Wieden
My first advertising agency that I visited in New York was Wieden and Kennedy. One of the premiere agencies across the world. I found their panel very helpful in giving us valuable information about their company. A major takeaway from their talk was when their creative director said, “advertising is a weapon be careful where you point it.” In this industry these brands that we will be working with have so much power in the content they produce. Their message can be seen by millions all across the world, so we need to fully understand what we make before it is viewed by the public. We have seen how advertising can be used to spread good messages and the repercussions of making a mistake. Wieden and Kennedy showed me what is possible when you get enough creative thinkers in one space. Greatness.
Brayden Figueroa 5/13/19
Enjoy the Process
Going into this trip I had never visited an Advertising Agency in my life. I learned so much valuable information on this trip that will last a life-time and I am forever grateful for this opportunity. One of my favorite visits of the trip was to Starr Media, a production house specializing in creating content. It was so interesting to hear insight on what it took to start the company and how far they have come. Their main message really was to put your head down and work hard. No one is going to email you one day and give you a job. You really have to put your dead down and enjoy the process.
Brayden Figueroa 5/13/19
Radical. Freaking. Media.
Holy Shit.
That’s what I left saying after visiting this production goldmine/strategically influenced/freelance-strong/advertising-minded/creative hub of geniuses who are not only passionate about what they do, but smart beyond belief. I think the thing that really got to me in terms of advice from their team was that the biggest power you have in this industry is to just DO.
MAKE. TRY new techniques. CHALLENGE what has previously been done. The majority of our visit we spent with two UO Alumni’s, Brian and Kelly, who call themselves “Creative Technologists.” Essentially, they work on the production end to brainstorm ways in which things can be done and how they can pull it off per project. A perfect bridge between people that are skilled in their tactical abilities, but also mindful of the realities we face as makers when it comes down to what can actually be implemented: aka the budget, the equipment, the technology… What I want to stress most about these two is that from day one, these guys have had a curiosity for ‘what is possible?’ As partners in crime even in college, they talked about making a video that redefined camera illusions by having two simultaneous screens playing against one another for a video about dancers. They experimented with the money, people, and equipment they had at their disposal and ended up making something super awesome. The result? One click to a contact at Radical Media and boom. The two were hired on together.
The thing about Production that I continue to learn is that every project is different. And it really is about collaboration to create a work of art. Together with the combination of the clients’ ideas, the producers’ ideas, and the capabilities of the team, all these concepts and imaginations come together to create something that is half expected and half unexpected (but still impeccably great). This team inspired me to go out there and get my hands dirty. To question the practical and pitch the unpractical. I hope one day to work alongside people that acknowledge a constant change in ideas to keep up with the constant change in what is possible. Thank you to Radical Media for such an awesome afternoon.
-Emily Pearson
Senior, Project Manager/Strategist
It’s Saturday before the NY Trip…
and I’ve flown into Newark to stay with my friend Kelly in New Jersey for the night before we take the train into the city. All is well. My flight went smoothly, my bag made it alright, I even landed a seat close to two other UO students who would be joining me and 120 other rambunctious and hungry Advertising go-getters for the week. Next thing I know I’m in an Uber being brought to Kel’s house when Jara, my Uber driver, sparks conversation with me. She’s young, high energy, and born and raised in New Jersey. We laugh about my question of what there is to do in NJ and the fact that her response was something along the lines of: “nothing exciting.” I respond with the idea that that’s simply absurd. That every city has its own adventures; we just have to remind ourselves to re-invent our comfort zones, which innately comes with having a home town we feel we know top to bottom. She nods in agreement as I persuade her it can be fun to be a tourist in your own city. She asks about Oregon and what we’re known for (surprisingly, this question sort of threw me off. I’m pretty sure I panicked and my answer skewed from the Oregon Trail all the way to “Keep Portland Weird” or even something about Kombucha?).
Before I exit the car, I ask her what her favorite thing to is to do in New York City. She pauses and thinks for a couple of minutes before giving me an honest answer: “Honestly, just getting lost.” That’s it. This girl was awesome.
