Junction5 by Kendra Leikam

What I've been working on...

2010-07-09T10:52:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone, so it's needless for me to mention that the job market sucks. I've been job searching for the last couple months and still haven't found anything. Recently though I've found a new project to keep me busy...expanding my freelance business. I've started re-learning HTML and incorporating it into my learning of FBML. I've started a Facebook page showing what I can do...check it out here:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pittsburg-KS/Kelei-Creative/135072239843802?v=app_4949752878&ref=sgm

Link of the Week: MOO

2010-06-30T09:13:00.000-05:00

Print resources are great finds, and because a variety of different printers can offer a variety of different products, it's great to keep a list of printers for reference. Add this one to your list...MOO

http://us.moo.com/en/

Link of the Week: Funxionology

2010-06-14T21:25:00.000-05:00

The search for inspiration is never-ending, so to help you out, here's a blog to check out. This blog belongs to a former teacher of mine, and there is some very helpful information posted...enjoy!

http://funxionology.blogspot.com/

650+ Free Photoshop Patterns

2010-06-04T13:17:00.001-05:00

For all you Photoshop addicts out there, here are some free Photoshop Textures curtousy of DESIGNM.AG...

Enjoy!

http://designm.ag/resources/650-free-photoshop-patterns/

Some examples of textures that are available for you:

Spotlight on Ilustration: Suzanne van Pelt

2010-05-26T07:32:00.000-05:00

Suzanne van Pelt
http://anathematixs.deviantart.com/

Netherlands

Fantasy/Realism Illustration
(Digital Painting)

Digital painting amazes me. Literally. It is so intense that if you can do it as well as Suzanne van Pelt, then you really have talent. Digital painting, if you didn't know, starts out with a sketch, and then using photoshop the artist uses layers and blends the colors on top to make the painting. Sometimes an artist will simply make a photo look like a painting as well, but the basis is the same. Check out some of Suzanne van Pelt's work below, I'm sure you'll be just as impressed as I was...

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For more of Suzanne's work, visit her Deviant Art site at:

http://anathematixs.deviantart.com/

Link of the Week: abduzeedo

2010-05-26T07:12:00.000-05:00

abduzeedo
http://abduzeedo.com/

abduzeedo features a lot of design information, inspiration, toutorials, resources, and more. There are so many cool things on this site you could literally spend hours on this one site, here are a few of the recent posts of abduzeedo:

Check out the site next time you get the chance...I promise you won't be disappointed!

http://abduzeedo.com/

Link of the Week: Inspired Magazine

2010-05-05T16:27:00.000-05:00

Inspired Magazine
http://www.inspiredm.com/

Here's a website full of inspiring graphic design articles, links, and examples...

Are you Content Aware?

2010-05-03T12:08:00.000-05:00

New upgrade makes cleaning up photos easy...
CS5 Content Aware Upgrade

So this new tool is worth upgrading your CS. I won't try to explain it, just take a look at this video and prepare to be amazed!

http://9to5mac.com/adobe-content-aware-fill-34509345

New Direction...

2010-04-30T00:42:00.000-05:00

So I've decided that I want to take my blog in another new direction, starting tonight I'm going to start posting some of my own work as well. Previously, I had wanted to keep the two separate, to keep up the idea flow, and to keep me from being lazy and not going out to find something new to post each time. But it'll be a good thing, I promise...

A quick glance of my stuff... PHOTOGRAPHY...

POSTERS...

ADS...

* Remember all work created by me has rights associated with it, so don't steal. :)

Spotlight on Photography: Natalia Rex

2010-04-22T14:57:00.000-05:00

Natalia Rex

Student

Kansas

Portrait & Stock Photography

I'm featuring Natalia Rex's photography, one because she's a fantastic photographer, and two because she's a good friend of mine. Currently, she is a student, but everyday she is getting better and better at photography. She specializes in stock and portrait photography, and has some great fashion-like portraits as well. Her range of style, as far as posing and processing the photos, is diverse as well. Check out her photography below, and keep an eye out for more in the future!

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For examples of her stock photography, visit:

http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery.mhtml?id=462277

Question Posted to Linked In: Part 4

2010-03-28T23:35:00.000-05:00

What are the things that you think students should be learning before looking for a job at your company?

More great advice for you! Don't forget to go back to Parts 1, 2, 3 for previous posts...

PART ONE

PART TWO

PART THREE

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Speaking as an Advertising student, I relocated to Los Angeles , worked full time at an Ad Agency and was unpaid. I had to take out a pretty little loan to get this experience on my pretty little resume. Coming into it I was told it was unpaid, and last summer most of the big agencies did not pay. I think it shows a bit more commitment when you're willing to "pay your dues" and hopefully it pays me back later!

Nicole, It does show commitment on your part. I just think it sucks when bright young talent like you gets taken advantage of by a company that has people making 5-10 times what you would make at a decent starting salary.

Trust me Alan, I completely agree with you. I actually had a paid offer (not much,just a small stipend) but I could not pass TBWA/Chiat/Day up.... they were the agency that got me interested in advertising and account planning in the first place.

I think a lot of students are intimidated by the words "unpaid". It does suck, but depending on where you are it is worth it....It is odd how some agencies (For example DraftFCB) pay their interns a real salary, I think they paid something to the tune of $600/week in New York last summer, and others just assume we all have rich parents.....this does limit people like myself who pay for school etc. on their own. Thank goodness for Loans.

The actual job hunt itself is the most intimidating/hardest part of the process. It's a lot of who you know, at least it really feels that way to me.

I think that's great that DraftFCB stepped up to the plate and pays that $600 a week. I have two kids living in New York not to mention I'm from New York, so I am well aware how expensive it is to live there. That just pisses me off to hear TBWA/Chiat Day (that has reaped millions in profits) couldn't pay you.

Nicole, the job hunt has always and will continue to be an intimidating/hardest part of the process. That's unfortunate but such is life.

Yes it does suck that they don't pay, but they are in a position where they don't "have to". When you have thousands of students who would do the work for free, whats the use in paying?

