Goodbye ADDY Awards, Hello American Advertising Awards!

New name, same bragging rights.

Our beloved Seattle ADDY Awards are now the American Advertising Awards Seattle. Not to worry—even though there’s a new name, it’s still the premier advertising competition that recognizes the industry’s top creatives. And the awards are still affectionately called “ADDYs,” so there’s no mistaking what you’ll be taking home.

The powers that be at the National ADDY Committee, including the national ADDY chair, our own hometown bigwig, George Riddell, decided to upgrade the profile of the event, and a name change went along with that. Read more about the name change.

Seattle's own Hydrogen provided this year's campaign, which spawned four posters to be used in print and online:

We've been busy planning since October and we're already looking for sponsors. As usual, we're aiming to hold the event in March. Judges should be announced by January. Our Silver Medal Award winner will be chosen by February. Oh, and call for entries is now - deadline January 10th, 2014!

It's shaping up to be our best awards ever.

More info can be found on our awards page.

Update

on 2013-12-04 03:32

Nominate an Advertising Inspiration

The AAF Silver Medal Award is awarded annually to a member of Seattle’s advertising community—a creator, a mentor, a teacher, a leader—whose career grew bigger than the work. Who’s had an impact on the community which far surpasses their job? Who’s pushed the industry standards and set new bars for excellence? Who’s the type of person we should all aspire to be? That’s who we want. 

Simply submit your nomination to addys@aafseattle.com. More details here.

Art Bash 2013: Creativity in Black & White

Art Bash is always a crowdpleaser. Heck, public vote even semi-crowdsourced this year's theme. The people chose Creativity in Black & White to inspire the agencies, and they did not disappoint!

We received over 20 pieces of art, providing entertainment, competition, and photo opps, and raising nearly $2000 for our scholarship fund in the process.

Guests enjoyed Pom Pom signature cocktails from sponsors Hall & Partners, a festive spread from Herban Feast, and beats by DJ Zapan, appearing in virtual form.

We've been trying a new photo-sharing tool called Everlapse, and got just enough submissions to be worth posting the results:

If you have your own pics to share, add them to our event flipbook. See our event album on Facebook and #ArtBashAAF on Tagboard.

After Hours: Seattle Wunderman Network

We do a lot of serious, smarty-pants kind of events. Witness last month's Content Is Your Brand Speaker Series panel discussion. Great stuff for sure.

But AAF Seattle is not all work, nor are we dull boys or girls. Witness last night's After Hours at the Seattle Wunderman Network. Libations. Networking Schmoozing. Bonding. That's all. This spins our wheels.

And has anybody noticed SWN's recent high visibility? Seems like great things going on over there with their Fantastic Action Contraption and all…

Tag yourself in our Facebook album, add your own pics to our Everlapse flipbook, and check #AAFterHours on Tagboard.

Speaker Series: Content Is Your Brand

Digital Kitchen CEO Bill Fritsch addresses the panel

Last night we assembled a panel of local content experts at Makerhaus in Fremont for a discussion about a topic that's on the tips of everyone's tongues and fingers: content. Digital Kitchen CEO Bill Fritsch served as moderator, with Kelby Johnson of Seattle Wunderman Network, Brian Saftler of Internet Explorer, Andrew Grinaker of POSSIBLE, and Lisa Phelps Dawes of Loop providing the wisdom, keeping a full house of attendees engaged and enthused. We're not kidding—the conversation probably could have gone on all night.

We hope to post a Storify entry going into a little more detail about the content of the event. Until then, check out some of the pics from the event on Facebook. Panelist bios on Lanyrd. #AAFContent social stream on Tagboard.

Thanks to sponsors Sparkle Donkey tequila, Postmates, MakerHaus, Local Craft Tours, and Print NW.

Kicking Off the Year Right

Our board year is from July through June. Who knows why for sure but we think it may have had something to do with tricking miners back when the club was founded in 1909, and it's been that way ever since. So yeah, we're a little quirky, but that's part of our charm.

So what better way to start our new year than with a free party on July 25th for 165 of our closest friends to serve as a meet and greet for the board members, committee members and volunteers, all sponsored by corporate members and social advertising wunderkinds Admosis Media?

