Here it is folks, my new online portfolio. I created it completely on my own using Adobe Dreamweaver, and am doing the hosting myself as well. It is nowhere near being complete and you will find a number of broken links, but at least it is finally up and running!I have put a lot of work into it thus far, and I will continue to put a lot of time and energy into this portfolio until it is perfect! Enjoy!
All I can say is, “WOW!”
This has easily been the most fun and inspiring class of my college career thus far. My mind has been blown away by many of the industries most intelligent and creative persons. For the first time in my life, I feel like I now have a structured outlook of how agencies operate and where I can fit into the equation.
Special, special thanks to the following people for making this the best class ever!
Now that this concludes my blog requirements for J456: Creative Strategy, I will no longer be doing blog posts relating to #UOcreativestrat. From now on, this blog will serve as a medium for my own personal thoughts and beliefs about the world of advertising.
In the beginning of the term, Professor Deborah Morrison introduced us to her book, “The Creative Process Illustrated: How Advertising’s Big Ideas Are Born.” The book contains illustrations by a number of men and women working in the advertising industry.
Here is my creative process illustrated:
On Thursday we had the privilege of listening to the wise words of Tracy Wong, a creative director from WDCW Agency. I really enjoyed what he had to say, because I feel like it focused more on the creative process, whereas most of our other guest speakers focused on building brands. Here are three big ideas I took away from his presentation:
1. Don’t have a big ego. Let go of it. Ego hides opportunities and blocks ideas. Don’t be an asshole. It’s not about the idea, rather it’s about the process.
2. 99% of success comes from strategy. The greatest creative tool an advertiser has is his or her ears. Knowledge talks. Wisdom Listens.
3. Embrace compromise. Engage in the democracy of good ideas. We > Me. There’s no “I” in “Team,” but there is in “Prick.”
This is a really interesting infographic I found on mediabistro.com
Not only do I find the content to be interesting, but it is also pretty relevant for understanding the future of advertising. The design/layout of this infographic is also really cool!
If there is any perk to having the flu, it’s the ability to watch a lot of TV without feeling lazy.
I’ve been posted-up on the couch for a few days now. The coffee table is my giant workspace and the surrounding floor is covered in Kleenex. I’ve been watching my fare share of SportsCenter, and, of course, re-runs of Cops. While I like to think I watch these programs for their ‘educational’ and ‘entertaining’ values, I’m really more engaged in criticizing the ads I see during the commercials—something I’ve been doing since I was a little kid.
Anyways, out of all the commercials I’ve seen over the past few days, Carl’s Jr. wins for biggest shock value. The two ads below are new commercial by the fast food restaurant, and have taken the belief that “sex sells” to a whole new level. The ads are for their Southweast Patty Melt, and they feature more celebrities bending over for cheeseburgers. Check it out:
1.
2.
(I can’t find any online versions of their other most recent ad, but I can describe it in a short sentence: its 30 seconds of a girl getting off to the jalapeños in the Patty Melt, with text reading “Jalapen O-Face.” I’ll update the blog with the video once I find a copy on YouTube).
These ads are the epitome of selling with sex.The first commercial with Kate Upton reminds me of their old commercial with Paris Hilton washing a car. It’s just a girl bending over in skimpy clothing. Not much creativity or thought, just “sex sells hamburgers”—but that’s Carl’s Jr. The “Jalapen-O-Face” spot, however, took it a little too far. I do find it hilarious and more creative than their other crap, but it’s a little too rated-R. In fact, I can imagine it getting pulled off the air soon. If not, the question is: how far will they go next?
Skullcandy sounds like the coolest place to work. When I graduate college, I hope to find an agency with a policy like these guys:
(Photo and info from Transworld, http://bit.ly/wL6Fhp)
It sounds like Skullcandy is committed to its employees living the culture of the brand they are selling. To me, this would be the ultimate work environment for an agency. People don’t feel happy in a cubicle because the environment sucks and you feel restricted. A working environment should be open and unbound. If I could work at a place like Skullcandy, I would be very content.
Work hard and play hard—not all great ideas are born behind a desk.
“In the twenty-first century marketplace, the companies that will flourish are those that build great brands—brands that are widely desired, trusted, and enduring.” – A New Brand World.
Scott Bedbury is a god. I just finished his book, A New Brand World, and I am blown away by his knowledge and understanding of what makes a good brand. I cannot express how lucky we were to have Scott come speak with our class. But I can share a few thoughts of his that I have taken to heart:
1. Be a BRAND not a provider. This is what excelled Bedbury’s work in branding Starbucks—he realized Starbucks wasn’t in the coffee business to serve people, but rather in the people business to serve coffee.
2. It’s not what you do, but how you do it. There is a higher purpose than making money. Understand the “Triple Bottom Line”: You can’t measure your success by monetary values alone, but also you’re impact on the environment and you’re impact on people.
3. Focus on the CONSUMER, not the competition. Don’t tell people how your brand is better than others, instead just tell people how you can genuinely improve their life regardless of what other brands are doing. If you really find it necessary to say something about a competitor, you better have a sense of humor—and use it.
4. Be fully present in the moments that matter most.
James Russell Lowell
Ok, what the fuck is going on in this commercial? Haha. This is the most recent commercial by Kayak and I honestly have no idea what is going on. I’ve generally been impressed by the spots Kayak has been putting out recently (Brain Surgeon, Five Man Search) but this one is just too fucking weird. But for some reason, I just can’t stop watching it—it’s just hilariously zany. Thought I’d share.
