Every year, The Rookies gives your students a global stage. But here's what we want to remind you of this year: it's also your stage.

When a student submits a standout entry, when they're shortlisted, when they win, when they land an internship with a studio because of the work they produced in your classroom, that outcome reflects your teaching. Your curriculum. Your mentorship. Your relentless push to make them industry-ready.

Rookie Awards 2026 is now open for entries, and we want every eligible student you teach to participate.

Why This Matters for Your School

The Rookies runs the only Global School Rankings built entirely around the quality of student work submitted to this competition. Schools are ranked based on the calibre and volume of entries from their students, not on marketing spend, not on self-reported data.

This is peer-reviewed, industry-validated recognition. A strong Awards season is one of the most powerful proof points your institution can present to prospective students, accreditation bodies, and industry partners. The window is open from now until June 22, 2026, that's roughly ten weeks of opportunity.

Every entry counts. Every finalist placement counts. Every win is amplified across our platform, our social channels, and our global community of 120K+ members.

What Your Students Are Competing In

Rookie of the Year is the core individual entry, twelve categories spanning Visual Effects, 3D Animation, 2D Animation, Game Development, Concept Art, Motion Graphics, Architectural Visualisation, Immersive Media, Product & Industrial Design, Web & App Design, Graphic Design, and Digital Fashion. Students choose the category aligned with their career destination, not just their current skills.

Career Opportunities can be added on top of a ROTY entry, connecting students directly with internships, mentorships, and professional development programs from our sponsor network, studios and software companies actively looking for new talent.

Film of the Year celebrates completed short films across 2D animation, 3D animation, and VFX. Ideal for capstone and thesis projects. Team and individual entries allowed.

Game of the Year is built for fully completed games, PC, console, mobile, and immersive media. Perfect for final-year game development projects. Team and individual entries allowed.

What Makes a Strong Entry

Encourage your students to treat their submission like a job application, not a class assignment. The brief is simple: one focused portfolio page that demonstrates they are ready for an entry-level role. Quality over quantity. Clarity over comprehensiveness.

Students who enter under the category matching their career goal, rather than defaulting to their most comfortable skill, tend to perform better and attract more relevant industry attention. If you teach 3D artists, help them decide early whether their future is in animation, games, or VFX. That decision shapes everything about how they present themselves.

Your Role in the Outcome

We see it every year: students who are encouraged by their lecturers to enter outperform those who discover the competition on their own. A brief mention in class, a tutorial dedicated to portfolio presentation, a departmental push to get submissions in before the deadline, these things measurably move the needle.

This year, we'd love to see you:

• Share the competition with your students early
• Set internal deadlines well ahead of June 22
• Review the helpdesk documentation to fully understand the contest
• Point students to our onboarding documentation and Rookies Live information sessions for guidance on building a strong entry

If you have questions about how your school's performance is tracked in the Global Rankings, or how to maximise your students' entries, reach out to us directly.

Important Dates

• Entries Open: 7th April 2026
• Entries Close: 22nd June 2026
• Finalists Announced: 31st July 2026
• Winners Announced: 27th August 2026

All times 09:00am UTC.

Your students made their work. You helped make them capable of making it. Let's make sure the world sees both.

Over the past year, the question I hear most from school leaders is simple:

Is demand softening, or is behaviour shifting?

From where we sit, it’s the latter.

Across portfolio submissions, industry review, and student engagement patterns, we are seeing compression in commitment tolerance, rising sensitivity when employability is unclear, and growing expectation that AI is embedded within workflows rather than bolted on.

These signals appear before they surface in enrolment reports.

The risk is not decline.
The risk is misreading the shift.

When institutions extend duration without clarifying acceleration, add niche tracks that fragment progression, or compete on messaging rather than structure, softness compounds.

Over the past 12 months, we’ve been asked the same questions repeatedly:

• Should programs shorten?
• Is price pressure increasing?
• Is online now competing at parity?
• How should AI be integrated?
• What actually builds trust in 2026?