I feel as though every time I visit New York, heck, every time I travel in general but especially in New York, I’m reminded of the magic we receive when we simply allow ourselves to do as Jara suggests and ‘get lost.’ To brace the unknown with excitement for what we may discover. To knowingly go into situations with a headstrong uncertainty, which inevitably proctors a sense of open-mindedness. I did, in fact, take Jara’s advice and ‘get lost’ in the sense that I set a destination into my phone and ended up in a certain part of the city I had never been to before on days that it worked in my schedule. One day I ended up accidentally at the MoMa, another I ended up at an independent art gallery in Soho. Either way, I hope that everyone who came to New York this week had the chance to get lost. To find comfort in the uncomfortable. And to stumble upon something magical that they never would have expected to find. I hope too that we can all take a minute to remind ourselves that there is a true beauty in being lost or being a tourist in our own cities. Adventure is always, always out there. Sometimes we just need an Uber driver to remind us that it is.
-Emily Pearson
Senior, Project Manager/Strategist
Non-Ad Interests
I think the best conversations I had with people at these agencies regarded all things not advertising. Being able to level with someone about movies, music, culture, anything that is fun makes you seem like you’re not just fishing for a job. Also, I genuinely think these moments were where I actually made the most progress in making connections. Yes these people want talent, but also people they like and think are interesting. So I’m definitely going to start some email threads with these people and we’re going to talk about movies. Because showing your personality is important.
Michael Robelli 5.13 post #5
Passion -> Fun
The most fun visits were the ones where the people showing us around were passionate about their jobs. And that might be the most reassuring thing experienced on this trip, that although Advertising can have a stale stigma, the work brings people together and they all enjoy working together in the same space. The camaraderie between creative pairs, the relationship between managers and creators and strategists, all of these things made each visit truly feel like family. And I can’t wait to be apart of one that is passionate, smart, and always having fun.
Michael Robelli 5.13 post #4
Willingness
The coolest thing that I learned about this trip is that 99% of alumni and anoyone working at these places are so eager to guide and mentor. I met so many selfless people who loved when I asked questions and were elated when I reached out to them after a visit, etc. I think saying that as young people is very important, because that’s how we should treat those younger than us when we are in their positions. Seeing these people across so many agencies treat all levels of positions as equal, listening when others are talking, and respecting everyone’s ideas is how a well oiled machine stays put together. I’m so grateful for their kindness.
Michael Robelli 5.13 post #3
OVERLAPPING VOICES
This is a universal theme, that came up at almost every agency visit.
-When creatively strategizing it is essential that you are thinking about the voices of others.
-You should be aiming to produce a creative idea that serves the majority (the brand, the community, the agency, as well as, your own creativity)
- Using your voice as a connecting tool for the mass… will help you overlap as many voices as possible.
Bob Rickert describes this process as “being a chameleon in every setting”
-YOU MUST HAVE multiple voices and perspectives in your head!
this will help keep your work fresh, current, raw, and most importantly unique!
-Elexus Greene // Lady PiCassa
Spotify > Apple Music
My opinion was cemented as fact after visiting Spotify at the World Trade Center. Good God; beautiful office, atmosphere, creative spaces, and kind people. I will say I got a little discouraged when they told us they rarely hire straight out of college, and rather prefer a handful of years in the agency world before bringing people on. However, it makes sense for an in-house agency; they have one account, so they have little time to hold hands. Also, to Adam who wore a Childish Gambino crew neck, I salute you.
Michael Robelli 5.13, post #2
Next Steps
Going into this trip I felt pretty discouraged, having received no offers for an internship, getting only rejection letter after rejection letter instead. Everyone said that it was okay and that not everyone gets an internship, and so I tried not to think about it. But one industry professional after another talked about their internship experience, and I even heard from a friend that a recruiter explained how difficult it is to land a job without internship experience. Instead of feeling bad for myself, this has only given me more motivation to revamp my portfolio and begin a new personal project. I have my targets fully set on landing an internship next summer, and all the valuable information I picked up on this trip is going to get me there.
Bryer Hataishi | 5/13/19 | Post #3