A collection of insights and inspiration from the 2019 University of Oregon Advertising New York Creative Week trip

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There’s only so much a skype chat with someone in New York can teach you about the ad industry. Their experiences are unique to them. Until I am in the city that is fueled by coffee in an agency face to face with these people, I will not have my own...

There’s only so much a skype chat with someone in New York can teach you about the ad industry. Their experiences are unique to them. Until I am in the city that is fueled by coffee in an agency face to face with these people, I will not have my own experiences. Only then will I be able to understand the notes I wrote in creative strategy during this skype calls. I believe curiosity is strongest when you are in an unfamiliar place. I am unsure of what the week ahead will have for me, but I am sure I look back 10 years from now, thankful for the curiosity that got me here today.

-Justin Hartney

5.05.17

There are 8.491 million different faces you could see while sitting in a coffee shop looking out the window. I wonder how many faces you’d see twice, if any at all. Choosing to notice is one of the most important decisions I’ve ever made. Not...

There are 8.491 million different faces you could see while sitting in a coffee shop looking out the window. I wonder how many faces you’d see twice, if any at all. Choosing to notice is one of the most important decisions I’ve ever made. Not everybody chooses to be aware, to look up, to contact— to be present. But there are places in the world that draw that out of you. I wonder how many things I miss even while my eyes scan the crowds of people that constantly brush past me on every sidewalk and intersection. I could have walked past the person that would impact me like nobody else could; I could have walked past someone that needed me. In this, I find the importance of understanding that we can not always understand. Maybe this is more important than seeking to comprehend. I seek to notice. Like carving a note into the back of my skull… one that says, “The only thing you need to know is that you cannot know everything.” In that, I find comfort; in that, I find humanity. Maybe people are also seeking to notice me.


Talia Bootz

5.5.2017

Nothing like a good morning text of “Flash Flood Warning this area til 4:30PM. Avoid Flood areas.” My rain ego (as Dave Koranda would call it) was in full force looking over the weather forecast before arriving in New York. Rain Jacket? Umbrella?...

Nothing like a good morning text of “Flash Flood Warning this area til 4:30PM. Avoid Flood areas.” 

My rain ego (as Dave Koranda would call it) was in full force looking over the weather forecast before arriving in New York. Rain Jacket? Umbrella? Hell No! 

I was definitely put in my place, as I walked not even a block to grab a coffee and got completely drenched. “SOS” was an understatement, but I proceeded to bite my tongue and ask the barista where the closest store to by an umbrella was.

We walked to the deli across the street only to find out the man in front of us had just purchased the last umbrella. As he started to walk away, he heard me ask the man behind the register if they had any extra umbrellas in the back. He turned away from the door, handed us the umbrella he had just purchased and said we could have it. Yes, tears came to my eyes, as I was so grateful for this stranger and his generosity! So big thank you to you, if you ever read this post! 

Off to dry my pants…

Hailey Geller

5.5.2017

*Frank Sinatra’s Theme From New York, New York playing in my ear* Running on 30 minutes of sleep has never felt more worth it. I made it to New York and you can almost feel the energy and excitement of the creative minds in this city. I cannot wait...

*Frank Sinatra’s Theme From New York, New York playing in my ear* 

Running on 30 minutes of sleep has never felt more worth it. I made it to New York and you can almost feel the energy and excitement of the creative minds in this city. I cannot wait to explore and be inspired by this amazing place. 

Seeing and learning more about this city helps me appreciate how diverse and unique it is. New York culture has always inspired me. The amount of people from so many different backgrounds and places make it the greatest city in the world. How could you not be inspired when you are surrounded by so many interesting people and different cultures?

Sydney Humble

5.5.2017

Melting Pot

I have officially arrived in New York! The last time I was here, I was 15 years old with my family, staying in Times Square for a 3 day layover. Needless to say when people ask me if I’ve ever been to New York, I say “not really”. 

7 years later, I am back, and what a change of perspective. Driving though the city this time, instead of noticing how many people there are, I am actually looking at who is walking on the streets. The different kinds of cultures and backgrounds. So many different food carts and restaurants serving every food imaginable. Even the fashion here is diverse, with everyone rocking their own personal style (and of course somehow making everything look effortless and chic). Especially in the times that we are living in right now, I find this to be inspiring. This city is the city of the world, the hub for culture, food, entertainment, shopping - and what makes this city so special is that it’s not just for one kind person. There is no mold that you need to fit to live here. Culture and diversity is celebrated and almost seems to be encouraged. New York celebrates everyone’s personal voice and this is what has made New York to be one of the most successful and inspiring places in the world. 

-Emma Hyman

05.05.17

Pre-flight thoughts

As we near our NYC trip, our W+K pitch team had an opportunity to meet with our mentor, Rex Nwerem. Rex works is a Jr. strategist for Translation LLC in New York City. He currently works on the NFL and State Farm accounts. However, prior to his career launch, Rex was a duck sitting in the same seats we are in currently.

