The Cresta Awards were launched in 1993 by Creative Standards International, in partnership with the International Advertising Association.

The Cresta Awards are steadily gaining recognition among industry creative gurus worldwide as a truly tough and prestigious awards program. To win a Cresta means you’re hot, because Cresta stands on its promise of adhering to the highest standards of creative excellence and it delivers the reputation and value that top-level creatives seek. Cresta’s name is becoming synonymous with "achievement" among the worldwide marketing communications industry.

Cresta stands for Creative Standards. As this name suggests, the aim of the awards is to honor an absolute standard for creative excellence in advertising and marketing communications. Work will be evaluated within categories, but Cresta will not operate on the basis of "category winners." More than one Cresta winner may be announced in those categories where standards are high, or none at all if the judges consider that the standard is not achieved.