Health & Wellness Lions
The Health and Wellness Lions celebrate creativity for personal wellbeing.
On this page
Introduction
The history of the Health & Wellness Lions
Launched in 2014 the Health & Wellness Lions were the product of over 3 years of consultation with the industry, but demand stretched further back than this. The launch of this Lion effectively opened the floodgates for a passionate though heavily regulated industry that had long been seeking its own celebration of creativity.
The first year of Health & Wellness Lions brought many specialists into what was then a new arena which we hoped would help shape the industry. In 2015, the section matured and we saw an even greater spread of ideas championing creativity within the sector.
More recent additions to Health & Wellness include a health tech category; a more clearly defined awareness and advocacy section, plus updated mediums to reflect the award structure of Cannes Lions.
What kind of work can be entered?
Any medium accepted at Cannes Lions is eligible, as long as it’s relevant to health and wellness communications.
Consumer healthcare and wellness work that highlights over-the-counter products, medical devices, or health-focused consumer goods. Work that raises awareness about health issues, educates on prevention or treatment options, or encourages mental health, physical fitness, and mindfulness.
Work addressing societal health challenges, advocating for policy changes, or championing accessibility in healthcare. Innovative uses of technology, such as digital platforms, wearable devices, and immersive experiences, as well as public health campaigns promoting safety or substance abuse prevention.
Additionally work supporting patients on their health journeys and creative medical communications targeting healthcare professionals are also eligible.
What’s the Jury looking for?
An inspired approach to consumer healthcare.
While judging criteria vary by medium, winning work will deliver creative, impactful and original solutions that push boundaries and elevate the standard in Health & Wellness communications.
PAPER ORGANS | TAIWAN ORGAN SHARING REGISTRY AND PATIENT AUTONOMY PROMOTION CENTER | LEO BURNETT TAIWAN, TAIPEI | SILVER, HEALTH & WELLNESS LIONS | 2024
The Categories
To enter into the Health & Wellness Lions, you must first select the sector/category (direct to consumer, regulated, non-regulated and veterinary) for your piece of work. Then you select the relevant medium.
The categories in Health & Wellness are representative of the sector and the mediums are reflective of the types, and the forms of the work being entered. The mediums very closely follow the specialisms of the Lions, for example, Brand Experience & Activation or Creative Data.
A. Consumer Products Promotion
Work created to drive choice for a specific branded product that does not require prescription but provides either a meaningful health benefit or supports personal wellbeing.
Non-prescription drugs, OTC medicines and tablets, digestive health.
Please choose your Health & Wellness mediums.
Insect repellents, skin remedies (non-cosmetic), corn treatments, wart and verruca treatments, athlete's foot treatments, eye drops, ear drops, heat creams, nail treatments, foot treatments, hand sanitiser, toothpaste, mouthwash, medicated shampoo, hair loss products.
Please choose your Health & Wellness mediums.
Condoms, contact lenses, prescription glasses, dental floss, adhesive plasters, heat pads, first aid kit items, orthotics, back supports, incontinence products, pregnancy tests, fertility testing kits/products, drug-free pain relief, other health and wellness products.
Please choose your Health & Wellness mediums.
Vitamins, minerals, herbal remedies, supplements, functional food, micronutrients, omega-3s, antioxidants, probiotics, effervescent vitamin drinks.
Please choose your Health & Wellness mediums.
Branded communication focusing on digital products, apps, wearables and gadgets that aid a healthy lifestyle. This could include, but not be limited to, fitness, diet, stress and sleep.
Please choose your Health & Wellness mediums.
B. Health Awareness & Advocacy
Work that promotes general health awareness, encourages proactive personal care or inspires advocacy and donations for legitimate health related causes.
Brand-funded communications to promote health awareness and encourage proactive personal care. This could include, but not be limited to, self-examination, anti-smoking, anti-drugs, health and hygiene information, AIDS awareness, alcohol abuse awareness, sexual health awareness, dietary information, cardiovascular care, exercise and wellbeing. This category will also include unbranded disease awareness.
Please choose your Health & Wellness mediums.
Public health awareness messages and nonprofit cause marketing such as self-examination, anti-smoking, anti-drugs, health and hygiene information, AIDS awareness, alcohol abuse awareness, sexual health awareness, dietary information, cardiovascular care, exercise and wellbeing.
Please choose your Health & Wellness mediums.
Customer-oriented health and wellness charity and institutions fundraising, patient advocacy (to the general public), disease and condition advocacy, treatment literature, blood and organ donations, volunteers, etc.
