Simple.

You can spend countless hours brainstorming the most creative, innovative and visually spectacular way to send a message. You can get further than out of the box… you could get out of the country, out of this universe, out of your mind to create something no one has ever seen before. You can exhaust yourself resourcing, researching, referencing to try to come up with something that’ll shock the world. But, at the end of it all day sometimes the best ideas are simply, right under your nose.

- Sydney Snyder 

Who are you?

10 Things I learned about Myself in NYC:

1.    I am more directionally challenged than any other human I know, don’t listen to me if you want to get anywhere specific at any specific time.

2.    I don’t really like pizza… well at least not anymore. Thank you $0.99 pizza slices for making this VERY apparent.

3.    My taste in fashion is very “New York,” but… my wallet is very empty.

4.    Most of the time, I’m all talk no action. (That changes NOW… but like actually this time)

5.    Big city life may be exactly what I need to help push myself in the right direction.

6.    My quiet nature comes off standoffish to most people. I swear I’m friendly, and my RBF does not communicate how I actually feel about you.

7.    My feet are weak, I’d rather call an Uber.

8.    I am capable of anything I want for myself I just need to find my motivation.

9.    No, my allergies are not just from the pollen in Eugene they managed to follow me all the way to the concrete jungle. 

10.  I am my biggest critic.

New York City taught me a lot about myself… way more than these 10 simple snippets convey. A lot of these are simple details about who I am and what makes me, me. Yes, I learned about advertising and the ways in which it changes culture, I learned that simple ideas are the best ideas, and that learning to let go of your ego is a lesson that will take you far in this industry. However, I also learned something that no one ever mentioned explicitly. Knowing yourself and being confident in who you are, what you believe in and what you stand for will take you even further. I have spent a lot of time listening to how people made it to New York in this crazy industry and how they’ve come up with ideas and stories that change the way we view the world and popular culture and throughout each and every individual’s journey and their story I learned that what connected them all was their confidence in who they were and what they did. In this life, no matter where it takes you, what career path you choose or how much money you make- knowing who you are at the end of the day is worth more. So your idea was shot down? Did you like it? Was it something that you truly believed in? Did it represent what you stand for? If it did, then who cares confidence in who you and the work you produce can never be taken away from you. Let it go, and keep it pushing.

-Sydney Snyder

I don’t want to work at a traditional advertising agency

Before going on this trip to New York I was unsure of whether I wanted to work in the advertising industry, the music industry, or in the sports industry. I personally identify more as a producer at the moment, but I would love to have a career in the field of creative direction or brand development. While some of the agencies produced some amazing work, many of the ads and video reels that agencies presented looked exactly the same, and what I didn’t know is that almost all of the production for the agencies work is done through an external production company. I love being more hands-on with the production of my work, and while I don’t see myself working in a production house, I love the idea of working at a company such as RadicalMedia which is a hybrid of an advertising agency and production company. New York is an amazing place for advertising, New York is just not the place for me.

- Henry Ammann

The City

Before this trip, I definitely could have pictured myself living in New York City, after this trip my mind has changed. While I do love the fast-paced lifestyle and the work hard play hard mentality, I do not see myself thriving there creatively. Being from the pacific northwest, traveling to New York City is a major change. While this type of city structure is inspiring and offers lots of opportunities to explore and discover new things, I find that I do better creative work when I’m not stressed out and when I’m in a relaxing environment. I do know that there are places you can travel just outside of the metropolitan area in New York to escape all the concrete and people, but there is something about the west coast that keeps calling my name. It’s been fun New York, and you are a beautiful city, but I don’t think I will ever call you home.

- Henry Ammann

Takeaways from Wieden + Kennedy & ANOMALY

Work on your writing so you can explain your ideas better.

Advertising itself is not interesting.

Experience more events and more cultures so you have more reference points.

Find a hole and fill it.

There are only 7 original advertising ideas.

Advertising isn’t about talking about the world’s problems but learning and showing how to solve the problems in the world.

Data is a great way to drive and create ideas.

Data is also the best way to sell ideas.

- Henry Ammann