Art Directors and Designers Association (ADDA) of New Orleans Collection

The Art Directors and Designers Association (ADDA) of New Orleans was founded in 1961 by Donald (Don) C. Smith and Byron L. Levy. The aim of the organization was to elevate the art of advertising as a profession and promote continuing education within the graphic arts profession. At the time of this donation, the Ad Club was the oldest professional advertising organization in New Orleans and it primarily served businessmen and executives. ADDA was born out of a collective desire to provide professional opportunities for artists and designers in the world of advertising. Between 1963 and 1995, the organization hosted several annual awards shows and exhibitions showcasing designers across Louisiana.

Painter and sculptor Don Smith received a B.A. in Journalism from Tulane University. He served as the first President of ADDA as well as Art Director for the Knox Reeves-Fitzgerald Advertising Company. In 1962, Smith was the first commercial artist to be named New Orleans “Ad Man of the Year,” an award presented annually by the Ad Club. As a freelance artist, Smith’s paintings were used in advertisements in magazines such as Western Horseman and Extension. Smith, alongside Gus Levy and Ted Drell, developed a showcase of 40 art directors and artists in the New Orleans area that included 140 slides and a 34 minute soundtrack that was presented to the Ad Club.

Artist and designer Byron Levy (1921-2015) was President of the Alco Paper Company, a Louisiana-based company founded by his father. Levy received a B.A. in Engineering at Tulane University in 1941. He also served as President of the Southern Paper Trade Association. His sketches and paintings have been exhibited in galleries, museums, and the Times-Picayune. Ted Drell was a highly successful illustrator for commercial use in New Orleans. His style was realistic with a flair for a positive aspect on the subject.

In 1999, ADDA was officially chartered as the New Orleans chapter of American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA). The AIGA was initially founded in 1914 and is one of the oldest and largest design associations.