Please choose your Health & Wellness mediums.
C. Health Services & Corporate Communications
Work created to communicate a health brand ethos through public-facing corporate image campaigns or directly promote public health services and facilities, medical insurance and financial plans.
Corporate image work for health and wellness products, companies, producers, clinics, hospitals, retail and facilities.
Please choose your Health & Wellness mediums.
Communications directly promoting consumer facilities, including hospitals, clinics and surgeries, psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, physiotherapists, opticians, optometrists, dental clinics, chiropodists, osteopaths, chiropractors, dermatologists, obstetricians and gynaecologists, cardiologists, paediatricians, plastic surgeons, urologists, endocrinologist, oncologist, nutritionists, dieticians, pharmacies, health shops, gyms and fitness and yoga studios.
Please choose your Health & Wellness mediums.
Medical insurance and financial plans.
Please choose your Health & Wellness mediums.
D. Animal Health
Pets and other animal health products and services for the attention of consumers that show a meaningful health benefit. Includes veterinary clinics and surgeries, fundraising for animal charities and facilities, animal wellbeing.
Please choose your Health & Wellness mediums.
Mediums
The mediums are a type of subcategory found in Health & Wellness Lions and Pharma Lions only and are chosen by the entrant in addition to the category for each submitted piece of work.
Work that communicates a brand message through audio excellence, sonic innovation or superior aural storytelling across the airwaves and digital streams.
Criteria considered during judging will predominantly be the idea, the execution and the impact.
Each execution constitutes one entry.
Creative, comprehensive brand building through the next-level use of experience design, activation, immersive, retail and 360° customer engagement. The work should demonstrate how the customer journey, experience of the brand and optimisation of every touchpoint led to increased brand affinity and commercial success.
A number of criteria will be considered during judging and weighted as follows: 20% idea; 20% strategy; 30% execution; 30% results.
Work enhanced or driven by the creative use, interpretation, analysis or application of data. The creative use of data must sit at the core of the idea, and the results/impact must be clear and robust. A number of criteria will be considered during judging and weighted as follows: 30% strategy; 30% use of data; 20% idea; 20% impact and results.
Work focused on the interactive journey and exceptional form and function within digital healthcare. Work that demonstrates flawless design, expert execution and outstanding user experiences across all digital platforms to drive progress in healthcare.
Criteria considered during judging will predominantly be the execution and experience.
Targeted and response-driven creativity. The work should demonstrate how insights and/or data were used as part of the strategy to engage specific target audience groups and develop customer relationships, inspiring action and producing measurable results.
A number of criteria will be considered during judging and weighted as follows: 30% idea; 20% strategy; 20% execution; 30% impact and results.
Ideas that are unskippable, engaging users through entertainment platforms such as music, sport and gaming, communicating a brand message or connecting with consumers in a new way.
A number of criteria will be considered during judging and weighted as follows: 20% strategy & insight; 30% creative idea; 30% craft & execution; 20% results.
Brands refers to talent, artists, creators, influencers, streamers, athletes, teams, organisations, sponsors, platforms, media owners, rights holders or any entity that produces and distributes products and content related to the entertainment industry.
If you’re submitting a series, please upload all episodes in a single video file with slates denoting the start of the next episode.
Traditional film advertising should be entered into the Film medium.
Creativity of the moving image. The work should demonstrate brilliant brand storytelling intended for a screen. Includes filmed content created for TV, cinema, online and out-of-home experiences. "Criteria considered during judging will predominantly be the idea, the execution and the impact.
Work that’s not in English should be subtitled, so that it can be understood in English, exactly as it was published or aired. Please note that dubbing is not allowed.
Each film execution constitutes one entry.
All forms and styles of animation and visual effects created for film. Criteria considered during judging will predominantly be the idea and the execution.
Work that’s not in English should be subtitled, so that it can be understood in English, exactly as it was published or aired. Please note that dubbing is not allowed.
Each film execution constitutes one entry.
The quality and effect of the cinematography. The style, artistic choices, camerawork, cinematic techniques, shot composition, lighting and other effects will be considered.
Criteria considered during judging will predominantly be the idea and the execution.
Work that’s not in English should be subtitled so that it can be understood in English, exactly as it was published or aired. Please note that dubbing is not allowed.
Each film execution constitutes one entry.
The vision and achievement of the direction, including the translation of the creative brief through a director’s vision and how well that vision has been achieved. This may include but is not limited to the way that casting, set design, sound design and cinematography have been used to bring that vision to life.
Criteria considered during judging will predominantly be the idea and the execution.
