The One Club for Creativity has named seven inductees into the Creative Hall of Fame, with a ceremony scheduled for September 16, 2026, at Capitale in New York.
The 2026 class includes six inductees into the Creative Hall of Fame and one into the Educators Hall of Fame. The Creative Hall of Fame has recognized lifetime achievement in advertising, design, and education since the induction of Leo Burnett in 1961.
Among the inductees is the late Piyush Pandey, widely regarded as the father of modern Indian advertising, who passed away in October of last year.
The Creative Hall of Fame inductees are:
- Rosie Arnold, one of the most awarded art directors in British advertising history, spent more than three decades shaping iconic work at BBH and championing creative excellence throughout the industry.
- Janet Champ, Wieden+Kennedy copywriter behind Nike’s groundbreaking “If You Let Me Play” campaign, transformed how brands communicate with women through work rooted in truth, empathy, and cultural impact.
- John C Jay, a visionary creative leader whose influence spans retail, advertising, fashion, and culture, helped shape brands including Nike and Uniqlo while pioneering a new model of culturally driven creativity.
- Caroline R. Jones, formerly of J. Walter Thompson, BBDO, Caroline Jones Advertising, Zebra Associates, and Mingo-Jones, trailblazing copywriter, the first black female vice-president at a major agency.
- Piyush Pandey, widely regarded as the father of modern Indian advertising at Ogilvy, transformed the industry by bringing the language, humor, and humanity of everyday India into the heart of brand storytelling.
- Joyce King Thomas, the creative force behind McCann’s iconic “Priceless” campaign for Mastercard, helped redefine emotional storytelling in advertising while becoming one of the industry’s most respected creative leaders and mentors.
Educators Hall of Fame
- Michael Conrad, former Global CCO at Leo Burnett Worldwide and co-founder of the Berlin School of Creative Leadership, helped shape generations of creative leaders while elevating standards across the global advertising industry.
Nominations are open to One Club members. Candidates are voted on by the organization’s National and International Board and past inductees. A shortlist is then determined by a selection committee, with nominators or an appointed advocate presenting to the Board in support of their candidate before a final vote is cast.
Inductees are assessed on three criteria: impact, defined as a body of work recognized as best in the industry across multiple years and brands; influence, defined as using creativity and resources to advance the industry and serve the greater good; and inspiration, defined as having a measurable, positive effect on the next generation of creative leaders.
“The people we honor this year didn’t just create iconic work—they changed the trajectory of our industry,” said Pum Lefebure, One Club chair and co-founder, CCO, Design Army in Washington DC.
“Their ideas reshaped culture, their leadership opened doors for others, and their impact continues to ripple across generations. We are proud to recognize these creative pioneers whose influence extends far beyond the work itself.”
Pictured: Piyush Pandey, Caroline R. Jones, Janet Champ, Joyce King Thomas, Rosie Arnold, Michael Conrad, John C Jay
Ticket and induction ceremony details are available on the One Club website.
