CBU duo earn gold at national advertising competition

Chelsea Moore, a 2021 CBU graduate, won a gold award at the 2021 American Advertising Federation national awards for her entry “Sensodyne.”

Riverside, Calif. (July 6, 2021) – A California Baptist University student and an alumna both received gold awards for their work at the American Advertising Federation (AAF) national awards, marking the first time CBU earned two national gold awards. The awards, also known as the ADDYs, were livestreamed on June 11.

Colton Dall, a graphic design senior, and Chelsea Moore (’21) both earned gold for their entries.

“Winning a national gold ADDY is the pinnacle of achievements for our graphic design and illustration students,” said Mark Roberson, dean of the College of Architecture, Visual Arts and Design. “There were about 35,000 entries this year and there were only 24 national level gold awards given, making winning a national just a little rarer than getting struck by lightning.”

Dall won for his entry titled “Tour Branding” in the student category for “out-of-home & ambient media: outdoor campaign.” His project promoted Radiohead, an English rock band. He had won gold at the AAF Inland Empire Awards and then silver in AAF District 15, which covers Southern California and Southern Nevada.

“This project was really more of a representation of Radiohead rather than a fresh take on them. As the project progressed, I began to really lean into their music and how they have a unique ability to take the chaotic and somehow make it mesh together,” Dall said. “I tried to reflect that balance in my pieces by having the chaotic paired with the neat throughout the campaign.”

Dall said when he first started the project, his drafts were not very good and his professor, Dirk Dallas, program director of graphic design, noticed that too.

“I decided to just start doing whatever felt good, throwing any principles and requirements I held out the window. As I worked on it throughout the night the meaning started to unfold, and I felt like the posters began to design themselves,” Dall said. “A huge thank you to Professor Dallas for pushing me and seeing the potential in me when I didn’t see it in myself.”

Moore won for “Sensodyne” in the student category for “out-of-home & ambient media: poster campaign.” She had won silver at the AAF Inland Empire Awards and gold in AAF District 15.

“The idea is a visual metaphor,” Moore said. “My campaign is a set of posters for the toothpaste brand Sensodyne. Since they market for sensitivity, I wanted to empathize with people who have sensitive teeth in a way that visually showed just how painful sensitive teeth can be.”

Moore said she was shocked when she learned of her win.

“I had no expectations with the ADDYs and my project. I am an illustrator, not much of a designer,” Moore said. “I am very honored and humbled.”