Strategy’s Agency of the Year shortlist reveals are officially underway, and we’re kicking things off with a double bill: the established Design category and the brand-new Small Design category.

There’s plenty of familiar firepower in the Design lineup, with eight shops making the cut. But this year also gives some smaller independent agencies their own shot at the podium, with seven finalists making up the inaugural Small Design shortlist.

Think of it as the AOY getting a little bigger while making room for some of the industry’s small-but-still-mighty shops.

And while the Small Design category is specifically for majority independently owned design agencies with fewer than 25 employees across all roles, Design is open to organizations of all stripes. But both are about the same thing: celebrating the agencies doing exceptional work across the visual communications spectrum.

So, let’s get to the good stuff.

Small Design shortlist:

Blok Design
Cartel
Caserne
Daughter Creative
Hard Work Club
Mackie Biernacki
Pendo

Small Design jury:

Richard Bélanger, VP of branding and design, Cossette
Suman Chahal, associate director of brand & marketing, Art Gallery of Ontario
Ryan Crouchman, partner, VP and ECD design, LG2
Victoria Di Valerio, creative director, Edelman
Jaylone Lee, independent marketing and customer experience leader
Maude Lescarbeau, founder and head of design, Maubau
Lisa Mok, creative director, Sephora
Toni Shelton, VP of brand and strategy, Collective Arts
Teresa Tam, art director and designer, freelance
Hans Thiessen, partner and ECD of design, Rethink
Jess Willis, chief brand officer, Saje Natural Wellness

Design shortlist: 

Cossette
Leo Toronto
LG2
One23West
Rethink
Sid Lee
TBWA
Zulu Alpha Kilo

Design jury:

Genevieve Beharry, group creative director, Marks
Mareike Greve, head of marketing, LG Electronics Canada
Francis Guindon, VP of  brand, Quartz Co. and Want Les Essentiels
John Hotts, design director, One Method
Angela MacInnis, CMO, Kits
Howard Poon, VP and design director, FKA
Laura Stein, CCO, Bruce Mau Design
Jennifer Taback, co-CEO, Design De Plume
Dave Watson, head of design, Broken Heart Love Affair