I'm in the process of stretching my brain around this job-hunt business now. I'm trying to break into account/strategic planning, I may end up interning again before I land a job that I want ( I do not believe in settling for any old job just because the economy is in the tank) but this internship would have to be paid. No exceptions.

But Life is Life and Advertising is Amazing. If I wasn't prepared to slave away for the beginning of my career I would have gone into PR : )

Nicole, best of luck. I know you will be successful in your future endeavors.

I am a student studying graphic design as well as minors in web design and advertising and looking for an internship in the fall of this year. I consider myself to be a creative and passionate student of design. I love it! I don't care if the internship is paid or unpaid (paid would be nice) but getting a intern job at a reputable company is BIG! The experience, what I learn from others, and being able to put that on my resume is what I'm looking for. I don't ever expect a job to be handed to me just because I am going to graduate next year with a bachelors degree in art. Being prepared while learning in school is ESSENTIAL! That is the time to take in as much as you can, build your portfolio, and obtain the skills you need to make your self stand out and be marketable in this competitive business world, or I get eaten alive like Alan said. I will do whatever it takes to work hard and earn a job and maintain it. That is minimum of what you have to do, especially nowadays with the economy. BTW: I totally agree with Nicole! In the long run, it is worth it because you have the 'experience.'

Getting an internship in the Fall is much easier than the summer. Less competition and more time to learn things and for people at the agency to know you aka trust you with bigger projects. Good Luck Brandon!

To everyone in on this discussion. I want to make this clear. If an internship pops up, whether its a paid gig or not. Check it out! If not getting paid works for you...do it. I just wanted to make the point that I find it terribly sad and disappointing when an agency can't open up their pocket book(a little) to help out starving young talent.

Thanks Alan for that supportive comment. Also, thanks you Nicole for the insight on getting an internship in fall.

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New Posts Coming Soon!

2010-03-25T01:05:00.000-05:00

I will be posting another part to the Linked In question soon, so be looking for that! It's been extremely busy for me and hopefully will be back to posting almost everyday like before...

Great Poster Inspiration...

2010-03-17T00:39:00.000-05:00

Here are some great posters to inspire your own poster designs... Enjoy!

Spotlight on Photography: Jenna Boogerd

2010-03-17T00:07:00.000-05:00

Jenna Boogerd
Jenna Boogerd Photography

Pasco, WA

Modern Portrait & Wedding Photography

After looking through hundreds of photos, it's easy to see styles of some photographers. Jenna Boogerd uses a slight vintage look on many of her photos, keeping with the soft colors instead of intense contrast. All photos have great backgrounds that compliment the people who the pictures are being taken of. If you look through her photos, it's easy to tell the relationship between the subjects and the backgrounds...take a look.

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For more photos, visit:

The Website

Facebook

The Blog

Spotlight on Design: Paul Tebbott

2010-03-08T12:20:00.000-06:00

Paul Tebbott
www.paultebbott.com

Graphic Designer

Modernism Influence

Paul Tebbott is a self-taught graphic designer who has some amazing poster designs. With a simplistic, modernistic style, Paul makes posters that are artsy enough to frame and hang on the wall. Take a look at some of his work:

Awesome Website: Papervision3D

2010-03-08T11:52:00.000-06:00

This is just something that I stumbled upon, it's 3D, 360degree views of different things...check it out!

http://www.papervision3d.org/

www.papervision3d.org/demos/panorama/

Portfolios...

2010-03-03T12:56:00.001-06:00

Whenever you are in advertising, marketing, public relations, graphics, and photography, and want to be involved creatively in some way, you must have a portfolio. There are many different ways to put together a portfolio. They can be traditional and put in a (nice) binder or portfolio holder, they can be made on large boards and laid out, they can be on a disc, they can be a pdf, or on a website. Typically they are made according to what the maker is most comfortable doing.
When putting together your first portfolio, it is important to choose what type of medium you want to use. Any of the ones I listed previously are perfectly acceptable. After that it comes down to choosing your pieces and organizing it accordingly.

Some Tips for Your Portfolio:

Buy a portfolio holder, if you are using this type of portfolio. You may be tempted to use a regular 3 ring binder for your portfolio, but don't. There are many different portfolios out there, zippered, black, and with handles is the standard. Find what works for you, but remember you want to impress.
Make it look professional. You may like zoo animals and crazy colors, but unless you are applying for a zoo position, leave it off and choose more calming or business-like colors.
Choose only your best work. Just because you had something published, doesn't mean it was your best work. Go through everything, and choose according to quality.
Quantity of work is important. You don't want to put in too much or too little. A rule of thumb is to try to stay below 20 pages of work. If you are putting in campaigns, this means approximately 5 campaigns.
Don't be afraid to include spec work or work that you made for the sole purpose to show your abilities. Sometimes a brilliant idea will get you the job.
You should put the best work (campaign, ect) first, the second best last. This draws the employer into your portfolio and leaves them with a good impression.
Make your portfolio versatile. Leave a way to switch in and out work as you go that way you don't have to make a whole new portfolio each time you want to add or take away something.
Tailor your portfolio for the job you are applying for. If the company does mainly event planning, try to put mainly event planning things in. Or if the company works mostly with fast food companies, if possible, include some advertisements, ect. that have to do with the fast food industry.
Have multiple pages (or pieces), boards, ect. ready when interviewing. If an interview comes up suddenly, you want to be able tailor your portfolio as soon as possible. Also, many companies may call you in for a second interview, if you have new stuff to show each time, you'll be able to leave a good representation of yourself (switch out a few or all, depending on if the interviewers are the same).
Be able to leave something behind when you leave your interview. An example of this is a disc with a video of some more of your work. Another example is to leave an object of some sort. The example I've heard of is one guy left a pair of drumsticks with his info on them. The interviewer found out one more thing about this guy and said he kept the drumsticks in a plant for many years after. This guy defiantly left a 'lasting impression', so be creative!

Portfolios, where to get them:

Paper Portfolios:
Typical, binder-like portfolios can be found just about anywhere. Office Stores, Walmart, or Amazon have great black ones with the handles and zipper. Also, http://www.pinazangaro.com, has some great looking ones, though they may cost a bit more, they are very nice. Pina Zangaro porfolio books can be found on Amazon, but be sure you're getting what you want, there are portfolio books, and portfolio folders. The folders hold individual boards or pages that are not bound, the portfolio books can bind the papers.

