Some of Arizona’s finest advertising efforts will be honored Thursday night in a gala at the Phoenix Art Museum, a chance to celebrate the growth and evolution of creative work coming out of the state.

The AAF Phoenix Ad Club has served as an advocate for the local creative industry for more than 80 years. The club lauds 2018 as a banner year in its long history with a record-breaking 615 professional entries submitted to the 2018 American Advertising Awards (ADDYs). The entries, from 63 different entrants, are a 21 percent increase compared with 2017, and a positive indicator of the advertising industry’s health in the region.

Results will not be announced until Thursday night, but the club said there are a record number of Gold ADDY recipients this year, all of which will be moving on to regional and possibly national competition. 

“The Phoenix area has long been a hub for creative marketing on behalf of local, national and international brands,” said Amy Packard Berry, AAF Phoenix Ad Club President. “This year’s record-breaking numbers show that the Valley’s advertising industry is healthier than ever, and through collaborations with business, our creative talent in digital and traditional advertising is achieving even greater heights.”

Student ADDY numbers also broke records this year, with 25 entries from around the Valley, a 16 percent jump from 2017 submissions. 

Results of the judging will be announced during the March 8 ADDY Awards celebration at the Phoenix Art Museum. The sold-out gala will feature entertainment provided by Alice Cooper’s School Rock and an art auction benefiting Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona. For more information and tickets for the event, go to https://phxadclub.com/2018-addy-awards/.

Three out-of-state creatives comprised the judging panel: Mike Heidl, creative director for Westphal; Deb Vurpillat, VP, director of strategy for Leo Burnett; and Steve Bassett, SVP, group creative director for the Martin Agency.   

The list of 2018 entrants, which span agencies, brands, non-profits, educational institutions and more, includes: 

  • AIGA Arizona
  • Anderson Advertising and Public Relations
  • ASU Engineering
  • ASU Enterprise Marketing Hub
  • ASU Ira Fulton Schools of Engineering
  • Awe Collective
  • Arizona Advertising Guild
  • Beautiful Science
  • Big U Music Sound Design
  • BIG YAM, The Parsons Agency
  • Bigfish Creative Group
  • Blind Society
  • Bob Case Illustration
  • Bradshaw
  • Clear Channel Outdoor
  • Clydesdale Manhattan
  • Clyint
  • Commit Agency
  • Copper Post
  • COX
  • DigitalWire360
  • FabCom
  • Fingerpaint
  • Fisher
  • Grand Canyon University
  • HAPI
  • Ideas Collide
  • Integrated Web Strategy
  • Knoodle
  • LaneTerralever
  • Lavidge
  • Lucid Agency
  • Manley Films & Media
  • Moses Inc.
  • Mya Kai Creative
  • OH Partners
  • Off Madison Ave
  • On Advertising
  • Prisma
  • ps:Studios
  • PXYL, Inc
  • Quantum Leap Productions, Inc.
  • R&R Partners
  • Randy Murray Productions
  • Relentless, Inc.
  • ReThinc Advertising
  • Riester
  • Santy Integrated
  • Serendipit Consulting
  • Skyhook Interactive
  • Sneaky Big Studios
  • Spectrum Reach
  • Splinter Creative
  • Stoke Interactive
  • The James Agency
  • Think Tank Media & Marketing
  • TMHK, LLC
  • True Story Films
  • VIZTEK Studios
  • Von Design Company
  • Website Design Plus
  • Yeager Marketing
  • Zion & Zion

For more information about the AAF Phoenix Ad Club, including a list of last year’s local ADDY winners, visit www.phxadclub.com.