Any Integrated Campaigns done for charities or nonprofits should ONLY be entered into the Public Service category.

Integrated Campaign: Any advertising campaign that uses a minimum of three different mediums/platforms to promote a product, service, or brand. (case study not required but recommended)

Any Film entries done for charities or nonprofits should ONLY be entered into the Public Service category.

Film/TV/Broadcast Single: Any single advertisement on broadcast television. Please provide video stills with entry.

Film/TV/Broadcast Campaign: Any advertisement single on broadcast television. Please provide video stills with entry.

Breakthrough on a Budget: Any TV/Film single or campaign making an impact on a $10k or less budget. Please note your total budget and limitations in your submission.

Any Digital work done for charities or nonprofits should ONLY be entered in the Public Service category.

Online Video Single: Any video created specifically for online. If this entry also aired on TV it is not eligible in this Digital/Online category, and should be entered in Film/TV/Broadcast.

Online Video Campaign: Any video campaign created specifically for online. If this entry also aired on TV it is not eligible in this Digital/Online category, and should be entered in Film/TV/Broadcast.

Social Media: Any campaign using social media platforms to drive, enhance or spread awareness to a brand. Includes the use of influencers.

User-Generated Content: Any campaign that encourages an audience to contribute/collaborate with a brand initiative or campaign by any means online.

Online Display Campaign: Static or interactive online banner ad campaign. Examples include: desktop and mobile.

Website: Any website for a product, service, brand or specific advertising campaign or promotion.

UI/UX: Exceptional user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design that enhances usability, accessibility, and engagement. Entries should demonstrate intuitive navigation, seamless interactions, and visually compelling design that improves user experience.

Apps/Mobile/games: Any mobile apps, mobile-first experience or program using gamification. Entries will be judged based on design and functionality.

Any Out of Home work done for charities or nonprofits should ONLY be entered into the Public Service category.

Out of Home Single: Any paid media single to reach consumers outside of their homes. Examples include: billboards, transit shelters, digital screens, street furniture, poster etc.

Out of Home Campaign: Any paid media campaign to reach consumers outside of their homes. Examples include: billboards, transit shelters, digital screens, street furniture, posters, etc.

Ambient: Non-standard format advertising that cannot be separated from its environment. Executions include but are not limited to: non-traditional outdoor advertising, floor advertising, wraps, wall murals, coasters, clings on mirrors, etc.

Experiential: Any out of home program created to ensure consumers have a direct experience with a brand through live events, guerrilla marketing, merchandising, samplings, stunts, sponsorships, competitions, etc.

Point of Purchase: Any piece of communication with a direct connection and proximity to point of sale with the intent of swaying last-minute purchasing decisions, could be posters

For 2026, there is NO COST for entries in the Print category. They are being sponsored by Atlantic Business Magazine. Any Print work done for charities or nonprofits should ONLY be entered into the Public Service category.

Print Single: Paid print media single placed in publications such as newspapers or magazines.

Print Campaign: Paid print media campaigns placed in publications such as newspapers or magazines.

Logo: Any logo design for an existing or new brand/company.

Brand Identity: Any new full brand identity package extending a brand design to a number of components and touch points. Work cannot be entered in both the brand identity and brand refresh categories.

Brand Refresh: The work must be a rebranding of an existing organization, product or service and should express the brand through multiple platforms. Work cannot be entered in both the brand identity and brand refresh categories. Submission should include strategy rationale as well as before and after images to demonstrate the brand’s transformation.

Packaging: Any packaging design or labeling of a consumer product.

Publications & Collateral: Multi-page print or digital/online communications materials for a brand or business. This includes brochures, annual reports, corporate social responsibility reports, sales kits, and other multi-page collateral like magazines or books.

Poster: Any single or series of posters with design used as the main elements.

Digital/Online Design: Design for a digital or online space only, including but not limited to, AI, Data Visualization, digital/online experiences for products or services, use of emerging technology.

Typography: Any use of typography within a design project to achieve the brand’s desired intent/communicate campaign messaging. May include compelling use of existing typefaces, original typeface design, or illustrated lettering.

Spatial/Environment: The design/creation of a brand’s visual identity and experience. Examples include but are not limited to: storefronts, retail spaces, restaurants, office interiors.

• This category includes any work done for the greater good of the community, usually through non-profit organizations, charities, community associations, sustainability efforts, environmental initiatives, and cultural groups.
• Unless specifically stated, you can enter Public Service work in other categories that suit a piece of work (ex: Craft, Design, Other, Fearless Client, Videography, etc.)

Integrated Campaign: Any paid campaign that uses a minimum of three different mediums to promote a product, service or brand.

TV Ads (Single or Series): Any paid advertisement campaign or single on broadcast television. Please provide video stills with entry.

Radio Ads (Single or Series): Any paid radio campaign or single broadcast on commercial radio. Please provide a script with your entry.

Out of Home (Single or Series): Any paid media to reach consumers outside of their homes. Examples include but are not limited to: billboards, transit shelters, digital screens, street furniture, ambient and experiential efforts.

Print (Single or Series): Any paid print media placed in publications such as newspapers or magazines.

Digital/Online (Single or Series): Includes any work in online video, digital audio, social media, online display ads, websites, apps/mobile.

Self-Promotion: Any work in any medium created solely to promote an agency’s or individual’s own brand or services. Work entered in this category cannot be entered in any other category.

Direct: Any advertising program that targets a specific audience. Includes pieces delivered via mail, messenger, handouts, postings, etc.