Website Portfolios:
There are more places to find free website portfolios than I could list here. But just so you have a few to start with:
-DeviantArt: portfolio.deviantart.com/
-Behance: www.behance.net/
-Carbonmade: www.carbonmade.com/
-FigDig: http://figdig.com/

Spotlight on Photography: Jessica Edwards

2010-02-28T16:48:00.000-06:00

Jessica Edwards
Jessica Edwards Photography

Lamar, MO

Portrait Photography

I recently had the opportunity to hear Jessica Edwards speak on portrait photography and wanted to feature her. She's a great photographer who specializes in portrait photography, mainly senior portraits. Edwards has been in the industry for awhile now and has her own style and tricks of the trade. One of her style tricks is to have very blurry background when there's a deep depth of field. Check out some of her photography below...

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For more of her photography you can visit the:

Website

Facebook Page

Did you miss this? Q&A from Professionals to Students

2010-02-26T12:26:00.001-06:00

Just wanted to make sure that you didn't miss out on vital information that I posted previously. I posted a question to LinkedIn, it was for professionals already in the field to answer and I've received a bunch of feedback from it. If you're a student and haven't checked it out already, do so, it is very beneficial to see how you can set yourself apart, and maybe, just maybe land your dream job. Check out Parts 1, 2, & 3...

What are the things that you think students should be learning before looking for a job at your company?

PART ONE

PART TWO

PART THREE

Spotlight Portfolio Site: Phillip N. Davis

2010-02-23T19:40:00.000-06:00

Phillip N. Davis
Designer

hirephil.com

Quincy, MA

This portfolio site is great. Right off you know what he wants: a job. Hirephil.com is a great publicity scheme to get the potential client's interest. The site keeps with it's "hire me" theme throughout and showcases his work in a clean, professional way. Here are a few of the pages of his site:

Adobe Coasters...

2010-02-18T16:09:00.000-06:00

In case you can't get enough of Adobe, here is another addition to your Adobe collection; Coasters. Don't forget the pillows also though, gotta keep the decor matching!

The coasters are available from The Design Town.com, they are $25.

To purchase go to their site: designtown.com

Question Posted to Linked In: Part 3

2010-02-17T17:20:00.002-06:00

I posted a question to the AAF Linked In group a while back. When I first asked, I expected a few answers, when I received a few I was happy. This is my third posting of answers for this question. Many people have a passion for what they do and are willing to take some time to answer my simple question. I'd like to thank everyone who answered, and I'd like to mention that at this point I have had 26 comments to this one question. So here's Part 3:

What are the things that you think students should be learning before looking for a job at your company?

Depends on the position. I love the quote "You're here to work, not learn. If you're here to learn, you owe me $10,000."

Creatives- you need to have a book. It doesn't have to be great; just that you showed the effort to try and you did SOMETHING. Don't ask me for an interview as a copywriter and you've never written before. I'll take a poetry book or novel. Journalism is great too.

Account Service: Market degree a must. Someone who can think strategically and creatively without selling. We are in the solutions business and creativity extends beyond the creative department.

Media: Understand how media works. Get some experience with a radio or TV station, online/offline publication.

Bottom line: Have a passion. That means you love this business and you'll work hard, stay late, come in early, take risks and want my job (yes, you want my job and one day, I'll give it to you, if you earn it).

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My expectations of my employees is simple. Do everything as if this was YOUR company.
There is no need to explain customer service, promptness, efficiency, commitment or anything else. It's pretty simple. :-)

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Mark, your being a little too tough on someone just coming into the business. Someone new needs to learn from the people and the environment around them. Life should be an ever learning experience. I've been in the business probably longer than you have and I'm still picking up something every day. If that's your attitude on life, I won't be sending any of my students your way.
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I want to add a dose of good ole common sense. This goes a very long way with me.

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Alan, the question is, "What should students be learning BEFORE the seek a job at your company." Are we talking about an internship? Certainly the standard is a bit lower there. But this is a JOB. That means, I pay you to perform a service for me. It may not be Senior-level service, but you still need to show up and log your hours.

I'm not sure how requiring a work ethic or EFFORT is being too tough (or is it?). I get a lot of student portfolios from kids who have talent, love our industry and have put "baby books" together that make me green with envy. They've entered AAF competitions, One Shows and ADC. They really want to work in our business. Then I get resumes from kids who say they want to be a writer and they've done no writing. They don't blog. They haven't written poetry, no creative writing. Then junior art directors who haven't taken design courses and couldn't open a Photoshop file let alone do basic techniques. I'm not asking for a professional book, just effort. My attitude is TRY. I ask nothing more than you would from your students. I'm not sure where we are disconnected?
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Mark, let me hone in on your "tough guy" comment: "You're here to work, not learn. If you're here to learn, you owe me $10,000." That is harsh man. That's the kind of talk that has people wondering about who we are as an industry.

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The dialogue between Mark and Alan is interesting. I couldn't resist jumping in. Each of you truly reflect your station in life. A business man vs a professor. Totally two different worlds. As a business owner, I agree with Mark wholeheartedly. As a parent, I can understand where Alan is coming from, but hey, running a business requires professionals who know how to get the job done - period. So Alan can you help us out and get your students to put together great books with great samples, write coherently, use common sense, work hard, and all of the other reqs offered by other commenters. In other words, first life lesson: if they want a career in advertising, act like it.
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Alan, the "You're here to work..." thing was somewhat of joke. But the takeaway in the rest of comment may have been lost. I think we agree that you hire young pros to teach them which is why you don't pay them what you would a mid- or senior- level person. However, they have to contribute to the organization. It can't be all about teaching someone because that's what your job is. If your students aren't prepared (and there are so many of them out there), then that's you're fault because that's what they paid for in their tuition. And junior-level creatives can contribute (rumor has it that the Google Super Bowl ad was done by a Jr. level creative who just graduated May 09).

