Overview

The O’Toole Awards program is known as one of the toughest industry competitions. It is unique. Rather than reward one great idea, the O'Toole Awards honor an agency’s overall level of creative excellence. And we’re excited to again have the awards show as a signature event during Advertising Week in September.

Chuck Porter, Chair, Crispin Porter + Bogusky and Chair, 4A's Creative Committee, spearheaded several changes to the O’Toole program, starting with a redesigned trophy, which now officially makes the O’Toole Awards the biggest award in advertising (clocking in at almost 40 pounds). The award is open to all agencies, including international. Judging was brought to a new, peer-to-peer level as agencies called upon their creatives to judge categories of non-competing size groups.

This year, we’re re-establishing the O’TooleBox Category to find the best integrated campaign of the year.

Agencies may submit any combination of print and broadcast (including direct mail, interactive, newspapers, magazine, non-traditional, outdoor, radio and television ). Self-promotion is not accepted. We encourage you to submit a variety of media that demonstrates your agency's range.

O'Toole Awards Web Site

Proceeds of the O'Toole Awards are donated to the 4A’s Foundation, Inc. A primary goal of the Foundation is to award scholarships to multicultural students of the advertising arts.

Creative Excellence

Agencies may submit any combination of print and broadcast (including direct mail, interactive, newspapers, magazine, non-traditional, outdoor, radio and television ). Self-promotion is not accepted. We encourage you to submit a variety of media that demonstrates your agency's range.

Four trophies are awarded, one each for the following categories: 

• O’TooleBox: This category honors excellence in creative and original thinking for a body of work, for a single campaign idea across different contact points. We strongly recommend that you enter a single file that cohesively strings together the different ads; narrative is acceptable. We are NOT looking for results. Only one type of media per example is allowed. Judges are looking for excellence in creativity and original thinking in an integrated message for a single campaign idea. We are not looking for results, just great creative.
• Large Agency: You must enter 8 pieces of work for 8 separate brands, one of which may be a Public Service Ad.
• Mid-Sized Agency: You must enter 5 pieces of work for 5 separate brands, one of which may be a Public Service Ad. If you want to take on the Large Agencies, you may enter the Large Agency Category.
• Small Agency: You must enter 3 pieces of work for 3 separate brands, one of which may be a Public Service Ad. If you want to make a name for yourself, you can enter the Large or Mid-Sized categories.

Proceeds of the O'Toole Awards are donated to the 4A’s Foundation, Inc. A primary goal of the Foundation is to award scholarships to multicultural students of the advertising arts.For additional information contact (212) 850-0728 or e-mail your questions to awards@aaaa.org.