Another sold-out event had partygoers mingling at Makers Space in Belltown and enjoying savory Bloody Marys from sponsors Bakon Vodka and Local Craft Tours. Callie's Coffee kept others alert and even graciously donated a gift basket for a drawing. We also got a little nuts and sold memberships at unheard-of discounts.

We always love seeing all the new faces and old friends. Thanks for coming out!
You can see all the pics from the event on Flickr or Facebook.

After Hours

On April 18th we're hosting After Hours: Copacino+Fujikado, and it's coming at just the right time. For one thing, it's their 15th anniversary, and that's a lot to crow about for them. So they may have more than a few fun things cooked up. But for us, we're coming off ADDY season and a blistering pace of four major events in less than two months.

After Hours is an informal social mixer hosted by an agency member. No program, no speakers, just drinks, noms, and a random mix of creative types. It's a great way to get to know your industry peers with a bit more time than you get before one of our bigger programs. Plus it's just $5 (free for AAF Seattle members) with food+drinks (Redhook's new Audible Ale and 14 Hands wines) included.

So what's with the weird pics? Copacino+Fujikado—Italian+Japanese—is a surprising combination. We're featuring other surprising combinations on our Pinterest board. Tag your own surprising combinations with #AAFfterHours to join in.

Update

on 2013-04-21 02:06 by administrator

What a night! At almost 50% larger than our last 50% larger After Hours event, we can't appreciate our community's interest enough. We very much hope everyone enjoyed themselves.

You can see pics from the event using #AAFterHours on Twitter and Instagram, or see our tiny album on Facebook. We'd love to see any pics you may care to share on our wall.

If you attended the event, we'd love your feedback to make the next After Hours even better. It's your chance to tell us what you thought of our second try at this concept. Click here to take our short and easy survey.

2013 Seattle ADDY Awards: Wrap-Up

What an amazing evening! The culmination of five months of planning, tons of entries from agencies old and new in categories old and new, a long weekend of very tough judging, and lots of legwork by committee members and volunteers.

Bell Harbor International Conference Center was packed with Seattle's creative elite (due to massive demand this year's event was over 60% larger than 2012). Booze flowed freely. The crowd were enthusiastic. Mayor Mike McGinn presented the vaunted AAF Silver Medal Award to Bob Peterson after a great intro from Creature's Matt Peterson and Wexley School for Girls's Cal McAllister. Even Sir Mix-a-Lot got in on the action.

Bling

A special shout-out to these outstanding winners:

Judge’s Choice Award: Digital Kitchen - Stanley Piano - self-promotion.

Best-of-Show – Non-Traditional Advertising: Copacino+Fujikado - Edwin The Otter e-Book - Seattle Aquarium.

Best-of-Show – Digital/Interactive Advertising: Cole & Weber United - Group Play Facebook App - Washington’s Lottery.

Best-of-Show – Integrated Campaign: Wexley School for Girls - Restore The R - Rainier.

All silver and gold ADDY winners advanced to district ADDY judging in Portland with those winners to advance to nationals in Phoenix. We'll be announcing the district winners next week, so stay tuned.

ADDY-quake!

#SeattleADDYs trended all night! Catch up on all the social posts from event attendees at our Storify.

THANK YOU

Thanks for entering, attending, volunteering, planning and sponsoring. We hope you had a great night! We'd love to hear what you thought in our short survey.

Update

on 2013-04-23 20:19

Thanks for the support in answering our survey - most responses we've ever received!

We now have updated 2013 Winners Books available for download in PDF form. Enjoy the ADDYs on your iPad!

The District XI winners have been announced. There are too many to list so we've posted a PDF list here, but we're so proud of so many Seattle area winners advancing on to nationals in Phoenix in June. We'll be there cheering you on!

Women in Creativity: Follow-Up

Panelists Kerry Antezana, Mary Knight, Mary Olson, Laurie Fritts, and MC Hilllary Miller

We had an amazing night Wednesday with a packed house that came not just to hear our panel but to engage with them and with each other.

An event like this generates a lot of interest in the topic, the panelists and the attendees, as well as some great social activity that used our #AAFWomen hashtag. We've assembled all kinds of relevant and hopefully interesting information into our Storify entry.

If you attended, we'd love your feedback in our short survey.

Speaker Series: Women in Creativity

6:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 27th at Hotel 1000.

