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BYU grad named a finalist in advertising contest

He says creating ads is a perfect mix of art and science

By Stevie Anne Stewart
Deseret Morning News

Published: Monday, July 10, 2006 9:32 a.m. MDT

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PROVO — With fuel prices soaring, hybrid automobiles seem to be a wise alternative, as displayed by a Brigham Young University graduate at a top advertising competition.

The assignment for this year's The One Show competition, an annual contest in New York City for upstart advertising executives and creators, was to find a new, splashy way to promote hybrid vehicles.

Hunter Sebresos' idea — photographs of gas cap doors covered in debris, moths and spider webs with the tag line, "A lot can happen between fill-ups" — appeared to have impressed the judges.

Out of nearly 1,000 entries, he was named one of the 58 finalists, and his work was displayed in a Madison Avenue art gallery.

Sebresos said he enjoyed the competition but basically just loves the strategy and challenge behind a good ad.

"Advertising uses both left and right brain thinking," said Sebresos, who earned a bachelor's degree in advertising with a minor in design from BYU. "I think it is the perfect mix of art and science."

Sebresos has created his own Web site, creativityhunter.com, on which he displays his own personal philosophy in advertising.

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"Inspiring design is flat without a concept and good concepts sink without inspiring design," says Sebresos.

The One Show produces a publication in which they display the honored students' ads.

Dave Newbold, president of Richter 7, a Salt Lake-based ad agency, said The One Show is one of the highest ranked contests to honor creativity in the industry. For a student to do so well at the competition says a lot about his talent, Newbold said.

Sebresos is currently working as an intern at the Miami ad agency, Miami's Crispin Porter + Bogusky. Asked about his career path in advertising, Sebrosos said it stemmed from natural talent as an artist.

"I started making my own ads," Sebresos said. "And now I just can't stop."

The One Show is put on by The One Club in New York, which celebrates excellence in advertising. Normally the contest attracts 500 to 600 entries. Creators of the contest said this year's 1,000 entries is unprecedented.

E-mail: sstewart@desnews.com