UNC Charlotte alumnus Curtis Petraglia was named one of Business Insider magazine’s “30 Most Creative People in Advertising Under 30” earlier this year. The list is based on advertising agency and peer nominations, as well as the magazine’s own research into candidate’s awards and campaigns. Curtis completed his BFA in Studio Art with a Concentration in Graphic Design in 2010.
Curtis is a Senior Art Director at Deutsch LA in Los Angeles. Before joining this national agency, Curtis worked for BooneOakley in Charlotte and Goodness MFG in Los Angeles. He has worked on advertising campaigns for numerous national brands, including Snapple, Dr Pepper, 7Up, Cheerwine, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Nintendo, Toshiba, Fiat-Chrysler and The Charlotte Hornets.
Curtis has received considerable national and international recognition for the creative work he has produced solo and with his professional partner, Andrew Kong. This work has received a D&AD Wood Pencil from the British Design & Art Direction organization; a Merit Award from The One Show, produced by New York’s The One Club and Art Director’s Club; and Shortlist recognition from Cannes Lions, the international festival of creativity in advertising, among many others.
Despite this busy schedule of creative endeavor, Curtis still finds time to visit and contribute to UNC Charlotte. While in town recently to deliver a keynote to the Charlotte chapter of the American Advertising Federation, Curtis made time to visit senior-level students in UNC Charlotte’s graphic design program to talk about his career in design and advertising.