ADC Change Delivered Award: Creativity Must Prove Its Impact

ADC Switzerland is renaming its existing ESG Award and, at the same time, refining the criteria: The new ADC Change Delivered Award – ADC CDA for short – recognizes only cases that can demonstrate a measurable social or environmental impact and in which creativity has enabled, driven, or amplified that impact. Submissions are accepted through May 31, 2026.

From the ESG Award to the ADC Change Delivered Award

Since 2023, ADC Switzerland has been presenting a special award for work that incorporates ESG principles. However, participation was previously tied to a submission in another ADC category—which excluded impact cases that aren’t traditional advertising. With the ADC Change Delivered Award, the association is reversing this approach: proven impact takes center stage, reinforced by creativity. Submissions are now made independently, without being tied to another category. This explicitly opens the award to cases beyond traditional advertising—such as those from the fields of film, digital, design, or other disciplines.

According to the organizers, the award is considered the most challenging award in the Swiss creative industry, because the result is either exactly one award—or none at all.

Two hurdles, no compromises

The application process for the ADC Change Delivered Award is divided into two consecutive stages, the order of which is non-negotiable.

Hurdle one is fact-based and objectively evaluable: Submitted entries must demonstrate a social or environmental impact that can be measured, documented, and verified. A three-member special jury reviews these impact cases and forwards a maximum of five recommendations to the ADC Gold jury. Acceptable forms of evidence include independent measurements, before-and-after data, third-party audits, published reports, verifiable KPIs, and fact-checked media coverage. The following are not accepted: self-reported estimates without a methodology, pure reach figures, awareness metrics without behavioral change, and intentions or promises.

Hurdle two is subject to a creative and professional assessment: The ADC Gold jury evaluates solely whether creativity significantly drove or amplified the demonstrated impact. It awards exactly one prize—or none at all.

The Special Jury for the ADC Change Delivered Award

The special jury consists of three individuals with diverse areas of expertise: Nina Bieli, president of the Gislerprotokoll association, focuses on social impact as well as issues of diversity, representation, and stereotypes in communication. Dr. Günther Dobrauz-Saldapenna brings expertise in the circular economy, sustainability, and exponential technologies, as well as an investment perspective on impact. Daniel Krieg, a brand and business strategist and the founder and CEO of KSP, bridges the gap between creative logic and impact logic.

The jury places greater emphasis on depth than on breadth: A case can demonstrate impact in one or both dimensions—People or Planet—but the depth of the impact is what matters most.

Here's how the submission process works

Anyone wishing to submit a case should send it in writing as a PDF file, along with a brief description and supporting documentation—key metrics, added value, surveys, or other verifiable documents. A contact person should also be provided for any questions. Submissions should be sent by email to [email protected] and is free as part of this special offer. The deadline for entries is May 31, 2026.

For more information about the ADC Change Delivered Award, visit the ADC Switzerland website: https://www.adc.ch