Rather than answer these one at a time, we structured what we’re observing into the 2026 Creative Education Change Report.

It is a planning document built from industry-reviewed behavioural data across the global creative pipeline, designed for leadership teams reviewing duration, pricing, AI strategy, and positioning for 2026–2028.

If those conversations are already underway, you can review the full report here: https://www.therookies.co/education-change-report-2026

As we approach peak recruitment season, we wanted to share some of the most effective ways our partner schools are currently connecting with the next generation of creative talent. Our Advertising Boosts offer a direct, high-impact channel for institutions to build their own independent pipelines.

With thousands of aspiring artists visiting our platform daily, and over 3+ Million yearly, our site ranks strongly in AdWords and other search engines, ensuring high visibility and targeted reach for your programs.

Why Education Partners are Choosing "Boosts"

Our platform is uniquely positioned to help schools stand out to a highly engaged audience of 18-24-year-olds looking to find a place to study.

• Verified Trust: We’ve found that 73% of our members prefer to engage with Certified Schools. Our Boosts help you leverage this trust to drive direct awareness.
• Massive Annual Reach: With 3.0 million unique annual visitors and 35,000+ newsletter subscribers, your institution can reach creative students from every corner of the globe.
• High Engagement: Our dedicated email (EDM) boosts have seen open rates as high as 39-45%, ensuring your open days and programs are seen by the right eyes.

1. Amplify Your Reach

By targeting students passionate about animation, game design, visual effects, and more, your message reaches those most likely to resonate with your programs.

The school directory is the most visited section on our site, making a Featured School Boost the perfect opportunity to showcase your institution effectively.

Featured School Boost Specifications:

• 30 days of visibility
• Prominent placement on the main school page
• Priority visibility in all relevant search results

2. Tailored to Your School’s Needs

With customisable advertising options, you can highlight your school’s unique strengths - specialised courses, award-winning alumni, or partnerships with industry leaders. Our advertising boosts are designed to prioritise what matters most to your institution, ensuring maximum impact.

Editorial Content Boost Specifications:

• Featured article on our blog with homepage placement
• Full social media promotion across all channels
• Microsite link for direct traffic
• Approved content ensures insight and value, not spam
• Opportunity to feature in weekly newsletters

3. Engage Directly with Prospective Students

Increased visibility is just the start. Our advertising boosts position your school as an accessible and engaging presence. Direct students to open days, virtual tours, or portfolio reviews, and free trials, making it easy for them to take the next step toward joining your creative community.

Sponsored Newsletter Boost Specifications:

• Dedicated section within our monthly newsletter
• Clickable link to drive traffic directly to your website
• Showcase published articles alongside your feature

4. Fill Your Events: Turn Interest into Enrollment

Don’t just show students your campus—invite them into your community. Advertising boosts are the most effective way to drive high-intent traffic to your Open Days, Free Masterclasses, and Community Events, putting your school’s culture directly in front of a global audience of prospective students actively seeking their next creative home.

Community Banner Boost Specifications:

• 30 days of strategic banner placement across the entire Rookies community platform
• Header, Homepage and Footer Banners

To receive our 2026 Media Kit, please get in touch with sabrina@therookies.co.

For years, we've shared the vision of making it easier for your exceptional graduates to connect with the world's top creative studios. We know the struggle: incredible talent gets lost in outdated job boards, and recruiters waste weeks sifting through horrible Wix websites and bloated community sites like Artstation, Behance, and yes, even The Rookies.

That era is officially over.

We are thrilled to announce that after countless months of intense development, we are now deep into the Beta testing phase of Rookies Recruiter - a dedicated, invite-only talent platform that is about to fundamentally change how the creative industry hires.

This is not a modest update. This is massive.

Why Rookies Recruiter is a Game-Changer for Your School

Rookies Recruiter is being built exclusively for one purpose:

to allow the top creative companies in the world to find the absolute best emerging creative talent faster than ever before.