Work that’s not in English should be subtitled, so that it can be understood in English, exactly as it was published or aired. Please note that dubbing is not allowed.
Each film execution constitutes one entry.
The aesthetic of the production design/art direction. This includes set design and location builds, as well as the overall look, feel and atmosphere of the piece. The Jury will consider how the narrative has been enhanced by the artful management of the visual components. Criteria considered during judging will predominantly be the idea and the execution.
Work that’s not in English should be subtitled, so that it can be understood in English, exactly as it was published or aired. Please note that dubbing is not allowed.
Each film execution constitutes one entry.
The film’s script, as written. Analysis of the script will include dialogue, voiceovers, scene setting, movement, actions and expressions. The Jury will consider how successfully the script delivers on the creative idea, while also considering the effectiveness in conveying important health-related information.
Criteria considered during judging will predominantly be the idea and the execution.
Work that’s not in English should be subtitled, so that it can be understood in English, exactly as it was published or aired. Please note that dubbing is not allowed.
Each film execution constitutes one entry.
The impact and success of original/licensed music and/or the creative use of sound design within film advertising.
Criteria considered during judging will predominantly be the idea and the execution.
Work that’s not in English should be subtitled, so that it can be understood in English, exactly as it was published or aired. Please note that dubbing is not allowed.
Each film execution constitutes one entry.
Products, devices and service innovations that have helped solve a business or patient issue for a health brand or have been produced/developed in order to meet a brand’s communication needs.
A number of criteria will be considered during judging and weighted as follows: 40% idea; 40% execution, form and function; 20% results.
The overall design, direction and visual execution.
Brand & Communications Design, Packaging Design, Print & Publishing & Outdoor.
Criteria considered during judging will predominantly be the execution.
For Standard Print and Outdoor entries, each execution constitutes one entry. For Packaging & Brand Communication & Design entries, whole campaigns should be entered as one entry.
There’s no overall limit to how many times the same piece of work can be entered into Industry Craft.
How the copywriting brings the creative idea to life.
Brand & Communications Design, Packaging Design, Print & Publishing & Outdoor.
Criteria considered during judging will predominantly be the execution.
For Standard Print and Outdoor entries, each execution constitutes one entry. For Packaging & Brand Communication & Design entries, whole campaigns should be entered as one entry.
There’s no overall limit to how many times the same piece of work can be entered into Industry Craft.
The creative impact of the illustration.
Brand & Communications Design, Packaging Design, Print & Publishing & Outdoor.
Criteria considered during judging will predominantly be the execution.
For Standard Print and Outdoor entries, each execution constitutes one entry. For Packaging & Brand Communication & Design entries, whole campaigns should be entered as one entry.
There’s no overall limit to how many times the same piece of work can be entered into Industry Craft.
Engagement through use of photography and creative expression.
Brand & Communications Design, Packaging Design, Print & Publishing & Outdoor.
Criteria considered during judging will predominantly be the execution.
For Standard Print and Outdoor entries, each execution constitutes one entry. For Packaging & Brand Communication & Design entries, whole campaigns should be entered as one entry.
There’s no overall limit to how many times the same piece of work can be entered into Industry Craft.
Design aesthetics and storytelling conveyed through the use of typography.
Brand & Communications Design, Packaging Design, Print & Publishing & Outdoor.
Criteria considered during judging will predominantly be the execution.
For Standard Print and Outdoor entries, each execution constitutes one entry. For Packaging & Brand Communication & Design entries, whole campaigns should be entered as one entry.
There’s no overall limit to how many times the same piece of work can be entered into Industry Craft.
Work that uses multiple media platforms. The work should demonstrate the integration of chosen elements or channels throughout the campaign and how the different media complemented and built on each other to drive tangible business results and were instrumental to cultural change or integral in the achievement of brand purpose.
Criteria considered during judging will predominantly be the idea, strategy, execution and results.
Device-driven creativity. Entries should demonstrate performance in portable platforms. Includes work where a handheld or wearable environment is central to the idea and experience and enables key aspects of the execution.
Criteria considered during judging include idea, execution, platform relevance, impact and results.
Nonstandard and free-format outdoor advertising that leverages the use of public spaces, objects and environments in an unconventional manner. This could include, but not be limited to, small-scale solutions, special build, installations, live advertising and events.
Criteria considered during judging will predominantly be the idea, the execution and the impact.
Content intended for static and digital billboards, posters, bus stops, in-store posters, point of sale, signage, transit solutions, banners, etc.
Criteria considered during judging will predominantly be the idea, the execution and the impact.
