The Saudi Research and Marketing Group (SRMG), a leading media conglomerate in the MENA region, has initiated the second Saudi Young Lions design competition. This competition serves as a stage for emerging Saudi talents to exhibit their creative prowess and originality. It underscores SRMG’s commitment to fostering local talent and advancing innovation as part of its strategic development.
The Saudi Young Lions competition is now open for registration, targeting Saudi Arabia’s young graphic designers, illustrators, and creatives under 30 in the marketing and advertising industry. Teams of two can sign up by May 13, 2024. The competition brief will go live on May 16, 2024, giving participants a 48-hour window to respond creatively. A panel of leaders from top global advertising agencies in the region will assess the entries.
Winners of the Saudi Young Lions will progress to the Global Young Lions competition, where they will compete with top creative teams from across the globe in Cannes, France, in June. This opportunity not only allows the winning team to network with industry leaders but also to learn from leading global creative directors and attend engaging talks and workshops.
Fadi Mroue, Chief Creative Officer of SRMG, mentioned: “The future of the creative industry depends on the next generation continuing to push boundaries through thought-provoking and innovative work. At SRMG, we aim to provide a platform for these young creators and storytellers to excel and think big. This is why we have prioritised empowering emerging local and regional talent by giving them the necessary tools, training and support. Partnering with Cannes Lions for the second edition of the Saudi Young Lions competition aligns with this goal. The success of the first edition of the Saudi Young Lions competition sets the stage for increased participation in the second year. We look forward to seeing the Saudi winners compete against the best and brightest young creators at this year’s Cannes Lions Festival in June.”
This announcement builds on SRMG’s partnership with the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. In 2023, SRMG became the official representative of Cannes Lions in Saudi Arabia. As part of this partnership, SRMG launched the first Saudi Young Lions competition and facilitated Saudi representation at the Cannes’ Creative Academy.
Expanding on SRMG’s collaboration with the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, a major step was taken in 2023 when SRMG assumed the role of Cannes Lions’ official representative in Saudi Arabia. This partnership brought about the launch of the first Saudi Young Lions competition by SRMG, as well as enabling Saudi involvement in Cannes’ Creative Academy.
Emerging talents across Saudi Arabia gathered at the first Saudi Young Lions competition, displaying their creativity and abilities. In the first competition, Reema Ibrahim and Shoug Abdullah, two young Saudi women designers, made history by winning the competition’s first edition. Their success paved the way for them to represent Saudi Arabia at the Global Young Lions competition in Cannes, where they impressed by securing a top-seven finish among more than 450 participants.
The 2023 Cannes Lions Festival witnessed a large number of participants from the MENA region, marked by Hungerstation Riyadh’s ‘Subconscious Order’ campaign winning the Grand Prix in Creative Commerce. The Kingdom’s first Grand Prix win showcased the region’s growing creativity and innovation worldwide.
To register in Saudi Young Lions Competition visit their website: srmg.com
