The AAA Awards
The American Advertising Awards is the advertising industry’s largest and most representative competition, attracting over 40,000 entries every year in local AAF Club (Ad Club) competitions. The mission of the American Advertising Awards competition is to recognize and reward the creative spirit of excellence in the art of advertising.
Deadlines And Events
Dates are approximate and are subject to change.
More About The Competition
The AAF-SD American Advertising Awards competition is the first of a three-tiered national competition conducted annually by the AAF alongside 200+ other clubs around the country. Entries that receive the coveted Gold ADDY for being recognized as the highest level of creative excellence are automatically forwarded onto the next tier of the competition. Other entries deserving of recognition for their outstanding level of excellence are awarded a Silver ADDY, and also have the opportunity to be forwarded on to the next level of competition.
Entry into the American Advertising Awards supports our entire industry; the AAF and its local and district memberships use the proceeds to enhance advertising through programs such as internships, advocacy groups and advertising education.
How to Submit an Entry
Follow the “submit an entry” link below to submit to for our local competition. You will be directed to the competition site to register as an entrant. Review the category list in this document or on these websites to find where your work should compete, and follow the simple drop-down menus to enter your information. Make sure you credit the members of your creative team so that they will be recognized properly in press releases and other AAF winner publications. Trophies are personalized based on information submitted at the time of entry. Please make sure all fields are accurate. Submission of entries acknowledges the right of the AAF to use them for publication, exhibition, and marketing of the American Advertising Awards competition and show.
The Silver Medal Award
The Silver Medal Award is awarded yearly to an individual that has achieved success in advertising, media, or advertising services that have demonstrated consistent, high original thinking in their field, worked to elevate the standards of the advertising profession and been involved in civic, religious, or other groups dedicated to human or social welfare.
The Creative Legacy Award
The Creative Legacy Award winner is awarded yearly to a nominee (s) that have been a creative leader in advertising design, art direction, photography, copywriting, creative direction, broadcast production, or cinematography with an extensive body of exceptional creative work. They have had a successful career in advertising agency creative, graphic design firms, marketing departments, media, or advertising services, and be viewed as a mentor or inspiration to co-workers. The nominee should have demonstrated a commitment to their work throughout their extensive career, had a local impact on the advertising industry in South Dakota, and pushed themselves and others to greatness, elevating the advertising community through their efforts.
Frequently Asked Questions
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The American Advertising Awards (AAA) are the largest and most representative advertising competition. Each year it attracts more than 40,000 entries in local American Advertisign Federatation (AAF) competitions, including AAF South Dakota.
The competition includes both professional and student work, recognizing and rewarding creative excellence in the art of advertising.
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Awards given out include Gold ADDYs, Silver ADDYs, Judge's Choice, and Best of Show. A Gold ADDY is recognition of the highest level of creative excellence and is judged to be superior to all other entries in the category. Entries that are also considered outstanding and worthy of recognition receive a Silver ADDY.
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The number of awards given each year is determined by the judges and the AAF South Dakota board. A percentage of the highest scoring entries receive Gold and Silver ADDYs. Each judge, usually 3 in our local competition, selects an entry to receive their Judge's Choice Award. The judges collectively choose one entry for Best of Show.
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The Gold winners are automatically forwarded on to the District level competition. Silver winners may choose to pay a forward fee to send their entry to the next level. District Gold winners are then forwarded on to compete at the National level.
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Entering the American Advertising Awards competition supports our entire industry. The AAF and its local and district affiliates use the proceeds to enhance advertising through programs such as public service, internships, advocacy groups, advertising education, and consumer awareness.
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The American Advertising Awards has a student division of the competition that runs alongside the professional competition to recognize excellence at the student level. To see student eligibility requirements, please see the AAA Student Division Rules and Categories on this website.
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National winning entries may receive the following:
Finalist certificate—great for resumés and portfolios
Prestigious Student American Advertising Award for all National Gold and Silver ADDY Award winners
$1,000 cash prize for national Best of Show winner
The 2023 Judges
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Jesse Taylor, who spends his days in Colorado as Art Director at Marketing for Change. He has a passion for design and people and loves connecting the two. For over a decade, he has served the creative industry in fields ranging from medical, environmental and social impact to restaurants and apparel.
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Jimmy is the Director of Product Design at UX at Solera. He’s an award-winning design director, UX designer, and photographer with experience in mobile, digital, and print. He thinks he's pretty OK at bikes, too.
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Olivia is the Senior Creative Director at Priority Marketing. She puts the creative process to work, collaborating with a 50+ member in-house team. Her passion is generating ideas that achieve results by engaging with highly creative people, extremely astute business minds, caring community leaders, and a wide variety of target audiences.
Event Sponsors
AAA Winners
20223 AAA Winners
2022 AAA Winners
2021 AAA Winners
