In its current incarnation, it encompasses inductees into the Copywriters Club Hall of Fame (1961 to 1974), the Art Directors Club Hall of Fame (1972 to 2012), and the Educators Hall of Fame (2012 to present), all under the umbrella of the non-profit One Club for Creativity, says the organisation.

Nominations are free for club members, with a submission deadline of Tuesday, 31 September 2025. The cost is USD$200 per nomination for nonmembers, but includes a one-year One Club Professional Membership. According to the One Club, criteria for consideration is three-fold:

Impact

Impact in terms of luminaries who have a celebrated body of work will be considered. This includes work that has been recognised as the best in the industry over multiple years for multiple brands, can be considered truly innovative and original in thinking and execution and has an undeniable lasting impact.

Influence

Influence entails luminaries who have used their creativity and leveraged their resources to advance the industry and serve the greater good.

Inspiration

This includes luminaries who have had a measurable, positive effect on the next generation of creative leaders, and are known industry-wide as mentors, door-openers and opportunity-creators.

 

Nominations must be accompanied by a compelling case document including a current bio, headshot, more than 10 examples of work, references to accolades and recognition they received, and at least four testimonial letters of support, adds the organisation.

Qualified nominees from around the world will be reviewed by The One Club Board of Directors. A shortlist of candidates will be determined, and nominators will be interviewed early next year about why they believe their nominee deserves to be inducted. The Board will then make the final selection of the newest inductees, who will be announced in Spring 2026 and celebrated at a special black-tie fundraising ceremony in September 2026 in New York, says the organisation.

The One Club Board is actively seeking nominees with a wide range of experience and backgrounds, including those who may have experienced a lack of mainstream recognition for their significant contributions to advancing creativity.

The free Creative Hall of Fame nomination process is open globally to the club's nearly 11 000 members, including those at the 25 non-profit organisations in Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine and United Kingdom that make up the Art Directors Club of Europe (ADCE), part of The One Club for Creativity. Non-member paid nominations can be submitted from any country, adds the organisation.

In addition to honouring an esteemed group of advertising and design professionals and educators, the Creative Hall of Fame ceremony is also a major fundraising event to support the non-profit One Club's many ongoing education and professional development initiatives.

These include programs to support the next generation of creative leaders, such as workshops for high school students to learn about the industry, college-level scholarship, mentoring and recognition programs, outreach to bring underrepresented talent into the industry, portfolio reviews for young creatives, and more, says the organisation.

"The Creative Hall of Fame is the ultimate recognition of visionary creative professionals and educators who transformed the industry and continue to inspire the next generation of creative talent," concludes Kevin Swanepoel, CEO of The One Club. "The open nomination process enables us to engage the broader global community and identify the best candidates possible."

For more information, visit www.creativehalloffame.org. You can also follow The One Club on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, or on Instagram.

*Image courtesy of the contributor