Our brief and casual conversation with Rex, not only gave me a sense of relief, but also reminded me that you can’t doubt your current standing in life. Similar to most of us at this moment in time, Rex had absolutely no idea as to where his interests and career opportunities would lead him. He simply made sure to work hard and keep himself open to the opportunities within reach.

Right now is a time of excitement, but also a lot of worry and anxiety. These are the moments that catapult you to new heights; you just have to be willing to work through the doubt. I am excited to see my fellow Ducks seize the vast opportunities that lie in front of us this week. Bring your juice, be confident in your talent and go for what you want. Can’t wait for the days ahead!

Esty_thedude (Strategist)

Tell your story.

Interviews can be very nerve racking and challenging to prepare for. Today I received the best advice from a recruiter. Rarely any student comes into an agency prepared. Everyone must be trained and polished. Therefore, come into your interview ready to tell your story. Relate that story to how it will help you in the position you are interviewing for. 

-Emily Sarale 

If you haven’t checked out the reel at StarrMedia.tv you are doing something wrong…

One thing about this trip that is intriguing to me, is meeting people from the production world and hearing about how they got their start. One great story that I have discovered so far is Paul Vecchione who is a Producer/Director at StarrMedia.tv. Paul has an unusual background for a person that is now a producer/director. He was a business major and track athlete at Wofford College. After graduation, he worked for four years in the business sector of the world doing domestic equity portfolios and working as an analyst. Then his career just shifted in January 2014 when he became a producer/director for Starr Media. A change in someone’s career like that says something about what Starr Media has to offer and what this industry as a whole has to offer. I am excited to talk with Paul about what inspired him to make a change like that in his career and how his skills from outside the advertising/production world have helped him with his career at StarrMedia. My guess is that being a track star at Wofford helps a little at Starr Media because a lot of their dope work revolves around sports.

Till next time,

TYLER

“I Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Umbrella”

I arrived to NYC yesterday afternoon at about 3pmEST. After transcending my mother’s strong advice of just taking an UBER from JFK to my uncle’s place in Brooklyn, I decided I wanted to get right into it and took the Airtrain from JFK to Howard Beach. There it met up with the A-Train of the Metro and it was a straight shot to Brooklyn-Easy enough. .

Right now, it’s only about 6:30AM, my Uncle who’s a PA at a clinic in Manhattan just left for work and as he left he saw that I was up. He proceeded to grab an umbrella and say “it’s supposed to rain today, I’m giving you this umbrella-just in case.” I laughed (being the Oregonian I am) and said “I’m good, Werner, I brought my rain coat.”

Anyways, on to the good stuff for today’s agenda cause I am way stoked. At 10am, I’m meeting with member of the Radical Media team. I’m already a big admirer of the work that they’ve put out across a variety of different forms that stretch beyond simply advertising. However, after doing some very extensive research on my plane ride (most productive place to get things done) I realized this member has a pretty dang interesting career path.

He began his career working at Nike (through which we became acquainted) in the ‘90s, working as both the Ad Director at Nike Europe, than also later in the US. One of the main pieces he’s known for during his time there is the “Tag” spot (found here–> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h76w0BkfGuY). I also came to find out that, in 1999, he played a vital role in consolidating Nike’s advertising partnerships down to one primary partner, Wieden + Kennedy (as many of us are aware of).

After his tenure at Nike, he took a bit of a hiatus before diving back into the advertising industry to help bring to life Mother’s inception of their NYC offices in 2003. One random notable piece of work he helped work on was with Dell and their many new casing-design offerings for their laptops, which included patterns created by Mother designers and work from up-and-coming artists. Following his time at Mother and before joining the Radical Media Team, he again took a bit of a hiatus from AD. During that break, in 2012, he and a longtime friend & restaurateur decided to open their own restaurant here in town, called ‘Sauce’ (anyone want to check it out with me?).

I am beyond pumped to get the opportunity to get to chat with someone who has had such a non-linear career within advertising and hear what his thoughts were when he was our age, graduating college and diving into the industry.

Also, to make today even more exciting, after this meeting I’m grabbing lunch with the infamous Kim Uong. Kim’s now working in strategy at AKQA and I’m looking forward to picking her brain on what her experience there and overall time in NYC has been like.

I know this is more than 200 words, but there’s a lot to write about this AM and I’m excited to report back after. This is gonna be a great week of learning and a great week of exploring one of the main heartbeat’s of the advertising industry.

-Noah Wilskey


***END OF DAY UPDATE-I decided at the last moment I wouldn’t let my Oregonian stubbornness to rain mess with me here so i took the umbrella… VERY glad I did. As 50 Cent says “when it rains it pours”. Today it certainly poured… **** 

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