All I'm saying is that if you love this business and you want to do well, you have to work hard at it. And it begins as a student: Join the professional groups. Enter the competitions. Do work for local clients if you can. Writers write. Artists do art. Creatives create. Show me that you WANT to do this. I'll hire the talented ones who are willing to invest the time and not think the opportunity is owed to them. But the student has to show it where he can: In school.
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Well said, MaryAnne!

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I have been in the ad business for over 30 years (check out my bio and web site if you like). So I know exactly what it takes to get the job done and get the job done right. Believe me, I preach the importance of preparation to my students every darn semester. I tell them incessantly you can not go out there unprepared. If not prepared (through concept or execution), you will be eaten alive. What bugged me was Mark's statement about making students have to pay him to work at his shop if they have to learn to be there. And Mary Anne don't be so flippant on putting the burden entirely on my shoulders. I have had over 400 students the last five years alone and trust me, only a handful are truly prepared. There's only so much that can be swallowed and digested in a three or four year program. Now students have to also be a "mac-monkey" on top of being able to conceptualize. What's important for us as a community is to see talent first in a book and then be willing and patient to cultivate that potential. Because eventually that will pay dividends in their future and your (company's) future. As you can tell, I'm passionate about this subject. ______________________________________

Alan, thanks for this discussion. You're definitely an art director 'cause you didn't read all the copy. ;-) ...sheesh! I think we're saying the same thing because I agree with everything you said. Again, the whole "pay me" quote was more of joke (students DO NOT have to pay us to work here--I think you took that a bit too literally...although, it would be nice...nah, never mind...).

But let me be clear: I won't hire a student to learn. That's PART of working here, but it's not the whole thing. We actually pay our interns. We pay them because they contribute at some level and need to be compensated for their time. But, like all of us, they do learn.

Now, getting back to the original question: Do you agree that students need demonstrative talent and skills - with the understanding that it will be developed - to get a job in this business?
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Of course I agree. But I don't appreciate you making fun of me. I do read. matter of fact, very well thank you...sheesh!

Mark, I'll give you an anecdote. A year ago, one of my students got an internship at Crispin, Porter, Bogusky in Denver for three months. They paid him zero dollars. He even had to find a place to live on his own. He did some solid work for them. But they paid him nothing. That's taking advantage of our young talent. Do you think that's right?
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Alan, I mourn the death of your sense of humor. I'm sure at one point, you had one; I didn't mean to offend. And, yes, I agree with you as my previous statement clearly says: "We actually pay our interns. We pay them because they contribute at some level and need to be compensated for their time." But I'm sure you read that before you asked your question.

And, no, I don't think what CPB did was right. It's elitist because it restricts internships to almost only kids who are getting funding from their parents. Or the ones who are able to work nights. But CPB can do that. And the kid doesn't have to take the internship. He still had a choice and now he has a CPB internship on his resume.
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Mark, You're enjoying this I can tell. You just can't wait for my retorts. You're probably putting all your meetings on hold waiting for me to report back to you. This is fun! I can take it. I do have a sense of humor. I watch things. I read the papers. Even look at the internet. I'm a crazy kind a guy. As I'm writing this. I'm reading it from the palm of my hand that my publicist keeps sending me.
"He still had a choice and now he has a CPB internship on his resume." Boo-Ya! That's my point Mark. CPB has their head up their ass. Work for us for free. We'll take advantage of you. But you get to put it on your resume. You betcha!
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Sorry for the delay. I was in a meeting. Yes, it is fun and you ARE a crazy guy. I can tell. I don't know if CPB is right or wrong; it's just the way the choose to do business. It's certainly not my way, but it seems to be serving them well at least for now. There are plenty of students who apply and get accepted into their internship programs and many of them go on to have great careers. Again, it's all about choices. The students don't have to apply to CPB. If CPB sees that not enough are applying, they may change. Until then...

So, are we friends now? I mean, since we agree on stuff and we're both crazy guys and all...?

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We're cool. I guess that's why we have these discussions. It's good to get it out and discuss differences of opinions. As long as at the end of the day we see both sides and the gray area in between. FYI. I logged onto you web site. Nice work. For a Texas guy.
:-)

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Awesome. Nice shot :-). Be well.

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I agree with some of the comments above, there are those students that care about what they do, and those that treat it as if it were PE class back in grade school. As a current student, I see a lot of this and it boggles my mind why somebody would even bother going to school if they don't care (rich parents?).

I'll definitely take these suggestions and put them in to practice.

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Like most questions, the answer is "and" not "or." From what I'm told by countless creative directors in the field is a blend of what both Alan and Mark are saying.

You're both right.

Creative directors have an empty desk and pile of work. New hires need to be able to thin the in-box. That said, an employer will get the best out of their new hires by approaching the relationship by seeing themselves as mentors, not task masters.

And bravo to you both for being so passionate about this subject. Its importance is certainly common ground for us all.

=====================================

-----------------------------
>>>Go to Part One

>>>Go to Part Two

-----------------------------

10 Examples of Creative Error Pages

2010-02-15T18:17:00.000-06:00

I came across a great post about Error 404 pages. You wouldn't normally think about the error page to websites, but it's just one more opportunity to exercise your creative juices. Error 404 pages are beginning to emerge as a staple in large websites, why not make them interesting? With this strategy you could potentially cause the user to be less frustrated, you could entertain them, and you could help keep the user on your site. Remember these great examples next time you are designing a website...

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For more examples of creative 404 ERROR pages, visit this site: themeflash.com/

What's your logo IQ?

2010-02-12T12:33:00.001-06:00

Do you know your logos? Here's a quiz I found online that tests your knowledge of logos. It's 20 questions, and asks you to simply match the logo with the company. Enjoy!

>>>Take the Quiz...What's your logo IQ?

Spotlight on Photography: Tara Miesner

2010-02-10T16:50:00.000-06:00

Tara Miesner
{tara miesner photography}

Olathe, KS

Modern Portrait & Wedding Photography

Tara Miesner is a photographer who trully loves what she does. It shows all the photos that she takes. Her style of photography seems to vary with each new assignment she takes. There are distinct differences in photos from one wedding to another, or from one portrait session to another, making each set unique. Take a look:

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For more of her photography visit:

http://www.taramiesnerphotography.com

Design Tips...for your designs & yourself.

