CALL TO TALENT

ADG Laus 2026: The ADG Laus Awards are one of the most established recognitions in graphic design and visual communication in Spain. Organised by ADG-FAD since 1964, they distinguish each year projects that stand out for their conceptual solidity, their formal quality and their capacity to generate impact. They cover disciplines such as visual identity, editorial, typography, packaging, digital, advertising or audiovisual, becoming a reference within the creative sector.

The way they work is simple: studios, professionals and students can submit works carried out during the last year. A jury made up of national and international specialists evaluates each project and awards prizes at different levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold. In addition to special distinctions such as the Grand Laus or the recognition of Young Talent in the student category. The ceremony is held at the well-known Nit Laus, and the awarded projects usually form part of exhibitions and publications that show the best of contemporary design.

Ibero-American Design Biennial: The Ibero-American Design Biennial (BID) is one of the most relevant design gatherings in the Ibero-American sphere. Organised by DIMAD at the Central de Diseño in Matadero Madrid, it brings together every two years professionals, studios, companies and educational centres from more than twenty countries to show a current overview of design in disciplines such as graphic, product, interior design, fashion, digital or services.

The BID is not only an exhibition, but a platform for exchange and reflection that promotes design as a cultural, social and economic tool. The selected projects form part of an official exhibition, are included in a catalogue and are disseminated through digital galleries and international itinerancies, which broadens their visibility and projection. Within this framework, the BID Awards are granted by an international jury that values the conceptual quality, innovation and impact of the submitted projects. The distinguished works receive the BID Seal, a recognition that certifies their excellence and positions their authors in an international context of reference within contemporary design.

The ADI Awards: are awards with a long history and prestige within industrial design in Spain, organised by ADI-FAD (Industrial Design Association of the Promotion of Arts and Design) since the beginning of the 1960s.

They are made up of three main lines: the Delta Awards, which recognise industrial design products for their quality, innovation, functionality and social responsibility; the Delta Medals, aimed at students and young designers who submit final degree projects or Final Projects of a Professional Master’s Degree; and the ADI Culture Awards, which distinguish initiatives that promote design culture, such as publications, exhibitions or educational activities. Each edition is organised biennially. Participants register their products or projects, which are examined by an independent jury of experts who select finalists and award different levels of recognition. The winners are announced at an official ceremony and usually form part of exhibitions and catalogues that show the distinguished works to the specialised and general public.

BRUT: The BRUT Awards are awards created to recognise and give visibility to the work of the most innovative creators in contemporary visual culture. The initiative was born with the purpose of celebrating projects that mix design, art, technology and visual narrative, highlighting proposals that do not fit into traditional categories but that are setting current trends and ways of communicating.

Unlike other awards that focus exclusively on technical or commercial aspects, the BRUT Awards focus on the avant-garde, experimentation and cultural impact of the works. The aim is to find projects that advance visual language, question established formats and connect genuinely with broad audiences, regardless of whether they come from design, illustration, animation, digital art or audiovisual production.

The way it works is quite open: creators submit their projects and a specialised jury made up of visual field professionals, curators and creators selects the most outstanding proposals according to criteria such as originality, execution, critical thinking and cultural contribution. The winners are made known publicly and their works are promoted through the BRUT community, which helps to give visibility, connect with an international audience and position creative careers in a broader context.

ADCE HIGH POTENTIALS: The ADCE High Potentials are not “awards” in the usual sense, but a European creative talent programme that connects the best young designers and creatives with agencies and leading studios in the sector. It is organised by the Art Directors Club of Europe (ADCE) and is held over two days in Barcelona, at the Disseny Hub, bringing together students and recent graduates from all over Europe to present their work and establish professional contacts.

The format consists of a prior selection of young creatives based on the quality of their portfolios and projects, after which participants have a few minutes to show their best work to representatives of agencies and studios looking for emerging talent. The event combines stage presentations, networking and “speed dating” sessions where creatives can engage in more direct conversations with potential recruiters.

More than a showcase, High Potentials works as a platform for professional visibility and connection with the labour market for those who are starting their careers. It offers a real opportunity for emerging creatives to make themselves known, learn from sector leaders and forge relationships that can drive their professional path.

LAPIZ DE ACERO: The La Piz de Acero Awards recognise outstanding projects in design, visual communication and creativity in Chile. Their objective is to highlight the work of designers, studios and agencies that provide innovative and relevant solutions in areas such as visual identity, digital design, editorial, illustration or motion graphics.

The process begins with an open call, in which participants register their projects in different categories. Subsequently, a specialised jury reviews and evaluates each proposal according to criteria such as creativity, quality of execution, strategy and cultural contribution. After a selection phase, the finalists are announced and finally the winners, who receive official recognition at the annual ceremony.

Beyond the award itself, La Piz de Acero works as a platform for professional visibility. The awarded works are disseminated in media, networks and spaces linked to design, which allows their authors to strengthen their positioning within the creative ecosystem.

Young Talents: The EUmies Awards Young Talent are a special category within the prestigious EU Mies Awards, a European architecture prize promoted by the Fundació Mies van der Rohe with the support of the Creative Europe programme of the European Union. This category is intended to highlight the work of recently graduated young architects, urban planners and landscape designers, especially their final projects of a Professional Master’s Degree that show fresh ideas and a critical vision of the built environment.

The process starts with an open call in which schools of architecture, urban planning and landscape design can nominate the best projects of their graduates and submit them at no cost on the part of the educational institutions. From there, an international jury selects a shortlist of outstanding projects and, afterwards, the finalists that will be exhibited during the Biennale Architettura in Venice.

The final winners are announced during the EUmies Awards Day in Venice, and in addition to receiving a diploma, each one obtains a financial prize and professional visibility opportunities, including publications, profiles on specialised platforms and participation in travelling exhibitions. All nominated projects become part of the official archive as recognition of their contribution to emerging design and architecture.

Llum BCN: The Young Talent Awards form part of the Llum BCN festival, an annual light arts event that transforms the Poblenou neighbourhood in Barcelona with light, design, technology and art installations for several days every February. The festival, organised by the Institut de Cultura de Barcelona, attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors and serves as a platform for both established artists and students to present creative proposals with light as the main tool.

Within this framework, the Young Talent Awards recognise the most outstanding proposals made by students from university and design schools in the city. Each participating institution presents light installations developed by its students, who explore themes such as atmosphere, reflection, risk or landscape, generating pieces that dialogue with the urban space and the architecture of the festival.

A jury of experts from the fields of art, design and lighting visits the installations during the festival and grants different recognitions according to categories such as “Atmosphere”, “Reflections” or “Capacity for Transformation”. The winning projects, such as light installations or visual narratives, are announced publicly and, in addition to visibility at the festival, represent an opportunity for professional projection for emerging talents.

iF Design Student Awards: The iF Design Student Awards are one of the most prestigious and recognised design competitions worldwide for students and young designers. Every year, thousands of proposals from more than 80 countries compete with innovative ideas that show how design can address current challenges in social, technological or environmental fields, aligning with topics such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The process is free and open to enrolled students or graduates from less than two years ago, who submit their concepts before the deadline through the iF online platform. An international jury of experts evaluates the proposals in two phases: first online and then in a final in-person assessment; based on criteria such as problem solving, innovation, feasibility and value of use.

The projects that stand out receive the coveted iF Design Student Award seal, are published on the global iF platform, are exhibited in international exhibitions and can obtain a share of a €50,000 cash prize. In addition, the winners are honoured at an international ceremony that brings together young talents, professionals and design leaders to celebrate the most inspiring proposals.