Dear AIVA Community,

It is a true privilege to kick off the 31st season of the Communicator Awards. In thinking about themes for this season, I looked to all of the wonderful work submitted to the awards over the past three decades. What stood out more than anything else was the magic of connection that is common to all of the winning projects. Whether connecting communities to information, listeners to new ideas, customers to new products and experiences, effective Communication brings us closer together and makes the universe a little smaller.

In a time defined by rapid advancement and innovation, the essence of good communication remains more critical than ever. While the awards will continue to honor the timeless art of storytelling, there is also room to embrace the innovations that are reshaping how humans around the world connect, create and communicate.

Last season brought significant changes and I listened closely to all the feedback we received. With that in mind – and honoring the “connectivity” theme – I’m excited to unveil some new plans for the season.  These include:

• Strengthening ties within our community. We’ll be exploring the current state and future of the MarComm professional landscape and will be launching a suite of new initiatives to connect our community’s proven talent with hyper-relevant professional opportunities sourced from our esteemed AIVA Jury.

• Expansions to Social Media and Branded Content & Experiences categories so we can stay ahead of these fast-moving fields. As these areas continue to evolve, the changes reflect their growing importance in our lives and the breadth of work that you are producing for your Brands and your clients.

• A new cohort of jurors who represent the diversity and expertise of the work submitted each year. This includes leaders and experts from Adobe, Vayner Media, Comcast, Pernod Ricard, FedEx, Monks, Penguin Random House, Hearts & Science and many more.

• A content calendar packed with engaging features, including showcases of past Communicator Award winners, insights from AIVA jurors and the return of our Annual Report of Annual Reports.

• An updated Winners Gallery experience, creating a more shareable and visually-appealing platform to showcase your achievements.

My goal is to ensure that the Communicator Awards continue to honor and elevate the incredible work you produce by celebrating all of the points of connection brought by good communication. I know that our jurors are equally excited to receive the innovative and impactful work that has always defined these awards. While the channels we use to reach each other may evolve, one thing remains constant: “Communication is Connection.”

I wish all of our entrants the best of luck this season!

As Ever,

Lauren Angeloni
Managing Director
AIVA | aiva.org