Building on a solid historical foundation, the Art Directors Club’s new president, Brian Collins, announced his plans for a renewal of the 105-year-old organization.
In his opening statement of the ADC Annual Awards, he said:
“… It is no small thing to gather for the 105th time. In a world that often discards the past in search of the next thing, this kind of continuity comes close to approaching rebellion.
“But tonight is about more than awards. It’s about acknowledging the history we’re part of—and what comes with that inheritance.
“In 1920, the kind of work we will celebrate here tonight was not taken seriously. If you were writing copy, illustrating, designing—you were practicing what was then called the applied arts. It meant that your creativity served a purpose. It worked—pragmatically—in the world. And because of that, it was often seen as something lesser than the fine arts.
“But a man named Earnest Elmo Calkins, and others like him in New York’s early advertising and design community, understood something different. They believed that creativity in service of communication—creativity with function—deserved its own place. They believed that craft, beauty and intelligence should not be limited to galleries or museums, but should move through every part of our culture.
“So they formed an organization to protect and promote that idea. They called it The Art Directors Club.
“To mark its founding, Calkins invited a young sculptor named Paul Manship to design the Club’s medal and symbol. Manship, who had just returned from studying classical sculpture in Europe, would go on to create the iconic statue of Prometheus at Rockefeller Center—a lasting symbol of human ambition and imagination. A statue so iconic, so famous, in fact, that it’s now mostly ignored by tourists looking for the skating rink.
“But Manship’s medallion was more than our first award. It became a statement: that the work we do can be both practical and profound. That commercial creativity, when done with care and conviction, can be the best of our culture, in itself.
“Next year, alongside the ADC Cube, we’ll bring back the Paul Manship Medal—to honor those whose work redefines our profession. Work that doesn’t follow the times, but helps set the direction of what’s to come.
“And now, here we are—the 105th ADC Annual Awards. These are the longest-running creative honors in the world. It insists that craft and excellence still matter.
“Over the years, this stage has honored some of the most significant creative voices of the last century:
Gordon Parks. Annie Leibovitz. Andy Warhol. Lella and Massimo Vignelli. Cipe Pineles. Michael Bierut. Gail Anderson. Deborah Sussman. Saul Bass. Ray Eames. Norman Rockwell. Paul Rand. Eiko Ishioka. Rebeca Méndez.
“Their work filled pages of the ADC annuals. It filled minds. And it shaped how we see. So tonight, we also look ahead. I’m honored to announce the formation of a new ADC Board—the first in many years. …
“A group of individuals whose vision and discipline will help us guide the next chapter of our organization and our community. The new board members are:
Alan Dye
Alex Center
Aporva Baxi
Debbie Millman
Diego Segura
Gail Bichler
John Maeda
Kapono Chung
Karin Fong
Pablo Mucho
Lauren Indovina
Leandro Assis
Mah Ferraz
Oliver Jeffers
Pablo Juncadella
Resh Sidhu
Rick Griffith
Verònica Fuerte
Marina Willer
Yoshihiro Yagi
Steven Heller
“This is a remarkable group of people. People with convictions. They will help us stay grounded in what’s lasting while opening new directions for where we might all go, next.
“We are also revitalizing ADC Young Guns.
“Since 1996, Young Guns has recognized outstanding creatives under the age of 30—those who are not only talented, but whose work is already reshaping the visual world around us. Young Guns 23 is now officially open for entries. If you’re 30 or under, with at least two years of professional experience—and if your work holds the kind of power that invites reflection and change—please visit youngguns.org. The first deadline is Aug. 14.”
The One Club for Creativity hosts over 75 events and initiatives per year. Following is a selection of the programming:
Saturday Career Workshops: Founded by the Art Directors Club, The Saturday Career Workshops are designed for high school sophomores and juniors. For 27 years, The School Art League, The Art Directors Club and the New York City Department of Education have collaborated to provide these free workshops, where professional designers and artists share their expertise and career experiences with art students who intend to pursue advanced study of art after graduation. Funding for the Saturday Career Workshops is provided by The Coyne Family Foundation.
Portfolio Night: Founded by the Art Directors Club, Portfolio Night is a globally celebrated portfolio review event that has been running for 21 years, providing valuable feedback and memorable experiences to thousands of creatives internationally. Portfolio Night is coming up on Oct. 30.
WAATBP: Since 2011, Where Are All The Black People? (WAATBP) has been a catalyst for change, amplifying Black voices and talent within the advertising industry. What started as a half-joking, half-serious remark at an agency party has grown into the industry’s leading diversity conference and career fair—challenging the ad world’s diversity gap and creating pathways for Black professionals at every stage. WAATBP is coming up on Oct. 17 in NYC.
ONE School: A free online portfolio school for a new generation of Black creatives, ONE School is an intensive portfolio program designed to teach you the creative skills required to work at the world’s top ad agencies. Applications for Fall 2025 are now open.
ONE Creator Lab: ONE Creator Lab is a tuition-free program designed to help content creators learn the skills required to launch their careers in the advertising and marketing industry. As part of a creative team at an agency or brand, creators can bring their passion for making content and collaborate with art directors, copywriters, producers and strategists to bring branded campaigns to life.
Next Creative Leaders: Next Creative Leaders (NCL) is a free-to-enter global portfolio competition recognizing women, trans, and non-binary creatives who are shaping the future of the creative procession. NCL offers a platform for gender-expansive creatives to showcase their unique vision and make a lasting impact through innovative work and leadership.
Creative Leaders Retreat: The Creative Leaders Retreat 2025 brought hundreds of industry leaders together in Scottsdale, AZ, for an unforgettable experience surrounded by the stunning natural beauty of the Sonoran Desert. Returning to its “get away from it all” roots, the retreat provided a much-needed space to step back, reflect and reconnect with the core of creative leadership.
Brand-Side: Brand-Side is a two-day conference aimed squarely at the inner dynamics of the very best in-house creative departments. With sessions from some of the most acclaimed brand and marketing leaders in the industry, Brand-Side is a one-of-a-kind experience that gives creatives in this space a behind-the-scenes look at the tactics and cultures behind the teams who build, maintain and grow a brand’s presence in the market. Brand-Side is coming Sept. 24–25 in Nashville, TN.
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