Whitney Downing (Art Direction, 2018) has been named Creative of the Year in Ad Age ‘s 2026 Creativity Awards.
Now an art director at Wieden+Kennedy Portland, Downing credits her work on two of last year’s campaigns for earning her this recognition: Nike’s return to the Super Bowl after nearly three decades and the campaign celebrating A’ja Wilson’s first signature shoe.
Nike / So Win
Nike’s Super Bowl spot, “So Win” put female sports center stage during one of the most male-dominated sporting events of the year. The spot highlighted athletes like Jordan Chiles, Caitlin Clark, Sha’Carri Richardson, A’ja Wilson, and Sophia Wilson. Downing helped conceive the campaign’s hero imagery and oversaw still photography. The spot earned a five-star review from Ad Age for its portrayal of women athletes pushing back against limitations often placed on them.
Nike / One of A’Kind
Her work also stood out in Nike’s “One of A’Kind” campaign celebrating A’ja Wilson’s first signature shoe. Downing and team created a handclap rhyme honoring Black girlhood and filmed a spot in meaningful locations throughout Wilson’s hometown of Columbia, South Carolina, from her church to her preschool. The team also prioritized Black creative voices throughout production.
“The depth, detail and intimacy … it felt personal,” one Creativity Awards juror noted.
The campaign resonated widely: the shoes sold out in five minutes, and fans continued engaging with the work months later as Wilson went on to win her fourth WNBA MVP.
From culture-defining campaigns to elevating underrepresented voices, Downing’s work makes people feel seen. We’re proud to call her a Brandcenter alum.