2010-02-10T00:00:00.003-06:00

Listen, Engage, Inspire, Build, Mobilize.
Design for interaction, conversation, and customization.
Think outside of the box.
Attention is the new scarcity, use your audience wisely.
Tell your story and stand for something.
Make yourself finable.
Suprise people when they least expect it.
Creativity no longer means a clever message, it's about utility.
Develop alliances. You can't do everything yourself.
Keep yourself fresh and up to date.
Experiment, experiment, experiment...
Go forth and create.

(Tips taken from the AAF-Kansas City Career Conference)

Spezify: A tool for inspiration.

2010-02-09T23:45:00.001-06:00

http://www.spezify.com

Here's a great resource for inspiration.

Step 1: Type in a word, any word.

Step 2: Find the inspiration for your next project.

Spezify is a search tool presenting results from a
large number of websites in different visual ways.

We take web search further, away from endless lists of blue text links and towards a more intuitive experience.
We want you to get a good overview of a subject,
find useful information and be inspired with Spezify.

We mix all media types and make no difference
between blogs, videos, microblogs and images.
Everything communicates and helps building
the bigger picture.

We collect websites and are aiming to use as many relevant, free and open API:s as possible to generate extensive and diverse search results.

Hey Whipple, Squeeze This: Future Read

2010-02-09T23:31:00.000-06:00

Here's another book that I've put on my reading list, it's a book all about advertising.

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Hey Whipple, Squeeze This
by: Luke Sullivan

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From the Back Cover

An updated and revised new edition of the bestselling advertising guide.

Veteran copywriter Luke Sullivan returns in a third edition of his irreverent warts-and-all look at advertising. Part how-to and part exposé, Hey Whipple, Squeeze This is an insider's guide to coming up with great ideas as well as an unapologetic send-up of all that's heavy-handed, dim-witted, and ineffectual in the industry.

Updated to cover the new wave of advertising media, as well as guerilla and direct marketing, this Third Edition presents a real-world look inside the big agencies and examines the industry's best and worst ads—from the hilarious to the horrid. You'll get pointers, tips, and guidelines on writing great copy for print, TV, radio, outdoor, and the Internet, while Sullivan regales you with hilarious industry war stories.

Luke Sullivan is an award-winning copywriter with nearly thirty years in the business at some of the elite agencies in America—Fallon McElligott and The Martin Agency, and now GSD&M in Austin, Texas, where he is Group Creative Director. He has more than twenty medals to his credit in the prestigious One Show, the Oscars of the ad business.

Guerrilla Marketing: Creating Reactions

2010-02-06T09:59:00.002-06:00

GAP: "Shopping Turned on it's Head"
Guerrilla Marketing Example

In Vancouver, Cossette West came up with this marketing campaign to attract customers to the GAP store. For 4 days, anyone who walked by the store found their "Shopping turned on it's head." The GAP logo, a hot dog cart and cars were all flipped upside down. The display windows, the mannequins inside and many other things were turned upside down for the campaign. For more on this campaign click the video below.

What is Guerrilla Marketing?
Guerrilla Marketing is an unconventional type of promotions. Typically this type of marketing is done with a relatively small budget and is a good alternative to traditional marketing. Guerrilla Marketing relies on unique and unusual strategies to gain a customer's attention. The promotion is placed in a new and unconventional place to attract attention. The whole goal of Guerrilla Marketing is to create a unique, thought-provoking, and engaging reaction that will cause the customer to spread the word through face to face or online interactions. The idea to this strategy is to cause a buzz with consumers.

Tips for Guerrilla Marketing:

Use original ideas.Consumers think they've heard it all, show them they're wrong.
Cause an emotional reaction.
Use online tools. Using such tools as blogs, websites, and social interaction sites can help cause awareness of the product/idea.
Be clever. An original idea is not enough, you must convey the idea in a clever way. Consumers see millions of ads, make yours different.
Use humor, if appropriate.
Give consumers a way to interact. If you let the consumer interact with your product (either online or in person) it causes the consumer to identity with your product in a deeper level.
Make consumers want to interact. If your idea/product isn't stirring enough, they won't take the next step to interact, or buy.
Communicate clearly. You know what you're saying, but does the consumer? Your goal here is zero ambiguity.

It's important to remember that Guerrilla Marketing is not just for billboards, in-store displays, or out-of-home promos. There are no traditional ways of using Guerrilla Marketing, it's all about being non-traditional. A great example of this comes from a PDF resource provided by M&I Bank;

“For a real estate staging seminar, I walked in with my
hair in curlers, wearing a bathrobe with magazines
and stuffed animals pinned to it. I asked, ‘How many of
you are trying to sell a house that looks like this?’” Her
audiences remember her and come back for more.

There is no correct way to use Guerrilla Marketing, only an effective way to use it. Make it work for your business, using your unique selling proposition.

For more on Guerrilla Marketing, read over the pdf resource from M&I.

New Additions to Junction5

2010-02-05T08:29:00.000-06:00

Yesterday there were many new additions to the blog. First, I added a new blog header, which looks much better than the old. Then I added Junction5 to Facebook so you can keep up with new posts. Also Junction5 has joined Twitter as well. Please check out either of these networks to stay up to date with new posts!

Thanks!

Kendra

Spotlight on Design: Rob Morris

2010-02-04T15:11:00.000-06:00

Rob Morris
http://digitalmash.com/

Australia

Modernism Design Influence

Rob Morris has a Masters in Internet Communication. As an internationally recognized designer, Morris started working as a private consultant on digitally-based projects for a wide array of clients in 2002. His clients currently include Nike, Converse, Fontessa, and Omnivore. He is currently residing in Japan and has taken up Photography as a hobby. Examples of his work are below as well as some of his photography.

For more of his design work and photography visit his website at: http://digitalmash.com

Public Relations: A Perfect Story Package

2010-02-04T14:32:00.002-06:00

By: Margie Fisher
(Taken from aboutpublicrelations.net)

Ten Questions for Consideration
____________________________

1. Did your client recently launch a new product or service?

2. Can you tie-in with a current trend in business or society (such as weight loss or home and personal security)?

3. Is the business or organization unusual in any way (such as minority-owned, fifth-generation family business, charity that helps a previously ignored group)?

