All ADC 99th Annual Awards Gold Cube-winning entries submitted through the freelance level of the show’s tiered pricing system will be judged again by a separate jury that includes the WNW community. This jury will determine the top freelance winner, who will receive the new honour at the ADC 99th Annual Awards during Creative Week in New York in May 2020.

WNW will also support the initiative with a range of freelancer-focused content about the ADC Annual Awards on its site and social channels, including a history of the prestigious program, tips of how to enter, insights on how to make the work stand out for the judges and more. Said Kevin Swanepoel, CEO, The One Club:

Freelancers play a significant role in advertising and design, and this partnership advances our ability to support, recognise and elevate them in the global creative community.

“With its tiered pricing system, the ADC Annual Awards is an affordable way for freelancers to be identified and celebrated on a global stage for their amazing work,” he added. “There’s no organisation that’s more relevant and plugged into that global freelance community than Working Not Working, and we’re thrilled to partner with a group that shares our commitment to supporting freelance talent around the world.”

Eliminating obstacles between creatives and opportunities

Known as the place where the world’s most innovative companies hire creative talent, WNW's mission is to eliminate the obstacles between creative people and opportunity. Justin Gignac, the co-founder/CEO and Young Guns 5 winner, and Adam Tompkins, cofounder/CCO, launched WNW in 2011 to help brands connect with about 300 freelancers. There are now more than 80,000 creatives and thousands of companies hiring from the platform globally.

WNW’s Tompkins said the organisation has always had a close relationship with the ADC brand, from partner Gignac being named a Young Guns 5 winner to its early days when the WNW team would promote ADC parties and attend its awards shows.

“The stamp of industry respect that comes with an ADC Cube was definitely something we strived for when starting Working Not Working and curating our community,” said Tompkins.

“Like The One Club, we don’t just celebrate established creative leaders; we’ve built a community and platform that empowers both creative veterans and those who are still finding their footing’” he said.

“It’s been awesome to see that translate in the last couple of years to the ADC Annual Awards specifically, with tiered pricing that encourages freelancers and small studios to put their work forward and compete with the giants.”

Encouraging freelancers to have a bigger voice

The ADC 99th Annual Awards is open for entries here, deadline 31 January 2020.