The 30th edition of the ADCE Awards is open for entries and today, we are proud to present the creatives from all over Europe we have appointed as Jury Presidents for each category.
In addition to their career’s overview, we have asked them a few questions about their judging experiences, expectations, and ideas.
Overall Jury President
Alex is current ADCE President and Global Chief Creative Officer at Serviceplan Group. He studied at the Berlin University of the Arts (UdK) and has won more than 80 Cannes Lions to date. In 2021 he was named third most awarded CCO worldwide by the DRUM world creative rankings.
Last jury duty?
CLIOs.
What do you appreciate most about a piece of creative work?
A good insight. And a never seen before execution.
The most difficult thing about judging?
To be fair to the work that is neither very good, nor very bad. The good and the bad is easy to evaluate. In the middle there is sometimes a good insight but bad execution. Or a bad insight but a marvellous execution.
The best thing about judging?
To hear the arguments about work that are contradictory to mine.
If you could create a special award, what would it be?
No more categories needed. Everything already exists 😉
What is your favourite category? Why?
Innovation. Because only the new things have the power to create change.
Do you think European Creativity, besides diversity, has an underlying quality to it?
There is no such thing as European Creativity. “European Creativity” is the sum of many national specialities and cultural differences. Each one of them is of high quality.
Together, it is a collection of individual points of view on creativity. Which makes it so special to look at and judge all of them at the same time in one competition – the ADCE.
Film & Audio Jury President
Erno is an Executive Creative Director and Partner at TBWA\Helsinki. With over 15 years of experience in both design and advertising, he has created effective and award-winning marketing for a wide range of clients, such as Nissan, Helsingin Sanomat (Nordics’ largest news media), Neste, Nokian Tyres, Fortum, Unilever and several NGOs.
Last jury duty?
Grand Jury Member at New York Festivals & Finland’s Radio Awards (Domestic Best of the Year).
What do you appreciate most about a piece of creative work?
Courage. Even at the threat of failure.
The most difficult thing about judging?
Probably deciding who gets the GP. It’s always hard to make everyone in the jury agree with who truly deserves that ultimate prize.
The best thing about judging?
To see new, groundbreaking work from all over the world, which makes you drive your own creativity even more.
If you could create a special award, what would it be?
Nowadays people tend to listen to brands even more than to a leader (if the brands have played their cards right) and that’s why we should think more and more about the societal and cultural impact of our work. And that’s why I’d create a special award for having a good impact on societal and cultural issues.
What is your favourite category? Why?
I’ve always been a huge movie fan, and also directed a few ads and music videos myself. This is why the Film category is definitely one of my favourites.
Do you think European Creativity, besides diversity, has an underlying quality to it?
We have a lot of good values (human dignity, human rights, freedom, democracy, equality) and we also aim for sustainability and health through green values and clean & pure ingredients. I think we have a lot of great values which should be ‘exported’ even more into creativity.
What excites you most about judging the ADCE Awards?
Seeing new fellow colleagues from different countries and exchanging views on all aspects of marketing.
Print & Outdoor Jury President
Prior to founding her own agency OAK (One of A Kind), Tereza was 8 years CCO and finally CEO of Young and Rubicam Prague (now VMLY&R). She started her advertising career 25 years ago, however, her love for advertising manifested way before. When she was 17, she attended a demonstration against the Communist regime holding a self-made banner saying: “Who if not us, when if not now.” The sentence later became the official slogan of the Czech Velvet Revolution. Tereza is the most awarded creative on the Czech market. In 2017, Adweek magazine named her one of the top global leaders who are reinventing the industry.
Last jury duty?
Most inspiring was judging D&AD Awards, Cannes Lions and the ANDYs. Most refreshing was the last jury duty: Young Director Award. It’s always great to meet brave young talents.
What do you appreciate most about a piece of creative work?
Besides a beautifully executed powerful idea it would be the courage to break the rules and the will to take the risk. These would be my key criteria.
The most difficult thing about judging?
To make sure that no strong idea gets misunderstood because of lack of knowledge… because of not understanding the context of local culture.
The best thing about judging?
Meeting inspiring people. Having the time to review great work. Learning new cultural insights. What a great combination!
If you could create a special award, what would it be?
It would be the “Politically Not Correct Award”. Because everything is so correct these days that it seems that there is less and less space for black humour. And I miss it.
What is your favourite category? Why?
I still love print. Even though it is a very classical discipline, I like that you can identify on a single piece of print if its idea is powerful and clear or not.
Do you think European Creativity, besides diversity, has an underlying quality to it?
The beauty of good creativity is that it’s universal. But as I have mentioned previously, I love seeing work which smartly reflects on cultural insights. And I expect that from European work: to let the world know about life in the regions of Europe. And for us Europeans, to get the chance to find out more about our neighbouring countries. I find it amazing that we are able to tell great stories through advertising and brands.
What excites you most about judging the ADCE Awards?
Being back! It has been so many years since I was on the ADCE jury. Let me count… 19 years ago!