Here's a glimpse of the revolutionary power we are placing in the hands of global recruiters, and what it means for your students:

1. Blazing-Fast, Portfolio-First Discovery

Forget about digging. Recruiters using our system see your graduates' best work instantly.

• Sub-Second Search: Thanks to our Elasticsearch-powered system, a recruiter can search through 100,000+ artists and apply complex filters in under a second.
• The Instant Drawer View Workflow: This is the core difference. Recruiters see a profile and can instantly click into a modal drawer view for a full portfolio breakdown or a candidate's complete profile. No page reloads, no distractions, no stupid ads. It's immediate, full-screen project details delivered exactly how recruiters want to review creative work.
• Next-Gen Tech Stack: Built on Next.js with React Query, the system uses Optimistic UI Updates and smart caching to ensure that every action feels instantaneous. This isn't just fast; it’s a fluid, high-velocity search experience that traditional job boards cannot touch.

2. The Vetting You Can Only Get From The Rookies

This is our "secret sauce" and the ultimate endorsement of your quality education.

• The Rookie Grade Ranking System: Recruiters can filter candidates based on our proprietary, data-driven 4-Tier Rookie Grade system. These grades are based on official scores from our global Rookie Awards contest, providing objective, contest-validated proof of excellence.
• Rookies Verified Tag: We are assigning a special, highly sought-after search tag to top-performing talent that our internal team has verified. This is the ultimate signal of quality. Recruiters can filter to find these candidates first, meaning your absolute best graduates will be head-hunted immediately upon graduation.

3. Full Talent Intelligence, Not Just a Contact List

We're giving recruiters the tools to manage and track candidates from first view to final offer, allowing them to truly focus on quality talent pipelines.

• Robust Recruiter Tools: Features like Saved Collections, Job-Specific Pipelines (New → Contacted → Interviewing → Hired), and Candidate Notes allow recruiters to manage the hiring process entirely within the platform.
• Education-Focused Insights: The system tracks crucial data points like School Tracking (making it easy to hire repeat talent from your institution), Learning Environment (formal vs. self-taught), and Portfolio Evolution.

What This Means for You

We are building the single, fastest, and most intuitive system for creative hiring ever created.

• Direct Pipeline to Top Studios: When we officially launch next year, your best students will be instantly visible to an exclusive, invite-only community of top-tier recruiters who are actively seeking validated, job-ready talent.
• Proof of Your Program's Quality: The Rookie Grades and achievements on the platform serve as a constant, public affirmation of the high standards and proven results of your educational program.

From Classroom to Career, With Evidence

When Rookies Recruiter fully connects to Rookies HQ, schools will be able to see how their students are performing in the real hiring world:

• Which portfolios attract recruiter interest
• What disciplines are trending
• Which schools and programs are producing standout artists
• Where your graduates are getting hired

No guesswork. No spreadsheets.
Just clear, live signals from the industry your students are preparing to join.

Get Ahead of the Launch

The Recruiter App is in beta with studios now. The feedback is huge. They’re calling it the first time they can search for junior artists with confidence.

This is your chance to make sure your students are part of it.

Right now, the most powerful thing you can do is simple:

• Encourage every student to publish their projects on The Rookies
• Update your school’s microsite so recruiters can see your programs clearly
• Keep your graduating classes active, their next opportunity might already be searching for them

Rookies Recruiter is the missing link between education and employment.
It’s not theory, it’s happening now, and it’s built for you and your students.

Stay tuned for more announcements, and if you have any recruiters or studios that you believe should be on the invite-list, please send their details to sabrina@therookies.co.

Over the past year, we’ve taken a close look at the tools schools use to attract students, support their development, and track their outcomes. Creative education has changed dramatically, yet schools are still forced to stitch together admissions systems, spreadsheets, email trails, and disconnected portfolios. Each department sees a different version of the student journey, and opportunities for connection are often lost.

