Entries are now closed for 2023

Check out this year's winning entries

Launching Soon

The 2023 Digital Creative Competition will launch on 10th July

For a chance to use the most socially amplified communication channel within the media landscape, look no further than DOOH, and The Ocean Digital Creative Competition.


Now in its 14th Year, the competition has challenged, inspired and focused the industry to put Digital Out of Home front and centre for brands, many winners going on to achieve global recognition.


With DOOH screens at the heart of the creativity, the competition has facilitated the use of the world’s greatest stages and technologies to bring together complementary advertising platforms to deliver an unprecedented opportunity to optimise brand messaging.

Ocean’s evolution of the digital out of home channel facilitates the use of screens that form part of the social infrastructure of cities; the opportunity spans full motion imagery, integrated technology and experiential spaces, to deliver emotionally engaging campaigns and a platform for stand out creative ideas for brands.

It has also taken a fundamental leap in its power and its potential for brands. From being an effective OOH communication platform providing huge success for brands to live audiences, it is now also a platform that delivers extensive amplification across social media, becoming a brand’s social content. The point of influence for brand messaging is not just people in front of the screen, but extends to global eyeballs as a result. And all because digital out of home was at the heart of the creative idea.


All you need is an idea

The How to Enter video explains everything you need to know get started.

Winners from the Ocean Digital Creative Competition have gone on to win big across the world.

These previous winners all went on to win at the Cannes Lions!


  • Microloan Foundation, “Pennies for Life”

    Cannes Lion Gold (Mobile) Award, 2012

    Read more

  • Women’s Aid,
    “Look at Me”

    Cannes Lion Gold (Outdoor) and Silver (Cyber) Awards, 2015

    Read more

  • Born Free,
    “#TankFree”

    Cannes Lion Silver (Outdoor) Awards, 2018

    Read more

  • Ancestry,
    “The Old Piccadilly Lights”

    Cannes Lion Silver (Outdoor) Awards, 2021

    Read more

  • The Big Issue,
    “I'm here”

    Cannes Lion Bronze (Outdoor) Awards, 2022

    Read more

This year, it’s your turn

Watch the story behind Forever Beta’s winning idea for The Big Issue, brought to life by the Competition

Be Inspired by DOOH

The versatility of Digital Out of Home allows for inspiring responses to brand objectives


The evolution of the medium facilitates use of both full motion imagery and integrated technology, to deliver emotionally engaging campaigns.

It has also taken a fundamental leap forward in its fame, its power and its potential for brands. From being an effective OOH communication platform providing huge success for brands, it is now a platform that delivers this as well as extensive amplification across social media, meaning the point of influence for brand messaging is not just people in front of the screen, but extends to global eyeballs.


This is our next challenge as a medium, and this year’s competition challenge


2019 winners Plastic Soup linked the user's phone to the screen to play the game Lovehoney used contextually relevant messaging during 2020 Ancestry recreated the Old Piccadilly Lights Lego used no-touch Haptics Technology to allow interactivity with screens Lego used no-touch Haptics Technology to allow interactivity with screens
How To Enter

Step 1.
CREATE YOUR CONCEPT

Watch the How to Enter video above and check out the Creative Inspiration page see recent campaigns, previous entries and hear from some hugely influential Creative minds in the industry.

Use your imagination to develop an idea for your charity or commercial brand that best uses the Digital Out of Home medium


Step 2.
IDENTIFY YOUR LOCATIONS

Design your concept for any of Ocean’s Cities and Locations, including the Piccadilly Lights

Top Tip

Try to network your idea – think of how your idea can roll out across multiple locations, or can own a destination. Also, think about what will make your campaign shareable!


Step 3.
SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY

Bring your concept to life for the judges by submitting accompanying visuals. We will accept anything from a sketch through to a fully animated video, and you can use the Photoshop templates below.

Enter by the EXTENDED deadline of 5pm on the 15th September 2023 using the Entry Form below, and be sure to read the Terms & Conditions

LOCATION TEMPLATES

To help you visualise your concept we've put together a pack of Photoshop files (with smart objects) and a collect of footage (with easily "key-able" green screens) for several of our locations. If you need any help using these files or need anything else please get in touch

Browse Photoshop Templates (Dropbox)

Browse Footage (Dropbox)

Prizes

We divide Charity and Brand entries and award prizes for each separately.

FIRST PRIZES

Brand & Charity

£100,000 media space on chosen location(s)*

SECOND PRIZES

Brand & Charity

£75,000 media space on chosen location(s)*

THIRD PRIZES

Brand & Charity

£50,000 media space on chosen location(s)*

*Terms and conditions apply.

  • Ailsa Buckley
    Managing Director, Havas

  • Alastair Wilson
    UK Sponsorship Lead, Toyota

  • Claire Kimber
    Managing Partner, Strategy, Goodstuff

  • Ete Davies
    Chief Operating Officer, EMEA, Dentsu Creative

  • Fleur Stoppani
    Managing Director, Mindshare UK

  • Gemma Phillips
    Creative Director, Saatchi & Saatchi

  • Jana Mollett
    VP Brand and Content Marketing, Paramount+

  • Luke Willbourn
    Managing Director, Talon

  • Nicole Lonsdale
    Chief Client Officer, Kinetic

  • Pannie Hopper
    Head of OOH, Publicis Media UK

  • Paul Sambrook
    Global Head of Strategy & Growth, rapport

  • Pippa Glucklich
    CEO, Electric Glue

  • Roy Shepherd
    Head of Out-of-Home, UK & International, Goodstuff

  • Steve Hawthorne
    Creative Director, House 337

  • Susan Liu
    Head of Experience Production & Partner, BBH

  • Tim Sapsford
    Managing Director, Posterscope

  • Tristan Cavanagh
    Creative Director, 23red

  • Catherine Morgan
    MD of Ocean Labs, Ocean

  • David Tait
    Group Creative Director, Ocean

  • Phil Hall
    CEO, Ocean

  • Helen Haines (Chair)
    Head of Brand & Events – Ocean Group, Ocean

Terms & Conditions

For the full details click here

Entry Form

Sorry, entries are closed for this year's competition.

Questions?

Any questions, please email us