The Caples Awards 2021. London
- Open for entries 4th January
- FREE entries close 30th April
- Latecomers Deadline 8th May
- Judging 13th to 18th May
- Caples Awards Presentation 26th May
Photo: Julian Hanford
The Caples Awards 2021 Download the Entry Kit Here
The Caples Awards 2021
Free to enter
In 2020, in response to Covid-19, we made the decision to make The Caples free to enter.
What happened was we got a lot more great work.
Even though the jury discussions and the awards presentation were all in Zoom, everyone who was a part of it found the experience rewarding and even uplifting.
In 2021 we are continuing to keep The Caples free.
We can do this because The Caples is a show for creative people run by creative people. In other words, we are idiots. But idiots with a mission, to recognise and reward great work because we know how damn hard it is.
Some charges may apply
From January 4th to April 30th 2021, you can submit your work at no cost.
But if you leave everything to the last minute, late-comer fees will apply from May 1st to May 8th – to cover the overtime costs of the tecchies who have to get the tens of thousands of images, videos and submission entries uploaded for the jury.
You have 17 weeks in which to enter FREE.
Then one week in which we will have to charge you £350.00GBP per entry.
So don’t make us do it!
You can only enter one piece of work four times
In 2020, some agencies entered all their work into all the categories, indiscriminately, leaving us to sort it out for them. (Thanks!)
In 2021, to make it possible for a wider spectrum of work to win awards, we’re restricting to the number of entries you can make for any campaign or idea to FOUR.
So choose your categories carefully.
Still, it’s four free bites at the cherry.
A new Covid category
We’re introducing the Covid Category – for obvious reasons. This is any idea in any medium that was created as a result of and in direct response to the virus.
Full details of this and the other 13 categories are in The 2021 Caples Awards Entry Kit, HERE
The Caples Awards is a global advertising and marketing communications awards show run by creative people for creative people to recognise and reward work that works.
It is the world's leading awards show to celebrate creativity in what used to be direct marketing. Today, that's any idea that gets people to respond, to reply, to click, like, link, share or experience the brand at first-hand. It can be measured by media impressions as well as by sign-ups, registrations and sales.
The Caples Awards 2021
Jury President
Steve Aldridge
UK Chief Creative Officer, Wunderman Thompson
Steve is known for being a creative champion, a successful business founder and an effective network leader. His mantra "None of us are as creative as all of us", ensures everyone contributes and their opinions count. His approach is to nurture inclusivity and collaboration, building teams that want to work together.
Since joining Wunderman Thompson as Chief Creative Officer in early 2019, the agency's creative output has gone from strength to strength. Working with the likes of HSBC, BT, Macallan, KitKat and Microsoft, Wunderman Thompson has produced inspiring, effective and culturally engaging work across the entire customer journey. Under Steve's leadership the agency has produced a record number of award wins at all major shows including Gold at Cannes Lions, Gold at Caples 2020, one of the UK's nine D&AD Yellow Pencils and metal at Creative Circle, Eurobest, Lovies, Marketing Week Masters and Fab, to name a few.
Prior to Wunderman Thompson, Steve co-founded creative agency Partners Andrews Aldridge, which won over 200 awards including Agency of the Decade. Partners Andrews Aldridge became part of the Engine Group in 2008, where Steve held the title of Group ECD.
Steve was a juror at The Caples Awards 2019.
Our Judges so far →Entry Categories for 2021
- Ambient/Guerilla/OOH
- Branded Content
- Creative Use of Data
- Digital B to B
- Digital B to C
- Direct Mail
- Innovation
- Integrated
- Mobile
- Not for Profit
- PR
- Radical new strategy
- NEW! Response to Covid
- Traditional media
In addition, the jury will present awards for
- Best Art Direction/Design
- Best Writing
- Best in Show
Also, the Courageous Client award, for any client whose work at The Caples Awards 2021 is evidence of marketing chutzpah and conviction that creativity pays.
In 2018, when former creative directors Patrick Collister and Duncan Gray took over management of The Caples, recognising that many awards shows had become bloated and expensive, they slashed the number of categories from 26 to 13 today. This means winning a Caples is harder. But more valuable.
At the judges’ discretion, Gold awards may be made for;
Best Copy
Best design/Art Direction
Best in Show
New in 2020, at Nicky Bullard’s insistence, The Courageous Client Award
Caples 2019: Lucas Peon and Marina Hidalgo,
Wunderman Thompson London, collecting Gold for HSBC
Register now
Upload and store your entries anytime from now but make sure you COMMIT your entries before closing date, which is 11.59pm on 30th April 2021.
Once you have registered, you will be able to access the entry forms.
Register Now →