The Epica Awards, a prestigious recognition program honoring creative excellence in marketing across Europe, have announced the winners of its 2022 competition. This year’s ceremony saw a slight decrease in entries due to the exclusion of Russian agencies, but the overall quality remained high, showcasing innovative and impactful campaigns from around the continent.
GRAND PRIX
- RESPONSIBILITY: Anti Look – the life-saving QR design, Scholz & Friends (Germany), Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe
- PR: The Name Catalogue, TRY (Norway), IKEA
- PR: The Missing Chapter, Leo Burnett (India), Procter & Gamble
- INNOVATION: Touch Card, McCann New York (US), Mastercard
- DIGITAL: Ketchup A.I., Rethink (Canada), Kraft Heinz
- MEDIA: The Pirate Match, Mirum Agency (Brazil), DirectvGo
- FILM: The Spider and the Window, Leo Burnett (Germany), Samsung Electronics
- NETWORK OF THE YEAR: McCann Worldgroup
- AGENCY OF THE YEAR: Rethink, Canada
North American Dominance with a European Touch
The top entry count came from North America (400), followed closely by Ukraine (396), a testament to the ongoing global influence on marketing strategies. However, European agencies still held strong with Germany (276) and France (158) rounding out the top four.
A.I. Takes Center Stage
One of the year’s most intriguing trends was the rise of artificial intelligence (A.I.) in marketing campaigns. Kraft Heinz’s “Ketchup A.I.” campaign, created by Rethink, cleverly demonstrated how ingrained the brand’s iconic bottle is within the public consciousness by asking A.I. to draw a ketchup bottle – inevitably resulting in a design resembling Heinz’s signature shape. This campaign won the award for Creative Use of A.I.
Social Responsibility Takes the Spotlight
The “Responsibility” category, recognizing impactful campaigns for good causes, awarded the top prize to a design project for German first responders, Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe. This win emphasizes the growing importance of social purpose in marketing strategies.
A Night of Recognition and Inspiration
The Epica Awards ceremony, held in December 2022, served as a platform to celebrate the best and brightest in European marketing. The event brought together industry leaders, creative minds, and agencies to recognize exceptional work and foster inspiration for future campaigns.
Beyond the Winners: A Celebration of Creativity
While the awards ceremony highlighted the top contenders, the Epica Awards serve a broader purpose. They showcase the ever-evolving marketing landscape, the power of creative storytelling, and the ability of marketing to connect with audiences and drive meaningful change. The competition itself, with its rigorous judging process and international scope, serves as a benchmark for creative excellence, pushing agencies and brands to constantly innovate and redefine the boundaries of marketing.
A Look Forward: Epica Awards 2023
As the marketing world continues to evolve, the Epica Awards remain a valuable platform for recognizing and celebrating creativity in advertising. With a focus on European excellence and a global perspective, the competition looks forward to receiving even more innovative entries in 2023. The upcoming year promises to be another exciting chapter in the ever-changing world of marketing.tunesharemore_vert
