May 5, 2025
Amber Hadley Shines at 2025 ADDY Awards with “Midnight Oil”
Amber Hadley is a senior who will graduate this spring with a bachelor's degree in Graphic Design. Amber competed in the regional level of the 2025 American Advertising Awards (ADDY) and took home the Best of Show award along with two gold ADDY Awards. She won one in Logo Design and the other in Integrated Brand Identity Campaign. She was awarded a silver ADDY Award in Packaging. All the awards are from her hypothetical coffee branding project, “Midnight Oil.”
Hadley’s design journey started in high school in a career center with her passion for animation. She wanted to take the animation classes, but they were all full, so she took design classes instead. “I did graphic design [at the tech center], and I thought it was actually really fun. This is great, I get to make things and bring them to reality.”
The creation of “Midnight Oil” was a three-week process. It had a Victorian-style brand identity. Hadley has never designed something as decorative as a “Midnight Oil” before. But her Professor, Allison Popp, pushed Hadley to keep improving the piece.
Expressing her gratitude, Hadley said, “I haven't even graduated yet, and Best of Show is awesome.” Reflecting on her win, she added, “It was wonderful, I didn’t expect it, I don’t even know how to describe how I felt, it was just awesome.” With her two gold ADDYs, she will advance to the next round of the competition.
Hadley’s plans for when she graduates are to work in branding at a design studio. She has been drawn to liquor labels. “I really want to design a wine label or a beer can… I think that would be so cool.”
Hadley’s advice to other designers is to have an open mind because everything might not work out as planned, so you should be creative and try something new. “Keep going, it gets tough… It’s hard when you create something that feedback on because it’s something you made. So be willing to accept the help.”
Other ADDY winners include the following:
- Graphic Design student Amber Hadley, who won best of show, two gold ADDYs in Logo Design and Integrated Brand Identity Campaign. And a silver ADDY Award in Packaging for the project “Midnight Oil” (faculty: Addison Popp)
- Graphic Design student Koree Bemiss, who won a Gold ADDY the Book Design category for the project "I Wonder Why I Over Wonder" (faculty: John Koziaetk) and a Silver ADDY in the App category for the project "Scroogal App” (faculty: Jason Alger).
- Graphic Design student Laura Funes, who won a Gold ADDY in the Illustration - Single category for the project "Details. Details. Details” (faculty: Joan Sechrist).
- Graphic Design student Emilee Holzwarth, who won a Gold ADDY in the Campaign category for the project "Schwinn Brand Refresh” (faculty: Joan Sechrist)
- Design student Elisa Barry, who won two Silver ADDY Awards in the Integrated Brand Identity Campaign category for her projects “First Love” (faculty: Alison Popp) and " Maggie’s” (faculty: Nic Mata).
- Graphic Design student Kyle Beam, who won a Silver ADDY in the Campaign category for the project "Burton Your Heirloom Ad Campaign" (faculty: Joan Sechrist).
- Graphic Design student Isabelle Buckler, who won a Silver ADDY in the Campaign category for the project "Want to race?" (faculty: Joan Sechrist).
- Graphic Design student Kennedy Rouse, who won a Silver ADDY in the Magazine Design category for the project "Roots Publication Design” (faculty: John Kozaitek).