YCN launch new professional awards with a glittering call for entries campaign by Craig Ward

Think you’ve seen everything snow globes have to offer? Think again, because Craig Ward has had some fun with the idea to launch a brand new professional awards programme from YCN. Creatives from around the world who’ve graduated within the last eight years are invited to share the best of their work; submitting a portfolio into this year’s categories for either design, illustration or animation.

Entries will be considered by a diverse jury, drawn from across the creative industries internationally and including Creative Review editor Patrick Burgoye, Sagmeister & Walsh’s Jessica Walsh and Blink founder James Studholme.

Describing his striking award visuals, Craig told us: "The globe idea was arrived at very quickly for the award itself and we spent a couple of weeks going back and forth with ideas for the contents and form. I had suggested gold and black glitter – which, in water always takes on this kind of oily, glossy, viscous feel before ‘exploding’ visually when shaken – and it made perfect sense to try and bring that feel to the type treatment.

“I built the type out in a slightly tweaked version of Gotham Bold and in addition, photographed a tonne of falling glitter – which is practically impossible to focus on! The most important facet I wanted to capture was the energy and excitement of rising up as a creative".

Each year a different collaborator will be invited to design the content for the award, and YCN want things to be accessible and far-reaching. “We believe that well organised award programmes have a valuable role to play in sharing new creative work and recognising those behind it, especially for those in the earlier stages of their professional life," YCN founder Nick Defty said. “We’ve tried to create something new that will elevate and reward some of the most exciting talent coming through.”

YCN is partnering with Soho House to launch the new programme internationally. In addition to being the base for jury days in London and New York, Soho House venues will host launch events for a new YCN Annual, art directed this year by Matt Willey to showcase all winners alongside other notable entries. The YCN Annual will then be distributed across the creative industries internationally. Winners will also be invited to speak about their work and inspirations as part of a 2013 screenings and event series.

It costs £40 to enter the Awards and YCN will be offering physical and digital things in return as a thank you to everyone who does.

Entries are now open and will close on March 28th. Find out more at the website.