Today, we want to share the direction we’re building toward, and the steps already underway.

This is the start of Rookies HQ.

A new platform designed exclusively for creative schools. Its purpose is simple: to give your team a single, accurate, real-time view of the students you attract, the work they create, and the impact they make once they graduate.

Before we unveil the full platform, we are rolling out its fundamental building blocks.

These first components focus on improving how students find your school and how admissions teams receive and manage enquiries.

Step 1: School Advisor (Live)

The first part of this transformation is already in place.

School Advisor is our upgraded admissions support service designed to take pressure off both students and schools. When students aren’t sure where to begin, they can fill out a short form outlining their interests, background, study goals, budget, and timeframe. From there, our team contacts them directly, discusses their options, and helps them understand which schools align with what they are looking for.

Only once a student has confirmed they are interested in your institution do we introduce them to your admissions team. This ensures the enquiries you receive are informed, intentional, and based on a real conversation.

School Advisor now provides some of the strongest early-stage leads on the platform, and it forms the first part of the broader system we’re building.

Step 2: Education Hub (Coming Soon)

The next major release is the Education Hub, a new self-guided space on The Rookies where students can shortlist schools, track their application journey, and request information when they are ready.

This replaces the traditional contact form with a clearer, more intentional process:

• A student first saves your school to their shortlist.
• When they are ready to begin a conversation, they select Connect Me.
• Only verified members can submit requests, ensuring every enquiry is genuine and traceable.

This approach reduces the volume of impulsive, low-quality enquiries and gives your team enquiries from students who have taken the time to compare options and make a considered decision.

For students, it provides structure and clarity.
For schools, it delivers cleaner, more predictable lead quality.

Step 3: Building Toward Rookies HQ

As these two pathways come online, they will feed valuable data into the broader system we are preparing to launch. Rookies HQ will bring together three core elements of the student lifecycle:

Acquisition Engine

A more reliable way to capture, qualify, and manage interest from prospective students through Advisor guidance and the new Education Hub.

Talent Engine

A central place for portfolios, projects, skill development, achievements, and progress. Allowing your faculty to better understand how students grow and where they need support.

Intelligence Core

This is where the full value comes together: benchmarking, insights, and reporting drawn from The Rookies’ global ecosystem.

Schools will be able to see trends, measure their performance, understand what studios are actively searching for, and compare talent outcomes with global competitors. All of this will be accessible through dedicated dashboards that connect Admissions, Faculty, and Career Services in a way that has never been possible before.

• You will see the students you attract.
• You will see the work they produce.
• You will see how they perform in competitions and challenges.
• You will see how they progress into industry.
• All in one place.

These changes mean fewer manual processes, fewer gaps between departments, and far clearer evidence of the impact your school has on student success.

What This Means for Your Team Today

You do not need to make any operational changes to benefit from the improvements already underway. School Advisor introductions are live, and the Education Hub will begin sending higher-quality, shortlist-verified enquiries as soon as it is released.

However, this is the ideal moment to strengthen your presence on The Rookies and ensure you are positioned to take full advantage of what’s coming next. As the new system shifts from quantity to quality, the schools with the most complete and up-to-date information will benefit the most.

Here are three important steps you can take now:

1. Review and update your school microsite

The Education Hub relies heavily on the information students use to compare options. Clear program descriptions, updated tuition details, recent student work, staff information, and accurate location data make a significant difference to how students evaluate your institution. The more complete your profile is, the more confidently we can guide students toward your school.

2. Consider becoming a Certified School (if not already)

Certification ensures we have verified, accurate knowledge of your institution. It allows our team, especially through School Advisor, to recommend your school with confidence. As the ecosystem grows, Certified Schools will increasingly benefit from increased visibility, stronger positioning, and deeper confidence from prospective students.

