In the design, web and marketing world, it’s nearly always award season. There are the HOW Awards, the Communication Arts Awards, the Summit International Awards, the Direct Marketing Awards, the Webby Awards and let us not forget our very own Portland Rosey Awards. The list is nearly endless. Every week, new mailers arrive on my desk that offer us the opportunity to pay a handsome fee to enter our work in their contests, with the promise of accolades, high profile judges and fancy trophies. So many categories! Such gorgeous awards!
Of course, the awards will cost you. Your merit and creativity alone, the applaud of the high profile judges, your entry fee, none of those earn you an actual award. For that you must pay another fee, plus shipping to have the illustrious award delivered, plus extra for the engraving.
Yes, it’s a bit silly. But it’s our way. In our industry, awards are currency—they boost our self-esteem and put us on the map. Awards give you street cred. It’s sort of like getting street cred in high school because the popular girl let you buy her a milkshake, but it’s credit nonetheless. And so we enter the awards contests, we share our victories, we drool over the fancy judges, and yes, we even pay to have the trophy shipped to us, with engraving. All for the sweet smell of victory.






