The 2025 American Advertising Awards, sponsored by the American Advertising Federation (AAF), celebrated the most exceptional creative achievements in the industry at its national Gala Ceremony held during the annual ADMERICA conference in Pittsburgh, PA. Hosted by Emmy-nominated television personality Nina Parker, the event honored both professional and student creatives for their outstanding advertising work.
Highlights from the 2025 ADDYs
1. Best of Show Winners
- Professional Category:
- “The Other Hand” campaign for Cheetos by Goodby Silverstein & Partners.
- Campaign insight: “99% of people eat Cheetos with their dominant hand. Using your other hand? It’s a Cheetos thing.”
- Noteworthy: Second Best of Show win for Cheetos by this agency in three years.
- “The Other Hand” campaign for Cheetos by Goodby Silverstein & Partners.
- Student Category:
- “Ink Up, Wash Out” campaign for Crayola by BYU AdLab.
2. Industry Scope and Prestige
- The American Advertising Awards is the largest advertising competition in the U.S., following a three-tier format: local, regional, and national.
- Only 51 Gold ADDYs were awarded in the professional category at the national level.
3. Quotes from Industry Leadership
- Chris Beresford-Hill, Worldwide Chief Creative Officer at BBDO and first-ever Competition Chair: “It’s exciting to measure our work against the industry’s top talents and learn from what others are doing… Celebrating these achievements highlights our creativity and reinforces advertising’s business impact.”
4. Special Judges Awards
Recognizing campaigns that demonstrated innovation and creativity:
- Rise and Shine & Partners – “Supercuts Real Dumb Coupon” for Regis Corporation
- Goodby Silverstein & Partners – “Ask Dali” for The Dali Museum
- BBDO Worldwide – “Tail Orchestra” for Pedigree
5. Mosaic ADDYs: Celebrating Diversity & Inclusion
Awards for campaigns that exemplified inclusive creative work:
- Whiskey Design – “Artisan Remix Can Series” for Vine Street Brewing
- Cannonball – “Superhero Project” for Superhero Project
- Harris Media Company – “When We Got the Call” for LifeCenter Organ Donor Network
The 2025 American Advertising Awards spotlighted the best of the creative industry, from compelling campaigns to innovative student work. With winners like Cheetos, Crayola, and Pedigree, the event demonstrated the evolving excellence and diversity in advertising. As Chris Beresford-Hill aptly concluded, “You’ve set the bar high for all of us!” To explore all the award-winning campaigns, visit: americanadvertisingawards.com/winners