3. Encourage your students to share projects and stay active

The strength of Rookies HQ will come from real student work, real progress, and real outcomes. When your students publish their projects, join challenges, and build portfolios on the platform, it not only raises their visibility but also strengthens your school’s overall presence. This activity informs our guidance, enriches the ecosystem, and ensures your future prospective students can clearly see the quality of talent your school produces.

We hope you're as excited about the direction we are moving in, and the first solid steps to laying the groundwork for everything that comes next. As the platform evolves, our goal is to give your team clearer enquiries, better insight into student intent, and a more complete understanding of the talent your school helps shape.

We will share more details about the next components of Rookies HQ as they approach release.

We’re excited to introduce the Maxon Education Program, a resource designed to guide students, educators, and recent graduates through the fundamentals of 2D and 3D creation, motion design, and visual effects using the Maxon One suite.

The program provides access to Cinema 4D, Redshift, Red Giant tools, ZBrush (including iPad version), Universe, and more - giving learners the tools they need to explore every stage of a production workflow.

Classrooms

If your institution qualifies for Maxon Education licenses, your students can gain hands-on experience with professional-grade software in labs or classrooms, helping them build skills that translate directly to industry work.

For Students

Students can easily apply for discounted educational license for personal learning and project work, giving them access to the full Maxon One suite.

For Educators

Maxon’s Teacher Licenses give instructors at accredited schools full access to Maxon One, letting them prepare lessons and projects outside the classroom with our professional-grade tools.

Maxon is the perfect resource to help students and recent graduates excel in digital creation. Whether in the classroom, at home, or in self-directed learning, the Maxon Education Program provides everything needed to master 3D, motion design, and visual effects.

We’re excited to share the results of the 2025 Rookies Global School Rankings, our annual review of the world’s leading creative schools.

These rankings reflect real student outcomes. They recognise institutions that not only teach creative skills, but consistently help students build industry-ready portfolios that stand out.

To those schools that earned a top position, congratulations. This is a direct result of the time, care, and mentorship you invest in your students.

To those not ranked this year, we acknowledge the important work you continue to do. The creative industries are evolving rapidly, and so is the talent pipeline. Every step forward matters.

This year’s rankings were based on:

• 6,577 student portfolio entries
• 132 judges from leading studios
• 486 schools represented
• 104 countries
• Over 131,000 creative uploads reviewed

View the 2025 results

See where your school stands. Explore the rankings by discipline, discover this year’s standout performers, and celebrate the progress being made across the global education community.

Meet Mat is back - and this year, Mat has a brand-new companion: Mut, a loyal little dog ready to share the spotlight.

We know assignments are piling up, but sometimes the best learning happens when students step into a real-world challenge. Meet Mat 5 is that chance - an opportunity to build portfolio-ready work, learn new tools, and hit real deadlines while connecting with the global creative community.

Thousands of students around the world are already texturing their own versions of Mat & Mut using Adobe Substance 3D Painter. With free educational licenses, weekly masterclasses, live feedback sessions, and major industry prizes - there’s never been a better time to jump in.

And here’s the bonus: The Best School will win 20 x custom 3D prints from Mimaki.

Quick Details

• Entries Close: November 18, 2025
• Finalists Announced: November 25
• Winners Announced: December 2

How to Get Your Students Involved

1. Download an education license of Substance 3D Painter, or a 30 day trial.
2. Download the 3D Model of Mat and Mut
3. Submit Entry via the contest entry page!
4. Share regular updates and submit final renders before entries close on the 18th of November.

Prizes & Recognition

From Lenovo ThinkPad Workstations and Wacom Intuos Pros, to Adobe Creative Cloud subscriptions and 3D prints by Mimaki, this year’s prize pool rewards both top artists and random entrants - so early participation really pays off.

Help your students make the leap from the classroom to the global stage. Share the brief and get them entering before it’s too late.

We know how busy the start of the academic year can be. Assignments, schedules, deadlines - your students have a lot on their plate, and adding one more thing may feel like a distraction.

