News

Brandcenter alumni once again have strong showing in the year’s Super Bowl ads

Twenty-two Brandcenter alumni contributed to 18 spots for Super Bowl 57

A collage of images of scenes in the super bowl commercials produced by alumni

Year after year, Brandcenter alumni make a strong showing in the biggest, farthest-reaching media event of the year—the Super Bowl.

Twenty-two Brandcenter alumni contributed to 18 spots for Super Bowl LVII—or Super Bowl 57 as Heinz reminded us all—making it the fourth consecutive year 20 or more Brandcenter alumni were involved in creating ads for the Big Game. Additionally, Brandcenter alumni were behind a third of the national spots that met the criteria for the USA Today Ad Meter this year, and two more of our alumni were behind a Super Bowl adjacent campaign.

“If you look at the list of our alumni and their Super Bowl spots, it is clear that our alumni are the creative minds behind some of the world’s most famous brands,” says Vann Graves, Executive Director of the Brandcenter. “In addition to alums who hold top executive positions at their agencies and companies, we have alums who are still early in their careers creating advertising for one of the year’s most significant events. This is a fantastic achievement for the Brandcenter program and community.”

For Super Bowl 57, Brandcenter alumni worked on spots for the following brands: Anheuser-Busch: Bud Light, Busch Light, and Michelob ULTRA; Molson Coors: Coors Light, Miller Lite, and Blue Moon; Crown Royal; Pepsi; Tubi; Booking.com; T-Mobile; Rakuten; Kia; DoorDash; Cox Mobile; Oikos Yogurt; and Anytime Fitness (Super Bowl adjacent campaign).

Super Bowl 57 Ads by Brandcenter Alumni

Booking.com / Somewhere, Anywhere // Agency: Zulu Alpha Kilo NYC

  • Tim Gordon (Copywriting, 2008) / Chief Creative Officer + Partner / Zulu Alpha Kilo NYC
  • Casey Rand (Copywriting, 2008) / Executive Creative Director 

Bud Light / Bud Light Hold: Easy to Drink, Easy to Enjoy // Agency: Anomaly NYC

  • Cori Johnson (Art Direction, 2013) / Creative Director
  • Alex Ledford (Copywriting, 2012) / Copywriter

Busch Light / The Busch Guide: Cold & Smooth Survival Skills // Agency: The Martin Agency

  • Andrew Allen (Strategy, 2019) / Senior Strategic Planner / The Martin Agency
  • Jerry Hoak (Art Direction, 2005) / Executive Creative Director/Managing Director / The Martin Agency

Cox Mobile / We’re Different Because You’re Different // Agency: FCB Chicago

  • Meghan Callaghan (Art Direction, 2021) / Art Director / FCB Chicago

Crown Royal / Thank You Canada // Agency: Anomaly NYC

  • Jonathan Castaneda (Creative Brand Management, 2021) / Account Executive / Anomaly NYC

DoorDash / We Get Groceries // The Martin Agency

  • Jerry Hoak (Art Direction, 2005) / Executive Creative Director, Managing Director / The Martin Agency
  • Allison Apperson (Art Direction, 2016) / Associate Creative Director / The Martin Agency
  • Danielle Delph (Art Direction, 2013) / Creative Director / The Martin Agency

Kia / Binky Dad // David&Goliath LA

  • Melissa Cabral (Strategy, 2010) / Head of Strategy / David & Goliath LA

Michelob ULTRA / New Members Day & Full Swing Gossip // Agency: Wieden+Kennedy NYC

  • Blair Warren (Art Direction, 2014) / Creative Director / Wieden+Kennedy

Molson Coors: Coors Light, Miller Lite, Blue Moon / The High Stakes Beer Ad // Agency: Droga5

  • Chris Colliton (Experience Design, 2012) / Executive Creative Director / Droga5
  • Kevin Weir (Art Direction, 2012) / Executive Creative Director / Droga5
  • Nathan Bennet (Copywriting, 2021) / Copywriter / Droga5
  • Grant Bauley (Art Direction, 2021) / Art Director / Droga5

Oikos Yogurt / Sanders Family Reunion // Agency: Orchard NYC

  • Sarah Garman (Creative Brand Management, 2013) / Head of Strategy / Orchard NYC

Pepsi / Great Acting or Great Taste? with Steve Martin & Ben Stiller // Agency: VaynerMedia NYC

  • Ben Schneider (Copywriting, 2012) / Associate Creative Director / VaynerMedia NYC

Rakuten / Not-So Clueless // Company: Rakuten

  • Tom Coates (Copywriting, 1999) / Group Creative Director / Rakuten

T-Mobile / Neighborly & The Rewrite // Company: T-Mobile

  • Jodi Shelley (Strategy, 2011) / Director of Creative Strategy / T-Mobile

Tubi / Interface Interruption & Rabbit Hole // Agency: Mischief 

  • Hannah Hugeback (Strategy, 2022) / Strategist / Mischief 
  • Ryan Stotts (Art Direction, 2005) / Creative Director / Mischief

Super Bowl Adjacent Work

Anytime Fitness / Anytime Anytime // Agency: Mischief

  • Howard Finkelstein (Copywriting, 2005) / Group Creative Director / Mischief
  • Ross Fletcher (Art Direction, 2012) / Group Creative Director / Mischief

Read more:

VCU News / Brandcenter alumni’s ads shine again on Super Bowl stage

USA Today Ad Meter / The Voice of the Next Generation: The Brandcenter at VCU weighs in on the Ad Meter ratings

Watch all Super Bowl 57 spots from Brandcenter alumni on our 2023 Super Bowl YouTube playlist