For Standard Outdoor entries, each execution constitutes one entry.
Strategic and creative communication that demonstrates how original thinking, transformative insight and a strategy rooted in earned media have influenced opinion and driven business, societal and/or cultural change. Work with storytelling at its core, which established, protected and enhanced the reputation and business of an organisation or brand.
A number of criteria will be considered during judging and weighted as follows: 20% idea; 30% PR strategy; 20% PR execution; 30% impact and results.
Brochures, booklets, leave behinds, custom sales materials, detail aids, promotional items, brand reminders, calendars, newsletters, annual reports and press releases.
Criteria considered during judging will predominantly be the idea, the execution and the impact.
Content intended for published printed media. This could include, but not be limited to; newspaper, magazines, medical journals and inserts.
Criteria considered during judging will predominantly be the idea, the execution and the impact.
For Standard Print entries, each execution constitutes one entry.
Creative social thinking and strategic influencer marketing specifically created for healthcare solutions to engage with online communities, enhance meaningful relations and deliver measurable results for a brand.
A number of criteria will be considered during judging and weighted as follows: 30% idea; 20% strategy; 20% execution; 30% results.
Use of existing or new technology to execute or support a brand campaign. This could include, but not be limited to, AI, AR and VR, robotics, gadgets and electronics, wearable and interactive technology, etc. Does not include prototypes of early-stage technology.
Criteria considered will predominantly be the idea, execution and results of the technology on the brand, product or service.
Eligibility
Work will need to have been executed during the eligibility period of 8 February 2024 - 10 April 2025.
Is there a limit to how many times I can enter?
The same piece of work may be entered into the Health & Wellness Lions or the Pharma Lions.
There is no overall limit to how many times the same piece of work can be entered into Health & Wellness as long as the categories and mediums chosen are relevant.
VASELINE SUNITIZER | UNILEVER | VML, JAKARTA | BRONZE, HEALTH & WELLNESS LIONS | 2024
Previous Winners
The Last Barf Bag
Cannes Lions 2024 Grand Prix FCB Chicago / Dramamine / 2024
Through a museum, e-commerce platform and documentary, Dramamine created an ode to the humble sick bag it claims to have made redundant. It lifted the anti-nausea brand’s Amazon sales by 26%.
THE LAST BARF BAG | DRAMAMINE | FCB CHICAGO | GRAND PRIX, HEALTH & WELLNESS LIONS | 2024
Why the work won
The Health & Wellness Jury awarded this work the Grand Prix for its use of humour and cultural integration. Jury President Wendy Chan praised it for taking an “unexpected, light-hearted way in” and demonstrating that “a brand of any size can cut through a crowded market”.
THE LAST BARF BAG | DRAMAMINE | FCB CHICAGO | GRAND PRIX, HEALTH & WELLNESS LIONS | 2024
Inside the Jury Room: Health & Wellness Lions
To hear more from the Jury and how they decided on the winning work, check out the video below.
Entries & Judging
What are the judging criteria?
Individual judging criteria is dependent on the medium selected
What do I need to provide with my entry?
To enter, you’ll need to complete an online entry form, which can be found on the Cannes Lions entry site. In the ‘Written Explanation’ section, you’ll be asked to provide the Jury with everything they need to know about your work.
You’ll also be able to submit optional supporting materials to provide additional context with your entry.
All case films, films, demo films and original content must be subtitled in English.
Detailed information outlining the entry process can be found on A Guide to the Cannes Lions Awards.
What if I don’t have all the details right away?
Don’t worry – you can fill in the form in any order and save your progress at any time while it’s still in the pending stage. However, please only check out when your entry is 100% complete as no changes can be made to your entry once you’ve clicked “Submit” and “Checkout”.
The Written Submission
Here’s a preview of the questions you’ll be asked regarding your work.
To start your entry to the Health and Wellness Lions, go to our Awards page.
The Jury will refer to the written explanation you provide throughout the judging process. Our advice is to provide as much relevant detail as possible.
When answering the following questions keep the main element you’re trying to celebrate in mind (e.g. the storytelling, the strategy, the craft, the use of data).
The bullet points under each question are prompts designed to guide your thinking, based on the factors the jury will be considering when reviewing your work. You might not need to use them all, and that’s totally fine. They’re there to help you consider what’s most important in your work.
Questions
The word limit for this section is 100 words.
This question is compulsory.
Please provide any brand and cultural context that would help the jury understand any cultural, national or regional nuances applicable to this work.