Women are a huge part of the workforce in the creative services industry yet recent reports indicate that for all their effort and accomplishments women are dramatically underrepresented in power positions, making up just 3-4% of agency creative leaders.

We've assembled some of Seattle's successful creative women who have been there and done that to tell us about their hiccups and accomplishments as they have navigated their careers in the industry.

Join us for an honest discussion about topics including:

• Why is it important that women have better representation in the creative departments of advertising agencies?
• What keeps women from getting into the creative side? Does the perception of a men's club mentality keep them out?
• Do you have to be a bitch?
• Is motherhood a career killer?
• Are we in this together?
• Women can't do this alone. How can men help?

Panelists:

Mary Knight - Executive Creative Director, Hydrogen

Kerry Antezana - Creative Director/Copywriter, Freelance

Mary Olson - Brand Director, Seattle University

Laurie Fritts - Creative Director/Copywriter, Freelance

MC:

Hillary Miller - VP, Global Strategic Services Director, Wunderman

Speaker list for AAF Seattle Speaker Series: Women in Creativity on Lanyrd

Prizes!

We'll also be holding a raffle for great prizes from our sponsors, including an acupuncture session from Blissful Healing Arts, a full hair treatment from Savoir Faire, and a dozen custom thank you notes from Farewell Paperie.

Agenda:

6:00-6:30 - Cocktail hour

6:30-7:45 - Host-led panel discussion

8:00-9:00 - Networking and socializing

Cost:

$10 - AAF Seattle Members

$20 - Non-members

$30 - Door

Light food is included in the ticket price. Cash bar available.

Links:

RSVP on Facebook

See related links, videos, tweets and panelist info on Storify

Tweet and Instagram with #AAFWomen to be included in the Storify and social stream

Let your social contacts know your plans to attend on Plancast

Get event info and track panelists, the MC and us with Lanyrd

Sponsors:

Farewell Paperie, Savoir Faire, Tacoma Rainiers, and Blissful Healing Arts.

Chalk Talk: Super Bowl Ad Replay 2013

AAF Seattle and PSAMA co-host our annual Chalk Talk Super Bowl Ad Replay at 5:30 p.m.,  February 7th, at 415 Westlake.

Chalk Talk is your chance to hear a panel of ad industry pros praise and tear down what we all saw during time outs in the big game, discussing new trends and questioning strategies in an interactive discussion including the audience.

New This Year

Even more pre-panel fun. We're bringing the tailgate experience indoors, with games and activities straight from the parking lot!

New Audible Ale

We'll be pouring Redhook Ale Brewery's brand new Audible Ale all night - included in the ticket price! Be among the first in the nation to enjoy the beer brewed in cooperation with The Dan Patrick Show.

Win a GoPro Camera

Hand Crank Films will be giving away a GoPro HD camera to a lucky winner.

Panel:

Frank Clark, Creative Director - Square Tomato

Paul Huggett, Design Director - Tether

Mike Hayward, Creative Director - Copacino+Fujikado

Chris Elliott, Executive Creative Director - Wunderman

Jeff Hasen, CMO - Hipcricket

MC:

Chris Copacino - Copacino+Fujikado

Sponsors:

Hand Crank Films, The Seattle Times, Redhook Ale Brewery, and Shake Bartenders.

To get our event and Super Bowl ad-related news, Like the Chalk Talk Facebook Page and follow us on Twitter.

Update

on 2013-02-15 16:47

If you attended Chalk Talk, please let us know what you thought by filling out this survey.

Speaker Series: Untangling Social Media Analytics

We've got a huge event planned for Wednesday, January 23rd, at leading local social media agency Banyan Branch.

Come for a discussion about making sense of and opportunities from all that social data you've got piling up. Whether you're a seasoned analytics vet or you're struggling to make sense of it all, there will be plenty of gems to take home and execute.

Panelists include data experts from analytic tool providers Sysomos, Radian6 Marketing Cloud, Traackr, and Simply Measured, all moderated by Banyan CEO Dave Hanley.

Light apps, beer and wine will be provided by catering sponsors Metropolitan Market Catering and Shake Bartenders.

More info and tickets: http://j.mp/AAFAnalytics

Update on 2013-01-25 00:44

Thanks to everyone for their participation in pulling off a great evening! Please help us improve our events by filling out our super short survey (only two required questions) on our Facebook page. (Use this link if you're on a mobile device).