The One Club and Art Directors Club (ADC) have agreed to merge, forming the global creative organization The One Club for Creativity. (The merger was struck pending approval from the NY State Attorney General’s Office.)
The new entity will serve as the umbrella organization for The One Show, ADC Annual Awards, Young Guns and their respective Halls of Fame, education and diversity programs.
The One Club began as The Copy Club and originally grew out of the ADC. The two organizations co-produced creative awards programs in the 1970s. Together, they combine a vast array of complementary programming across creative disciplines and build on their legacies of honoring excellence and championing inclusion and diversity, gender equality, professional development, mentorship and education.
“When our board voted, the decision was unanimous. We are committed to preserving the legacy of the programs, while fulfilling the potential of each brand,” said José Mollá, chairman of The One Club Board and founder/chief creative officer, The Community. “The One Show is all about conceptual thinking. The ADC Awards recognize great ideas founded on design and craftsmanship. There is a great opportunity to influence new creative disciplines, celebrating innovative thinking from different perspectives on a global scale.”
“We are very excited about this reunion and the added benefits it offers our members and the creative world,” said Philippe Meunier, ADC president and creative chief/co-founder, Sid Lee. “By returning to our roots in conjunction with The One Club, ADC will strengthen its nearly century-long focus as a club of creative leaders, a community of visionary thinkers and passionate, proactive doers dedicated to making and celebrating world-changing ideas. This reunion enables us to better expand our ADC Annual Awards, the world’s longest-running creative awards program now in its 95th year, our fast-growing Young Guns program celebrating the top creative leaders of tomorrow, and other programs and events.”
“The One Club and the Art Directors Club share a rich history and a commitment to ideas and craft and the purity of creativity,” said Kevin Swanepoel, CEO, The One Club. “Both non-profit organizations are dedicated to honoring excellence as well as supporting creative talent from all walks of life and in all stages of their careers. Together, as an organization made by creative people for creative people, The One Club and ADC will tirelessly champion the creative community, maintain the highest standard for creativity, and provide the greatest support network for the creative community in the world.”
The following programs and initiatives will retain their own brand identities while benefiting from joined resources and networks: The One Show Awards, Creative Hall of Fame, Creative Week, Creative Boot Camps, “Here Are All The Black People” multicultural creative career fair, Creative Leaders Retreat, Young Ones Awards honoring students, Creative Women’s Leadership Series, ADC Annual Awards, Young Guns honoring top creatives 30 and younger, Hall of Fame, 50/50 Initiative, Paper Expo, Hands On, InspiADCion, Henry Wolf Photography Workshop for NYC public school students, Saturday Career Workshops for talented high school juniors in the five boroughs of New York and others.