4. Does your client have information that people always want to know about (such as tax tips or nutrition ideas)?

5. What is the Unique Selling Proposition (USP) of the business (what makes it unique from other businesses in the industry?)

6. Does the client have controversial employees, a colorful leader, or has it taken a different position on a current issue?

7. Has the organization or any employees or volunteers won any significant awards or had any major achievements?

8. Is the business or organization very tied in to certain holidays (a candy store, for instance)?

9. Does the business or organization have connections or spokespeople who are local, national or international celebrities (such as Dan Marino, former Miami Dolphins player, as a spokesperson for Levinson Jewelers in South Florida; interior designers who have decorated homes for celebrities)?

10. Is the business involved with charity causes? Does your charity have business partnerships?

For more from this article please visit: http://aboutpublicrelations.net/ucfisher.htm

Top 10 Cities Where Designers are Needed

2010-02-04T14:18:00.002-06:00

Designers Needed in 10 Locations

By: ArtBistro

____________________________________________

1. New York, NY

2. San Francisco, CA

3. Los Angeles, CA

4. Newark, NJ

5. Boston, MA

6. Minneapolis, MN

7. Philadelphia, PA

8. Phoenix, AZ

9. Houston, TX

10. Cleveland, OH

____________________________________________

*For more on these cities, please visit ArtBistro's complete article.

Spotlight on Photography: Elisabeth Eden

2010-02-03T12:53:00.001-06:00

Elisabeth Eden
Eden Photography

Red River Valley

This is a great photographer from the Midwest. She has a distinct style, and has many photos that are simply wonderful. All of her pictures are clear and crisp, and have a great creativity to them. Check out some samples below...

---------------------------------
For more of her photography visit:
The Eden Website
The Eden Facebook

Quesion Posted to LinkedIn: Part 2

2010-02-03T12:27:00.003-06:00

More than a month ago, I posted a question to LinkedIn. The responses came back and so I posted them here Jan. 25th. I have received some more answers, so here's part 2:

What are the things that you think students should be learning before looking for a job at your company?

"Good problem-solving skills. My experience with some interns has been that they wait for someone to tell them what to do when they run into a situation that doesn't go exactly as planned. When I ask for a recommendation of how they would solve the problem, I get a deer in the headlights look. I think students should expect that everything may not be black and white and that there is a whole spectrum of ways to do something and be prepared accomplish the task more than one way."

"Good communication skills, both oral and written. This used to be a given, but now makes a job candidate special! If a student has learned, through internships or other jobs, to work well in a team, to speak effectively in a face-to-face setting and to handle business documents (email, reports, proposals) in an accurate, professional and error-free manner, they are way ahead of the game. For other qualities and skills that make new grads competitive for hire, check out AfterSchool Career Workshops (www.succeedafterschool.com), a program developed by myself and Lisa Correu, both of us long-time members of the advertising/marketing community and supporters of the student community through AAF-KC"

"Critical thinking. It is a skill that is being largely ignored in schools today. Only experience can really provide it, so interns and entry-level staff are at a disadvantage anyway. But just the curiosity to question what you see and wonder if it can be done differently is a great start"

-----------------------------
>>>Go to Part One

>>>Go to Part Three

-----------------------------

15 Things: Land that Dream Job

2010-02-02T08:20:00.001-06:00

How to Land that Dream Job

Arrive no more than 10 minutes early.
Bring 2 copies of a clean, fully revised resume (or more).
Dress professionally (clean & pressed).
Fill out application form completely (remember to bring references).
Address cover letter and resume to an actual person.
Be specific on your objective. Say the position that you are applying for.
Research company before interview (look up website, read articles, ect.).
Know the clients of the company.
Research your career and it's salary range. Have your number in mind when you go into the interview. Remember you won't make the big bucks right away.
Have a list of questions to ask the employer about the company, the position, ect.
Prepare for frequently asked questions. Know your strengths, weaknesses, and what makes you tick.
Be prepared to talk about relevant experiences (work, internships, class projects, extra cirricular activities).
Be alert, have good eye contact, good posture, positive body language, and smile.
Make your first and last impressions count-they are the most important.
Always send a Thank You after an interview. Either by email, by mail, or both.

(From the Kansas City AAF Conference; Nov. 09.)

Fun Website: Stumble Upon

2010-02-01T18:23:00.000-06:00

http://www.stumbleupon.com/

Business Cards: Inspiration #3

2010-01-29T15:33:00.000-06:00

More Business Cards to inspire!

(Front)(Back)

Spotlight on Photography: James & Meredith Walters

2010-01-29T01:24:00.000-06:00

James & Meredith Walters
http://www.waltersandwalters.com/

Raleigh, North Carolina

Wedding Photography

Some great traditional wedding photographers, the Walters seem to have a knack for helping immortalize special days through photography. Take a look...

For more of their photography, visit: http://www.waltersandwalters.com/

No Photoshop? A Free Solution: photoshop.com

2010-01-29T00:48:00.000-06:00

WWW.PHOTOSHOP.COM

Love editing your photos? Love Photoshop? Can't afford it? Here's your answer. A website that has some of the main capabilities of Photoshop, without having to buy the program. Photoshop.com allows users a way to upload, organize, edit and share their photos easily.

Photoshop (the actual program) may be too much for you, the good news is this is just right. With just a few clicks it's easy to crop, straighten, fix red eye, make it black and white, add a pop color, change colors, decorate, or a variety of other things to your favorite photographs. No Photoshop skills are required.

Original

Pop Color

Change Color & Crop

Decorate

Try it for yourself! www.photoshop.com

Spotlight on Design: Gui Borchert

2010-01-27T23:25:00.002-06:00

Gui Borchert
http://www.guiborchert.com/

New York City

Gui Borchert started his career in Rio de Janiero, Brazil after a few years he moved to New York City where he has made a career for himself. He has worked on such products as Nike, Dell, Johnson&Johnson, and Puma. He was featured in Print magazine in 2006 as one of the 20 most talented designers under 30. Also to speak for his work is his famous Barack Obama poster, which is below.

