This years American Advertising Awards, formerly known as the ADDYs, presented multiple awards to three of the Innovation Center’s graphic designers: Alyssa Garza, Thi Nguyen and Tina Lentz.
“In the end, I didn’t just win an award,” stated Garza. “I gained new knowledge in techniques, and problem solving skills that helped me become a better designer.”
Garza is currently an undergraduate of art, with an emphasis in graphic design, and has won ADDY awards in the past, including the Rising Star award during the ADDYs 2014 show.
The American Advertising Awards attracts new and old talent alike, and is a good way to gauge ones skills against others in the industry.
According to the American Advertising Awards website, “The [ADDYs] is the advertising industry’s largest and most representative competition, attracting over 40,000 entries every year in local AAF Club (Ad Club) competitions.”
Nguyen, another art major with an emphasis in graphic design, said, “Receiving ADDYs this year is much more than I expected. It’s a reminder to keep doing what I love, to stay motivated, keep learning and become a better graphic designer.”
The theme for the American Advertising Awards was the red carpet, and professional designers from the region attended and hosted the event. The work from students were showcased right alongside the professionals, and during the award ceremony three student graphic designers from the Innovation Center won 11 awards: one bronze, three silver, five gold and two special judge awards.
“Winning awards at the ADDYs really boosted my confidence,” said Lentz, an English major with a minor in art. “It wasn’t till they called my name that I felt like I could really do design. It was amazing.”
The American Advertising Awards have three tiers: local, regional and national—with gold winners automatically advancing to the regional level.
“At the second tier, local ADDY winners compete against winners from other local clubs in one of 15 district competitions. District ADDY winners are then forwarded to the third tier, the national stage of the American Advertising Awards,” stated that same website.