Aaron Evanson has been awarded by Cannes Lions, One Show and London International just to name a few. He attributes three mottos to his 20+ year, award-winning career.

1. Be nice. 2. Surround yourself with talented people. 3. Be absurd, yet on point.

The first should go unsaid, but many times it can get lost. Be nice, but don’t be a pushover. The second sets you up for the third. Without the right team you’re already in a sinking boat. The third assures your brand gets noticed, meets KPI’s and done just right, can even affect pop culture.

He started his career at FCB-Chicago, his Coors and Kraft campaigns created pop-culture buzz and record sales. His work on the “It’s Not Delivery, It’s DiGiorno” campaign is still going strong today. His work on Coors Light was committed to memory by beer lovers around the globe and spoofed by Saturday Night Live, ESPN and The Daily show. Because of Aaron’s winning work, he was the youngest FCB creative to ever earn a Vice President title.

In St. Louis, he led a boutique agency called White_Space-STL. While there, he created many successful branded content and online media campaigns for brands such as Budweiser, Michelob, St. Louis Rams and Hardee’s.

While at VMLY&R, he has led creative teams to multiple new business wins and buzz worthy campaigns, like Wendy’s Pretzel Love Songs which garnered +2 Billion earned media impressions and grew their stock price by 31%.

Aaron recently took over VMLY&R, Chicago as lead campaign creative. The office currently manages creative duties for BASF, Circle K, Espolon Tequila, Wild Turkey Whiskey to name a few. In addition to day-to-day leadership/management, he consults on the growth of VMLY&R’s national and global creative team and new business efforts.

VMLY&R, Chicago
Executive Creative Director
2018 – Present

VML, Kansas City
Executive Creative Director
2015 – 2018

VML, Kansas City
Group Creative Director
2012 – 2015

VML, Kansas City
Creative Director
2011 – 2012

2023 Clio Health – Direct – Gold
2023 Clio Health – Direct – Silver
2023 Clio – Outdoor – Bronze
2023 National NAMA – Best of Show
2023 National NAMA – First Place x3
2022 Cannes Shortlist – OOH – Cultural Insight
2022 New York Festival – Real Time Response – Bronze
2022 Art Director’s Club – Advertising/Promotional Materials – Shortlist
2022 Art Director’s Club – Advertising/Direct – Digital – Shortlist
2022 Art Director’s Club – Advertising/ Direct – Wildcard – Shortlist
2022 One Show – Direct Marketing/ Nontraditional & guerilla marketing – Shortlist
2022 One Show – Social Media/Active Engagement – Shortlist
2022 One Show – Experiential & Immersive / Brand partnerships – Shortlist
2022 One Show – Out of Home / Experiential & Immersive – Shortlist
2022 Clio – Outdoor – Shortlist
2020 Effie Finalist – Youth Marketing
2020 Effie Finalist – Food
2019 Clio Sports – Social – Single Platform – Gold
2019 Clio Sports – Social – Single Post – Gold
2019 One Show – Use of Original Music – Merit
2019 D&AD – Sound Design and Use of Music – Original Composition – Shortlist
2018 Cannes Shortlist – Direct, Use of Ambient Media: Small Scale
2018 Cannes Shortlist – Media, Use of Ambient Media: Small Scale
2018 Cannes Shortlist x2 – Film, Not-For-Profit/Charity
2018 One Show – Collateral – Merit
2018 Sports Clio Gold – Innovation — Medium Innovation
2018 Sports Clio Silver – Direct
2018 Sports Clio Bronze – Events/Experiential
2017 Cannes Gold Lion – Design
2017 Cannes Silver Lion – Design
2017 Cannes Silver Lion – Print & Publishing
2017 Cannes Bronze Lion – Health and Wellness
2017 Cannes Bronze Lion – Print & Publishing
2017 Cannes Shortlist – Grand Prix for Good
2017 Adweek – Youth Ambassadors
2017 Cannes Shortlist – Film
2017 Clio Bronze – Public Relations/Brand Development: Public Service
2017 Clio Shortlist – Direct — Print/Mail
2017 Clio Health Gold – Design – Printed Materials
2017 Clio Health Silver – Direct – Print/Mail
2017 Clio Health Bronze – Public Relations
2017 Clio Health Shortlist – Short Form Film x2
2017 Adweek – First Call/Stop the Shame
2017 Lürzer’s Archive Magazine, Vol. 3
2017 National Addy – Gold
2017 National Addy – Silver x2
2017 District Addy – Gold x4
2016 Cannes Shortlist x3 – Cyber – Social Video
2016 One Show – Film: Short Form Series – Merit
2016 Adweek Ad of the Day
2016 Clio Bronze Award – Design
2016 Ad Age Agency A-List
2015 Cannes Silver Lion – Branded Content & Entertainment
2015 Cannes Bronze Lion – Radio
2015 Cannes Shortlist – Branded Content & Entertainment – Social Media
2015 Cannes Shortlist – Creative Effectiveness
2015 Cannes Shortlist x3 – Cyber – Social Video
2015 Cannes Shortlist – PR – Celebrity Endorsement
2015 Cannes Shortlist – PR – Audience Targeting
2015 WPPed Cream Award
2015 National Addy
2015 District Addy x5
2015 Local Addy x12
2014 Adweek’s Ad of the Day, July 7, 2014
2014 Cannes Silver Lion – Promo & Activation – Use of Social Platform
2014 Cannes Shortlist – Branded Content & Entertainment – Integration of Social Media
2014 Cannes Shortlist – PR-/Retail & Restaurants
2014 Cannes Shortlist – PR /Use of User Generated Content
2014 Y&R Idea of the Year
2014 One Show Interactive – Best Branded Social Campaign – Bronze
2014 One Show Interactive – Best Branded Social Post – Merit
2014 Facebook Studio Award -Silver
2014 Facebook Studio Award – Merit
2014 Effie Fianlist
2014 AdWeek Watch – Best Response Video
2014 POSATANO Best Social Campaign
2013 How Interactive
2013 BuzzFeed, Top 13 Companies Doing Social
2013 National Addy
2013 District Addy x4
2012 AdWeek Top 10 Brands on Instagram
2012 Cannes Silver Lion – Branded Content
2012 London International – Bronze
2012 Most Contagious List
2012 IAC – Best Beverage Online Video
2012 National Addy – Web/Online Campaign – Silver
2012 Best Ads on TV – Best Web Film
2012 District Addy x3