From the Nominator

Tippie Magazine is the flagship alumni publication at the University of Iowa's Tippie College of Business, covering all six academic departments. We send to a mailing list of 16,000 of the college’s most engaged alumni. The return on investment on this group is excellent (in the millions), so it’s our job to maintain that connection through creative storytelling and outstanding imagery. In both issues, we supercharged our alumni notes sections with large opening photos and fun mini-stories like “Tailgate like a Pro.” Our serial feature “How Did it Feel” takes readers to the edge of a high-dive platform and to the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro. In Spring 2025, we leaned into fun. We introduced our new director of alumni engagement with a hilarious photo of him “slaying” on the keytar. We profiled the president of a popcorn company and ran a giveaway that garnered a record number of entries. We went full Cosmopolitan, circa 2000, with an interactive quiz for our cover story. We also had management professors offer advice about workplace problems on "The Bear," "Ted Lasso," "Downton Abbey," and "Seinfeld"—which became one of the most popular stories of 2025 in the college’s e-newsletter. George Costanza would be such a nightmare of an employee! In the Fall issue, we launched the college’s first building campaign in 25 years. We drew attention to this important project with a luxe, gold foil masthead and a 10-page story detailing how it will help students, alumni, the university, and the state of Iowa.

From the Judges

The magazine was recognized for its playful, highly engaging approach, blending clean, accessible layouts with bold artistic choices and clever, interactive storytelling. Judges praised the fun, creative energy throughout the publication, noting its nostalgic influences, and digestible short-form content that encourages readers to keep turning pages. The vibrant imagery, cohesive color palette, and approachable design successfully captured school spirit, while creating a reading experience that felt fresh, lively, and distinctive.