- ProjectEvent & Contest
- ClientThe Illume
- Web the-illume.com
Picture this
The Illume
The Illume marks a new chapter in adventure and action sports photography.
Built on the legacy of Red Bull Illume, the world’s most recognized photography contest of its kind, this next phase places a renewed focus on human-powered sports and the photographers who dedicate themselves to capturing them.
It also reflects something deeper. A growing awareness that the places we capture are the same places we’re responsible for protecting, and an intention to inspire that responsibility through the photos themselves.
Developed and brought to life by zooom, The Illume carries this legacy into its next chapter.
The Vision
The Illume places human-powered sports at its core. A continued focus on the athletes, environments, and moments shaped by effort rather than engines, and on the photographers who go further, wait longer, and return again and again to capture something real.
This next chapter expands its perspective through collaboration, with zooom guiding the development of partnerships that connect the platform more closely to the environments it represents.
Together with eight NGO partners, Access Fund, Leave No Trace, Protect Our Winters, Skateistan, Surfrider Foundation, Trash Free Trails, Wings for Life, and World Bicycle Relief, The Illume strengthens its connection to the environments these photos depend on, bringing greater visibility to their protection and inspiring a deeper sense of responsibility through the work itself.
Supported by industry partners including Angelbird, Yodobashi, Leica, Scarpa and Cooph the platform continues to connect photography, sport, and culture on a global scale.
Awards 2026
The Illume Awards 2026 are structured around a two-step submission and judging process, managed by zooom from A-Z.
Each photo is first entered into one of eight sports categories, then paired with a theme category. This ensures that both the sport’s context and the photo’s creative direction are considered throughout the judging process. A panel of 40 sports judges, five experts per category, will select 20 finalists in each sport, resulting in 160 finalists overall. From these finalists, one winner will be selected in each of the eight sports categories.
In a second stage, the sports judges are joined by 20 additional experts from the photography and media industries. Together, a total of 60 industry experts will determine the theme category winners and the overall winner. Winners will be announced at the official award ceremonies in the fall and winter of 2026.
Prizes include the trophy and premium products from partners such as Leica camera equipment and high-performance storage solutions from Angelbird. Additional prizes from Yodobashi will be announced.
A visual identity shaped by light
Zooom developed a design system that gives the brand a distinct presence across every touchpoint.
At its center is a new logo, designed to feel both precise and open. Alongside it, a system of gradients and brand colours moves across the identity, inspired by the spectrum of light, the most essential element in photography. These colours reflect the environments, conditions, and fleeting moments in which photos are captured.
Across digital and social, the design balances clarity with energy. The result is a visual language that supports the work without overpowering it, allowing the photography to remain the focal point.
A full-service platform
Alongside the new identity, we built the digital experience from the ground up.
The new website and submission backend allow photographers to enter their work seamlessly, while giving judges a dedicated system to review and evaluate photos across categories. Support the process and let the work speak for itself.
What comes next
The Illume Awards will be brought to life through several Winner Announcements and one Winner Awards Ceremony.
In parallel, a traveling exhibition will take the finalist and winning photos around the world. We are currently open to partners interested in hosting award ceremonies or exhibition tour stops. If you’re interested in being part of this next chapter, we’d love to hear from you.
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We’re full of ideas and ready for any challenge; no matter how big or small. Jump onboard and together we’ll make great things happen.
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