Award-winning Research Recognized By Pittsburgh AAF Chapter with ADDY Award

PITTSBURGH – April 28, 2026 – Gatesman’s Women ReKnown research initiative is continuing to gain industry recognition, most recently earning a Silver ADDY Award at the 2025-2026 Pittsburgh American Advertising annual awards show in the Integrated Media Campaign, Self-Promotion category on April 16, 2026.

Women ReKnown is a research-driven platform challenging marketers to rethink how they understand and connect with women today. Through an integrated approach, Gatesman transformed the Women ReKnown research into a cohesive creative campaign. Anchored by a distinct visual identity, the campaign came to life across conference materials, video storytelling, digital experiences and social content, all designed to translate complex insights into something brands could see, feel and act upon. 

“Women are engaging in dynamic, digital spaces where every interaction matters, and we wanted the design to reflect that,” said Molly Mykich, designer at Gatesman. “The pixel-based design system gave us a way to visualize that complexity, while the color palette keeps it feeling modern and adaptable. It’s a flexible foundation that can evolve just as quickly as the landscape and the audience is evolving.”

While the honor reflects creative excellence, it also underscores the growing impact of the research, uncovering realities shaping women’s lives from their growing economic influence to the cultural and emotional shifts redefining their priorities. 

“Women ReKnown is a call for marketers to move beyond assumptions,” said Susan English, SVP, director of strategic communications at Gatesman. “So much has changed for women in the past five years, and yet marketing is often targeted toward who women used to be. This award reinforces how important it is for brands to truly understand the complexity of women’s lives right now.”

At the center of the research is what Gatesman defines as an “Era of Reflection,” a period in which women are reevaluating priorities, redefining success and challenging long-held expectations, creating a critical inflection point for brands and increasing the risk for brands coming across as out of touch.

The research has already gained notable industry attention, including an endorsement from the Geena Davis Institute, which recognized the study for pushing beyond surface-level observations by urging brands and content creators to consider how women are represented in entertainment and media, and providing them with tools to help.

“This honor is incredibly meaningful because it reflects both the strength of the creative and the significance of the insight behind it,” said Shannon Baker, President at Gatesman. “Women ReKnown is resonating because it challenges outdated assumptions and gives brands a clearer, more honest understanding of women today. Earning an ADDY for this work reinforces that the industry is ready for a more thoughtful, more human approach to connection.”

The ADDY Awards are the advertising industry’s largest and most representative competition, recognizing excellence in creative work across all media.

To learn more about Women ReKnown or download the full study, visit www.gatesmanagency.com/womensresearch.

About Gatesman:

With offices in Pittsburgh and Chicago, Gatesman offers expertise in strategy/branding, advertising, public relations, social media, digital and analytics. Gatesman is a partner in AMIN Worldwide, an alliance of over 50 independent marketing agencies, IPREX, a global communications network and most recently the Ad Age Small Agency Network. Gatesman is also proud to be recognized as one of Ad Age’s Best Places to Work, reflecting its commitment to a strong, people-first culture. 

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