For more of Borchert's work, visit his website at: http://www.guiborchert.com/

Business Cards: Inspiration #2

2010-01-26T21:25:00.000-06:00

Here are some more business cards to help inspire you with your future business card designs!

Question Posted to LinkedIn

2010-01-25T11:49:00.007-06:00

About a month ago, I posted a question on two group's discussion boards on LinkedIn. The question was posted to both the AAF (American Advertising Federation) and the AAF-Kansas City. I received 7 responses, which I will share with you now. The responses come from a wide variety of professionals, here's what they said:

What are the things that you think students should be learning before looking for a job at your company?

"I'm looking for the following knowledge, skills and abilities: Logic, strategic planning basics, writing (both creative and formal documents! student writing skills have diminished with the advent of email and texting!), math (although a lot of students don't like it, they'll have to deal with budgets and statistics every day), and time management. Most students have the technology skills, but lack some of the basics."

"I look for 1 quality above all others...tenacity. With sufficient intelligence, I anyone can be molded &; trained. But tenacity is not a universal trait."

"HOW...TO....WRITE.... "

"Talent. Humility. Ability to listen to and learn from more experienced creatives."

"Teamwork. Communication skills. Ideas. And agree with Julie and Jeff: Humility and WRITING skills - HUGE!"

"For me--In this order: listening skills, writing, public speaking and basic math."

"A lack of a sense of entitlement."

----------------------------------------------
What does this mean? It sounds like these professionals are noticing a definite lack in the basics; reading, writing, arithmetic; all things that students should have learned early on. So next time when you're applying for a job show off these skills. Employers are apparently having a tough time finding these traits in qualified applicants, bringing these to the table may be the way that you land that dream job!

-----------------------------
>>>Go to Part Two

>>>Go to Part Three

-----------------------------

Business Cards: Inspiration

2010-01-24T21:55:00.002-06:00

Here are some business cards that I've found on the internet for inspiration, thought I'd share!

Spotlight Portfolio Site: F. Claire Baxter

2010-01-22T01:52:00.001-06:00

F. Claire Baxter
Creative Director

http://www.vanityclaire.com

Dallas, TX

Here is a great interactive portfolio. The site has a great overall design, and shows her work well. The pages each have their own style (thought they all flow together well), which makes you pay attention as the pages change from one to another.
A few of the pages of her site:

Spotlight on Photography: Katie Lee

2010-01-22T01:20:00.003-06:00

Katie Lee
eyeNexus Photography

Los Angeles, Calif.

One of my all-time favorite photographers that I've ever accidentally come across on flickr. I've gone through a bunch of her photography and I always find it inspiring. One thing that she did was 'project 365', for this she took one photo everyday of herself. The photos are amazing, and a style clearly emerges as the days went on. Check 'em out:

See more of her photography:

On Facebook

On Flickr

On Her Website

Spotlight on Photography: Tim Navis

2010-01-22T00:46:00.001-06:00

Tim Navis
Navis Photography

Los Angeles, Calif.

Vintage Style Photography

I love the vintage style that so many photographers are starting to use, Tim Navis does a great job of making the vintage style unique in all his pictures. The photos below are some of my favorites of his, I especially think that the people ones are amazing.

For more of Tim Navis' Photography visit his Flikr Stream.

John Stossel on Graphic Design

2010-01-21T20:34:00.001-06:00

Here's a video I came across, thought it was a good chuckle: John Stossel discusses graphic design.

Ad Wars: Volume 2: Soda Pop

2010-01-20T14:06:00.001-06:00

Ad War: Pepsi vs. Coke

Pepsi and Coke have been at war since anyone can remember. Both are the top selling sodas around the world, and both have found ways to battle using ads. Here are a few of them:

Skout: One Site, Many Resources

2010-01-20T10:21:00.000-06:00

Skout
Resources + For Designers + By Designers

I was aimlessly looking through a blog that I can across, and I found a post that said that this is the one site that every designer should have. Technically it's one that any creative should have.
On Skout, they have tons of resources for your everyday creative ventures. Their resources include:

Fonts (free and commercial)
Color tools
Icons
Stock Photography
Stock Illustrations
Photograpers
Patterns
Textures
Print Tutorials
Web Tutorials
Text Generators
Web Tools
Frameworks / Web
Libraries / Web
Sounds
Typography
Photoshop Brushes
Magazines
Downloads / Misc.
Wallpapers
Inspiration

Under each of these categories is about 20-50 sites that you can use. Hours of entertainment, creativity, and inspiration all in one site. Enjoy!

http://skout.co.za/

5 Quotes to live by...

2010-01-20T01:26:00.002-06:00

"People ignore design that ignores people." -Frank Chimero

"Remember it takes a lot of shit to create a beautiful flower." -Jacob Cass

"Don't worry about people stealing an idea. If it's original, you will have to ram it down their throats." -Howard Aiken

"If you do what you always did, you will get what you always got." -Albert Einstein

"Be stimulated by rejection." -Bob Gill

Find more at http://quotesondesign.com/

Ad Wars: Volume 1: Cars

2010-01-19T19:35:00.001-06:00

Ad War #1: BMW vs. Audi vs. Subaru vs. Bentley

There's always going to be competition between the top car makers. If you won a prize, you flaunt it. This is an interesting ad war, it starts with BMW and it ends with Bentley. This just shows that the competition IS paying attention...

(The Bentley Ad features the Chairman of Bentley.)

So...Who would you say won?

How about this one...

Ad War #2: Audi vs. BMW

Posters: Be Inspired!

2010-01-19T16:09:00.001-06:00

Inspiration is

hard to find...though it's found everywhere,

never in short supply...though it seems to run dry at times,

a large part of society...though it is underrated unless you're a creative...

needed by everyone..despite what you may have been told.

Here is a little poster inspiration...

Be Inspired!

10 Questions (to help with that dreaded interview)

2010-01-17T22:59:00.005-06:00

Here's another good article, it gives 10 questions that any employer would be impressed to hear you ask when you're interviewing...

10 Questions to Dazzle Would-Be Employers
From CareerBuilder.com

Your suit is crisp -- you look impressive. Your résumé is flawless -- you seem great on paper. Now, for the last piece of the successful job search puzzle -- "wowing" them at the interview.