Interactive & Mobile Jury President
Domenico is the Executive Creative Director of Caffeina, overseeing the Communications division in the Parma, Rome and Milan offices. Manno has over 15-years of experience in international agencies such as Dnsee, Publicis and Doing, where he worked for brands such as AS Roma, Alitalia, BNL, Eni, Fox, Fiat, Ferrari, Generali, Heineken, Haribo, Hasbro, Jägermeister, L’Oréal, Microsoft, Twitter, Philip Morris, Procter & Gamble, Renault, Samsung, Vichy and Unicef.
Last jury duty?
Webby Awards.
What do you appreciate most about a piece of creative work?
The capacity to create interaction between brands and people.
The most difficult thing about judging?
The projects that are strongly connected to the context in which we live: pandemic, diversity and inclusion, climate change. These are important causes but that often risk to flatten and hide the personality and the values of the brand, upon which is necessary to build their own singular identity.
The best thing about judging?
The link among strategy, idea and execution.
If you could create a special award, what would it be?
The hyper local award. Because it always comes easy for us to observe what the big global brands do in the most evolved capitals of the planet, while I’d like to award big and smaller brands capable of being relevant for the small communities that live in most part of the countries.
What is your favourite category? Why?
Brand experience, interactive and mobile. Because they are all projects that move people.
Do you think European Creativity, besides diversity, has an underlying quality to it?
The cultural insights, often with deeper roots. Capable of making the brand experience more relevant and significant for the people despite everything keeps changing.
What excites you most about judging the ADCE Awards?
The links in so much diversity. The diversity of the kind of projects already awarded in other countries and the diversity of the professionals who will be part of the jury.
Design Jury President
Martynas is the Founder and Creative Director of DADADA Studio in Vilnius and a Design Director at Cocoon Brand Agency in Prague. People is his passion, a harmonious design team is his most loved project. His design projects go beyond visual experience and extend to space, experiential and holistic brand design. As the leader of DADADA he focuses on projects for cultural and governmental institutions.
Last jury duty?
The One Show, design discipline, 2021.
What do you appreciate most about a piece of creative work?
Genuine, simple concept revealing meaningful message.
The most difficult thing about judging?
Trying to validate perfect creativity without judging the relevance and purpose of the brand (product or service) itself.
The best thing about judging?
Meeting people and learning from the discussions.
If you could create a special award, what would it be?
In all competitions we see global brands dominating. With the new “Local Gem” award I would give a chance to projects which radiate authenticity and locality in the best way. This is possible under great empathy, which can make us more rich and opened.
What is your favourite category? Why?
Branding and experiential. I love seeing complex tasks solved by visual and experiential solutions.
Do you think European Creativity, besides diversity, has an underlying quality to it?
Hard one. I think Creativity is a very universal and global subject.
What excites you most about judging the ADCE Awards?
Egoistic, but seeing the matrix of creativity from all over Europe and participating in discussion about that.
Brand Experience Jury President
Eva is CEO and Creative Director at We Make Stories and Member of the Managing Board of the Creativ Club Austria. Among other agencies, Eva worked at Jung von Matt/Donau in Vienna and Heimat Berlin. In 2011 she co-founded the design and branding agency studio VIE and in 2015 she co-founded the full-service agency We Make Stories.
Last jury duty?
I was jury president at Creative Club Austria in the category Design a few weeks ago.
What do you appreciate most about a piece of creative work?
I appreciate most if a creative work is built from a brilliant idea and is executed in good quality.
The most difficult thing about judging?
For me the most difficult thing about judging is to find the difference between very good and excellent work.
The best thing about judging?
When you are absolutely sure about the brilliance of a submitted work and immediately know: THIS IS GOLD.(!)
If you could create a special award, what would it be?
If I could create a special award it would be (a creative award) for a good cause – exclusively.
What is your favourite category? Why?
Actually, I love the category Brand Experience most, because it’s so great to see how creativity brings a brand to live in a wide variety of disciplines.
Do you think European Creativity, besides diversity, has an underlying quality to it?
Brilliant European creativity is always built on a brilliant idea. Without a good idea, high-quality implementation is almost impossible to achieve.
What excites you most about judging the ADCE Awards?
To judge the best of the best.
Integrated & Innovation Jury President
Bruna is an award-winning Portuguese Creative Director with an Art Direction background. Currently based in Lisbon after 9 years of travelling, working, and learning from international markets like Paris and Los Angeles, now she collaborates independently with clients and agencies around the world. From HP to IBM, from Honda to Dove, from Nespresso to Netflix, there’s no briefing that can get her scared.
Last jury duty?
Just finished judging CCP (Clube de Criativos de Portugal) in the advertising category.
What do you appreciate most about a piece of creative work?
When it excites me, makes me feel things. That “wow!” after seeing for the first time, and the second, and third… 😉
The most difficult thing about judging?
Keeping your focus and fairness. Trying to not be biased to your personal taste.
The best thing about judging?
So freakin’ inspiring!
If you could create a special award, what would it be?
Low budget vs production value
What is your favourite category? Why?
I do love innovation, it really pushes the limits to what advertising can be.
Do you think European Creativity, besides diversity, has an underlying quality to it?
The craft.
What excites you most about judging the ADCE Awards?
Having the chance to be a part of not only an award show, but a community that strives for great, awesomely executed ideas.