LAUREN’S PICKS

1. Animal Lover Opens His Heart and Home to Older Dogs by AARP
2025 w3 Best In Show Award – Social – Social Video – Short Form: Animals & Pets

I’m a long-time fan of Steve Greig’s @Wolfgang2242 IG, so I was thrilled to see that AARP’s Video with his wonky pack of senior animals snagged a Best In Show. His compassion for otherwise overlooked older pups brings such joy and, (too often) tears. AARP’s always-masterful storytelling did him justice… My other picks feat my passion for animals and true crime stories and, in one case, both! NB: the Rowan University video had me at “Goat Legs”.
View Project →

2. Enriching Animal Lives: Inspiring Veterinary Innovation at Studio 231 by Rowan University
2025 w3 Gold Award – Video – Branded Entertainment: Schools & Universities
View Project →

3. Everything We Do, We Do for Dogs by Leap Group Agency
2025 w3 Gold Award – Marketing – Campaigns: Video Campaign
2025 w3 Silver Award – Marketing – Campaigns: Integrated Campaign
2025 w3 Silver Award – Marketing – Campaigns: Brand Strategy
View Project →

4. Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress, and the Bodyguard by Paramount
2025 w3 Silver Award – Podcasts – Podcast Features: Best Podcast Branding & Cover Art
2025 w3 Gold Award – Podcasts – General Series: True Crime & Investigative Journalism
View Project →

5. Love-A-Mutt Wedding by Gwinnett County Government
2025 w3 Silver Award – Social – Social Video – Short Form: Animals & Pets
View Project →

JOSH’S PICKS

6. HAREKAZE ACTION REPORT 2024 by HAKUHODO i-studio Inc.
2025 w3 Silver Award – Websites – Website Features: Best Visual Appeal – Experience

風物詩 (Fuubutsushi) “Things, feelings, or scents that evoke a strong memory or anticipation of a particular season.” This word is one of my favorites in Japanese, and when I saw it was the core of Hakuhodo’s innovative report for Kirin to drive awareness about the future of our planet, I was instantly hooked. Not only does this project revolutionize the idea of the annual report, but it does it with the classic and subtle perfection that I find so distinctive in Japanese creativity. I really loved how even navigating the microsite allows you to add to the soundtrack with piano sounds and riffs. I can’t wait to see what else Hakuhodo is working on.
View Project →

7. Game On: Hoops and Dreams in Rural China by Blue Chalk Media
2025 w3 Gold Award – Video – General Video: Sports
View Project →

8. Manila’s elderly ‘Golden Gays’ chasing retirement home of their own through drag shows by South China Morning Post
2025 w3 Gold Award – Video – General Video: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
View Project →

9. OceanX by Levin Riegner
2025 w3 Gold Award – Websites – General Websites: Environmental & Sustainability
2025 w3 Gold Award – Websites – General Websites: Non-Profit
View Project →

KARI’S PICKS

10. GIPHY
2025 w3 Gold Award – Mobile – Mobile Apps & Sites: Services & Utilities
2025 w3 Gold Award – Websites: Services & Utilities

GIPHY winning Gold just makes sense. I can’t even imagine a world without gifs nor would I want to. Sometimes, only a little girl spiraling into cotton candy chaos or Michael Jackson eating popcorn can truly capture the vibe.
View Project →

11. #NotJustFatigue by #NotJustFatigue
2025 w3 Gold Award – Websites: Activism
2025 w3 Gold Award – Websites: Health
2025 w3 Silver Award – Websites: Non-Profit
2025 w3 Silver Award – Websites: Cause Awareness
View Project →

12. Clearly Canadian Summer Mocktails by Yellow House Creative
2025 w3 Gold Award – Social – General Social: Influencer Marketing
View Project →

13. Sour Jacks: Livin’ On The Wedge by eDesign Interactive
2025 w3 Gold Award – Websites: Food & Beverage
View Project →

 
View more winning projects this season in the Winners Gallery.

Don’t forget to Subscribe to our Newsletter for the latest updates on upcoming seasons, stories about winners and AIVA Jurors, and our LinkedIn Live series: AIVA Live: In Session.