The window period for work to be considered:
The entry window for the New Generation Awards will open in May 2025. Entries will be considered for work that has been commercially launched in South Africa between May 1st, 2024, and June 13th, 2025.
- Should you be working on a campaign that is due to go live before July 2025, and you wish to enter this campaign, we will accept it; provided the relevant results and stats are supplied to support the campaign before the judging begins.
- If you are entering the Most Viral Campaign Category, please supply the actual numbers to back up the results, and not just the % result. It is hard to judge a piece of work on percentages alone.
- If you plan to submit entries in multiple categories, we recommend that you also submit your work and clients for consideration in the Black Onyx Award Categories. These categories include Agency of the Year, Digital Brand of the Year, Online Strategy of the Year, and Overall Social & Digital Corporate of the Year Award. These categories are judged separately by a dedicated panel, taking into account all entries across other categories. It's important to note that you cannot win a Black Onyx Award unless you have submitted entries in these specific categories.
- If you do exceptionally well during awards night bagging several awards, and do not have work represented in the Black Onyx Categories, you could miss out on winning one of these awards.
- Be sure to include measurable objectives and benchmarks for success. Without these, we are unable to accurately assess the results and the efficiency of the campaign. This includes putting in your budget – even if the budget is R0.00, we need to know that. Rest assured, the figure will be kept completely confidential and will not be published.
- Customise your entry to the category into which it is entered. Give the judges a reason why you deserve to win in that particular category. Many entrants submit the same entry into multiple categories, 'which is perfectly acceptable' but when judging, we consider the entry's merits according to the specific category. The information that you would need to provide for the “Best Low Budget Campaign” would need to be different from, say, “Best Use of Technical Innovation” Highlight the main parts that apply to each of the categories being entered. NOTE: If you intend to 'copy and paste' the same content across multiple categories, judges reserve the right to deduct points from the final score.
- Don’t assume that the readers have prior knowledge of your campaign. Write a concise summary providing all relevant information, and please make sure that you proofread your entry!
- Please note that if you wish to submit an entry for the 2025 awards previously submitted in 2024, please show any significant changes made to the campaign that have affected the overall outcome and results in 2025. (All changes must be identified and highlighted on the entry form attached)
- Quantifiable, measurable objectives need to be identified, and evidence provided that these have been met or exceeded.
- The entries that address all the judging criteria, are creative, and go beyond standard practice – developing into something magical – make for award-winners.
- Please ensure that the project you are entering meets required category objectives and is not just a “copy-and-paste job” across multiple categories.
- Entry submissions should not be long and confusing. Try to give relevant and clear points that apply to each campaign and limit the accompanying documents, PowerPoints, and videos – be more in sync with answering the brief requirement for that particular award.
- Make sure that the response mentions why it should win that particular award. e.g. Why was it a “best in class” integrated campaign, and what were the elements?
- Show articulated results for short-, medium, and long-term goals, and/or return on investment for the client. Supporting evidence helps tremendously when judges are marking the work.
- Make sure your entry is well written – STAND OUT, be clear, spell-check, and be concise about why it’s been entered.
- Winning campaigns will need to show on-strategy creative execution that displays a clear link between the original business objectives and the outcomes enabled by the work.