But this opportunity is different.

The Art of Golf Design Contest could be life-changing for one of your students, and a huge moment of recognition for your school. With just a weekend or a day’s work, they could:

• Win an all-expenses-paid VIP trip (flights, hotel, VIP tickets for two).
• See their design manufactured and showcased globally alongside renowned artists.
• Open the door to a potential licensing deal with a major international sports brand.

Encouraging your students to participate isn’t just about an exciting prize. It’s about giving them a shot at a genuine career-defining moment, and giving your school the kind of PR exposure you can’t buy.

We’d love your help in supporting your students:

• Share the contest brief with your classes.
• Encourage them to submit an idea (2D or 3D, no golf knowledge needed).
• Spread the word among your faculty and other design related departments.

Deadline for entries: October 15, 2025.

Full contest details: https://www.therookies.co/cleeks-art-of-golf

Thanks for helping your students take advantage of an opportunity that could truly change their trajectory.

Just like top studios Weta FX, Disney, Blizzard Entertainment, Riot Games, and Sony Interactive Entertainment, it’s crucial for schools, colleges, and universities to support the next generation of artists as they prepare for careers in animation, games, and visual effects. This means not only providing top-quality training to students but also ensuring the faculty have their skills as sharp as possible.

That’s where The Gnomon Workshop’s Team License solution comes in. The Gnomon Workshop’s world-renowned training represents the entire pipeline of animation and effects production and covers all the major tools being used in the industry. On-demand workshops cover every step of the production process, from concept design and pre-viz to modeling, rigging, texturing, and matte painting. You’re guaranteed to only find the most efficient and production-proven workflows taught by working professional artists.

“Having such a deep well of learning content at my fingertips is incredibly valuable, and sometimes it can even feel like cheating. It's not just about picking up new techniques or workflows from some of the most talented professionals in the industry – though that alone is huge. The Gnomon Workshop isn't just a library of tutorials, it's a constant source of inspiration."

– Devon Fay, Creative Director/Art Director at Riot Games

With flexible options and scalable discounts, there is a license solution for every school, college, university, and training center. The Gnomon Workshop understands that no two educational institutions are the same, and that training budgets vary, so contact the team today at teams@thegnomonworkshop.com to request your no-obligation quote.

The Gnomon Workshop is offering friends of The Rookies a Free Trial to allow you the chance to browse the training library of 300+ workshops covering everything from modeling, texturing, lighting, and rendering, to rigging, animation, effects, compositing, matte painting, and game engines.

For questions, email teams@thegnomonworkshop.com.

We’re thrilled to announce The Art of Golf - a creative collaboration between The Rookies and Cleeks Golf Club, one of the standout teams from LIV Golf. This is not just another student contest. It’s a global design challenge with real-world stakes, elite-level exposure, and an opportunity for students to launch their careers by having their work go from concept to reality.

At its core, this contest invites the next generation of creatives - your students - to reimagine what a golf bag can be. But this isn’t just for golfers. It’s for artists, designers, storytellers, rebels, and cultural thinkers ready to shape the future of sport through creativity.

Two Briefs. One Massive Opportunity.

Students can choose from two tracks:

1. Cleeks 2026 Season Bag

Design a real, production-ready golf bag that will be carried by Cleeks players on tour next year.

2. Open Artistic Expression

Go wild — this is where students can treat the bag as art, fashion, sculpture, or statement. No rules, no limits.

Each category has its own winner - and both Grand Prize Winners receive:

• A VIP all-expenses-paid trip to a landmark Cleeks event for them and a friend
• Their work revealed on the world stage
• Massive exposure across global PR and social channels
• A shot at future merchandise collaboration
• A full Cleeks gear kit

Why You Should Share This With Your Students

This is the kind of project students will never forget - the kind they talk about at grad shows, job interviews, and portfolio reviews for years.

