The Art Directors Club has revealed the finalists for the 105th edition of its annual awards, one of the industry’s longest-standing competitions, continuously tracking the evolution of craft and creative standards since 1920.
The awards are organized by The One Club for Creativity, a global non-profit that reinvests revenue from its programs into education, professional development, and broader access to the industry.
This year’s selection includes a total of 668 finalists from 39 countries and regions, offering a clear snapshot of current global dynamics, while also confirming the continued dominance of large networks and systems at the final stage of major competitions.
Leading the rankings is Area 23 New York with 21 finalists, including five for “The Zip Code Exam” for Equity Health Foundation, as well as four each for “Cracked” (Mercy for Animals) and “Kyikatejê” (Gavião Kyikatejê FC).
Close behind is McCann New York with 20 finalists, including 11 for “Own Your Flow” for Kotex and nine for “For Papa!” for Instacart.
Squarespace New York follows with 19 finalists, 15 of which come from “Unavailable”, while Klick Health Toronto has 18, including 11 for “18 Months”.
Google Creative Team Mountain View enters the final round with 16 projects, including “Thomas’ Story” and “Stranger Things in Search”, created in collaboration with Netflix.
Other notable finalists include The New York Times Magazine New York (14), Dentsu Inc. Tokyo and VML Health Spain Madrid (13 each), Serviceplan Germany Munich (12), as well as Rethink Toronto and TBWA\Media Arts Lab Los Angeles (10 each).
The shortlist points to the continued dominance of major agency networks and in-house teams from tech and media companies, but also to the growing presence of work that extends beyond traditional advertising formats, particularly in health, social impact, and content-driven projects.
Winners will be announced on May 13 in New York during Creative Week, where all finalists will receive Gold, Silver, or Bronze ADC Cubes, as well as Merit awards.
Now in its 17th year, Creative Week remains a key industry gathering, but also a platform that increasingly reflects how creative excellence is being redefined, moving from traditional craft toward a broader intersection of technology, content, and measurable business impact.
