When a small Virginia Beach production outfit beats out more than 6,000 entries from 29 countries, it’s worth a closer look. Kevin Makes Sense Media didn’t just win any industry trophy — it took home a Gold Hermes Award for a video campaign built around a steakhouse’s digital newsletter, proving that creative storytelling still cuts through the noise.
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA, UNITED STATES, November 11, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — The Hermes Creative Awards, an international competition judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP), announced the winners of its 2026 program. These honors celebrate creative excellence across traditional and emerging media, while also recognizing the philanthropic drive behind many marketing and communication campaigns worldwide.
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Kevin Makes Sense Media, led by President and CEO Kevin Neff, received a GOLD HERMES Award in the ‘Strategic & Integrated Campaigns’ category. The winning entry was a video produced for Northern Virginia’s acclaimed restaurant D.C. Prime. The project aimed to boost subscribers for the restaurant’s digital newsletter, ‘The Prime Insider,’ and promoted its online video series “Rick’s Picks,” hosted by owner Rick Crowe. This year’s competition drew over 6,000 submissions from corporate marketing departments, ad agencies, PR firms, design studios, production companies, and freelancers across the United States, Canada, and 29 other nations.
“I am so proud of the video we produced for Rick and his team at D.C. Prime,” Neff said. “But as much as we are excited about winning the award, we are even more happy with the results the video has produced for growing their newsletter subscriber base.”
The Hermes Creative Awards are administered by the AMCP, an international organization of creative professionals. The association oversees multiple recognition programs, assembles panels of experienced judges, and shines a light on individuals and organizations that elevate the marketing and communications field.
A full roster of Platinum and Gold Winners can be found on the Hermes Creative Awards website at www.hermesawards.com.
About D.C. Prime — D.C. Prime is a modern, upscale fine dining steakhouse offering premium-cut steaks, fresh seafood, and award-winning wines. It is located near Washington, D.C., in Ashburn, Virginia.
About Kevin Makes Sense Media — Kevin Makes Sense Media is an award-winning full-service video production and branding firm based in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The company says its “outside the box” creativity makes it the branding and marketing firm of choice for businesses, entrepreneurs, and professionals seeking to stand out. It provides custom multimedia solutions for local, regional, and national clients.
Kevin Neff
Kevin Makes Sense Media
+1 757-213-6955
info@kevinmakessense.com
The ‘Prime Insider’ Teaser
Why it matters: This award shows that small, independent production shops can compete on a global stage — and win — by focusing on measurable client results rather than just flashy production. It also underscores how a well-crafted video strategy can turn a simple newsletter into a powerful customer-growth tool for local businesses.
