CW vs. AD: Brain battle

Tiffany and CO. how me and my partner interpreted our concept. The stereotypes are true!

Same same, but different.

As the weather gets better so does my attitude.

Its spring Yeah!!

Virginia has some amazing spring weather, we play 4 square and frisbee, lounge in the sun, and pray from the summer.

I met with Daniela Montanez an Art Director at Martin working on the Wal-Mart account. It was a really nice treat to meet and talk with someone young successful and in the industry.

Its good to hear stories about the industry from someone on the inside. I loved her views on Martin and their attitude torward their employees. It really changed my view of them and their work. They really are interested in top quality work.

Most importantly though was how nice and helpful she is. In between all the stories about egos and assholes, layoffs and horror clients, its so important to find people who ask you "Is there anything I can do to help?"

I didnt know how to respond to that, Its not a common question to get here. I was floored. I have to admit it. I am really excited to have someone to talk to and help me with my first steps into this crazy world.

Enjoy the good weather people!

Back on the trail again.

I've taken some time off to relax and get ready for the final push. All the internship books are out across the nation. Im excited and scared about what could be coming back.

School however continues without worry or care over the summer. You would think that it would lighten up or slow down, but I was wrong.

I am utterly convinced that this main purpose of this school is to beat the living shit out of you so hard, that when you get there on your first day at Agency XYZ you are the most eager, fire-tested, competent junior to enter the doors. And I've got the bruises to prove it.

The projects now come with a new deadline one week at a time, two clients for each, along with presentations, brand books, and a random art project or two. Not to mention that little thing called life. Back on the trail, let the old bruises heal and brace for the next.

The Future of Agency Presentation

From a recent conference SWSX. Thanks to Influx for this video.

Deck Wars!

Awesome

Great site full of pics like this:


Beautiful and impossible to believe that this stuff is out there. New astronomy pics every day.

Gen-Y Marketing according to P&G

This is a presentation by David Knox. Procter and Gamble's Wal-Mart and Fem Care Brand Manager. Pretty amazing this comes from a client. Not surprisingly its from P&G who was always been at the forefront of marketing. Hits us pretty much on the head.

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This table is too important, but we all respect it.

These tables hold the books of most of the people here. Its alot of hard work in each one. All nighters. Screaming matches. Random guesses and print issues abound.

And I hate them all.

Everyone has their high hopes for great internships in great shops around the world. When I walked into school today to drop mine off I felt confident. I had a good book I thought. After walking up to the folder and pulling out some other people going after the same positions I realized I hated them all. It's not the best feeling but these people are your competition and it really hurts to open a book and you know its better than yours. The "Oh Shit" alarm goes off full blast.

I was shocked by the talent that the art directors but into their books. (Don't worry CW's your words were damn good too). Great layouts, perfect bound books, full bleeds, art pieces inserted in, quality paper. Damn.

I shouldn't worry too much, I have a good book and its mostly nerves. But there is a part of my brain that wishes they all would accidentally fall out of the truck on their way.

Its a dog eat dog world, but its not fair when the rest of the dogs are your friends and coworkers.

Guilty as charged.

"Please, let's make this one the last ad with Rorschach ink blots."

Damn the caught me.

"Hopefully this will be the last generation that makes ads with family trees."

The book is complete. Now i need a job.

I finished my internship book. I hadn't done one since I graduated from UOP. I forgot how much fun and how much a pain they can be. Its a alot of fun to put something together that represents your work but also stressful to find a good simple balance that looks good.

Now comes the guessing game of where I would like to go:

SF, NYC, Chicago, other? I've only got 7 books so I have to choose carefully.

There's a lot of good spots around the country, I would be lucky to go to any of them, so I'm going to have to narrow it down quickly. Most of the spots are due on monday so the next couple days are going to be a mad-house here while everyone scrambles to get their ducks in a row.

Absolut (ly Hilarious!!!) Sorry about that.

This is a real ad paid for by absolut vodka. THe requirements were they had to mention the product, and that was it, no restrictions. There's a client I would like to work for.