• It’s a real brand, with real reach
• It’s a chance to rethink the intersection of sport, design, and culture
• It could change a career before it even starts

Even if your students have never picked up a golf club - that’s the point. We’re looking for new perspectives, fresh ideas, and fearless creativity.

Help Us Spread the Word

Please share this with your colleagues, course leaders, and department heads. We don’t want anyone to miss this.

Entries close October 15.
Let’s give your students the platform they deserve.

After months of judging, it’s time. Rookie Awards 2025 Finalists are here! The top entries selected from thousands of submissions by emerging artists around the world. This isn’t just a shortlist. These are the creatives who rose to the top and caught the attention of some of the most respected names in the industry.

From April to June, Rookie Awards 2025 attracted an overwhelming wave of talent from across the globe. We received over 6,500 portfolio entries, submitted by students and self-taught artists representing more than 100 countries and hundreds of creative schools. Behind the scenes, our global judging panel poured countless hours into reviewing and scoring each project, resulting in tens of thousands of individual critiques across categories. The scale, the effort, and the quality this year were nothing short of extraordinary.

Each finalist was selected based on creative strength, technical execution, presentation, originality, range of work, and industry potential. The scoring was tight. In some categories, fractions of a point separated the top contenders.

These artists are now in the running for Rookie of the Year, Film of the Year, Game of the Year, across individual industries and categories. Plus exclusive Career Opportunities with leading studios and brands.

Massive thanks to our sponsors

Without them, this wouldn’t happen. They support the awards, provide prizes, and most importantly, help create a platform for artists.

Rookie Awards 2025 is proudly supported by Dell Technologies and Lenovo, along with industry leaders including Marvelous Designer, Foundry, Wacom, XPPen, Maxon, Clip Studio Paint, AWN, ImagineFX Magazine, befores & afters, Playgrounds, and top studios such as Hugo Boss, Remedy Entertainment, Fortiche, Skydance Animation, Ghost VFX,  Iain Finch from Patagonia, Virgile Biosa, INDG, Important Looking Pirates, Graph Visual Studio, Outpost VFX, Electrive Theatre Collective, PlaySide Studios and 2G Studio. These partners provide mentorship, career guidance, and cutting-edge tools to support emerging talent.

What’s next?

The judging panel gets straight back into it and now nominates their Top 5 selections for each of the categories. We use this information to select category winners.

The general public can also get involved now by voting for their favourite entries. Simply visit the entry pages for finalists and click the 'Vote for People's Choice" button. The entries with the highest share count will win.

Winners will be announced August 27th, 2025, so make sure to check back soon!

Thanks for making 2025 our most amazing year yet.

We’re about to launch the biggest partnership and career opportunity we’ve ever offered, and we’re calling on you to help your students be part of it.

This is not a typical contest.

It’s a high-profile collaboration with massive visibility, a chance for your students to contribute to something cultural, global, and unforgettable.

This global creative brief is built for students working across: Design, illustration, fashion, product design, concept art, game art, and visual storytelling.

Here’s how you can help:

• Encourage students to pre-register now
• Protect time in your curriculum or project calendar (August–October)
• Share this with other faculty who support creative disciplines

Key dates:

• Launches: July 28
• Entry window: August–October 2025

Pre-Register here:

Sign up for Pre-registration and announcements

Thanks for helping us support the next generation of creative talent.

We can't wait to share more news about this.

The submission deadline for Rookie Awards 2025 is fast approaching, and we’re encouraging all educators and administrators to make a final push to get your students involved.

Entries close June 20, 2025 (09:00am UTC).

This isn’t just a competition. It’s a pipeline into the creative industries. Every year, top studios around the world use the Rookie Awards to scout new talent, from visual effects and animation, to games, immersive media, and digital design.

Why It Matters for Your School

1. Real Exposure. Real Opportunities.

Entries are reviewed by recruiters, creative directors, and senior artists from leading studios such as Fortiche, Hugo Boss, Skydance Animation, Ghost VFX, and many more. Your students won’t just be seen, they’ll be assessed for internships, mentorships, and career opportunities.

