UO NYC '19

“If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help.” - Barack Obama

I think about Obama’s semi-infamous “you didn’t build that” speech a lot. Some people give him flack for not lending enough credit to individual wins, but ultimately he’s right: a success story is rarely accomplished alone.

That’s what Flock, a new community of UO women in the creative industry comprised of alumni and students alike, is all about. The women of Flock know that getting that first break in the ad industry is hard, but it’s a little easier if you have someone in your corner. They champion women’s successes in an industry historically known for being a boys club, lend wisdom to younger women, and provide support to everyone in their network. If this week’s events are any indication of the badassery to come, the Flock is going to be u-n-s-t-o-p-p-a-b-l-e.

Hannah Lewman 05.06.2018

Bit of Wieden [ & Kennedy ] wisdom.
Know your strong suits , know your narrative, and jump right in… don’t shy away from your authentic self out there while maneuvering the job market. -Brenna Fox
5/7/18

[Here’s a doodle from my flight]

It felt like Christmas Eve last night before my flight. But instead of dreaming about gumdrops and candy canes- I dreamt of taking a bite out of the big apple. It’s interesting that I found myself on this voyage, because some of my biggest influences (musically) are from- and frequently reference New York. As an avid hip-hop connoisseur- New York is defined as the birthplace and primary purveyor of this culture. Through the years, listening to Pro Era, Mos Def, Guru, B.I.G, KRS, etc., I’ve grown an unintentional affinity for a city I’ve never experienced first-hand. I plan to explore the reason behind my affinity and meet some cool people along the way!

P.S. Already met some cool people. The person I sat next to on the flight works at spotify and gave me some great recommendations for Jazz clubs to check out! Ended up getting way more helpful information than I could have expected. All I needed to do was ask.

-Olin Vetterlein 5/6

Art , music, and culture is oozing everywhere here. My morning subway ride took me through two stations in Queens with music blaring from boom boxes and live performers in the subway stairwells and in the cars themselves . Everybody in the streets this morning seemed to be completely decked out, everyone with earbuds in, tuning in and tuning out. Curious to hear from my peers who are visiting Spotify Friday how the company is influenced by the booming music scene of this monstrous city. Reggae , House, Punk, Trap, Techno, Disco jams….I’ve heard it all already! Such a pleasure to hear more than the bongo buskers back home in Eugene….Heads up to my fellow Art Directors Spotify posted this up in regards to their applicant qualifications :

“You get nervous if you’re not sketching concepts or polishing the designs that represent the big-thinking work. Your head is in the clouds while your feet are on the ground.”

Definitely feel like I’m on cloud 9 with 1992 Deluxe slowly draining my battery as I head toward the East Village to buy a new blank sketch book for the week.

What is your perfect city playlist?

-Brenna Fox 5/6/18

Inspired already by the sights and sounds of this city….can’t wait to meet with Wieden and Kennedy tomorrow. Curious how the NYC office compares to their Portland hub!
-Brenna Fox
5/6/2018
Washington Square Park

Packed and ready to fly out tomorrow - it’s finally happening! As many others have similarly noted, my most overwhelming emotion is that of gratitude for this incredible opportunity. I couldn’t feel more thankful to be traveling across the country to learn and be inspired by both industry professionals and my peers, and I can’t wait to expand my perspective towards what it means to be creative.

Here’s to the start of an eye-opening week!

- Erin Fogerty, 5.5.2018

Day 0

I’m sitting at gate C1 in PDX about to board my flight to New York and it still hasn’t hit me yet. It’s pretty surreal that a year ago this time I was a business student seeing other students go on the New York trip thinking, “Man it would be cool to do that.” Now here I am actually going, and getting the opportunity to experience it. I’m not sure if I more thrilled, nervous, anxious or somewhere in between about this trip but all I know is this will be an experience of a lifetime. Ok now its hit me. Lets do this.

-Tyler Kastan

5/5/2018

New York City is one of those polarizing places that everyone seems to have ideas about. Having never been to New York, my imagined version of the city is an odd collage of stories from guest speakers and alumni, 1980’s NYC pop culture, Gossip Girl, and New York sports rivalries. T-minus about 24 hours until I get to discover just how right or wrong that mental image is. I’m so ready to see, hear, smell, and feel my way through this personally uncharted territory and (hopefully) leave feeling like one day I’ll call it home.

- Leah Kennon // 5.4.2018

-Brenna Fox

May 3rd, 2018

“To those who are given much, much is expected.” ― Maya Angelou

I’ve been thinking about this quote a lot. What we’re being given with #uonyc2018 (a week packed with opportunities and powered by generosity) is an immense privilege. It’s a gift to be repaid in professional investment, dedication to the program, and appreciation for the people who make it happen. With an incredible week on the horizon, I can’t wait to find ways to pay all this goodness forward.

- Hannah Lewman 05.03.2018

Day 0

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