YoungGuns International Advertising Award

philosophy

We all start at the bottom.

Through hard work our talent shines and our
skills develop. For emerging creative talent
YoungGuns offers a real opportunity for them
to showcase their work and ideas. The leading
creatives of tomorrow are the entrants of
YoungGuns today (so be nice to them).

YoungGuns was created just for young global
talent, for new ideas and perspectives. Other
industry awards are forums for the established.

YoungGuns is constantly creating new opportunities
and new ways for young global talent to demonstrate
their skills and ideas.

Our focus is on the individual, our Call For
Entry campaigns, our real opportunities
and benefits all herald a new type of award.

Entry to YoungGuns is restricted to those under 30.


background

YoungGuns is the only international advertising award in the world for creatives and students under the age of 30.

YoungGuns was created in 2000 with the express direction of assisting the development of young creative talent through recognition of their work and the provision of real opportunities to assist their careers.

Since its inception YoungGuns has gained international recognition as a progressive, cutting edge Award. YoungGuns is the platform for young global talent, for new ideas and perspectives. Besides being the only award that focuses on upcoming talent (entry is restricted to under 30’s), YoungGuns has also been first with many innovations that other international awards have now taken on board:

  • The first international Award that offered cash prizes for the winners. (understanding that it would assist young people get ahead)
  • The first international Award that offered the winning student/student team a 3-month paid placement with an international network (the placement is with Leo Burnett Worldwide) for advertising students
  • The first international Award that produced an advertising campaign for its Call for Entries
  • The first international Award whose own advertising campaigns have won awards themselves
  • The first international Award to offer live ‘Creative Briefs’, to help develop portfolios
  • The first international Award where the winners sit on the following year’s jury
  • The first international Award that has a category that just awards ideas, the ‘Bottom Drawer Category’ (which solved the issue of scam ads that plagued other awards)

We are continually striving to add new opportunities and value to the award core. We therefore evolve faster than any other advertising Award.

YoungGuns on average receives entries from more than 51 countries.

The YoungGuns jury is always truly international, with members drawn from all corners of the globe, combining experience, talent and cultural perspectives. YoungGuns is well respected in the industry for the quality and breadth of its jury.

In addition to the Award itself, YoungGuns also offers the following:
- Global Winners & Finalists Travelling Exhibition
- YoungGuns Creative Brief

Travelling Exhibition

The YoungGuns Winners and Finalists work forms a travelling exhibition that showcases them around the globe such as – Sydney, Auckland, Singapore, Mumbai, London & New York – to over 2,000 creative peers and future employers.

Creative Brief

The Creative Brief consists of a real brief from a real client (Oxfam, PETA, Nintendo, New Scientist & Qantas to date), providing significant opportunities for students and young creatives to improve their portfolios.

The brief is available from the YoungGuns website. The winning work is showcased by on the website and is included in the Traveling Exhibition.

Awards

The YoungGuns Call for Entry campaigns have received several awards to date:
- 2002 A.W.A.R.D FINALIST for 2001'Sorry’ Campaign
- 2002 Asia Pacific Awards: FINALIST
- 2003 D&AD: FINALIST - 2002 'Peak Early’ Porn Star spot
- 2003 One Show Interactive: FINALIST
- 2003 Creative Circle Award-London: SILVER