JWT, Changing Agencies as an Agency of Change
Ben James is the ECD at the oldest Ad Agency in the world, JWT. Animated and engaging, James feels a bit like Wily Wonka, showing us the behind the scenes look at how the candy is created.During his presentation he fills us in on the current state of Advertising-and where he thinks it is headed in the next five years. “Advertising is going to change more in the next five years than in the last 153 years that JWT has existed” he says. In order to keep up with the ever changing landscape, JWT has rebranded itself, not as an advertising agency, but as something newer altogether. “We consider ourselves a change agency,” says James. And change it has. With projects ranging from a prosthetic fin to a revolutionary stethoscope, JWT has begun creating product innovation-not just advertising it. Most of these projects are run through Wire Paper Laboratories, and in house “makers space” run by an engineer. This makers space is designed to Define, Refine, Align, and Execute answers to problems, or in other words “take problems and create in house solutions.” Taking problems and creating in house solutions? JWT is certainly an agency of change.
JUST DO IT
We kicked off the week at Wieden+Kennedy, the birthplace of this phrase, but I heard variations of this advice at almost every agency we visited. Advertising is a crazy industry and often, tight deadlines can leave everyone in a crunch. Especially as a junior in the industry, it’s your job to do anything you can to help. Even if it doesn’t fall within your discipline, if you’re capable of a task – DO IT. I heard examples ranging from people making last minute edits of decks to someone running to a rental car agency to pick up a car while the rest of the team worked. The overarching message was to be helpful, because good advertising relies on even better teamwork.
Be a team player.
Help others.
Succeed together.
-Leah Kennon // 5.14.2018
Gratitude
Wow.
What a week. While I’ve always loved Oregon and been happy with my decision to attend this school and study the disciplines I have chosen, this week blew me away. The support and openness of the Oregon network all the way across the country was insane. I met countless people willing to share their time, stories, and advice. On top of the support from the Oregon network, everyone at the agencies I visited with over the week was kind, interested, and looking to help us grow. The industry may be fast-paced and competitive, but it’s also full of amazing, brilliantly generous people.
- Leah Kennon // 5.14.2018
SAME CITY // NEW FRIENDS
This being my second year on the New York Trip with The University of Oregon, I had an idea what the trip would involve. I knew there would be cramming into crowded subways, plenty of insights from advertising agencies, and even more dollar pizza. However, this year I was met with a pleasant surprise. I found new connections with fellow aspiring creatives, strategists, and alike. It seemed no matter who I was adventuring through the city with, I was making genuine friendships. Other Oregon students relit my optimism and confidence daily. Our program is truly filled with talent, perspective, and originality. I have no doubt that some of the students on this trip will one day run the industry.
Spencer Kupish - 5/14/18
Responsibility
re·spon·si·bil·i·ty
rəˌspänsəˈbilədē
noun
1. the state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or of having control over someone.
Having a sense of responsibility for your work produced and standing behind decisions made is crucial in this industry. Maintaining a consistent brand responsibility shows the importance in how people represent their agencies and themselves. We maintained responsibility on this NY experience in keeping time management through busy schedules and timing of public transportation. Taking responsibility in personal and professional matters when working with agencies and maintaining their identity is something we must learn to accomplish. It is an agencies responsibility to produce content evaluating all possibly angles of communities to prevent any exclusion or discrimination against minority groups. Responsibility to keep a positive work ethic and lead others around you in the right directions is key in collaborative group and individual work as well.
-Katherine James
NYC Insights
A short list of insights I wrote down along the way:
1. Knowing about sports is way more important than I could have ever imagined
2. Trendy if NOT revolutionary
3. If you can’t relate to your leaders, you may not be in the right place
4. If you can’t get through the project without smiling, it may not be for you
5. Media is super important
6. “How big you want to build something is how deep you need to dig”
7. Twitter is HUGE
8. If you can’t present a bulletproof argument, do more research
9. “Observe what people want to do, not what people do”
10. Nike is a worldwide cultural influence
- Hannah Diamond, May 14th
New York City No.3
- There are so many different types of agencies in this industry that I’ve never known if I’m not on the trip. There are some agencies that I thought I would be a right fit but indeed, it wasn’t. And, there are some that I’ve never thought of, and it ends up being one of the agencies I want to work at! So, maybe If you get rejected, you’re just not the right fit for them. Not because of your talents so don’t have a second thought about who you are.
- Ask for something if you really want it. I did! it was a hell of a ride but I’m glad I did it.
- Every single person in New York is amazingly talented. Listen and learn!
- Humbly talk about the experiences/lessons
- Be genuine and truthful to who you are.
- “Enjoy your last month of college. Do work but don’t stress too much because, in the end, you will figure out.” - Key Hidgon.
- Embrace every single moment in NY even though you hate it!
So this post is more about me, myself and I cause I haven’t landed any job yet. Just try to reassure myself and not to get lost!
Quyen Tran
*splash*
Looking back at all my notes from my week in New York City I can find so much wisdom and advice. On Friday the 11th last week, I had the opportunity to visit Pentagram. Hearing about another industry similar to advertising was insightful and pivotal to the rounding of my industry knowledge. While there, we were told, “It doesn’t matter if you make a splash, as long as you swim across the pool.” That’s going to stick with me. It doesn’t matter whether your work pisses people off, as long as it gets its job done and point across. Sometimes grabbing people’s attention with an aggressive landing is needed. Here’s to jumping head first and making a splash.
Spencer Kupish - 5/14/18
See Ya Later NYC
May 14th 2018
The last place I visited for the NYC experience was Spotify. Spotify is a company that I have always admired in so many ways as they have been a game changer for the entire music industry. Being able to visit the office was such an amazing experience. Both the people and the office were incredible. One thing that I really respect Spotify for is that they are always a step ahead of what is going to happen in the music industry. One thing that they talked about the importance of is data. Spotify has a whole analytics and data department which is extremely important to the company. They even have a team that focuses on the psychology and how humans take in certain types of music at certain points. I have always had a huge passion for music so being able to end the trip in this manner was wonderful.
The NYC experience has been one of the most rewarding and inspiring trips I have ever had. I was able to learn so much about the industry but also about myself and what I want in a career. I was so inspired by every single agency we visited and their investment and generosity towards us students. I was also extremely impressed by every single student who showed passion, drive, and curiosity during every part of the trip. And I am so extremely thankful for every single professor who made this experience happen. Not only did they invest in us in so many ways, but they also trusted us to be respectful and invest ourselves fully in to the experience. As this trip comes to an end I am excited to take all the knowledge and inspiration towards my next steps into my career and I couldn’t be more excited to do so.
New York City Wave
Everyone says New York is such a big, lonely city. But even when I am walking alone here, I feel so connected with the people around me. I expected to feel like a fish out of water, an under qualified college student in a city of professionals, but I didn’t, and it felt really good. The people of Manhattan move like a rolling wave, in and out, in sync with one another other. Feeling like a part of that rolling wave makes me think I could call a place like New York City my home. After observing people commuting on the subway, in restaurants, agency lobbies, and walking down the street, I realized that New York has a sense of connectivity that I have never seen before. People operate like a well-oiled machine, which I wouldn’t have seen had I not taken a step back, away from the noise and movement, to just observe and take it all in. There is so much beauty in the diversity of this city. The fact that I overheard conversations in four different languages between Fifth Avenue and Lexington is unreal. This place harvests an environment for culture to grow and be recognized. How can any other city compete with that?
- Kiana Griffith