Instagram Launches 'Rings' Awards Celebrating Creators' Originality and Courage
Instagram has launched 'Rings', a new global awards program that celebrates creators who shape culture through originality and risk-taking. The first 25 winners, selected by an international jury, will receive a custom gold ring designed by Grace Wales Bonner and a digital golden ring around their profile picture. They will also enjoy creative freedom with customizable profile design and like button.
The judging panel, led by Instagram's head Adam Mosseri, includes industry heavyweights like Spike Lee, Marc Jacobs, Marques Brownlee, Pat McGrath, and Yara Shahidi. Among the first winners are creators such as Dolly Singh, Zarna Garg, Aki and Koichi, Olivia Dean, and Cole Bennett. These winners will not only receive symbolic prestige but also the opportunity to customize their profile backdrop and redesign the Like button on their posts.
Instagram aims to spotlight creators who bring people together over creativity and aren't afraid to take creative chances. The launch of Rings marks a shift from financial payouts to symbolic prestige, celebrating creative courage instead of engagement metrics. The initiative is a move from monetary compensation to symbolic recognition, investing in visibility and long-term status within the platform's creative ecosystem.
The Rings award has no monetary component, with value lying in visibility, status, and long-term recognition. The first 25 winners, chosen by a panel of global judges, will receive both physical and digital awards. Instagram's new program is a testament to its commitment to fostering a creative community that values originality and risk-taking.
