How to Win an ACE Award News Share this: First and foremost congratulations to all the winners at this year’s ACE Awards. The judges were very impressed with our community’s overall level of work, particularly on the design front. Every year the board receives member feedback on the awards show, and we see a few recurring questions; we thought it would be a good idea to share our answers to all of our membership as some might be wondering but not want to ask. Question One: Why isn’t every category awarded an ACE Award? There are many opinions on this, and we’ve heard quite a few points of view, but the board is very much on the same page and has been for years. To answer this question, we have to go back to the start of the ACE Awards. Thirty-eight years ago, when the show started, there was a simple mission: increase the level of creativity in our market. To this day, the board holds firm on this mission and feels, that in doing so, our market can compete against any market in North America. An ACE Award is not just a pretty piece of metal; it’s a standard and an accolade. It’s something given out with purpose and not because nothing else was entered in the category. It’s something to strive for, something with real value. I believe the results of this year’s show are a testament to the value of an ACE Award and the hard work each team has put in. To see such a diversity of winners shows our market is growing, evolving and that great ideas can come from anywhere. Question Two: How can I improve my chances of winning an ACE Award? I hate to say it, but year after year the judges tell us that there were ACE Awards left on the table. Left because the entry was in the wrong category, left because of a poor context description or left because it was entered in too many categories. Here are the top three ways to increase your chances of winning an ACE Award: Make sure you enter in the right category. If you aren’t sure, don’t enter it into every category. Instead, reach out to a board member or the awards co-chairs and ask. Context descriptions can make all the difference in the world. A poor context description can lose an ACE Award, and a great context description can win an ACE Award. Take the time to set the stage and make sure to provide background relevant to the judges who are from out of market. Context descriptions are not something to leave until the last minute. The judges judge all the work, and they get tired of seeing pieces over and over again, especially when they didn’t win in another category. Judges dislike seeing shotgun entries, focus your efforts on where you think you have the strongest chance of winning. I hope this has provided a bit of insight and answered some questions. If you want more information or have further questions, please feel free to send them to me at [email protected]. My mailbox is always open.