Adobe has announced the call for entries for the twelfth annual Adobe® Design Achievement Awards (ADAA). Each year we look forward to this prestigious competition, which recognizes the incredible work of students from around the globe — work that is produced using Adobe software, and advances creativity through digital technology. The competition attracts the best and brightest among student graphic designers, photographers, illustrators, animators, digital filmmakers, developers, and computer artists.  For 2012, we will also continue to recognize teaching excellence through three categories of competition designed specifically for instructors in higher education.

The ADAA competition is free to enter and open to students, faculty and staff of higher education institutions worldwide. Students are invited to compete in 13 categories that include Game Design and Development as well as Application Development and Mobile Design. Almost 25,000 students from 73 countries have participated in the ADAA competition since it began in 2001 and the number of submissions just keeps rising. Last year we received a record-breaking 4,600 entries from students. They have told us they believe “design is about making this a better world for all of us.”

2012 submission deadlines are January 27, April 27, and June 22. Entries will be judged by a panel of international design experts.   In October finalists will be invited to attend the ADAA awards ceremony in Los Angeles, California where winners will be announced and awarded Adobe software and cash prizes.

For more information, check out the press release or visit the ADAA website. Visit the 2011 ADAA Yearbook for a look at the 2011 ADAA ceremony in Taipei, Taiwan. Also, don’t forget to check out our Facebook page or follow us @AdobeEDU for the latest updates about the awards.

After just a few weeks into my new job at Adobe, I have already had the opportunity to travel to Taipei to attend the 2011 Adobe Design Achievement Awards (ADAA) ceremony. It’s an amazing event – educators and student graphic designers, photographers, illustrators, animators, digital filmmakers, developers and computer artists came together from around the world to compete in the “world cup” of design.  Simply put, I was just amazed by the creativity, quality, and design of the showcased work.  Since this competition began in 2001, nearly 25,000 students across 73 countries have been involved. This year, for the first time in ADAA history, we also had the privilege of recognizing faculty in categories honoring teaching excellence.

A few things really stand out for me from the experience. First off, the winner from Taiwan, Sean Chang, is a gifted designer who won the Print Communications category. When asked about his message to other students around the world on using technology and design, his advice was, “Think big and outside the box. Have a positive impact on the world. And make sure that your design tells a story.”  Secondly, almost all of the students spent time talking about the role of design — in their words, “design is about making this a better world for all of us, people and environment.” We could all learn from the terrific insights and pure passion displayed by the students and educators – I know I certainly did.

The winners and finalist projects will be showcased during the Taipei World Design Expo from October 22 through October 30 for the world’s creative and technical luminaries to enjoy.  Join us in congratulating the talented winners in each of the competition’s 15 categories. We encourage you to check out the ADAA Gallery, a digital collection of not only this year’s winners and finalists, but also projects from winners and finalists over the past 10 years. Click here for a recap of the winners and the evening’s events.

We want to thank our partner for the third consecutive year, Icograda, as well as our prestigious judges and Master of Ceremonies, Lita Talarico, School of Visual Arts co-chair of the MFA program for continuing to help us recognize the best student and faculty creative leaders around the world. To view judges’ commentary on the 2011 Adobe Design Achievement Awards click here.

We feel privileged and proud to honor such incredible work through the Adobe Design Achievement Awards!

Adobe is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2011 Adobe Design Achievement Awards (ADAA). This premier competition honors the best student graphic designers, photographers, illustrators, animators, digital filmmakers, developers and computer artists from accredited higher education institutions worldwide. The ADAA judges, who are industry and educational luminaries from universities and top design companies, selected 42 finalists from the more than 4600 entries received. Finalists were selected in 13 student categories and two faculty categories, based on originality and effectiveness in communicating project objectives. A picture is worth 1000 words, so please check out the ADAA Gallery to view their amazing work!

In October, these talented students and educators will travel to the International Design Alliance Congress in Taipei, Taiwan. Their work will be showcased to the international design community in an awards ceremony in Taipei on Sunday, Oct. 23, where the 2011 Adobe Design Achievement Award winners will be announced.  All 42 finalists will have their work on display in a special gallery as part of the Taipei World Design Expo from Oct. 22 through Oct. 30.

For more details about the ADAAs, please see our announcements in December and March and visit the ADAA website. Be sure to follow @AdobeEDU for the latest updates about the awards.

Earlier this month, Adobe announced 28 finalists in the ninth annual Adobe Design
Achievement Awards (ADAA). This premiere competition honors the best student graphic
designers, photographers, illustrators, animators, digital filmmakers, developers and computer artists from accredited higher education institutions worldwide. This year, Adobe received a record-breaking 3300 submissions from students in 37 countries competing in the program.Finalists were selected by a global panel of industry judges based on their originality and effectiveness in communicating project objectives.

Check out the great submissions Adobe received this year here.

Coming up in the near future:
Through a partnership with the International Council of Graphic Design Associations(Icograda), finalists will be invited to attend the Icograda World Design Congress 2009 in Beijing, China where winners will be announced and honored in a ceremony on October 26.