2. Strengthen Graduate Outcomes

Participation helps bridge the gap between education and employment. For many students, the Rookie Awards have been the key moment that led to job offers, internships, or being scouted directly by a recruiter.

3. Boost Your School’s Global Ranking

Submissions count toward our annual Rookies Global School Rankings, the most respected benchmark that highlights the quality and success of creative programs worldwide. The more high-quality entries you submit, the more data we have to recognize your institution in our rankings.

What You Can Do This Week

Remind students to finalise their entries now

They don’t need to submit dozens of projects, just 2–3 strong, well-presented pieces that show they’re ready for industry. Encourage them to prioritise quality over quantity. If they’re submitting large videos, make sure they allow enough time to upload via Vimeo or YouTube well before the deadline. Last-minute uploads are the most common reason for incomplete submissions. Now is the time to check links, polish titles, and double-check everything is working.

Encourage a professional presentation

Clear visuals. Short, purposeful descriptions. No bloated breakdowns or overly long explanations. Remind students that judges are professionals reviewing many entries, they’re looking for clarity, intention, and polish. This is their chance to demonstrate not just technical skill, but also how they present themselves as a creative professional.

Help students choose the right category

Rookie of the Year covers 12 creative industries, from Games, Animation, and VFX to Product Design, Web & App, and Digital Fashion. Guide students to think about where they want to work, not just what they’ve studied. For group projects, such as short films or games, they can also enter Film of the Year or Game of the Year, but remind them to submit a separate Rookie of the Year entry to highlight their individual contribution.

Encourage Career Opportunities add-ons

If students are hoping to land internships, mentorships, or entry-level roles, make sure they add a Career Opportunity application to their Rookie of the Year entry. It only takes a few extra minutes, and it can open direct pathways to real positions offered by our industry partners.

We’ve created detailed documentation and walkthroughs to make the submission process as smooth as possible:

View the Contest & Submit Entries

Helpdesk, Rules & Entry Guide

Final Word

You’ve helped your students build the skills. Now give them the platform. Rookie Awards 2025 is designed to spotlight the next generation of creative professionals, and we’d love to showcase the talent coming out of your school.

If you have any questions, or want help activating your cohort quickly, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team. Let’s make sure your students, and your school, get the recognition they deserve.

Standing out to prospective students is more important than ever, especially for schools looking to engage with those who are genuinely passionate about building a future in the creative industries. Our advertising boosts offer a thoughtful way to elevate your school’s presence on The Rookies and connect with students who are actively exploring their next steps.

Amplify Your Reach Where It Matters

With over 100,000 monthly visitors, our platform is a trusted destination for aspiring artists, designers, and developers. The school directory is one of our most visited areas, making a Featured School Boost an effective way to increase visibility. Our site performs above average in SEO, Google ranking, and key placements like banner ads and newsletters—ensuring your content reaches the right audience at the right time.

Flexible and Customisable

Each school is unique, and so are our advertising options. Whether you're highlighting niche programs, award-winning graduates, or strong industry links, we’ll help tailor your presence to reflect what sets you apart.

Foster Meaningful Engagement

Increased visibility is just the start. Our advertising boosts open doors for interaction. Share links to open days, portfolio reviews, or virtual tours through newsletters and targeted EDMs. This makes it easy for students to engage and take the next step.

Highlight What Makes Your School Exceptional

Use your boost to showcase real stories—student achievements, alumni success, innovative projects—whatever best represents your creative community. These features help students imagine what’s possible at your school.

Get Ready for Your Next Intake

We’re here to support schools that care deeply about student growth and industry relevance. If you're looking to engage the next generation of talent in a meaningful way, we’d love to explore how an advertising boost can support your goals.

Get in touch with sabrina@therookies.co to get started with advertising boosts that make a difference.