The global Art Directors Club, part of The One Club for Creativity, has opened the call for entries for ADC Young Guns 24, a global competition for creative professionals age 30 or younger.
ADC Young Guns is a global, cross-disciplinary, portfolio-based awards competition that identifies and celebrates young creatives. The program is open to creatives ages 30 and under who have been working for at least two years, full-time or freelance. Eligible entrants can submit a combination of professional and personal work.
The online entry system is now open, with a reduced-fee regular deadline of August 27, 2026, and a final deadline of September 24, 2026. Winners will be announced in January 2027, with the YG24 awards ceremony and party set for January 27, 2027, in New York.
The competition regularly attracts entries from upwards of 45 countries, with more than half coming from outside the US. Winners will be selected by a jury made up of past ADC Young Guns winners and other creative leaders, to be announced shortly.
All ADC Young Guns winners receive a unique version of the ADC Young Guns Cube, designed exclusively for this year’s incoming class, and have their permanent profile page added to the YG website.
Winners also receive a complimentary one-year One Club for Creativity membership, permanent membership in the YG network, a chance to be featured in YG events and an assortment of career-boosting opportunities from YG sponsors.
ADC Young Guns 24 branding and the YG Cube trophy were created by Brooklyn-based independent illustrator and designer Chantal Jahchan, a winner in last year’s YG23 competition.
“This year’s identity features bold typography, juxtaposed with a collection of elemental glyphs symbolizing memory, expression, and connection,” said Jahchan.
“It’s inspired by the idea that the act of making is fundamentally and universally human.”
Past ADC Young Guns include:
- Oscar-winning film director duo Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (YG14)
- Director Joseph Kosinski (YG4)
- Graphic designers James Victore (YG1), Stefan Sagmeister (YG1), Natasha Jen (YG4), and Jessica Walsh (YG8)
- Artist and designer Rich Tu (YG8)
- Advertising creatives Rei Inamoto (YG4) and Menno Kluin (YG6)
- Illustrators Christoph Niemann (YG2) and Deanne Cheuk (YG4)
- Fashion designer Kerby Jean-Raymond (YG14)
- Artist and filmmaker Calmatic (YG16)
- Director and photographer India Sleem (YG17)
- Typographers Alex Trochut (YG6) and Gemma O’Brien (YG13)
- Animation artist Todd St. John (YG1)
- And many others who have gone on to become leaders in their respective fields.
For more information and to enter, visit the ADC Young Guns 24 website.
