Ad Age’s Creatives to Watch in 2026 features three standout TAI alumni. Their work is shaping culture and redefining what’s possible in advertising. Meet the TAI alums who made the cut:
Randall Kenworthy: Creative Director, Laughlin Constable (Chicago)
TAI Alum, Class of 2010, LinkedIn
Randall is a talented writer whose career remains closely connected to the SMU alumni network. He currently works at Laughlin Constable, an agency owned by SMU alum Patrick Laughlin and home to several TAI graduates. Before moving to Chicago, Randall built his foundation at leading Texas agencies including The Richards Group, GSD&M, and TM Advertising, and later refined his voice in-house at Beam Suntory. Since joining LC in 2019, he has led impactful work for brands such as DampRid, True Value, Jewelers Mutual, and Vienna Beef. TAI previously spotlighted his work on Laughlin Constable’s MasterLock campaign.
A 2025 campaign he’s proud of:
Randall led the creative team behind DampRid’s “Get Rid of the Damp” campaign, from pitch to production. While the work delivered impressive performance metrics, what stands out most to him is something harder to quantify: creating an idea people love enough to quote, and “seeing how proud the team is when someone does,” he says, is the real win.
Work he admired recently:
Ikea’s “Sleep Talk Reviews” by Rethink stood out for its simple human insight, proving mattress comfort by capturing people sleep-talking in unfamiliar environments.
What excites him about 2026:
With AI expanding access to creation, Kenworthy sees a new challenge for creatives: imagining ideas so distinctive they rise above the noise. “The bar is higher,” he says, and that’s exactly what makes it exciting.
Jordan Chlapecka: Creative Director, Momentum Worldwide (New York)
TAI Alum, Class of 2011, LinkedIn
Jordan has been a tireless advocate for TAI graduates, serving as a bridge between SMU and the advertising industry. He has supported several students post-graduation, recently served on the Meadows 2050 Council, and will return to campus this May as the Meadows commencement speaker. A creative director at Momentum Worldwide, Jordan works across brands like American Express, Samsung, and IBM, but his storytelling doesn’t stop there. He’s also the co-artistic director of immersive theater company Linked, a fourth-generation farmer, and a builder of experiences that blur the line between advertising, culture, and performance.
A 2025 campaign he’s proud of:
“World to Table” for Delta and American Express transformed food into a form of travel. Inspired by the idea that a single bite can transport you to another place or time, the experience immersed card members in global cultures without leaving their city, deepening emotional connections between brand, traveler, and destination.
Work he admired recently:
The Wild Optimists (Juliana Moreno and Ariel Rubin) impressed Jordan with their playful, intuitive approach to experience design, creating moments that feel just outside the expected and tap into people’s love of play.
What excites him about 2026:
He’s watching Netflix House closely. If successful, it could become a modern blueprint for large-scale world-building, where content, commerce, and experience exist as one cohesive ecosystem.
Sandra Jurado: Creative Director, 72andSunny (New York)
TAI Alum, Class of 2014, LinkedIn
Sandra has built an impressive career as an art director and creative director across iconic agencies and creative boutiques. She remains actively engaged with the TAI community and joined us at our 2024 Alumni event in New York City, where she connected with and advised current students. Now a creative lead on Panera at 72andSunny (alongside Amy Finn-Welch), Sandra brings her background as an art director and designer to work that blends pop culture, humor, and brand truth.
A 2025 campaign she’s proud of:
Panera’s “Fall For Your Favorites Meal” starring Gilmore Girls alums Matt Czuchry and Jared Padalecki perfectly captured what audiences care about: cozy fall vibes, comfort food, and just enough internet humor. Even non-fans could enjoy watching two grown men debate fall soups, proof that insight-driven fun still wins.
Work she admired recently:
From Isle of Any’s “Men of NY” stock ticker for A24’s The Materialists to Meg Stalter’s Diet Coke dress at the Las Culturistas Culture Awards, Jurado celebrates ideas that are visual, unexpected, and culturally fluent (even when they don’t look like traditional ads).
What excites her about 2026:
Her answer is simple: less serious, more fun!
A huge congratulations to Randall, Jordan, and Sandra on being named Ad Age Creatives to Watch in 2026! We’re so proud to call you TAI alumni and can’t wait to see what you create next!
