ADC Awards: 6x Gold, no Grand Prix

A total of 289 works were submitted by 50 different entrants. This is fewer than last year and initially suggested that this was not a very tolerable year. Not at all. The standard was above average and, on closer inspection, it is noticeable that the digital categories are consistently well filled in terms of number and content. The trend was also fueled by the newly created Social & Creators category, which also brought with it various new sub-categories, such as Real-Time Respone or Influencer Marketing. While - it must be admitted - the very traditional categories such as ads or posters are entering the fall of their careers.

The judging: the wizards assemble

On the first day, a total of 66 works were classified as bronze-worthy; they thus made it to the gold jury, which met on the second day. Every year, a special personality is also a member of this previously selected expert jury: This time, "20 Minuten" CEO Bernhard Brechbühl acted as guest juror. In the end, 22 silver cubes (more than had been awarded for a long time) and 6 gold cubes were chosen. In addition, the ADCESG Award, the Student of the Year and an Evergreen.

The gold cubes went to

• In the category "Photography - Fashion, Beauty, People, Portrait" to "Zermatt Unplugged 2025" for Zermatt Unplugged by Studio Geissbühler.
• In the category "Digital - Interactive Promotions" to "Steal Marina's Artwork" for the Kunsthaus Zürich by SiR MaRY.
• In the category "Film Long Format" to "Chocolat ohne Trallala" for Migros Supermarkt AG by thjnk Zurich (production: Pumpkin Film).
• In the category "Social and Creators - Real-Time Response" to "Nemo broke the trophy" for Mobiliar by Jung von Matt LIMMAT.
• It even won gold twice: In the Film Craft category and in the Art Direction category "La Beauté du Sport" for Ochsner Sport by thjnk Zurich (production: Czar Film).

The silver cubes went to

• In the Digital - Technological Craft category to "Accessibility Cybathlon ETH Zurich" for Cybathlon ETH Zurich by Farner | Team Farner.
• In the Digital - Creative Data category to "Geberit Toilettenpause" for Geberit International by INGO Zurich.
• In the long format film category to "La Beauté du Sport" for Ochsner Sport by thjnk Zurich (production: Czar Film).
• In the Film - Online Film category to "Psychological Violence" for Child Protection Switzerland by Neu Creative Agency (production: Rosas & Co Film).
• In the category Film - Online Film to "Galaxus Deutschland - Wer bin ich?" for Digitec Galaxus from Digitec Galaxus.
• In the long format film category to "Moneymaker" for Migros Supermarkt AG by thjnk Zurich (production: Feit Film).
• In the Film Craft category to "Chocolat ohne Trallala." for Migros Supermarkt AG by thjnk Zurich.
• In the category Design - Editorial and Book Design to "YES Magazine" for Studio Thom Pfister by Studio Thom Pfister.
• In the category Posters - Print to "Galaxus - Babel Campaign" for Digitec Galaxus by Digitec Galaxus.
• In the category Posters - Print to "Werbung aufräumen" by Neu Creative Agency for Rotho.
• In the PR category to "Nemo broke the trophy" for Die Mobiliar by Jung von Matt LIMMAT.
• In the Creative Effectiveness category to "Nuggets of Love" for McDonald's Switzerland by TBWA\ Switzerland.

Double silver was won by:

• In the Digital - Online Measure category and in the Creative Media category to "WOZ - The News in the News" for WOZ Die Wochenzeitung by Freundliche Grüsse.
• In the PR - Campaigns category and in the Good category to "Friendship Bracelets" for Pro Juventute by Farner | Team Farner.
• In the Film Long Format category and in the Film Craft category to "100 Years Anniversary" for Migros Supermarkt AG by Wirz Group (Production: Zauberberg Productions / Feit Film).
• In the Film - Online Film category and in the Audio Craft category to "Falling for Autumn" for Switzerland Tourism by Wirz Group AG (production: Mcqueen Films).
• In the category Design - Product & Package Design and in the category PR - Individual Work to "Migros Recycling Bags" for Migros Supermarkt AG by Wirz Group.

The Student of the Year

As part of Switzerland's most important creative competition, students and graduates from (technical) universities or private schools with a creative focus are invited to submit their best creations, semester or final projects in the "Students" category. The winner was "Spitfire - Raging Together" by Jessica Baumgartner for the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK). A short documentary that portrays women in the metalcore and hardcore scene.

For the third time, the coveted ADCESG Award which is not just an award for better advertising, but for a contribution to a better world. This year, exelixis capital AG was found as a partner, adding even more significance to the award. Co-founder Michael Dieckell acted as an expert and used his specialist knowledge to help the jury categorize the eligible cases. On this basis, the jury decided to give the ADCESG Award to the "Accessibility Cybathlon ETH Zurich" for Cybathlon ETH Zurich by Team Farner.

The cube looks different every year; this time the elegant and cool specimen was designed by Le Bois and its founder and designer Bianca Gerber, whose designs stand for regionality, sustainability, ecological production and timeless aesthetics.

Winning an evergreen means entertaining people for years with advertising at a high level. And being honored by the ADC several times in that time. One client has achieved this in recent years, as well as this year. The evergreen therefore went to "Switzerland is our sports ground" for Ochsner Sport by Thjnk Zurich.

After awarding a Grand Prix two years in a row, the jury was unable to agree on a winner this year. According to jury chairman Thomas Wildberger, the magic of all 6 gold awards made a Grand Prix unlikely, because as they were all rated equally highly, it was simply impossible to agree on a winner. Especially as the decision had to be unanimous.

The abracadabra

All in all, the ADC members experienced a creative high-flying week. The motto "Orchestra of Wizards", which stood over the Creative Day that rounded off the judging as always, brought inspiration in various creative areas. The award ceremony on Friday evening made all the winners seem even happier thanks to Christa Rigozzi's magical presentation. The whole event was crowned by a dinner and subsequent party at the Dupont restaurant in the heart of Zurich's city center.

ADC Managing Director Hanna Jackl: "The Creative Days 2025 were a powerful symbol of creative excellence in Switzerland - bold, relevant and inspiring. My thanks go to our board and especially Thomas Wildberger, the members, the numerous guests, the great keynote speakers for their inspiring impulses - and the team that brought these days to life with so much commitment and passion."

ADC President Thomas Wildberger was also enthusiastic and the great weather also reflected the mood. "There is no magic formula for good advertising. But a real wizard knows how to do it and at least tries to turn every brief, no matter how generic, into an ADC cube. It has been shown that despite the much-cited pressure on the industry, creativity cannot be prevented. Where there is a belief that great ideas make the difference, creativity always finds its way to results that touch people."