto centerstage, there will be a special Abby for entries received from copy and art teams under the age of 35 on the theme of how communication can help mitigate gender violence. These are all issues which came up in our interactions with the creative fraternity and the media, and I am pleased to say we are responding with alacrity to industry and societal needs. The young winners of this new category would not only get a coveted Abby, but also be sent for the Cannes Lions Festival this June, all expenses paid. This would give them a great exposure to international professionals and work.” Details would be available on the entry form.

GoaFest Chairman Nakul Chopra added here, “I welcome these new developments. They are a part of our ongoing effort to keep evolving and improving. The online uploading of entries will pose a technological and financial challenge, but we have decided that it is important enough to implement immediately.”

Raj Nayak, President, The Advertising Club, said, “To remain the gold standard of awards in India, we decided that technology, sensitive thinking and the future all need to be addressed. I had said earlier that we could expect a lot this year, and it is beginning to show. The pre-eminent awards show in the country should show the way in every area.”

Dr Ambi Parameswaran, President, AAAI, added here, “I am very happy that what was publicly requested on an AAAI platform (an award for gender sensitive advertising) just last year, is becoming a reality. We need to be in synch with what is being sought for. The award for young creatives is the industry’s way of nurturing young talent.”

Founded in 1954, The Ad Club is an industry body that provides a dynamic platform for professionals from the Advertising, Marketing, Media, Research and Communication fraternity to gain from each other’s experience. It is the organiser of the some of the pre-eminent events of the industry like – Ad Club Awards, The Abbys, Effies, Emvies and Young Achievers. The Advertising Club along with AAAI jointly conducts the biggest advertising festival in the country – Goafest.