Juror Fal Joins The Young Ones jury At The ADC Awards.

Celebrating the Next Generation of Creative Talent

This year, studio founder Falguni Shah had the opportunity to serve as a jury member for The Young Ones at the prestigious Art Directors Club — one of the most respected platforms celebrating emerging creative talent across the world.

For Fal, the experience was less about judging and more about learning. Reviewing work from young designers, artists, filmmakers, writers, and makers across disciplines became a reminder of how fearless and boundaryless creativity can be when it’s still discovering itself.

About ADC

Founded by the Art Directors Club in 1921, Art Directors Club is the longest continuously running industry award show in the world. Now entering its 105th year, ADC celebrates excellence across advertising, digital media, communication design, typography, motion, gaming, architecture, photography, illustration, experiential design, and more — always with a focus on artistry, craftsmanship, and creative excellence.

Over the decades, the ADC Cubes have become some of the most coveted recognitions in the global creative industry, honoring work and individuals that continue to shape visual culture worldwide.

Young Talent, Global Perspectives

What stood out most through the process was the sheer quality of work emerging from young creatives around the world. The entries reflected not just technical skill, but perspective — fresh, urgent, culturally aware, experimental, and deeply personal.

The Young Ones platform itself has, for over 30 years, become an important launchpad for students and emerging creatives internationally, giving visibility to the next generation of designers and storytellers.

For Fal, seeing the diversity of ideas and execution from people so early in their creative journeys was both humbling and energising.

“The work had honesty, instinct, and experimentation in ways that often get harder to hold onto later in the industry. It was refreshing to witness.”

The Work Behind the Judging

Being part of the jury wasn’t simply a ceremonial role. It demanded time, rigor, and genuine involvement. With entries arriving from across the globe and spanning multiple disciplines, weekends quickly became dedicated to reviewing portfolios, discussions, scoring, and revisiting standout submissions.

The process required patience and deep attention — but it also felt worthwhile at every stage. Behind every entry was someone hoping to be seen, and that responsibility mattered.

The scale of participation itself reflects the significance of the platform. Young creatives from dozens of countries submit work each year to be reviewed by internationally respected juries and industry leaders.

In Spirit, from Afar

While Fal couldn’t make it to the awards ceremony night in New York City, she was very much there in spirit — following the announcements, winners, and celebrations from afar.

The experience ultimately became less about evaluating work and more about staying connected to where creativity is headed next.

More Learning Than Judging

For many, jury duty at global awards is viewed as recognition. For Fal, it felt more like exposure — an opportunity to understand how younger generations are thinking, making, and challenging conventions.

And perhaps that’s the most exciting part of platforms like The Young Ones: they don’t just spotlight the future of creativity — they quietly reshape the people fortunate enough to witness it.