Question 1

When are EMA winners announced?

summitgirl · Accepted Answer

TIMELINE

Generally, administrative pre-check takes a month to afford entrants time for fixing and compliance alterations and judging about a month. Winners are traditionally announced 1.5 months after the final deadline.

2022 Tick-tock

1-23-23 Winner announcements mailed (scheduled)
1-13-23 Score compilation complete.
1-12-23 Judging complete.
12-20-22 Judging underway
12-10-22 Administrative pre-check underway.
12-9-22 Submission deadline
5-10-22 Season opens.

Notification: Winners receive both an email and a mailed winner notification. Non-winners receive an email notification.

Question 2

When are MEA winners announced?

summitgirl · Accepted Answer

TIMELINE

Generally, administrative pre-check takes a month to afford entrants time for fixing and compliance alterations and judging about a month. Winners are traditionally announced 1.5 months after the final deadline.

2022 Tick-tock

1-23-23 Winner announcements mailed (scheduled)
1-13-23 Score compilation complete.
1-12-23 Judging complete.
12-20-22 Judging underway
12-10-22 Administrative pre-check underway.
12-9-22 Submission deadline
5-10-22 Season opens.

Notification: Winners receive both an email and a mailed winner notification. Non-winners receive an email notification.

Question 3

When are winners announced?

summitgirl · Accepted Answer

TIMELINE

Generally, administrative pre-check takes a month to afford entrants time for fixing and compliance alterations and judging about a month. Winners are traditionally announced about a month and a half after the final deadline. This year’s schedule is on target for a mid-September winner announcement.

2023 Tick-tock

8-15-23 Winner announcement scheduled
1-1-23 Season opens in mid-January.
11-18-22 Composite trophy ordering ends.
9-4-22 Judging is complete. Tabulation and raking. The winner notification goes out the second week of September.
8-22-22 Judging continues for 2-3 more weeks.
8-12-22 Entrant remedying cut-off.
8-2-22 Administrative pre-check complete.
7-13-22 This year’s schedule is on target for a mid-September winner announcement.
7-12-22 Admin. review begins to ensure all is in order before judging.
7-11-22 Submission deadline.

Notification: Winners receive both an email and an in-hand winner notification. Non-winners receive an email notification.

Question 4

I'm having a hard time figuring out which category?

summitgirl · Accepted Answer

That is why we're here. Just give us a call or send us an email describing your project and client, and we'll do our best to direct it to the best spot.

Question 5

What are the different levels of winning?

summitgirl · Accepted Answer

What are the winning levels, and how many awards are given in the Summit Creative competition? There are four levels of award recognition for submissions - Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Best of Show. Best of Show results from a final run-off of Gold winning entries. Top Agency is the Summit Award’s most prestigious award and is given to the best-performing companies in both quality and quantity of awards. The number of awards presented each year in the Creative Awards depends on the number of submissions in a given category, scoring range, and ties. According to the Summit Awards bylaws, there can be no more than the following:

75-85% of all submissions do not receive recognition.
5-9% Bronze
5-9% Silver
1-3% Gold - A Gold award will not be given in the event entries do not meet minimum scoring qualifications.
Best of Show awards are chosen from eligible competing for Gold-winning entries. Occasionally there will be a Judges Choice special recognition bestowed.
Top Agency Award is the Summit Award’s most prestigious award and is given to the best-performing companies in both quality and quantity of awards.

To ensure impartiality in its judging processes, the Awards scores on a curve. Percentage models, or stair-step scoring systems (100-90, 89-80), are considered disreputable evaluation systems by the Summit Awards. 2017, there were 5% Finalists, 8% Bronze, 6% Silver, 3% Gold, and .01 Best of Show/Judge’s Choice. 2018, there were 1% Finalist, 7% Bronze, 7% Silver, 2% Gold, and .005 Best of Show/Judge’s Choice. 2019, there were 8% Bronze, 5% Silver, 2.25% Gold, and .005 Best of Show. 2020, there were 9% Bronze, 7% Silver, 2.25% Gold, and .005 Best of Show. 2021, there were 6% Bronze, 7% Silver, 1.25% Gold, and .005 Best of Show. 2022, there were 7% Bronze, 6% Silver, 2.3% Gold, and .005 Best of Show.

