Diversity
Some agencies seem to be more diverse than others, but being an Asian American, I did not see much representation. Although it may be a growing thing to push diversity through these firms it makes me wonder why there are not many Asians in the field. It also makes me wonder how these agencies are able to authenticate diversity and have that conversation when not all races are represented. There were only two agencies that really stood out to me when it came to the topic of race. A really good way to discuss diversity is to just talk about it and create a conversation. Hopefully some stuff changes, or I would love to shake some things up.
Thien Vo
Starr Media
Although many bigger companies have clients who are large, Starr provided a glimpse into how smaller firms are still able to do big things. It was cool to see a room about the size of the j cage producing high quality work (I don’t know if I can talk about them). Paul was really honest and inspiring. He kept reminding us that as producers the market may be saturated but just as long as we specialize in one thing and make it the very best we could make it. With this man’s drive and determination, it felt reassuring. I can see this company breaking through soon and becoming a cool place to produce content for.
Thien Vo
Agency Funded Personal Projects
As a creative we are always encouraged to continue creating personal projects outside of work. Not only does it help us grow and gain new creative skills, it also keeps us sane. At each agency visit I made sure to ask if there was a program in place for the agency to support personal projects, if the idea was strong enough. I believe that when an agency supports personal projects it generates an energizing agency environment and increases the mental health of the creatives. All of this concluding to better creative work both in and outside of the agency. Anomaly is an example of this, they have a program in place for agency funded personal projects. Creatives can pitch their ideas and if the agency sees potential it will invest in the idea.
Femke Paanakker
With 100+ people on the trip, it became hard to truly look around and appreciate all the city had to offer.
Getting lost on the subway by myself was absolutely terrifying, but ended up being one of the best experiences of my life to date.
South Ferry, the last stop on the subway I stumbled onto, was home to some of New York City’s oldest buildings, streets and bars. Even George Washington walked the same cobble stone streets in 1789 when he was inaugurated as the first President of the United States. Pretty cool stuff!
Battery Park, just outside the South Ferry station is where the history of New York began. The park got its name from the artillery batteries that were positioned there to protect and defend the settlement and new city. “The Battery” is one of the cities oldest public parks and considered the hub of cultural tourism to the millions of people who visit each year. The view was worth the stress and arguments with Siri.
So, I guess my advice to you is to brace yourself, get lost and stay curious.
Hailey Geller
5.15.17
In 7 days
In 7 days, I …
1. Visited 10 agencies in 5 days
2. Found myself fell in love with this city in the first few days
3. Had so many good food.
4. Became an early bird and loved it for a while
5. Got lost for a million times with my GPS on
6. Walked as fast as I could but still behind everyone
7. Got used to the city and knew how to navigate myself around
8. Still got lost, so I decided to walk most of the time
9. Hate it for a moment
10. Ran into Ducks on the street and yelled “ GO DUCKS!”
11. Had small talks with people
12. Started to feel comfortable with this busy life
13. And, now I am in Eugene and think about the life that i had in the past 7 days !!!!!!
-Quyen Tran
10 Insights Learned
1. I’m in the right industry for my own interests and skills.
2. Don’t put as many exclamation marks in emails. It’s okay to be enthusiastic, but it’s better to be professional.
3. My book is fine, but I have a ways to go to make it great.
4. Yes, I’m a copywriter, but it’s okay to look into other skills as well.
5. When networking, it’s great to be more interested, and less interesting.
6. Persistence, persistence, persistence.
7. Be genuine and friendly to everyone you meet. This industry is a small network of people who know each other.
8. Make note of names and remember them. Everyone says this is an important practice, but actually do it!
9. Asking is for free.
10. Leave a campsite cleaner than you found it.
Mary Beth Carroll
Checkmate
I am cheating the system. Choosing a creative path in advertising is like squeezing through a tiny crevis in order to pass through an enormous wall that everyone, not in advertising, seems to struggle over to get to their career. In college, students are scraping by each week piled high with egregious books to study and tests to take. Yet, here I am at a coffee shop filling in pages of notebooks with sketches and ideas. I’m not taking or learning already processed and regurgitated thoughts, but rather I am bullshitting my way through my life and producing my own ideas. How fair is that? I wonder whether others just haven’t realized that there is this amazingly creative life that could fill their minds with inspiration and excitement, but they just don’t know about it. This life where instead of studying equations and theories, we take the world that we experience and produce art and culture. I feel as if I am in a secret club where all of my interests and hopes have morphed into a perfect career. I cheated the system because I shouldn’t adore work this much.
Devyn Holbrook
a week in new york
In seven days in the concrete jungle I:
-ran to and from the Roosevelt to Grand Central to get footage with my team for our Wieden project.
-collaborated with my team in a hotel room to make a deadline.
-watched street performers jump over six people at a time.
-walked the Brooklyn bridge.
-made new friendships.
-watched the Yankees play in Yankee’s stadium.
-visited 10 agencies and learned more about advertising than I ever could in a classroom.
-felt humbled by the creativity and compassion of those around me.
-fell in love with the city.
Danielle Stipe
While at TBWA, Doug Melville told us about disruption culture in advertising. He said that there is a place where everyone is doing and making the same thing, a place where you look to the future, and right in the middle of that is disruption. Disruption does not create ads rather it uses advertising as a tool to solve broader issues.
-Katie Leimbach
thank you
As I drove to the Portland airport last week I was listening to a podcast and this quote by Martin Luther King Jr. echoed over the sound waves. “In the end were will not remember the words of our enemies and silence.” This quote stuck out to me and I wrote it down as on not to forget. I had not known it at the time but this quote would ring true and be the sentiment of our creative week. The advertising community is all about speaking what is on your mind. This is something that I will continue to always strive to work at. However, there is a big difference between adding to the conversation and an incessant need to be heard. It is important to realize where you stand and how you can grow as both a communicator and as a human as these are skills that will continue to be essential as we enter into the ambiguity of our careers. The act of speaking my mind is something I still struggle with on a daily basis. The little voice in my head telling me, “It doesn’t matter.” or “There is always next time.” But I look to this quote and remember that in order to do something substantial in life, you need to step out of your comfort zone and be heard. So thank you for this lesson, to my fellow friends and professors of this week.
-Key Higdon