Spinlight: News

For Immediate Release 06/10/09
For more information, contact:
Matt Hutton : 217.351.6700

Spinlight Studio Takes Top Honors in National ADDY Show

Champaign, Illinois, June 10, 2009 — BBDO New York was there, along with Deutsch LA, Leo Burnett Chicago and Publicis Worldwide. But among the companies receiving Gold ADDYs at the world's largest advertising competition this past weekend just outside of D.C. was a small dog that's increasingly making itself at home in the back yard of some of the world's largest ad firms.

How small are they? Spinlight consists of seven employees. But since it's founding in 2000, the small team headquartered on Staley Road in Champaign has been making a big impression. They've been seen in Print and Communication Arts — two of the most widely read and respected publications in the advertising industry. And in 2006 Graphic Design USA named the company's owners, Matt Hutton and Debby Winter, among their "People to Watch," after nabbing 12 American Graphic Design Awards in the previous year.

But the ADDY award is different, both because of its scale and complexity, and because it's a journey that started right here, at the local AAF Central Illinois award show. Each year, the ADDY Awards, sponsored by the American Advertising Federation, draws 50,000 entries from advertising agencies across the country, which compete in their local clubs. From Champaign, entries advance to the district competition, where they go head-to-head with Chicago, Indianapolis and Detroit, before reaching the national AAF award show, held in Arlington, Virginia.

"We're obviously honored to be on the stage with the giants of the ad business," said Hutton. "Many of these companies are divisions of international groups, which means we're not just matching Chicago's best or New York's best, we're going to-to-toe with some of the most creative minds in the advertising business. These aren't just the companies that make great brands; they are great brands." While that would be intimidating for some, for Spinlight, it's just a matter of focusing on the work. "We all start off with the same blank piece of paper," says Winter. "We all sweat and bleed on the comps. We all fight for the great ideas. And when we work with someone who gets the extraordinary power of marketing to build strong, profitable brands, then we get to unleash the creativity that makes people sit up and take notice. That's what we do, because that's what we love."

That passion is captured in the company's website, Spinlight.com, which explains why it took home the gold at this year's ADDY show. "It's us at a glance," says Hutton. "If you want to know who we are, that's where you go." To see where Spinlight is going, log in. And stay tuned.

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About Spinlight Studio
Since it's founding in 2000, Spinlight Studio has won numerous awards for design excellence, including 22 A"merican Graphic Design Awards. Located on South Staley Round in Champaign, the company offers a full range of print, broadcast and digital marketing services for a range of local and regional clients.

About the ADDYs
With more than 50,000 entries annually, the ADDY Awards are the world's largest advertising competition and arguably one of the toughest with three tiers of competition. The ADDY Awards, presented by the American Advertising Federation, represent the true spirit of creative excellence by recognizing all forms of advertising from media of all types, creative by all sizes and entrants of all levels from anywhere in the United States. It is the only creative awards program administered by the advertising industry for the industry.