Virginia Beach video production agency wins Gold Hermes Award

Kevin Makes Sense Media earned a 2026 Gold Hermes Award for a campaign created for D.C. Prime in Ashburn, Virginia. The win recognizes a strategic video effort tied to the restaurant’s newsletter and online video series, a category that drew more than 6,000 entries worldwide.

Why it matters: - The award gives Kevin Makes Sense Media international recognition in a crowded creative field. - The winning work was tied to a business result: growing D.C. Prime’s newsletter subscriber base. - The honor reflects how video campaigns are being used to support audience growth, not just brand awareness.

What happened: - Hermes Creative Awards named Kevin Makes Sense Media a 2026 Gold Hermes Award winner. - The winning entry was produced for D.C. Prime, a Northern Virginia steakhouse near Washington, D.C. - The award was in the Strategic & Integrated Campaigns category. - The competition drew more than 6,000 entries from the United States, Canada and 29 other countries. - Entries came from corporate marketing and communication teams, advertising agencies, PR firms, design shops, production companies and freelancers.

The details: - The campaign promoted D.C. Prime’s digital newsletter, “The Prime Insider.” - The video also supported the restaurant’s online video series, “Rick’s Picks.” - The series is hosted by D.C. Prime owner Rick Crowe. - Kevin Makes Sense Media President and CEO Kevin Neff said he was proud of the video and especially pleased with the results it produced for the newsletter subscriber base. - Hermes Creative Awards is administered and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals. - The organization says it is an international group made up of thousands of creative professionals. - AMCP oversees awards and recognition programs and provides experienced judges. - Hermes Creative Awards posts a full list of Platinum and Gold winners on its website, More information.

Between the lines: - The award suggests the campaign was judged on both creative execution and measurable marketing impact. - The focus on integrated campaigns points to work that connected video, newsletter growth and broader promotion rather than a single standalone asset. - For a regional production firm, an international win can strengthen credibility with local, regional and national clients.

What's next: - Kevin Makes Sense Media can use the award as third-party validation in future pitches and client marketing. - D.C. Prime can continue building around the newsletter and video series that helped support the campaign. - Hermes Creative Awards will continue recognizing additional Platinum and Gold winners in the 2026 competition cycle.

The bottom line: - Kevin Makes Sense Media turned a restaurant marketing video into an international award winner with a clear business outcome attached.