Question 6

Terms & Conditions

summitgirl · Accepted Answer

All entries must be submitted precisely as produced/published/aired and may not be modified for the competition. The Summit Awards presumes all entries are original, and the entrant either owns the creative submission or has permission from a client or collaborator to enter for award consideration. If an entry is submitted without such privileges, the entry will not be eligible for the competition, and entry fees are forfeited.

Derivative, copycat, agency version, and director's cut entries, including ghost clients or spec, do not meet the SIA's submission criteria. In the event of a complaint or suspicion of authenticity by the Summit Awards or its board of judges, the Summit Awards will conduct an internal or external inquiry and determine final contest eligibility. In the event of an external investigation, the Summit Awards will ask for and require any detailed documentation to which it deems pertinent. The SIA's decision on the eligibility of an entry is final, and if an entry is considered to be ineligible, entry fees are forfeited.

The Summit Awards organization is not liable for any copyright infringement on the entrant's part.

Submission of an entry acknowledges the right of the Summit Awards to use it for exhibition and publication to promote winners in any medium unless specified explicitly at the time of submission. Timely submission of an entry that meets all eligibility requirements and payment of the entry fee as stated herein ensures that an entrant's work will be reviewed and considered for recognition, barring any unforeseen exceptions. No other representation or warranty is made by the Summit Awards concerning entries, and all implied warranties are hereby expressly disclaimed.

If an entrant's submission receives an award, the manner and details of announcing such nomination and award are strictly within the discretion of the SIA. Entrant understands that all awards may not be given or publicized in the same manner or form.
The Summit Awards reserves final determination on eligibility. By submitting contest application, entry fee, and work for review, the entrant agrees to the above terms & conditions.

Should an entrant choose to remove a submission from an award, please notify the Summit Awards administration immediately. Any refund amount is contingent on staff time, administrative resources, and judging stage processes.
Due to the customization process, trophies, plaques, and certificates are non-refundable unless we are notified before midnight of the transaction day.

Question 7

Privacy Policy

summitgirl · Accepted Answer

Privacy Policy - The Summit International Awards will not rent, lease, sell or barter email addresses, or other contact information, to third parties. As an Entrant, you give your written consent to receive the Summit Award’s periodic e-newsletter. In addition, we will only send you Summit Awards emails directly related to our competitions and upcoming events. Our newsletter is typically monthly; however, we send reminders as we approach competition deadlines. In addition, we may send you occasional invitations to participate in a survey or questionnaire, which we use to help improve our operations and services. We follow best practices for email marketing and CAN-SPAM compliance. Translation: Do not click SPAM; simply unsubscribe.

The Summit Awards reserves the right to reclassify incorrectly classified entries. All submissions become the property of the Summit Awards and cannot be returned. We respect and acknowledge the intellectual copyright of the entering firms’ creative work and fully protect those rights.

The Summit Awards respects its judges' privacy and appreciates their contribution to our organization and the industry. In adherence to the Summit Award’s blind judging practices, it does not publicly publish jury members before winner announcements. We respectfully ask our entrants not to contact judges directly. Should an entrant be curious whether a judge had an opinion or feedback regarding a particular entry, we ask our entrants to direct their inquiry to the Summit Awards' staff. If direct contact is made with a judge, the Summit Awards may disqualify an entrant from further program participation. In addition, it may strip a winning entry of its status.

Winning entries in any Summit Award competition can be showcased in various ways. Publication is at the sole discretion of the Summit Awards unless an entrant has made confidentiality arrangements before entering an award.
The Summit Awards will not publicly disclose information about winning other than the level achieved. Any detailed scoring or comments are solely for Summit Awards internal use.

