Entry Details
About the Awards
IHAF’s In-House Creativity Awards recognize creative excellence among internal agencies across over 40 print and digital categories. Winners are determined via a points system based on recorded ballots submitted by a select panel of judges—industry experts including in-house agency creative directors, external agency creative directors, marketing/creative executives and industry consultants.
Winning entries are announced at the IHAF Conference & Awards in November. Gold, Silver and Honorable Mention awards are conferred within each category, followed by a single Best of Show. Best of Show and Gold winners receive crystal trophies, while Silver and Honorable Mention winners receive framed certificates. Following the event, all winning entries are posted on the IHAF website and our YouTube channel.
Eligibility
Any in-house agency or corporate creative organization is eligible to submit their work for consideration. All entries must be first produced, printed and/or aired between January 1 and December 31, 2020, and must fall within the categories noted below.
Entry Codes and Categories
Each entry category has a three-character code assigned to it. All entries must be accurately categorized and coded. Individual pieces may be submitted for consideration in multiple categories—each as its own unique entry with its own entry fee. IHAF reserves the right to reassign any/all submissions to ensure entries are appropriately categorized.
Annual Reports
Yearly publications, typically containing financial updates intended for stockholders and stakeholders as a record of an organization’s annual performance.
01A Digital Reports
01B Printed Reports
Corporate Communications
Elements developed to communicate and strengthen an organization’s brand identity and presence in the marketplace.
02A Brand Identity Kits
02B Cards & Invitations
02C Logos
Covid Communications
Assets created to communicate new corporate protocols or business responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.
03A B2B Communications, external
03B B2B Communications, internal
03C B2C Communications, external
03D B2C Communications, internal
Digital Marketing
Assorted forms of online content used to promote products, services, organizations and brands.
04A Apps
04B Banner Ads
04C Emails
04D Infographics
04E B2B Websites
04F B2C Websites
Direct Mail
Printed solicitations intended to elicit a consumer reaction or response, delivered to recipients via postal mail or courier service.
05A B2B Mailers
05B B2C Mailers
Environmental
Development of temporary or permanent environmental designs, fixtures and notices.
06A Architectural Installations
06B Posters & Signage
Events
Promotional and/or informational assets produced in support of a live event held at a specific place/time.
07A In-Person Event
07B Virual Event
Multi-Media Campaigns
A series of elements produced across three or more forms of media, built as an integrated campaign.
08A B2B Campaigns
08B B2C Campaigns
On a Shoestring
Any work, any format—conceived and fully produced for under $10,000.
09A On a Shoestring
Out of Home
Assets developed for display through outdoor media, with exposure to mass audiences along various streets, sidewalks, subways and surfaces.
10A Out of Home
Point of Purchase
Visual display featuring a product or service, with promotional messaging delivered to the consumer at the point of sale.
11A Point of Purchase
Print Advertising
Advertising that appears in printed publications such as magazines and newspapers.
12A B2B Print Ads
12B B2C Print Ads
Product Packaging
Any type of physical label or packaging, designed to attract potential buyers to purchase a specific product or service.
13A Product Packaging
Publications
Interior/exterior layout, graphics and editorial content that constitutes a published book, magazine and newsletter.
14A B2B Publications
14B B2C Publications
Publicity
Materials promoting public awareness of a product, service or message, specifically by gaining coverage through assorted media outlets.
15A Publicity
Sales Collateral
Brochures, kits and catalogs designed to move prospective buyers through the sales cycle—from awareness to consideration to purchase.
16A B2B Collateral
16B B2C Collateral
Social Media
Digital advertising, marketing and/or promotional posts that connect audiences to brands via one or more social platforms.
17A Animation Graphics
17B Organic Posts
17C Paid Posts
Stuff the Client Didn’t Pick
Any work, any format proposed by the in-house agency and rejected by the client, resulting in the piece never being produced.
18A Stuff the Client Didn’t Pick
Video
Broadcasts promoting assorted messaging—educating and engaging viewers through the use of moving pictures and sound.
19A Corporate, External Audience
19B Corporate, Internal Audience
19C Immersive Content (VR, AR, MR, 360)
19D TV/Web, 0:60 or under
19E TV/Web, over 0:60
Entry Fees
All Entries (submitted by June 30, 2021)
IHAF Members: $75 per entry Non-Members: $150 per entry
Late Entries (submitted by July 15, 2021)
Late Fee: $25 per entry
Entries will not be judged unless full payment is received by the deadline. Entry fees are non-refundable.
Entry Deadline
All regular entries must be submitted by June 30, 2021. Late entries will be accepted if submitted by July 15, 2021 and accompanied by a late fee (see Entry Fees). Entries submitted after July 15, 2021 will not be accepted.
Entry Requirements
Registering Your Entries
Begin by visiting ihaforum.org/creativityawards and clicking Enter in the green navigation bar. You will be required to login with a username and password or create an account. Please note this login is specific to our Creativity Awards only and different than your IHAF member credentials, if applicable. If you entered our 2020 In-House Creativity Awards, you likely already have an account. In this case, follow the lost password prompt if you’re unsure of your credentials.
Once logged in, if you’re not automatically directed to the submission form select Click here to begin a new entry. For each entry, select the appropriate category and provide a brief title and description. You will also be asked to identify if your
organization is a member of IHAF. If you are unsure, please reference our member list at ihaforum.org/membership-directory. Finally, we’ll ask if you provide permission for IHAF to share your entry, beyond our Awards Show and list of winners online.
Once your entry details are complete, upload supporting digital files for each entry. At the bottom of the form, click Save to return and complete later. Or, click Add to Cart if all necessary details and files have been added. Saved entries are accessible in the Incomplete section on the left-hand menu.
When all entries have been added successfully, navigate to In Cart on the left-hand menu and select the entries you wish to submit. Then click Checkout Selected to review your cart and complete the checkout process. After clicking Checkout you will be prompted to select your payment method. If you request to pay via check or electronic payment, we will send an invoice in 1-2 business days. Click Process to complete the entry.
Preparing Digital Files
All entries across all categories require the submission of digital files (even printed materials) and will be reviewed digitally by our panel of judges. Failure to submit the proper digital file(s) and/or format(s) will result in disqualification of the entry.
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File Labeling: Each digital file must be labeled as follows: CategoryCode_CompanyName_EntryTitle. Category codes can be found above.
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Thumbnail Image: Each entry requires a high-res, horizontal thumbnail image (1000x700px or similar). This file will display on the homepage of the online gallery of entries. Files must be jpg, jpeg or png.
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Image Files: Provide up to ten high-res image files per entry to effectively represent your work. Files must be jpg, jpeg or png.
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PDF Files: Provide up to two multiple-page documents as PDF files, if necessary. You will also be required to enter a title for the PDF file, to hyperlink the file for viewing.
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URLs: Provide an active URL/site link, plus high-res thumbnail images that effectively represent the site. You will also be required to enter a title for the website on your submission form, to hyperlink the URL for viewing.
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Video Files: Provide an MP4 or WMV file along with high-res thumbnail image that effectively represent the video. YouTube, Vimeo or other platform links will not be accepted.
Final Details
IHAF assumes that all entries are original and are the work and property of the entrant, with all rights granted therein. IHAF is not liable for copyright infringement on the part of the entrant and will not engage in copyright disputes. All entries will be displayed electronically at the IHAF Conference & Awards Show, with winners publicly listed on the IHAF website and our YouTube account.
If you have any questions, please contact Hollis Gesen at 617-587-3945 or hgesen@ihaforum.org. Thank you—and we look forward to seeing your work!
