Short Description
In many countries, there are competitions on the topics of corporate media, corporate design, book and magazine design, which are held as separate competitions. The ICMA provides an overview of all these areas of contemporary graphic design. The ICMA is primarily intended to promote the exchange of creative ideas on an international level.
The ICMA Award – International Creative Media Award – is a worldwide competition for custom media, books, corporate design and magazines. It is characterized by large and small companies taking part. Participants include major content media agencies such as Territory (a Gruner + Jahr affiliate), Axel Springer Corporate Solutions, muehlhausmoers corporate solutions, but also international participants in the book category such as Thames & Hudson, the Museum of Modern Art New York, the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, the Getty Research Institute Los Angeles, the Louvre Abu Dhabi. Awards in the Magazines category went to Esse magazine in Montreal, to Singpore Press Holding, and also to WirtschaftsWoche. All in all, the ICMA Award is very well established internationally.
The categories
You can take part in every category from 1.0. to 1.21. One participation fee is payable per category. If you have paid an entry fee for a project, you can also enter the subcategories 1.22. to 1.32. free of charge.
Some of these subcategories are intended for print submissions; in the categories typography – layout, photography, photo reportage, visualisation, visual storytelling, alternative storytelling, infographics, animated infographics and illustration, both print and online submissions can be made.
Work created between 1 January 2024 and 31 October 2025 is eligible to enter.
The ICMA has print and online categories:
New: Impact
1.0. If there is proof of impact for a submission, e.g. positive market research results, a reader survey or an increase in reach, please mention this impact in the entry form. These results will be taken into account in the evaluation and now have their own category.
Sustainability
1.0. This category is about publications by companies and institutions on the topic of sustainability – Corporate Sustainability Reporting. In addition to the classic sustainability report, we also consider articles or article series in print, online or podcast. We are happy to look at works in advance to see if they fit into this category.
New category: AI – Artificial Intelligence
1.0. This category is about the practical use of AI in companies. It can be in the field of communication, but other areas of application are also conceivable. You can contact us in advance to clarify whether a project fits into this category.
Main categories
Print:
1.1. Customer magazines B2B print
1.2. Customer magazines B2C print
1.3. Employee media print (newspaper, magazine)
1.4. Annual reports print
1.5. Image brochures print
1.6. Print catalogues, magalogues (A magalogue is a combination of magazine and catalogue.)
1.7. Concept/Innovation
1.8. Corporate books
Online:
1.9. Customer magazines B2B online (website, microsite, app, e-magazine, newsletter)
1.10. Customer magazines B2C online (website, microsite, app, e-magazine, newsletter)
1.11. Employee media online (intranet, microsite, e-magazine, newsletter)
1.12. Annual reports online
1.13. Crossmedia
1.14. Multimedia storytelling
1.15. Image websites
1.16. Gamification
1.17. Corporate podcasts
Motion picture:
1.18. Corporate film/video
1.19. Animated films
Campaigns and events:
1.20. Event media print and online
1.21. Campaigns for events, employer branding, etc.
Sub categories
In these sub categories, the jury evaluates parts of publications that have been published in print or online:
1.22. Front pages
1.23. Cover and cover story
1.24. Typography – Layout
1.25. Photography
1.26. Photo reportage
1.27. Visualisation
1.28. Visual storytelling, alternative Storytelling
1.29. Infographics, animated infographics
1.30. Illustration
1.31. Print finishing
How to Apply
The Entry Form for each participating work must be completed and enclosed in pdf format. It can be filled in on screen. Upload the form in the Upload Centre.
Program Benefits & Awards
There are gold, silver and bronze awards. There are also Awards of Excellence, which are presented for outstanding individual achievements. No cash prizes are awarded. Awards of Excellence are below Gold, Silver and Bronze. There may also be a ‘Best of Show’ award. This is then above gold, silver and bronze. The certificate in DIN A 3 format shows the publication that has won, the category and the names of each jury member at the bottom.
Entry Fee
Custom Media: 245 euros per publication. (Custom Media B2B, B2C and Employee Media: The fee includes two different editions).
Corporate Books: 100 euros per book.
Graphic Design: 100 euros per logo and single poster, 245 euros per identity, packaging and poster series
Magazines: 245 euros per magazine. (Two different issues are included in the fee).
Late submissions: ate submissions between 11 and 31 October are possible. An additional fee of 20 % will be charged. Deadline: 31 October until midnight.
Location
London, United Kingdom
Timeline
- Application Deadline: 10 October 2025
- Extended Deadline: 31 October 2025
Website Link: https://icma-award.com/
