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celebrating + fostering excellence

Wisconsin's American Advertising Awards

 
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The American Advertising Federation (AAF) American Advertising Awards is one of the industry’s largest creative competitions, attracting nearly 35,000 professional and student entries each year through local club competitions. The mission of the American Advertising Awards is to recognize and reward the creative spirit of excellence in advertising.

 
 

submission details + rules + categories

 
 

Online Submission Deadline

Work is submitted online. The deadline for submitting is in January. No physical submissions are required this season. Judging is virtual. Please disregard the message about physical submissions in the Rules PDFs below.

Submit your work for 2025 beginning in October.

 

Timeline

  • October 15: Call for entries begins

  • January: Deadline for entries

  • January/February: Judging takes place

  • Mid-February: Winners will be notified

  • March: American Advertising Awards Show

Submission Cost

  • Professional Members:
    $75 per single entry; $100 per campaign

  • Professional Non-members:
    $150 per single entry; $200 per campaign

  • Students:
    $40 per entry or campaign

Late fees will apply to any entries that are accepted after the deadline.

 
 
 
 

2024 Winners

2024 work awarded with an ADDY or special award at the American Advertising Awards:

 
 

Judges Choice Awards:

Cece M. Shabazz

Cece is the Marketing and Brand Strategist at Memorial Hospital based in Gulfport MS. LinkedIn

Judges Choice Award:

Chef Bobo Logo and Branding
Altura Creative
Elements of Advertising – Logo Design

Student Judges Choice Award:

Stripes or Solids
Lauren Laatsch
Out Of Home & Ambient Media – Poster – Single

Steven Miller

Steven is the Account Director at Beekeeper Group, based in Washington, DC. LinkedIn

Judges Choice Award:

American Red Cross Brave Hearts
Shift Visuals
Cross Platform – Integrated Brand Identity Campaign

Student Judges Choice Award:

Zoo Lights Poster
Deidre Rubie
Out Of Home & Ambient Media – Poster – Single

Christina Maksoud

Christina is the Co-Founder of MakSchu Productions based in Sarasota, FL. LinkedIn

Judges Choice Award:

Super Future
Backflip
Film, Video, & Sound – Internet Commercial – Single Spot

Student Judges Choice Award:

Branded Place
Riley Olbrantz
Cross-Platform – Integrated Brand Identity Campaign

Best in Show

After judging is complete, the top three scoring entries are reviewed by the judges to choose the Best of Show.

WINNER:

Zephyrfest 2024: "We Are Zephyrs"
Image Studios
Film, Video, & Sound – Branded Content & Entertainment – Non-Broadcast
Created for Miron Construction

 

Student Best in Show

Porcelain Thrones Campaign
Deidre Rubie
Cross-Platform – Consumer Campaign

Mosaic Award

Mosaic Awards are given to one (or more) entries, that exemplifies a spirit of diversity and inclusion. The Mosaic Award should demonstrate understanding and sensitivity of targeted multicultural audiences.

WINNER:

WIHEDC - AICCW
Backflip
Film, Video, & Sound — Branded Content & Entertainment For Online Film, Video & Sound
Created for WIHEDC

WINNER:

Potawatomi Hunting Moon Pow Wow
Jackson & Co.
Elements of Advertising — Still Photography
Created for Daily Planet

Backflip entry:

Jackson & Co entry:

Jim Rivett Award of Excellence

Entries considered to receive this award are work done pro-bono receiving a high score in the 80-100 range.

The Jim Rivett Award of Excellence honors an entry based on creativity, community and impact. Jim Rivett believed social change could be driven by design. His professional career in advertising reflected this belief and included leadership positions at the Goltz Agency, Arketype, and president and creative director of his own agency, KHROME. Peers throughout the industry, particularly the AAF, consistently recognized Jim’s creativity, vision, originality, and leadership.

WINNER:

BLACK Brand Identity
Vendi
Elements of Advertising — Logo Design
Created for Black Leaders Acquiring Collective Knowledge

Advertising/Media Industry Self Promotion

SILVER:

GOLD:

Cross Platform

SILVER:

GOLD:

  • American Red Cross Brave Hearts - Shift Visuals

  • Empowering Voices at EdSpaces - KI

  • Oshkosh Defense Brand Refresh - Quill Creative

  • Oshkosh Public Library Rebrand - Quill Creative

  • Porcelain Thrones Campaign - Deidre Rubie

Elements of Advertising

SILVER:

GOLD:

Film, Video + Sound

SILVER:

GOLD:

Online/Interactive

SILVER:

GOLD:

Out of Home & Ambient Media

SILVER:

  • KI Wall Showroom - KI

  • Zoo Lights Poster - Deidre Rubie

Public Service

SILVER:

Sales + Marketing

SILVER:

Corporate Social Responsibility

SILVER:

 

A look at the American Advertising Awards

A look at the American Advertising Awards

frequently asked questions

 

+ What are the American Advertising Awards?

The American Advertising Awards (AAA) are the largest and most representative advertising competition. Each year it attracts more than 40,000 entries in local American Advertisign Federatation (AAF) competitions, including AAF Fox River.

The competition includes both professional and student work, recognizing and rewarding creative excellence in the art of advertising.

+ What awards can you win?

Awards given out include Gold ADDYs, Silver ADDYs, Judge's Choice, Best of Show, Mosaic Award, and the Jim Rivett Award of Excellence. A Gold ADDY is recognition of the highest level of creative excellence and is judged to be superior to all other entries in the category. Entries that are also considered outstanding and worthy of recognition receive a Silver ADDY.

+ How many awards are given out?

The number of awards given each year is determined by the judges and the AAF Fox River board. A percentage of the highest scoring entries receive Gold and Silver ADDYs. Each judge, usually 3 in our local competition, selects an entry to receive their Judge's Choice Award. The judges collectively choose one entry for Best of Show and the Board determines the entry best suited for the Jim Rivett Award of Excellence and the Mosaic Award.

+ What happens after the local competition?

The Gold winners are automatically forwarded on to the District 8 level competition. Silver winners may choose to pay a forward fee to send their entry to the next level. District Gold winners are then forwarded on to compete at the National level.

+ What do the American Advertising Awards support?

Entering the American Advertising Awards competition supports our entire industry. The AAF and its local and district affiliates use the proceeds to enhance advertising through programs such as public service, internships, advocacy groups, advertising education, and consumer awareness.

+ What are the Student American Advertising Awards?

The American Advertising Awards has a student division of the competition that runs alongside the professional competition to recognize excellence at the student level. To see student eligibility requirements, please see page 2 of the AAA Student Division Rules and Categories.

+ What do national student winners receive?

National winning entries may receive the following:

  • Finalist certificate—great for resumés and portfolios
  • Prestigious Student American Advertising Award for all National Gold and Silver ADDY Award winners
  • $1,000 cash prize for national Best of Show winner
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