Each year, the American Advertising Awards, also known as the ADDYs, the advertising industry’s largest competition, recognizes some of the best creative work in the country. The Baton Rouge American Advertising Federation annually recognizes “the creative spirit of excellence in the art of advertising” locally. In 2019 Baton Rouge American Advertising Federation awarded ADDYs to LSU School of Art students and faculty:

2019 Student Best of Show & Gold ADDY Winner

Book cover of The Usual Suspects by Carrie Mae Weems

Book Design
Carrie Mae Weems: The Usual Suspects
Entrant: LSU School of Art | GDSO (Graphic Design Student Office)
Credits: Lindsey T. Henriques › Graphic Designer, Luisa Restrepo › Creative Director, Courtney Barr › Faculty Advisor, Kitty Pheney › Producer, Courtney Taylor › Curator, Carrie Mae Weems › Artist

Student Gold

Coastal Voices website design by GDSO

Website (Desktop or Mobile)
Coastal Voices
Entrant: GDSO | LSU School of Art
GDSO Credits: Nhu Dao › Interactive Designer, Delaney McGuinness › Map Designer, Madelyn Smith › Video Producer, Josh Jackson › Podcast Editor/ Marketing Director, Taylor Goss › Sound Producer, Hailey Andras › Graphic Designer, Michael Pasquier ›
Project Director, Courtney Barr › Faculty Advisor

“This project was an opportunity to participate in research-driven, grant-funded projects that involve the development of design deliverables over a long-term process,” said Courtney Barr, associate professor of art/graphic design and the project director. “Participation in collaborative research initiatives, for example, is a more complex challenge for the students, but from the challenge they gain a unique appreciation for research practice that gives them relevant skills for the future of design practice,” she said.

“Website design is increasingly becoming an area that GDSO is receiving requests for,” said Kitty Pheney, associate head of art operations & programs.

View the Coastal Voices website, designed by the GDSO team.

Animation or Special Effects & Judge’s Pick
“The Spaceman’s Commute”
Entrant: Nnamdi Anyaele (digital art student)
School: Louisiana State University
Credits: Nnamdi Anyaele

View “The Spaceman’s Commute”:

“The Spaceman’s Commute, is a combination of my two latest projects from last semester: in Moving Images I (Art 2220), I worked on an animated music video, and afterwards a 15 second animation. I combined them to attempt my most extensive and ambitious animation yet. The end result was this music video,” said Anyaele. “To my surprise, my first very first and only submission won two awards.  Gold for Student Animation/ Special Effects, and Judge’s Choice.” Anyaele went on to the district level.

“The Spaceman’s Commute has a simple premise.  An astronaut is engaged a very mundane routine on a desert planet, but life seems to emerge where least expected.”

“I’m so pleased Nnamdi received recognition for this great project,” digital art professor Hye Yeon Nam said.

Student Silver

Quad Summer 2018 Cover

Magazine Design
QUAD: LSU COAD Magazine 2018
Entrant: GDSO | LSU School of Art
GDSO CREDITS: Sarah Alexander › Graphic Designer, Dakota Banos › Graphic Designer, Rachel Hurt › Graphic Designer, Luisa Restrepo › Creative Director, Courtney Barr › Faculty Advisor, Kitty Pheney › Project Director, Elizabeth Mattey › Editor/Writer

SPE “Material + Meaning” branded materials, by GDSO

Integrated Brand Identity Campaign
Material + Meaning: SPE Conference
Entrant: LSU School of Art | GDSO
CREDITS: Sarah Alexander › Graphic Designer, Dakota Banos › Graphic Designer, Hayden Nagin › Graphic Designer, Luisa Restrepo › Creative Director, Courtney Barr › Faculty Advisor, Kitty Pheney › Project Director

“So Fetch” by Donna Greaber

Integrated Brand Identity Campaign
So Fetch
Entrant/Credits: Donna Greaber, Studio Art student
SCHOOL: Louisiana State University

The art students are all so deserving of the recognition by the American Advertising Awards, Pheney said. “They all put a tremendous amount of work into all these projects.”

The most rewarding moment is seeing a completed project in use. “When students see their work – logos they designed used in the outside world, identities used in professional capacity, publications printed and distributed – they have a profound sense of accomplishment,” Pheney said. “They see that their assignments have a life beyond the classroom, exist in the real world. The first time a student has the experience of seeing something that [he/she] created come to life, it’s exhilarating.”