Tuscaloosa, Ala.— Mary Buzbee and Lauren Meadows, 2018 graduates of the University of Alabama’s Advertising & Public Relations program and Minerva alumni, have been inducted into Adweek’s Creative 100 for 2023.
Buzbee and Meadows currently work for Barkley. Their ARAG ad campaign, “ARAG Legal Needs Are In Your Future,” starring Kathy Najimy, won Silver at the American Advertising Awards and became a Shorty awards finalist.
When asked about what comes next, Buzbee focused on the work that she and Meadows are doing in the creative community.
“Being included in the Creative 100 is a huge honor,” said Buzbee. “It’s nice to be recognized for the work that we’re doing, but it’s sweeter to see that The Workshop is having a positive effect on the industry. Making advertising more socioeconomically accessible is something that I’m passionate about, so it brings me joy that our director of curriculum, Kate Rohrich, as well as teachers and volunteers are receiving recognition.”
The Workshop is a mentorship program created by the pair that focuses on the basics of advertising. It currently has two disciplines, art direction and copywriting, and apprentices from each are paired and matched with a teacher to work on three open-source briefs over three months. The goal is for apprentices to have three solid portfolio pieces and newfound concepting, art direction and copywriting skills.
The Creative 100 celebrates the most innovative and visionary talent across advertising, marketing, social media, TV and streaming, visual art, literature, and filmmaking. Award recipients often shape culture and inspire change.