You should outline why this piece of work was created for this particular brand, in this market, at this particular moment in time, with all of the cultural and market conditions.
The word limit for this section is 250 words.
This question is compulsory.
Please select the objective(s) that were most important when creating this work – what the work set out to achieve.
For the jury to accurately assess the work, it must first establish its objectives. As you progress through the entry system, you must link your results back to each objective selected.
- Overachieve on brand metrics (e.g. awareness, engagement)
- Change consumer behaviour (e.g. attitudes, frequency, penetration)
- Create short-term sales growth (e.g. sales, promotions, discounts)
- Improve brand health (e.g. consideration, preference)
- Create sustained sales success (e.g. profit, sales)
- Create long-term brand and sales growth (e.g. shareholder value, retention, loyalty)
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is compulsory.
Please provide a summary of your entry.
- Describe the background and context behind the work
- What creative challenges did the work face.
This should be an overview of the work and an analysis of its effectiveness. You should describe how the objectives of the campaign have been successfully met.
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is compulsory.
Please refer back to the objectives selected when answering this question. Consider:
- performance against brand metrics (e.g. awareness, engagement)
- change in consumer behaviour (e.g. attitudes, frequency, penetration)
- indications of short-, medium- or long-term sales success (e.g. shareholder value, profit, revenue, ROI, sales, share)
- brand health improvement (e.g. consideration, preference)
- potential changes in government regulations or societal/economic events (e.g. changes in economic, political, social factors).
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is optional.
Consider the following when describing the creative idea:
- Does the work cross boundaries/have the ability to think beyond conventional boundaries or categories?
- Does the work evoke surprise/have the power to continue captivating attention?
- Does the work transcend the original challenge?
- Does the work incorporate breakthrough thinking?
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is compulsory.
Consider the following when describing the strategy:
- Was the strategy based on consumer behaviour and/or cultural insight?
- Did the insight come from research and data?
- Did creativity play a key role in the interpretation of the business challenge?
- Was this piece of work relevant to the defined target audience?
- Does the work genuinely solve a real problem?
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is compulsory.
Consider the following when describing the execution:
- How effectively was the concept brought to life?
- What specific implementation strategies were employed to ensure success?
- Which channels were utilised for placement, and were they optimal for reaching the target audience?
- How extensive was the scale of the execution in relation to the defined objectives?
- Did the execution adapt to any unexpected challenges or changes in the environment?
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is compulsory.
Please refer back to the objectives selected when answering this question. Consider:
- performance against brand metrics (e.g. awareness, engagement)
- change in consumer behaviour (e.g. attitudes, frequency, penetration, response rate)
- indications of short-, medium- or long-term sales success (e.g. donations, shareholder value, profit, revenue, ROI, sales, share, site traffic)
- brand health improvement (e.g. consideration, preference)
- potential changes in government regulations or societal/economic events (e.g. changes in economic, political, social factors).
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is compulsory.
- Yes
- No
This question is compulsory.
I would like the Jury to see this response when judging this work (tick box)
Please outline how this piece of work has aligned with the brand’s sustainability strategy. This could involve either operational measures to reduce the impact on the environment, and consumer strategies to encourage positive behaviour change, or both.
Please provide details of the benchmarks used for measuring the success of this piece of work’s contribution to the overall strategy. This could include, but is not limited to, targets around advertising business operations - advertising production - media planning and buying.
This question is optional.
I would like the Jury to see this response when judging this work (tick box)
Based on the brief, what consideration was given to representation and diversity of the team(s) involved?
What consideration was given to accessibility in the work and what role did DEI thinking play throughout the development of the work?
This question is optional.
If there are additional results you wish to disclose to the jury but prefer to keep confidential, please enter them below.
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is optional.
STOP BULLYING | STOP-BULLYING.GOV.GR | OGILVY, ATHENS | BRONZE, HEALTH & WELLNESS LIONS | 2024
Contact us
Everything you need to know to enter
For more detailed information on how to use the entry site, craft a compelling submission or submit your work we have a whole range of resources.
From Entry Guides that give you a step-by-step overview of the entire process to the Entry Kits that provide all the detailed rules and requirements for each and every category.
We are here to help
As Awards Experts, we know the Lions inside out. We can help with:
- Sharing the updates to the Awards for 2025
- Offering best-practice advice on how to craft a compelling entry
- Discussing your work and relevant categories
- Scheduling regular catch-ups to answer any questions that arise throughout the entry process.
Whether you have a specific query or would like expert advice, get in touch today.
Email: awards@canneslions.com Helpline: +44 0 20 7046 1155