How many glowing phrases are used to describe GSD&M's Roy Spence in this ABC News article about his work with the Clinton for President campaign? Let's see: "quirky message guru" "advertising guru" "soul-searching message guru" "branding and messaging whiz" "Idea Man" You have to get way down into the article and infer a little to add "chairman of a struggling ad agency." …
Longing To Be Elsewhere
Ernie Schenck, executive vice president and creative director at Hill Holliday, explores the tendency in creative people to occupy their minds with thoughts about how much better things are "over the hill and through the trees." We are terrible longers, we ad people. No matter where we are, we long to be somewhere else. Goodby. Wieden. Chiat. If only I weren’t stuck in this sorry ass agency in Davenport, we think; if …
Merging With the Infinite
David Armano is VP, Experience Design for Critical Mass and he has a new theory. He believes we will move from multiple connected touchpoints to infinite touch points. I am fairly certain that we are moving toward a time where the way we interact with brands and their products and services will seem infinite. Maybe, just maybe—each time we have any interaction with a brand's product or service we'll create a mental …
Refresher Course
“This is a business that is changing like crazy, but Sullivan’s advice is timeless.” –Mike Hughes, President, Creative Director, The Martin Agency This updated third edition of Hey Whipple, Squeeze This by Luke Sullivan presents a real-world look inside the big agencies and examines the industry’s best and worst work – from the hilarious to the horrid. New chapters cover online, guerilla, and direct marketing as …
Postaer Airs It Out
Steffan Postaer has taken to writing about his agency, Euro RSCG/Chicago, and other topics, on his new blog, Gods of Advertising. The blog's subhead is "We make you want what you don't need." One of Postaer's first posts, "The True Meaning of Integration" paints a pretty rosy picture (but hey, cheerleading is part of the job). Integration. Unification. Call it what you will. As many of you know I’ve likened it to …
Happy New Year George
The context for this contextual advertising dust up, or why this is here. Hat tip to High Jive. …
Hanging A Shingle Is Risky Business
Sally Hogshead shares a story about founding Robaire & Hogshead in 1998 that's instructive for others considering an entrepreneurial venture. My heart ka-boomed in my chest as we stood outside the building, preparing to sign the lease. I turned to my business partner, took a breath, and nervously said I couldn’t go through with it. Not because the building’s recent remodel from a mechanic’s garage left much to be …
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Left Brain, Meet Right Brain
Maurice Lévy gets more press than any ad man on the planet. And it's mostly favorable. Fast Company's Linda Tischler did manage to offer this criticism: Maurice Lévy confesses over cappuccino at a New York hotel, the only reason he got into the ad business was to chase skirt. Although, in his native France, that insight into the man's character would hardly pass as criticism. Thankfully, Tischler dug for more …
