One Club reveals 2026 Creative Hall of Fame inductees

The Creative Hall of Fame celebrates individuals whose work, leadership and mentorship have had a lasting impact on the creative industry

The One Club for Creativity has announced the creative leaders who will be inducted into its Creative Hall of Fame in September 2026, recognizing their lifetime contributions to advertising, design, creativity and education.

The organization will honor six advertising and creative pioneers alongside one influential educator. The Creative Hall of Fame, established with the induction of Leo Burnett in 1961, celebrates individuals whose work, leadership and mentorship have had a lasting impact on the creative industry.

Creative leaders recognised for industry impact

Among the 2026 Creative Hall of Fame inductees is Rosie Arnold, one of the most awarded art directors in British advertising, whose career spans more than three decades at BBH and across the wider industry.

Janet Champ, a copywriter at Wieden+Kennedy, is being recognized for her role in creating Nike's If You Let Me Play campaign, which helped reshape brand communications aimed at women through culturally relevant storytelling.

John C Jay joins this year's class for a career that has influenced advertising, retail, fashion and culture, including leadership roles connected to brands such as Nike and Uniqlo.

Honouring pioneers and mentors

Caroline R. Jones is being inducted for a career that included leadership positions at J. Walter Thompson, BBDO, Caroline Jones Advertising, Zebra Associates and Mingo-Jones. She is recognized as a pioneering copywriter and the first Black female vice-president at a major advertising agency.

Piyush Pandey is also among the honourees. During his career at Ogilvy, he helped shape modern Indian advertising by bringing local language, humour and everyday experiences into brand storytelling.

Joyce King Thomas is being recognised for her contribution to advertising, including her role in creating McCann's Priceless campaign for Mastercard, as well as her influence as a creative leader and mentor.

Educator Hall of Fame inductee announced

Michael Conrad will be inducted into the Educators Hall of Fame. The former Global Chief Creative Officer at Leo Burnett Worldwide and co-founder of the Berlin School of Creative Leadership has played a significant role in developing creative talent and leadership within the global industry.

The One Club for Creativity said its selection process involves nominations from members, voting by national and international board members and previous Hall of Fame inductees, followed by presentations to the board and a final vote.

Selection based on impact, influence and inspiration

Candidates are evaluated against three core criteria: impact, influence and inspiration. The organization said inductees must demonstrate a celebrated body of work, contribute to advancing the industry and have a measurable positive effect on future generations of creative professionals.

Pum Lefebure, co-founder and chief creative officer of Design Army, and chair of The One Club for Creativity: "The people we honor this year didn't just create iconic work—they changed the trajectory of our industry. 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."

Induction ceremony set for September

The 2026 Creative Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on September 16, 2026, at Capitale in New York. The black-tie gala will celebrate the achievements of the inductees and raise support for the organization's educational and industry development initiatives.

The One Club for Creativity operates as a non-profit organization supporting the global creative community through awards programmes, educational initiatives, professional development opportunities and industry events.

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