Purdue Brand Studio earns global honors

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue Brand Studio, Purdue University’s full-service, in-house marketing agency, was named April 10 as the No. 2 top agency globally, and No. 1 in the United States, in the 2026 MUSE Creative Awards — a prestigious international advertising awards platform celebrating excellence and innovation in the realms of creative design, advertising and digital media.

Purdue is the only U.S. university agency to earn a spot on the marketing list.

This recognition places Purdue Brand Studio ahead of many global commercial creative firms that serve brands like Porsche, Red Bull and Dell Technologies.

“Once again, this recognition by MUSE reflects Purdue Brand Studio as not only a leader in higher education, but a competitor on the global stage,” said Kelly Hiller, Purdue’s chief marketing officer. “Our team continually pursues strategic, creative ways to elevate Purdue’s visibility while embracing bold, authentic storytelling that drives attention, earns credibility and delivers impact.”

The MUSE awards offer three levels of recognition: platinum, gold and silver. Purdue received 11 individual awards for projects and campaigns that blend brand excellence with audience resonance.

Winning entries

“Stranger Things” culture campaign — Purdue won two platinum awards for its integrated campaign inspired by the hit show “Stranger Things,” set in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana. The campaign transformed nostalgia into purposeful, cinematic storytelling with retro aesthetics. Timed to the show’s three-part finale release, Purdue delivered a capsule merchandise collection and revived a beloved hero spot that explored the real-world science behind the show.

“This Is Where” — Winner of two MUSE platinum awards, this flagship enterprise campaign positioned Purdue as an innovation partner for both corporate and academic audiences. The marketing team embraced a true B2B approach and featured real partnerships with Eli Lilly and Company, Wabash, Rolls-Royce, and others.

Admissions website — In 2025, Purdue Brand Studio reimagined more than 350 admissions webpages. The yearlong effort earned two gold awards for transforming how prospective students and families experience Purdue for the first time. The new website features brighter, more relatable design and warmer, more conversational copy. The experience was unified across digital and newly redesigned print recruitment materials, ensuring consistency at every touchpoint.

Sunnie x Purdue partnership — Purdue is the exclusive education partner of Sunnie, a Gen Z media platform created by Hello Sunshine, which was founded by Reese Witherspoon. Sunnie helps young women reimagine what’s possible for their futures — particularly in STEM, creativity and career exploration. The partnership earned a gold MUSE Award for its integrated effort to bridge arts and sciences, introducing Purdue not just as a university but as a launchpad of curiosity, experimentation and bold futures.

“Dear Younger Me” — The marketing team also won two gold awards for the social-first “Dear Younger Me” video series designed specifically for Gen Z audiences as part of Purdue’s partnership with Sunnie. Purdue students were invited to write and read letters to their younger selves. Through these letters, young women in STEM shared the lessons they wish they had known earlier, capturing honest reflections on doubt, growth, resilience and ambition.

PSA spot — Boiler Up! — Purdue Brand Studio earned two gold awards for its 30-second television PSA, which aired during every major Big Ten Conference football and basketball game. The marketing team deviated from the typical university PSA formula and opted for a cinematic, emotionally charged spot built around one unifying idea: the rallying cry that connects all Purdue fans: “Boiler Up!”

In addition to MUSE Creative Awards, Purdue Brand Studio has earned national and global recognition from industry leaders and publications, including Global Brands Magazine, which named Purdue the Most Trusted University Brand in the United States.

Purdue Brand Studio also was named a 2026 Top Place to Work in Communications by Ragan, a premier media and professional development company. This distinction honors Purdue Brand Studio for clarity of mission, leadership support and continuous growth, and affirms that Purdue is a place where communicators and marketers feel valued, challenged and empowered to do meaningful work. 

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a public research university leading with excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities in the United States, Purdue discovers, disseminates and deploys knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 106,000 students study at Purdue across multiple campuses, locations and modalities, including more than 57,000 at our main campus locations in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 14 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap — including its integrated, comprehensive Indianapolis urban expansion; the Mitch Daniels School of Business; Purdue Computes; and the One Health initiative — at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.