Jared Hughes Portfolio

Earlier this year, McDonald’s dropped the first ever McDonald’s All American Games Happy Meal. Lucky me was drafted to be the campaign’s creative director. 

As high school phenoms were named All Americans, we used Happy Meal to introduce the event to kids and let them know they’ve got “NEXT.” 

This mantra served as the playbook for how we wanted to inspire the next generation of hoopers. Also cemented Happy Meal as the start of the basketball journey and the constant that is there every part of the way. Jayson Tatum's living proof. 

Since this Happy Meal was a McDonald's All-American Games first, we went all in to make it feel special and big in culture. Just peep the box. So much aura as the kids would say. 

But the real fun got started as we put kids in action with iconic basketball toys featuring a hoop, launcher and basketball. Fans we’re lovin’ it.

We also created a CLASSIC integrated digital experience that turned the toy into an arcade pop-a-shot when paired with your phone or tablet. The device kept score and gave sound effects like you were in the game. Genius, right?

The team took the experience to the next level with fire court designs and even a half time show inspired by games kids see on TV.

At every part of the campaign, we were able to get support from some of the game's best. Fans saw McDAAG alumni hyping the Happy Meal up via social, on the Times Square billboard and in TV.

And how can you not love Melo going shots for fries. Stuff of legends.