Yeah, I love New York. Despite my torn ACL, the last 24 hours have been unbelievable. I am filled to the brim with excitement. I know I’m an outsider to this industry but I kind of love that. I am learning something new every minute. Initially I was apprehensive. At our team’s first brainstorming session I had a lot of ideas but they came from a perspective that is very different from an ad student. I now understand that this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. As I sit here practicing for our pitch on Tuesday I feel very grateful that I was able to contribute.
Peri Langlois
Rising Tides
Surround yourself with people who wake up at 4:30am and can’t wait to start working on the airplane. The ones you bounce ideas with over bowls of Rice Krispies and edit copy with as you’re brushing your teeth. People who think deck organization is as fun as you do and pitches are an underrated form of performance art.
Energy and optimism are rising tides.
Hannah Lewman 05.07.2017
Advertising: A Love Story
My path to advertising was by no means direct. As wholeheartedly in love with my choice of career as I am, it was a journey filled with the roses and thorns of any relationship, and here’s how it began.
The flirtationship blossomed when I realized it was possible to make a living by producing creative content for brands. I knew I belonged in the industry of ideas like Bey belonged with Jay circa 1999, but I wrestled with the stereotypes, overly skinny girls and flawed messaging pushed by bad advertising. Instead, I wanted to be Facebook Official with a career that made people feel good about themselves and produced something more meaningful than “buy this and you’ll look like our 6′4,” -6 pound model eating a burger.”
At the middle of my junior year a shift occurred. I began to have faith in an industry that was also going through a shift of it’s own.
Dr. Carl Marci describes this in an article on Digital Trends when he states, “There’s no question we’ve seen a migration from ‘guys who watch football’ featuring humor, beer, and scantily clad women to something far more mature.”
While bad advertising still exists, and at least for some part always will exist, I see an increasing amount of agencies creating complex art rather than basic content. Sex is being replaced with wit, which is undoubtedly sexy in it’s own right, and creativity is now a commodity.
My journey to advertising was one my parents didn’t initially approve of for reasons previously stated, but they now see it’s beauty. Advertising can whistle blow social injustices while simultaneously making light humor of diner breakfasts (yooo @DennysDiner). Because of this, advertising is 100% it’s own and 150% the love of my life.
Mary Beth Carroll
Fear.
I’m here. I guess this is really happening. Cold feet don’t do justice to the apprehension I felt the night of my departure. Filling my iPhone with notes telling of my worry did little to alleviate the stress I felt, (big shocker, right?) but upon landing, I felt strangely at peace. I’m prepared. I’m ready for this. And I’m hungry. Not to prove that I know everything, because believe me, I don’t. I’m hungry for the opportunity to engage with brilliant minds that actively play a role in shaping our culture. As I close my eyes, the flicker of anxiety remains. At least tonight, there is no room for self-doubt. I’m here, I’m committed, and I won’t back down now.
Aiden Long
5.6.17
As a writer, I always carry a book with me in order to inspire or entertain. With a place as inspiring as New York, various authors have tried to express their own connection with the city. Here are a few of my favorites:
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
Jazz by Toni Morrison
M Train by Patti Smith
As we are about to venture and express ourselves and our experiences, I look to these amazing authors as inspiration on how to write for a city as great at New York.
Amelia Inouye // 5/6/17
Why you should go to a Yankees game even if you hate baseball.
I was raised in the arctic tundra also known as Minneapolis, Minnesota. For the 6 months in Winter all we know is hockey, because there is literally nothing else to do when it is -10 degrees outside. However, when all hope is lost and we forgot that grass exists, the snow melts and spring is finally upon us.
Baseball is always the first activity we can do outside for an extended amount of time without dying of frostbite. I am not an avid baseball fan (probably because the Twins suck) but I am a massive supporter of fresh air, hotdogs, and an overpriced beer. The New York Yankees are arguably the most iconic and historic sports team in United States history. Whether or not you enjoy baseball, tickets to Yankee Stadium can be purchased for less than what you will be spending on an average dinner in NYC.
I know I will be at the game against the Houston Astros on Friday May 12 and hope to see many fellow creative Ducks there too.
5/6/2017
Alek Weltin
The five traveler archetypes
- The exhausted
We’ve all been here. With their sore feet up and their eyes closed in a “don’t mess with me” kind of way, we don’t know their struggle but we can all relate. Don’t initiate conversation with them, they don’t want to hear it - The “this is the fourth time I’ve been at this airport in two weeks”
This person is probably wearing a suit, typing on their computer looking like they’re very important. They may or may not be wearing sunglasses inside. Don’t initiate conversation with them, just like the exhausted traveler, they don’t want to hear it. - The newbee
This is the person looking nervously at the terminal gate while clasping their boarding pass for their own life. They look around to see what they need to be doing at all times. Don’t be afraid to reach out to this traveler, because they will attach themselves to you as their protector. - The adventurer
This person is probably wearing comfortable clothes and look like their passport has way more stamps than yours. They always have a good story to tell. Depending on the adventurer, they may or may not grace you with their tales. - The overly-cautious (could also be the newbee)
This person has been at the airport for 4 hours already and they are sitting as close to the gate as possible in case they miss an important announcement. They run back and forth to the bathroom because each precious minute wasted away from the gate is another minute of risk. They will probably ask you if you are going to the same place as them in order to double-check.
Amelia Inouye // 5/6/17
New York, New York
Pictured: A small fish market on Mott St. in Chinatown.
Today marks my first ever visit to the East Coast, and I was lucky enough to spend it exploring New York City. This place is everything I had imagined it to be and more. I spent the day roaming around the city and eventually stopped for dinner at a delicious dim sum restaurant in Chinatown. It is fascinating to observe the cultural mix within this space. Each block seems to hold its own micro culture - filled all sorts of people.
Looking forward to exploring more tomorrow!
05.06.2017
Macy Naughton
One of my most fond memories of UO NYC 2016 was eating Dim Sum with good folks such as Kyra and Jack. So I decided to share the experience with Macy upon our arrival earlier this afternoon, being this is her first time over to the East Coast. With empty stomachs and minds on finding that cute alley in Chinatown with the good food, was at top priority today. We successfully navigated the subway from our hotel and ordered a meal worthy of full fulfillment without breaking our banks - pork buns being a part of the feast.
One aspect of New York I really appreciate is the collaboration of cultures. In such short distance you can find authentic food from around the world and meet people who learned the craft in their native country. Learning about different backgrounds, and cultures is easy to do in New York with the right introductions. I look forward to a full week of learning more about what makes the city a hub for the world to reconvene.
Stephanie Hastings 5/6/2017 #uonyc2017
The Best Places to Watch Sunrise/Set
“Producers” and instal-fanatics, this one is for you. Thanks to a lovely article I found on the internet, and some other not-so-scholarly research, these are the top 7 most wonderful places to sit, watch, and shoot a sunrise in New York City:
1. Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Center) This one came up on all the lists. I’m going, I hope some of y’all join me!
2. Brooklyn Bridge Park
3. Coney Island (I was planning on going here anyway so if anyone wants to shoot some sunsets hmu)
4. The Staten Island Ferry! Tom would be proud!
5. Top of the E.S. Building. Probably dumb and generic but like hey we’re technically tourists so might as well commit.
6. The Flatiron building. I guess if you can get to the roof, it’s amazing.
7. Brooklyn Heights Promenade. Apparently this has killer views of the light hitting the city, you just have to get there early enough.
WOOOOOOO. Photograph away! Caleb Couturie 5.6.2017