Starring Steve Galifinakis and Tim and Eric.

The End of Media Buying

The future of advertising will be centered around one idea: Information.

Where you've been. What you look at. How long you look at things. What you shop for. Blog information. Myspace/Facebook links. Ebay shopping. The list goes on forever.

Advertising is just beginning to come into its own on the web and is about to start getting sophisticated. When you search the web the sites are mining your computer for information gathering the bread crumbs you leave behind and helps to predict where you're going to go next. This process will allow advertisers to select specific ads that will be targeted for you.

So if you're on Facebook talking about your new puppy, then go to Ebay to look for a new food bowl and then on to yahoo to check you mail, you might be presented with a big Purina Dog Chow ad on Yahoo's home page.

This is all fine and dandy for advertisers. Targeted ads can be charged at premium because of placement, and ROI will be higher theoretically. So who stands to lose?

Media buying companies will not have the data access to compete with the giants. AOL, ABC/Disney/ESPN, Yahoo, Google, and Microsoft have been scrambling to gather as many information and ad media placement shops as they can in the last two years, stockpiling information aligining themselves as the future of online ad placement, pushing the small media buyers out, which includes in house media departments.

“I think a lot of publishers are going to find they don’t have enough data,” said David W. Kenny, chief executive of Digitas, a digital advertising agency in the Publicis Groupe. “There’s only going to be a handful of big players who can manage the data.”

Agencies will now not only have to answer to clients but possibly to Microsoft. Media buyers have gained untold power by courting clients first and then approaching agencies for creative to fit a designed media plan. In the past it was always build creative and fit media around it.

Imagine having to call Microsoft to find out the banner sizes and names you need to program into your banners, or call Yahoo to find out what colors dog lover want to see in their ads. These probably won't happen, but could.

The media world is about to get small, very small, and we're all being watched.

Ugly Mug Coffee

I highly suggest everyone check out the full campaign at adsoftheworld.com.

Great long copy ads that are really well written as well.

Copywriter: Bryan Judkins

Congrats Bryan!

Adobe CS3: Creative License

Agency: Goodby Silverstien & Partners (San Francisco)
Concept: Be as creative as you want/need with Adobe CS3.

What a great simple well executed sites. My favorite this year by far.

Here's the link.

The Benefits of a Normal Life

We don't get much of a normal life here in Richmond. Its usually as follows:

Sleep
School
Eat
Sleep

Usually you cant fit all three into a day, let alone the things that actually mean life:

Movies
Bar Hopping
Friends
Naps
Food
Did I mention Naps?

I decided to do a little more of column B the last week, saw some movies, took naps ate well, went out, and tried not to feel guilty about it and succeeded. And guess what happened?

My work got better.

I thought clearer. Quicker and most importantly was enjoying it. I didn't feel bad about playing 3 games of ping pong followed by an hour of pinball. I'm not punishing myself for not getting any good ideas or doing bad work. I'm finally starting to listen to what everyone has been saying around here:

It's Just advertising.

So enjoy life because advertising is what should be happening in between all the other fun stuff.

Internship Time

A time to brush up on the following skills:

Coffee making abilities.
Memory (Coffee again).
Lip to flesh techniques (kissing ass)
Correct pronunciation of Sir/Mam



Well actually none of these should apply to Brandcenter students. We actually have people that come to us and see if they can get us to apply for their positions, big and small all come to get a chance to show their wares from RGA to Martin here in Richmond.

Its a different feeling to be at a school where people are not only interested in you but some are really interested in having you be there for more than your piss and vinegar. Most of the 2nd years have positive things to say about the experience, but the main idea is that you need to make it a good internship, its not their job.

I have two weeks to put together a book for the agencies I want to go to. The only problem is that I have nothing yet to put in my book. I havent put anything like this together since I graduated as a Graphic Design major years ago, hopefully it will be easier than the last time.

Well I guess spending my spring break in front of my computer will be have to do. I'll have a beer right there as a half reminder about my second to last spring break of my young life.