From the Nominator

Arizona State University is ranked No. 2 in the nation among public schools for employability ahead of University of California, Los Angeles, University of Michigan, and Purdue University. At a time when many question the value of a college degree, our team chose to strategically focus on employability and outcomes. This campaign aligns with the university's focus on preparing students for careers in engineering, data analytics, health care, sustainability, and digital media—areas that reflect current industry demands and address evolving global challenges. The Enterprise Brand Strategy and Management Team designed a comprehensive marketing campaign—including print advertisements, billboards, social media, digital media and video, light rail creative, and bus artwork—to showcase and celebrate recent ASU graduates and their employability outcomes. Employers consistently recognize ASU graduates for their ability to combine technical expertise with a global perspective and a commitment to lifelong learning. Among the biggest employers of ASU graduates are prestigious companies including Amazon, Intel, Banner Health, Deloitte, Honeywell, Apple, Google, Meta, Wells Fargo, American Express, Microsoft, and PepsiCo. The target audience included prospective parents and students, alumni, current students, faculty and staff along with peers in higher education and media.

From the Judges

This campaign effectively showcased ASU’s value proposition by pairing compelling storytelling with clear outcomes data, proving return on investment through graduate employability. Its authentic tone, strong cross-platform consistency, and coordinated design elements made it relatable and polished. The use of personalized, human-centered messaging helped this campaign stand out.