Unsubscribing - You may remove yourself at any time from our email list by sending an email to sia @ summitawards.com or by using the unsubscribe link contained in our newsletters or mailings. However, please note that you will be permanently unsubscribed from all three Summit Awards competition notices and any information regarding your specific or winning entries.

Questions or concerns? Contact our headquarters sia @ summitawards.com.

Question 8

Who competes in the Summit Awards?

summitgirl · Accepted Answer

Entries come from students entering the profession, individuals who work for hire, small boutiques, medium-sized agencies and company in-house marketing departments. It has received submissions for all seven continents and the following countries:

Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Colombia, Croatia, Denmark, England, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Bangladesh, Nepal, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Pakistan, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Russia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, The Netherlands, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Indies, and Yugoslavia.

Question 9

What competitions are conducted by the Summit Awards?

summitgirl · Accepted Answer

The Summit Awards organization conducts three competitions annually:

The Summit Creative Award (SCA) - Recognizes creative excellence in companies and individuals with billing under $40 million. The SCA includes all media and industries and evaluates submissions on originality, execution, and persuasion.

The Summit Marketing Effectiveness Award (MEA) - A unique competitive arena where the judging criteria are based on the core purpose of marketing communications: to influence the consumer’s knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs. Judging is based on creative samples and a short brief.

The Summit Emerging Media Award (EMA) - This award was created to identify the world's communication pioneers, those pushing the bounds of the communication badlands. All forms of emerging media are welcome. Judging evaluates methods, innovation and user interface.

Please see each award’s page for more details on entry categories and criteria.

Question 10

Who sponsors the Summit Awards?

summitgirl · Accepted Answer

All three of the awards are conducted by the Summit International Awards (Summit Awards), a United States based organization. The Summit Awards is not tied to any advertiser, magazine, trade association, ad club or other outside influence.

The Summit Awards is an independent, international organization focused on fostering a community of marketing creativity, effectiveness, and excellence. It conducts impartial, 'blind' judging shows and, once completed, it recognizes, celebrates and promotes creative, effective and marketing excellence in those winning companies and individuals.

Its judging process is designed to be impartial and free from outside influences by withholding both the names of the judges on its panels as well as the contestant's names throughout the entire evaluation process. Both judge's and contestant's names are withheld until after award-winning entries are selected. This anonymity shelters all involved from any vested interest which may attempt to influence the judges' opinions or the judging process.

Question 11

Tell me more?

summitgirl · Accepted Answer

The Summit International Awards (Summit Awards) organization is dedicated to furthering excellence in the communications industry. It administers three distinguished award competitions throughout the year with the goal of raising the awareness of companies and individuals who have the creative and marketing talent to go beyond the ordinary.

The Summit Awards is the oldest and most prestigious organization conducting an award exclusively for firms with limited billings. For over two decades, its Creative Award has established itself as one of the premier arbiters of creative and communication excellence. Using stringent evaluation criteria and blind judging processes, its competitions reward only those firms whose work exemplifies the best in its class.

Our organization stands apart by offering a true competitive environment where entries are judged alongside those of their peers, and makes its competitions affordable and accessible to the industry by offering multiple entry discounts, streamlined internet submissions and a friendly, knowledgeable customer service staff. Companies from all over the world invest their promotional dollars for the opportunity to be recognized as a Summit International Award winner.

Question 12

What is the deal with Redesign/Rebranding?

summitgirl · Accepted Answer

The Redesign and Rebrand categories highlight creative redesign, or rebranding, of a marketing strategy. It is important to include a before and after execution, visibly labeled as such.

Question 13

How to submit apps, interactive, kiosks, presentations, etc?

summitgirl · Accepted Answer

Interactive displays, kiosks, presentations, press events have more flexibility in how they are presented so that we are able to share the project with the Jury in as realistic way as possible.

It can be helpful to develop a short video or a PowerPoint in order to help present the project. Other times, entrants have created a microsite taking the judges through the various phases, etc.

