The American Advertising Federation of Dallas’ annual American Advertising Awards gala and competition took place last month with a “Must Love Ads” themed awards show. A number of local companies were honored in more than a dozen categories, including social media, TV, print, special effects, and “best of the year” professionals. Here are a few of the notable winners. 

The Richards Group, which recently made news for its guerilla advertising campaign on the “Leaning Tower of  Dallas,” brought home one of the night’s biggest awards, “Best of Show,” for its “Snapple X Old Town Road” campaign in the social media category.

The Richards Group’s “Snapple X Old Town Road” campaign. [Image: Courtesy AAF Dallas]

The Dallas-based advertising firm also won Judge’s Choice for “Save Jane” in the Pro Bono Ambient Media category.

And, The Richards Group’s recently rebranded multicultural arm Lerma won a Mosaic Award award for “PRxPR Case Study” in the Pro Bono Campaign category due to its contributions to Puerto Rico relief efforts. The Mosaic Award goes to companies, agencies, and individuals based on their diversity and inclusion commitments that are evident through their creative work and organization-wide initiatives. 

Lerma also won Judge’s Choice for “#StopGunViolence” in the Pro Bono Campaigns category.

Lerma’s “PRxPR Case Study” campaign. [Image: Courtesy AAF Dallas]

Other Judge’s Choice awards went to Launch Agency’s “Much Better TV” campaign for Baylor Scott & White Health in the TV Campaign category, as well as ATK PLN’s “Arli and the World of Wonderful” campaign for the Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau in the Animation, Special Effects or Motion Graphics/CGI category.

Plano-headquartered Toyota Motor North America won Client of the Year, and also won gold and silver awards in “Television Advertising – Regional/National” thanks in part to its advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi.

Saatchi & Saatchi’s “Wizard :60” campaign for Toyota Motor North America. [Image: Courtesy AAF Dallas]

Among the winners from local universities are Anna Rose Corell and Gaelle Gachelin from Southern Methodist University who won Student Best of Show for “P3 – Good Things Come in Threes” in the Poster category, as well as Douglas May from the University of North Texas who won Educator of the Year.

Anna Rose Corell and Gaelle Gachelin’s student campaign titled “P3 – Good Things Come in Threes.” [Image: Courtesy AAF Dallas]

Individual awards also went to some local professionals due to their excellence in advertising-related capacities:

• Publicis Media’s Nicole Cappellino for “Agency Media Strategist/Planner of The Year”
• Goodway Group’s Katie Brown for “Agency Media Buyer/Investor of The Year”
• Viant’s Laura Garcia for “Media Sales Rep of The Year”
• The Integer Group’s Samer Salfiti for “Agency Account Executive of The Year”
• Shoptology’s Courtney Love for “Creative Production Partner of The Year”
• The Infinite Agency’s Jonathan Ogle for “Agency Support of The Year”
• RAPP’s Kyla Jones for “Young Professional of the Year” 

AAF Dallas is a member association comprised of advertising and media professionals. Proceeds from the American Advertising Awards help support AAF Dallas’ educational programs, public service projects, and proactive government relations efforts.

For the complete list of 2020 AAF Dallas American Advertising Awards winners, go here.

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