New York Festivals-United Nations Department of Public Information Awards for Public Service Advertising Presented on 21 May
A mobile application from the Republic of Korea that draws attention to international days and commemorations was presented with the United Nations Department of Public Information (UNDPI) Gold Award for public service advertising at the 2015 New York Festivals International Advertising Awards. The awards were presented at a gala reception and ceremony on Thursday, 21 May, at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall in New York.
The Department of Public Information of the United Nations has partnered with New York Festivals for the past 25 years to celebrate the world’s best public service advertising and its ability to inspire audiences. Through this award, the Department aims to encourage agencies in their use of creativity to inform and engage the public on themes that best exemplify the ideals and goals of the United Nations.
This year’s panel of judges reviewed dozens of television, radio, print and new media submissions on United Nations-related themes such as human rights, global health, the rights of persons with disabilities and the response to the Ebola epidemic. They then selected the top three to receive awards and seven others as finalists.
This year, HS Ad of the Republic of Korea was awarded the UNDPI Gold Award, for “Daycon”, an LG mobile phone application that notifies users of international days and commemorations through a clever use of animated icons specifically designed for each day. The app further directs its users to background information on the day and the source of the commemoration. The Silver UNDPI Award went to J.Walter Thompson Riyadh for turning Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, into “The Biggest Art Gallery in the World”, encouraging art and culture on a grand scale. The Bronze was awarded to Lowe China for illustrating the consequences of poor road safety through its “Human Traffic Signs” campaign in China.
Seven other finalists were also recognized: “The Last Pack” from CVS Health and BBDO New York; “Departure Board” from Amnesty International and Leo Burnett; “Don’t Look Away” from Orbis and the Ogilvy & Mather Group Hong Kong; “More Than A Costume” from Doctors of the World and Publicis Kaplan Thaler; “Radiometries” from Exito Foundation and Sancho BBDO; “Not A Bug Splat” from Reprieve/Foundation for Fundamental Rights and BBDO Pakistan; and “Celebrate” from the United Kingdom’s Department for Transport and Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO (AMVBBDO).
New York Festivals® has been honouring The World’s Best Work™ in all media since 1957. With entries and jury members from over 70 countries, it is the most diverse advertising awards competition in the world. In addition to awarding public service announcements, the United Nations Department of Public Information also partners with New York Festivals on their International TV & Film and Radio Program Awards.
For more information, visit http://advertising.newyorkfestivals.com, or contact Daniela Sinobad at e-mail: sinobad@un.org or tel.: +1 212 963 3873.