Public Relations: Any work or campaign that uses PR as a creative tool to reach the masses. Judges will be looking for innovative and creative ‘PR first’ ideas – those which prioritize the effective use of PR strategy to communicate the brand message.

Reactive Advertising: Any campaign that uses the popularity of a specific news story, viral video or event in popular culture to generate maximum positive coverage for a brand in real time.

Promo (Single or Series): Any communication or program that incites the target to directly participate or interact with the brand (e.g. stunts, sampling, coupons, live events).

Sustainability: A creatively compelling piece of work that takes an active stance in representing the values of sustainability. Please also include info on how the work was created to reduce waste and minimize the project’s carbon footprint. A case summary document is required.

Media category entries should consist of a PDF and/or Word doc showing how the media strategy addressed the challenge and stats to demonstrate effectiveness. Campaign visuals, if applicable, are welcome.

Use of New/Emerging Media: Best, most creative, innovative, or highly effective use of new or emerging media. Provide a summary of how it was used as part of an advertising or marketing campaign.

Small Budget Media Plan: Best, most innovative, and effective or creative use of media across a minimum of three channels with a small media budget. Please provide budget plan and breakdown.

Integrated Media Plan: Best, most innovative, and effective or creative use of media across a minimum of three channels.

Content Marketing/Use of Influencers or Creators: Best use of influencers or creators to created branded content. Entry should describe overall campaign strategy and how content was used to effectively engage across various social media and Digital/Online platforms.

Data/Insights-Driven Media Strategy: This category recognizes the use of data insights to drive the success of a campaign. Entries should showcase how the discovery of valuable insights through data analysis led to increased effectiveness of the campaign. This could include the use of data to inform campaign strategy, target audiences, personalize messaging, optimize media placements, or improve overall performance.

Media Partner Collab/Sponsorship: Recognizes exceptional collaborations between brands and media partners that leverage sponsorship opportunities to amplify reach, enhance brand visibility, and create meaningful audience engagement. Submissions should demonstrate how strategic partnerships have been utilized to craft a cohesive narrative that resonates with target demographics and drives measurable results.

ROI/ROAS: Recognizes outstanding media campaigns that have achieved exceptional return on investment (ROI) or return on advertising spend (ROAS). Entrants must demonstrate how their strategic media planning and execution delivered measurable results, showcasing the effectiveness of their advertising spend in driving revenue, engagement, or other key performance indicators.

There are no award tiers (ex: Merit, Silver, Gold). Just a single award tier for work that stood out specifically in their respective disciplines. If an agency is entering on behalf of a production company, please ensure there are no dual entries.

Art Direction: Recognizing any campaign or work that displays excellence in Art Direction.

Copywriting: Recognizing any campaign or work that displays excellence in Copywriting.

Illustration: Recognizing any campaign or work that displays excellence in illustration.

Photography: Recognizing flawless and arresting images – evocative captures that show an original eye and vision.

Animation: Recognizing use of animation in a broadcast and non-broadcast video, on television or online. To be entered by or on behalf of the production studio or animator.

Editing: Recognizing the artistry and expertise required to create a seamless and riveting cut. A case summary document or video is optional but recommended if the project entailed innovation in approach, process or techniques to accomplish.

Cinematography: Recognizing the art and science of beautiful film composition – framing, lighting, angles and movement. A case summary document or video is optional but recommended if the project entailed innovation in approach, process or techniques to accomplish.

Film Direction: Recognizing excellence in storytelling decision-making and the vision and skills required to create a brilliant piece of film. A case summary document or video is optional but recommended if the project entailed innovation in approach, process or techniques to accomplish.

Motion + Visual Effects: best use of motion design or visual effects in any medium. 

Music + Sound Design: Recognizing a brilliant match of music to message to create a compelling, memorable experience. Spans original composition and new versions of existing music, to clever and evocative use of existing tracks. Spans all aspects of soundtrack & audio effects.

This single award recognizes an advertiser or brand that demonstrates a tolerance for risk, and an appreciation for creativity that pushes boundaries. Please include a one-page written nomination as well as the relative creative. If the work is entered in other categories, please note the details and send it along with the nomination.

This brief-based competition is open to students and creatives under 30 years of age who live in one of the four Atlantic provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador).

Check back soon – more details to come.

This is not a submittable category and will be decided by the jury. It will be awarded to a single piece of work that stands out above all other entries based on its creative excellence.

The ICE Hall of Fame award honours and celebrates individuals whose influence helped build and advance Atlantic Canada’s creative marketing and advertising industry. These are individuals whose work helped raise the bar across the region, inspiring Atlantic Canadian creatives to produce global calibre work. The kind that can win anywhere, but could only come from here.

Eligibility

Nominees can work/have worked in any industry sector: creating and/or producing marketing, advertising, design pieces, websites, mobile applications, social media campaigns, photography or illustration. Nominees can be retired or still working.

In addition, they should:

• Have a substantial body of work
• Had a lasting impact on Atlantic Canada’s creative community
• Have given back to the regional creative community (can include, but is not limited to: time, money, knowledge sharing, industry involvement)

A maximum of two people will inducted in any given year.

Award winners will be announced and recognized during the ICE Awards Gala, and their achievements archived on the ICE website.

To Enter

• There is no entry fee.
• Submit a one-page summary (maximum 500 words) to the Hall of Fame selection committee c/o dchafe@atlanticbusinessmagazine.ca
• Your submission should identify how your nominee has had the impact described under the eligibility criteria.
• Entry deadline: June 12, 2026 (no extensions)