Communication Arts (CA) 2027 Interactive Competition
Communication Arts Magazine
📌 About the Competition
The Communication Arts Interactive Competition is the industry’s most prestigious awards program for interactive media. It recognizes excellence across a broad spectrum of digital experiences—from websites and mobile apps to immersive environmental installations. Because interactive media evolves so rapidly, this is the only CA competition with no specific eligibility period, meaning any high-quality project that has not previously appeared in a CA Interactive Annual is eligible for entry.
ℹ️ Event Details
- Category: Professional & Student Interactive Media
- Organizer: Communication Arts Magazine
- Eligibility: Projects designed for desktop, handheld devices, online services, or physical installations.
- Review Process: Judged by an international panel of distinguished developers, interface designers, and creative directors.
- Effort Level: Very High (Global benchmark for UX/UI and digital innovation).
📅 Critical Deadlines (2026)
- Regular Deadline: October 09, 2026 (Midnight PST).
- Final Late Deadline: October 23, 2026 (Requires an additional $10 late fee).
- Notification of Acceptance: Within three months after the final deadline (Approx. January 2027).
🏆 Recognition & Awards
- 🥇 Award of Excellence: A personalized trophy milled from solid aluminum, representing the top tier of professional achievement.
- 🌎 Global Publication: Winners are featured in the Communication Arts Interactive Annual (Print/Digital) and on commarts.com.
- 📜 Creative Certificates: Official award certificates issued for all firms, individuals, and clients involved.
🎯 What You Can Enter
The competition is divided into several specialized categories:
- Websites/Microsites: Browser-based sites for e-commerce, news, education, or entertainment.
- Mobile & Handheld: Apps, mobile-optimized sites, games, and location-aware services (iPhone, Android, Tablets).
- Social: Applications, extensions, or games specifically for social media platforms.
- Desktop: Branded experiences, widgets, or games designed to run locally on Mac/PC.
- Environmental: Kiosks, interactive museum exhibits, tradeshow booths, and in-store digital displays.
- Student Work: Any interactive project created for a school assignment.
- Other: Any project where interactivity is integral but doesn’t fit standard categories.
📋 Submission Requirements
- Format: Online submission only. No printed entries or screen dumps allowed.
- File Formats:
- URLs: Must be accessible for three months after the deadline.
- Video: MOV, MP4, MPG, or MPEG (Max 500MB). Video demonstrations must be under 5 minutes.
- Special Instructions: Downloadable apps (App Store/Play Store) cannot be linked directly; they must be submitted as a video demonstration or a URL with an embedded video.
🏛️ The Judging Process
- Screening: Jurors vote “in” or “out” independently. A majority is required to move to the finals.
- Finals: Projects are re-evaluated independently; a simple majority vote determines the winners.