Question 14

What are the judging criteria?

summitgirl · Accepted Answer

Submissions are judged on the strength of concept, quality of execution, and ability to persuade. Respected creative professionals with a depth of industry experience sit on several judging panels. The Summit Creative Award employs blind judging: company names are withheld. Judging begins two weeks after the final deadline and takes approximately one month. All entrants are notified of award results electronically after the judging stage is complete. Winners are sent and in-hand winner packet.

Each category employs slightly different judging criteria; however, broadly, the following are the Summit Creative Award judging criteria:

The strength of Concept/Ideation/Big Idea (originality and uniqueness of approach, message targeting and honing, the synergy between concept, copy, and layout/execution) 1-20 pts. Quality of Execution (How well the idea was executed (visual appeal, the tone of voice, chosen media, placement, etc.) 1-10 pts. Ability to Persuade (How well did the creative move the target audience closer to the action or encourage a change in thoughts) 1-10 pts. Judges' PowerPoints (used at judges' discretion to boost specific submissions they identify as exemplary) – 0-10 pts.

Question 15

I'm a winner. I'd like to know more about trophies.

summitgirl · Accepted Answer

Trophies are custom-made per our winners' requests and are available seasonally. Winner's trophies are drop-shipped directly from our manufacturers. Trophies take 3-8 weeks, certificates take 3-6 weeks, depending on the date ordered.

Question 16

Do I have to pay for an award trophy to be a winner?

summitgirl · Accepted Answer

Absolutely not. Once you are a winner, you have won. Take advantage of all of the benefits of being a winner: bragging rights, winner-controlled microsites, publicity tools and association with the more than quarter-century-old Summit Awards.

Question 17

What are the judging criteria and schedule?

summitgirl · Accepted Answer

Summit Marketing Effectiveness Award: Judges evaluate each entry’s Brief and Creative Sample, and critique it on how well it influences, changes, or reinforces the audiences’ knowledge, attitudes or beliefs. Entries are judged against a benchmark that indicates quality effectiveness, and Silver winners compete with each for a Platinum win. This means that winners not only meet a minimum standard but also truly stand out from the crowd. Proven creative professionals with a depth of industry experience sit on these judging panels. Judging takes place in November. Entrants are notified of award results electronically, and winners are mailed a winner packet late-December or early-January.

Each category employs slightly different judging criteria, however, in general, the following is the Summit MEA judging criteria:

The Big Idea – Strength of creative approach relative to the audience and product/service/idea 1-25 pts.
Does it establish a feeling of want or need 1-25 pts.
Does it move the audience closer to action through the use of creative execution and strategic planning? 1-25 pts.
Does it influence, change or reinforce the knowledge, attitudes or beliefs of the audience? 1-25 pts.

The Big Idea - Strength of creative approach relative to the audience and product/service/idea 1-25 pts.
Does it establish a feeling of want or need 1-25 pts.
Does it move the audience closer to action through the use of creative execution and strategic planning? 1-25 pts.
Does it influence, change or reinforce the knowledge, attitudes or beliefs of the audience? 1-25 pts.

Question 18

How do I enter?

summitgirl · Accepted Answer

The Summit Awards hosts a different, lightning-fast platform for submitting, judging, and displaying winner galleries – https://summit.awardsplatform.com.

To enter, either click the purple Enter Award button at the top-right of this main website or navigate and login directly into the Summit Award Platform. You only need to register on the Summit Award Platform once; your registration will remain active for future entries. We suggest registering with an email accessible to more than one team member (vacations, retired emails, personnel changes, etc.)

Once logged into the Summit Awards Entry Platform, it’ll take you through the easy submission process.

Easy, 4-step entry using the Summit Awards Platform

Register or login.
Begin adding entries (auto-saves as you go).
Submit entry. Move on to add the next entry.
Checkout.

Entries are saved, and may you may edit them up through the final submission deadline.

