The best in Chattanooga advertising were recognized during the 46th annual American Advertising Awards, presented by American Advertising Federation of Chattanooga (AAF Chattanooga).
The award ceremony took place on Feb. 8, at the Chattanooga Theatre Centre. “The event was well attended with almost 200 professionals and students,” said Casey Knox, AAF Chattanooga president. Individuals of the local advertising and media community came out to celebrate the best of print, web, outdoor, and non-traditional advertising creativity.
Of the near record-breaking 459 entries, 43 gold ADDY awards and 62 silver ADDYs were presented. A wide range of local advertising agencies, in-house marketing departments, and freelancers participated. Entries were judged based on creativity, originality, and creative strategy. A panel of three judges from across the nation reviewed and scored the work.
The top award of the evening, Best of Show, went to local agency, The Johnson Group for their newspaper print campaign for River Rocks Adventure Sports Games. The campaign consisted of four ads, “H2O,” “All Rock,” “Real Mother,” and “Gravity.”
The Best of Show Student Entry was awarded to Suzanne Ocsai of Southern Adventist University for her entry, Beards with Stories Logo in the category of Visual – Logo Design. The top student entry is awarded a $1,000 scholarship by AAF Chattanooga to encourage creative excellence at the student level.
“The theme, “The Union of Substance and Sass,” paid homage to fact that standout advertising combines key elements of design and with edginess in order for the piece to be memorable,” said Fallon Skinner, event co-chair.
Josh Weber and Chase Long, radio personalities from Cat Country 95.3 were the emcees. Events With Taste catered the event and the bluegrass band, Slim Pickins, provided entertainment.
The American Advertising Awards is a three-tiered advertising creative competition with the advertising industry’s largest and most representative competition for creative excellence. Entry in the local Ad Club competition is the first step toward winning a national ADDY. 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.