Troy University students won 28 awards at the American Advertising Federation (ADDY) student competition this year.
In December 2021, TROY’s graphic design professors reviewed the “best of the best” of student work from the previous year. TROY is affiliated with the ADDY chapters in Dothan and Montgomery, and the department’s professors entered the students in competitions in both chapters.
“This year, we, the art and design faculty, were ecstatic to have over 150 entries come in from students to be considered for the competition in a multitude of media including illustration, photography, web design, graphic design, video and motion graphics,” said Chris Stagl, Associate Professor of Design.
The majority of submitted works were projects students created in TROY’s classrooms.
“Students can submit any work that they want, but the majority of work submitted is a class project,” Stagl said. “The work that we put into the competition really did represent the very best of the TROY graphic design program and beyond, including student work from computer science major Jacob Messick who took home two silver awards for projects he created in our motion graphics class. We’re very happy to see, and encourage, more non-majors to take art and design classes to expand their creativity.”
Messick said he was genuinely surprised to have won the awards—since design is unrelated to his major—and encourages other students to broaden their horizons.
“I told everyone it’s so crazy because it’s not my major and it was a free elective I randomly took. Design does not have to be exclusive to Arts majors; it can be incorporated into almost everything we do, and if not, it encourages creative thinking and inspires in unexpected ways,” he said. “I took a design class because I had credits to fill, but I’ve gained so much from it and I’d encourage anyone that can and has it in their hearts to take a class. I couldn’t be prouder to have taken motion graphics and accomplish what I have with it, to be a Trojan and to have done it all at Troy!”
Travis Carlson also racked up multiple awards for the Trojans, including Student Designer of the Year, Best in Show, Judges Choice, four Gold awards and one Silver award.
“I’m honored to have received so many ADDY awards for Troy University,” he said. “It’s a great feeling to see hard work pay off and be celebrated. I’m also thankful for the help and support I received from the TROY Design Department.
“On behalf of the art and design faculty, we couldn’t be more proud of all of our students and their incredible accomplishments at this year’s competition,” Stagl said.
The winners are listed as follows:
Montgomery AAF Chapter
Student Designer of the Year
“Unplug” by Travis Carlson
Best in Show
“Unplug” by Travis Carlson
Judges Choice
Campaign Awareness Campaign by John Carbone
Logo Unplug by Travis Carlson
Gold ADDY winners
Illustration – Campaign Unplug by Travis Carlson
Campaign Unplug by Travis Carlson
Integrated Brand Identity Campaign – Campaign Unplug by Travis Carlson
Logo Design Unplug by Travis Carlson
Campaign Awareness Campaign by John Carbone
Special Event Materials (invitations, announcements, cards, etc.) Spring 2021 Thesis by Dior Brown
Silver ADDY winners
Campaign Phenix City Campaign by Design Studio Students
Illustration – Campaign Phenix City Campaign by Design Studio Students
Single Crealynol by McKenzie Daniels & Jacob Messick
Campaign GreenEarth by McKenzie Dailey
Campaign GreenEarth by McKenzie Dailey
Campaign National Park Awareness by Madison Hollabaugh
Book Design Self Promo Photo Book by Kaylee Weatherford
Animation or Special Effects Dog Days Are Over by Jacob Messick
Animation or Special Effects Family Portrait by Destiny Eady
Campaign Unplug by Travis Carlson
Dothan AAF Chapter
Best in Show
US Poster Design – Out of Home & Ambient Media – Poster by Zhane Mckee
Gold ADDY winners
Teapot – Elements of Advertising – Illustration by Marley Davis
OF Brand – Cross Platform – Integrated Brand Identity by Campaign McKenzie Daniels
US Poster Design – Out of Home & Ambient Media Poster by Zhane Mckee
Judges Choice
The Moon – Official Kinetic Video – Elements of Advertising – Animation or Special Effects by Cole Patterson
OF Brand – Cross Platform – Integrated Brand Identity Campaign by McKenzie Daniels
Teapot – Elements of Advertising – Illustration by Marley Davis
Silver ADDY winners
The Moon – Official Kinetic Video – Elements of Advertising – Animation or Special Effects by Cole Patterson