Register or login.
Begin adding entries (auto-saves as you go).
Submit entry. Move on to add the next entry.
Checkout.

Entries are saved, and may you may edit them up through the final submission deadline.

Question 19

What are the different levels of winning?

summitgirl · Accepted Answer

Level of Awards Winning entries received the rank of Leader, Innovator, and Visionary Award (win levels equate to Bronze, Silver, and Gold respectively.)


Leader Award Pacesetter – Recognition for directing movement and helping to lead the industry. These winning entries are industry pacesetters.	Innovator Award New Methods – Recognition for introducing new methods. These winning entries are helping direct new methodologies and techniques.	Visionary Award Foresight – Recognition for demonstrating unusually keen foresight in emerging media. This status is bestowed on a tiny fraction of entries making this the primary target for emerging media professionals to shoot.

Question 20

What are the judging criteria and schedule?

summitgirl · Accepted Answer

Summit Emerging Media Award uses world-class industry leaders to evaluate the merits of groundbreaking creative employing digital technologies. Innovator and Leader award-winning entries compete with each other for the Visionary Award. The Awards employs stringent evaluation criteria and blind judging; company names are withheld. The Summit Emerging Media Award employs blind judging: company names are withheld. Judging takes place beginning one to two weeks after the final deadline with judging taking approximately one month. All entrants are notified of award results electronically after the judging stage is complete. Winners are sent and in-person winner packet.

Submissions are judged on Method, Innovation, and Information. Method – Uniqueness, audience reach, strategy. Innovation – Visual design/creativity, graphical user interface, interaction design/functionality, user experience, audience reach. Information – Marketing message integration, audience appeal, user appeal.

Question 21

What are the different levels of winning?

summitgirl · Accepted Answer

Winning entries received the rank of Silver, Platinum or coveted Best of Category Awards.

Question 22

Winner Microsites

summitgirl · Accepted Answer

UNIQUE OFFERING: The Summit Awards is the only marketing recognition organization that offers winners their own user-controlled, awards-hosted website profile. These profiles are rich with features including portfolio linking, image gallery-hosting, and a built-in WYSIWYG editor for easy control and updating. If you are a Summit Award winner, simply log in the website (bottom of any page) and then go to Winner Microsites. PROVEN SUCCESSFUL: These are proven successful promotional tools. The back-end controls are robust with an SEO manager and a meta tag generator to increase search engine ranking. Additionally, creating a winner profile is an opportunity to benefit from free publicity thanks to the high volume of traffic on the Summit Award’s website. EASILY UPDATEABLE: From time to time, winners may need to update their Winner Microsite. Office moves, contact changes, rebranding, or company announcements. To update your Winner Microsite, log in with the user name/password that created it, navigate to yours, and click on the 'edit' button. Changes are published on-the-fly without needing an admin's approval. INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Go to the Winners Microsites area: Winners Microsites 2. Choose 'Add Listing' (image below). This takes you to the Login page.

3. Either Log in or Register. 4. Once you have Logged in, you'll return to the Winners Microsites and click on the Summit Award your company won:

5. Choose 'Add Listing'.

If you're logged in, you'll see:

The Microsite builder takes you through a step-by-step process to build your company's winners microsite. Upon submit, the Summit Awards administration does confirm winner status prior to publishing. Have fun and don't forget to update the site at least once a year to ensure information is accurate and current. Stale microsites may be deactivated.

Question 23

Shipping

summitgirl · Accepted Answer

Due to supply chain pressure, COVID, and labor shortages, shipping options fluctuate significantly. Use the grid below to determine the current shipping cost to add to your mailed winner order form. SHIPPING Summit Creative Award

Crystal trophy shipping as of September 2022 - the US $28, Canada $38.00
Composite trophy as of September 2022 - the US $26.00, Canada $38.00

