Ocean has announced the line-up of 23 expert independent judges who are seeking bold, original ideas in the annual search to uncover the best Digital out of home (DOOH) creative concepts in the UK.  

Now in its 15th year, Ocean’s Digital Creative Competition is presented in association with Campaign.

Agencies and creatives, whose ingenuity raises the bar in DOOH advertising, will share a £500,000 prize fund and the chance for their ideas to be brought to life across Ocean’s diverse environments and premium digital formats, including Europe’s largest digital ceiling, Printworks SkyLights in Manchester.

On the judging panel this year are: Bhavesh Patel, director of media, Sky UK and Europe; Simone Francis, UK, Ireland and Nordics paid media lead, TikTok; Petra Cameron, head of brand advertising, content and identity, NatWest; Tony Hursey, UK media lead, AB InBev; and Melanie Lalou, head of Westfield Rise UK at Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield.

Joining them are Susan Liu Jones, head of experience production and partner at BBH London; Akama Davies, senior director of client services at The Trade Desk; executive creative director Jo Moore; Tony Hector, group creative director, VCCP Blue; Will Bingham, creative group head, Pablo; Olivia Rayner, creative director at Sense Marketing; and Gary Fawcett, executive creative director, TBWA Manchester.

The media agency side jurors are Lauren Raymond, managing partner for strategy and audiences, UM London; Dino Myers-Lamptey, founder of The Barber Shop; Charlotte Beech, partner, head of creative futures, EssenceMediacom; Tamara Cross, managing partner, head of creativity, MG OMD; Claire Kimber, managing partner, strategy and innovation, Goodstuff; and Will Parrish, chief strategy officer, VCCP Media.

Completing the line-up are Katy Hindley, group innovation director at Posterscope; Jay Young, managing director of Grand Visual; Dominic Murray, head of innovation (OOH) at Group M; Curtis Weir, OOH group director, Publicis Media UK; and Thomas Rapley, group director, Rapport IMPACT.

This year, the jurors will consider entries in three award categories for commercial brands, non-profits and concepts which leverage the scale and technical capabilities of Printworks SkyLights, a 900 m2 full motion LED ceiling. 

Also new for 2024, the competition gives the three gold winners a chance to compete with the victors in Ocean’s sister competitions in the Nordics, Netherlands and Germany for the Grand Prix, a new international prize.

The 13 Grand Prix contenders will be judged on their original winning concepts submitted via the individual country competitions; however the champion can use Ocean’s screen space across Northern Europe for a brand campaign of its choice.

The judges for the Grand Prix will be announced in the winter. 

Ocean Outdoor UK marketing director Marie Le Hur said: “The expansion of our 2024 Digital Creative Competition reflects the constant evolution of DOOH, as we develop new technologies and formats and continue to transform spaces into places. It’s free and simple to enter, but the rewards are multiple, along with a new opportunity to get your work seen on an international stage by international audiences.”  

Agencies, brands and non-profits have until 23 August to enter. Previous winners of the UK competition have gone on to win multiple other awards including six prestigious Cannes Lions.

This year’s UK winners will be announced at an industry awards ceremony hosted by Ocean at Bloomsbury Ballroom in London on 9 October.