5/8/17 may have been an unsuspecting day to most, but eight students were extended an opportunity beyond their comprehension to attend the 96th Art Director’s Club Annual Awards. Upon arriving at an unassuming building with an austere exterior, we entered into a posh darkly lit soirée, where many of the top art directors from the world had gathered. It was safe to say we were all a bit shell-shocked. Here we were a bunch of undergraduate students with next to no experience mingling with some of the most creative minds from all over the globe. However, the most interesting lesson that I learned that night was how award shows are meticulously curated. What was interesting is that agencies and design firms had to submit their work to be considered for the award so, the people that won were not up against the best of the best, but were competing against a smaller circle. This made me recall my lessons from a previous ethics of journalism class I had taken; specifically, how when an idea (awards) is framed so only the salient message (the winners) is received it can create an illusion that is not necessarily noticed by the majority. Overall, it was an incredible experience to talk to individuals who have been in the industry for decades, and also shed light into how the prestige of advertising awards markets itself.

-Key Higdon