ADCI AWARDS – ART DIRECTORS CLUB ITALIANO
Italy’s leading recognition for advertising, visual communication, and creative direction.
ADCI AWARDS: EXCELLENCE IN ITALIAN COMMUNICATION AND VISUAL CULTURE
Established in 1985, the ADCI Awards celebrate excellence in Italian communication and visual culture. The competition brings together agencies, studios, and emerging creatives, rewarding projects that stand out for originality, strategic thinking, and execution.
Over the years, ADCI has become a key benchmark for the Italian creative industry.
The Student category was evaluated by a distinguished panel of leading Italian creatives and communication professionals, chaired by Giulia Ricciardi, Creative Director, McCann Italy, under the overall leadership of ADCI Awards President Luca Cortesini, Chief Creative Officer, DDB Group Italy. Their expertise ensures a rigorous evaluation process that celebrates originality, strategic thinking, and the next generation of creative talent.
THE BENCH MARKS by Maximilian Gatev, Laura Medina & Oskar Bruun (Switzerland, Colombia & Norway)
Developed within the Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Communication Design, “The Bench Marks” by Maximilian Gatev, Laura Medina and Oskar Bruun, students at Istituto Marangoni Milano Design, won the silver medal in 2026.
Created in response to a brief launched by Affinity and Canva, the project reimagines the traditional public bench as a space for dialogue and human connection. By transforming a simple urban object into a platform for interaction, The Bench Marks explores how design can encourage conversations and create shared experiences in an increasingly digital world.
Combining visual communication, social engagement and participatory design, the project demonstrates how creative solutions can transform everyday environments while addressing contemporary challenges through meaningful storytelling.
CHINATOWN, MILANO by Isabella Fernandez de Castro
Also awarded a Bronze Cube, “Chinatown, Milano” is an experimental audiovisual project exploring identity and multicultural urban life.
Through a combination of live-action footage, animation, and generative AI, the work reflects on personal memory, migration, and belonging within one of Milan’s most dynamic neighbourhoods.
The result is a layered visual narrative combining technology, documentary language, and personal storytelling.
BLOOM by Davide Lazzoni (Italy)
Winner of a Bronze Cube, “Bloom” is an inclusive digital project designed to support emotional education.
Created for individuals with Down syndrome and Fragile X syndrome, the application translates emotions into floral visual compositions, helping users communicate feelings and relational experiences more intuitively.
The project combines accessibility, interaction design, and emotional awareness within a delicate and contemporary digital interface.