Summit Marketing Effectiveness Award

Marble trophy shipping as of 12-5-21 - the US $ 28, Canada $38.00

Summit Emerging Media Award

Crystal Globe trophy as of 12-5-2021 - the US $ 28, Canada $38.00

TAXES Canada GST HST PST, please use the following percentages and add them to the authorized total. 5% (GST) in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and Yukon 13% (HST) in Ontario 15% (HST) in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island DIMENSIONS SCA Crystal Wave

1 pc. - 20" x 10.5" x 8.5" - 14lbs
2 pcs. - 20" x 12" x 10" - 29lbs
4 pcs. - 20” x 17" x 13" - 55lbs (only available to overseas shipments)

SCA Composite

1 pc. -17" x 7" x8" - 5lbs

MEA Dart

1 pc. -16" x 8" x 6" - 12lbs
2 pcs.-16" x 8" x 6" - 25lbs

Question 24

What forms of payment do you accept?

summitgirl · Accepted Answer

Credit card (Alipay, American Express, Discover, IDEAL, Maestro, Mastercard, Visa)
PayPal
Invoice (check, money order, bank-to-bank wire transfer)

Question 25

How is confidential information handled?

summitgirl · Accepted Answer

It is not uncommon for the Summit Awards to receive entries containing sensitive or proprietary information. Judging occurs on a secure server, and jury members sign confidentiality agreements. If the submission is identified as proprietary, it can be easily tracked through administrative reviews and judging processes. Any entry with a confidential tag will have its creative samples removed, and a winner icon used as a thumbnail loaded into the winner gallery.

If you want to report an entry as confidential or secret, email us the Entry Number and Name immediately after submission.

Question 26

What is Blind Judging

summitgirl · Accepted Answer

The Summit Awards use strict “blind judging,” meaning the entering company’s name is hidden. All evaluations are made without knowledge of information that might influence one's situation assessment. Such an approach is used to eliminate conscious or nonconscious bias. This is to ensure our board of judges' complete impartiality. This prevents any conflict of interest or bias from influencing the competition outcome. It also ensures that all entries are judged on their merits rather than their company or brand. All entries are given a number, and the judges only see this number and not the company name when evaluating the entries.

Question 27

Does the Summit Awards have a show?

summitgirl · Accepted Answer

Summit International Awards stopped hosting in-person award-judging shows in 2017. Award winners' preferences have changed due to the global nature of the award program. The Summit Awards assist its winners with PR and social media efforts post-judging. By not spending on travel or gala events, winners gain more exposure and recognition and can devote more resources to their work.

Frequently Asked Questions

General

Terms & Conditions

Privacy Policy

Who competes in the Summit Awards?

What competitions are conducted by the Summit Awards?

Who sponsors the Summit Awards?

How do I enter?

Shipping

What forms of payment do you accept?

How is confidential information handled?

What is Blind Judging

Does the Summit Awards have a show?

Summit Creative Award

When are winners announced?

I’m having a hard time figuring out which category?

What are the different levels of winning?

What is the deal with Redesign/Rebranding?

How to submit apps, interactive, kiosks, presentations, etc?

What are the judging criteria?

I’m a winner. I’d like to know more about trophies.

Do I have to pay for an award trophy to be a winner?

How do I enter?

Shipping

What forms of payment do you accept?

How is confidential information handled?

What is Blind Judging

Summit Emerging Media Award

When are EMA winners announced?

I’m having a hard time figuring out which category?

How to submit apps, interactive, kiosks, presentations, etc?

I’m a winner. I’d like to know more about trophies.

Do I have to pay for an award trophy to be a winner?

How do I enter?

What are the different levels of winning?

What are the judging criteria and schedule?

Shipping

How is confidential information handled?

What is Blind Judging

Summit Marketing Effectiveness Award

When are MEA winners announced?

I’m having a hard time figuring out which category?

How to submit apps, interactive, kiosks, presentations, etc?

I’m a winner. I’d like to know more about trophies.

Do I have to pay for an award trophy to be a winner?

What are the judging criteria and schedule?

How do I enter?

What are the different levels of winning?

Shipping

How is confidential information handled?

What is Blind Judging