The One Membership for Creativity is introducing its greatest change to The One Present in many years: a brand new competitors devoted completely to impartial businesses, design companies, manufacturing homes, and creators.
The One Present Indies, launching inside The One Present 2026, will present impartial retailers a devoted house to compete on a world stage with out going head-to-head with holding firm networks that may afford to flood the competitors with entries.
Kevin Swanepoel, CEO of The One Membership for Creativity, instructed ADWEEK the concept emerged after observing a surge of impartial businesses following holding firm consolidation: “Plenty of the individuals who had been at massive networks have damaged away and began their very own Indies. So, I needed to ensure that The One Membership honors these people, too.”
Swanepoel additionally famous that most of the business’s most impactful concepts are rising from smaller, impartial retailers based by creatives who left massive networks to focus purely on doing nice work.
To maintain the competitors equitable, businesses can submit a most of 10 entries, with each bit of labor entered into not more than three classes. Entry charges are 20% decrease than common One Present submissions. Swanepoel additionally famous that the Indies self-discipline will restrict the variety of classes requiring case movies to scale back manufacturing prices for smaller businesses. “It’s concerning the work, the work, and the work,” he stated.
The Indies jury shall be composed totally of high creatives from impartial businesses. “I needed it to be judged by the indie judges as a result of they honestly perceive the hardships of hustling and beginning up a younger company,” Swanepoel defined. “If anyone has had the vast majority of their profession at a giant holding firm or inside a giant community, they don’t absolutely perceive what it takes to really begin up an company. It’s a distinct mindset.”
Along with Gold, Silver and Bronze Pencils, a Crystal Pencil—similar to a Grand Prix—shall be awarded to the Better of Indies winner.
For Swanepoel, success in yr one would imply seeing new gamers on stage.
“Success would actually be seeing some businesses that don’t normally enter, which are small, standing on the most important stage in New York, receiving [awards] and being acknowledged,” he stated. “A few of the finest work has been achieved by these small, impartial businesses. And it’s as much as us to showcase this. The world must see this nice work.”