How do you do it? Try asking questions. Besides showing your interest in the position and the company, asking questions gives you an active role in the interview and lets you steer the interview into areas where you shine.

To make sure your next interview is as smooth as your freshly pressed suit, try these 10 questions on for size:

(For the full article please visit CareerBuilder.com)

Photoshop CS4...Do you know?

2010-01-14T14:54:00.005-06:00

Below is from Adobe's website. It lists what you should know as an entry level professional using Photoshop CS4 in Visual Design. Read through them, do you know them all?

Adobe Certified Associate,

Visual Communication Objectives

Over the past few years, Adobe has conducted research to identify the foundation digital communication skills students need to create effective communication using digital media tools. Adobe met with educators and design professionals and surveyed businesses and educational institutions around the world. The research resulted in objectives that cover entry-level skill expectations for web communication, rich media communication, and visual communication.

Setting project requirements

1.1 Identify the purpose, audience, and audience needs for preparing image(s).
1.2 Demonstrate knowledge of standard copyright rules for images and image use.
1.3 Demonstrate knowledge of project management tasks and responsibilities.
1.4 Communicate with others (such as peers and clients) about design plans.

Identifying design elements when preparing images

2.1 Demonstrate knowledge of image resolution, image size, and image file format for web, video, and print.
2.2 Demonstrate knowledge of design principles and image composition.
2.3 Demonstrate knowledge of typography.
2.4 Demonstrate knowledge of color correction using Photoshop CS4.
2.5 Demonstrate knowledge of image generating devices, their resulting image types, and how to access resulting images in Photoshop.

Understanding Adobe Photoshop CS4

3.1 Identify elements of the Photoshop CS4 user interface and demonstrate knowledge of their functions.
3.2 Demonstrate knowledge of layers and masks.
3.3 Demonstrate knowledge of importing, exporting, organizing, and saving.
3.4 Demonstrate knowledge of producing and reusing images.
3.5 Demonstrate an understanding of and select the appropriate features and options required to implement a color management workflow.

Manipulating images using Adobe Photoshop CS4

4.1 Demonstrate knowledge of working with selections and measurement.
4.2 Use Photoshop guides and rulers.
4.3 Transform images
4.4 Adjust the tonal range and correct the color of an image.
4.5 Demonstrate knowledge of retouching and blending images.
4.6 Demonstrate knowledge of drawing and painting.
4.7 Demonstrate knowledge of type.
4.8 Demonstrate knowledge of filters.

Publishing digital images using Adobe Photoshop CS4

5.1 Demonstrate knowledge of preparing images for web, print, and video.

How funny...Adobe Pillows

2010-01-14T14:28:00.001-06:00

Found these on the internet today...$15 each or $80 for these 6...more can be found on the website: MySuiteStuff.com.

Just Google It!

2010-01-13T14:15:00.009-06:00

It is amazing how Google has made their company into a catch phrase without even trying. How many times a day do you Google something? How many times a day do you say "Google it."? Odds are, a lot. Google has done something that few brands have been able to do, they have created a new lingo that not only describes the process of looking something up, but also advertises it's business everytime it is said. They have taken the market when it comes to websearching. (Other companies that have been able to do this include; Kleenex and Wite-Out.) The amazing thing is that it happened without any push from the company itself. The catch phrase emerged from the fact that you can find anything by simply typing it in Google.

Emerging New Use #1: To Find Yourself

Have you ever googled yourself? There's a good chance your future employers are. Most HR people I've talked to have said that they use the internet to do research on candidates for jobs. Many also say that they have been turned off of a candidate because of what they found.

If you have any sort of profile such as Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, ect. it will come up in the search results. If you have discriminating content on your pages, you might want to take it off or set your security settings higher.

Another consideration is do you even come up in search results? If your name is common (such as John Smith) you may have trouble finding sites that actually pertain to you. Also it may be that you don't have anything on the internet that will come up in search engines. This is both a good and bad thing. Good because employers can't find discriminating information about you, bad because they can't find any other information either. You want employers to be able to find more information about you when they are looking to hire.

Anything that you can do to put yourself over other candidates is vital. Find ways to get yourself in the results. Good ways to do this is to make a website, blog, or join networking sites (make sure that your full name is in the either the site name or in the body text of the site). If you have a common name like the one above (John Smith) maybe consider putting your middle name both on your resume and on the sites that you want to come up in results. There's bound to be less John Ray Smith's than John Smith's.

Emerging New Use #2: To Research Companies

As I said earlier, you can find basically anything on the internet, this includes information about your next potential job. Basically all businesses now have a website, and on these websites they usually have more information about their company than you'd typically need. But when you are looking for a job, the situation isn't typical. The more information you have about the company the better. You don't want to spend the entire interview asking what the company does, you want to be telling them how you can help their company, and to do this you have to know what they do. Is there some big new merger in works? Ask them how it's going. Did they just gain a new client? Ask them about the client. It shows that you know the company. Someone who knows what's going on (or shows that they are willing to find out themselves) is more useful than one that needs everything explained or basically knows nothing. Google the company first.

Another interesting idea that I've heard that could help someone going into a creative environment is to find out who their clients are and come up with a new idea for that client. Go through the whole process as though you were actually working for them (set up the campaign, the advertisements, and the concept behind it). Remember to try to stick to the style that the company typically displays. Put this in the portfolio that you will be giving them to look at. It shows that you have the initiative to do the work, and the creativity to work in their company.

Emerging Use #3: Google Stalk Future Employers

Know who you're going to be interviewing with for that job you want so badly? If you've got a name, you can Google them. Find out what they have in common with you and use that to make the interview less formal. The more you can talk freely about during the interview the better the person hiring will remember you. The thing to remember about this is that you don't want to go over the top.

Bring up casually that you 'just went fishing last weekend' if you know they like fishing. You don't want them to actually think you are a stalker. Never go on to list all the things you found on their personal blog, and say that you like everything that they do. Don't lie, don't scare them, and don't bring up things that might make the conversation uncomfortable. The idea is to make two strangers less uncomfortable and make yourself seem like someone that the employer would actually want to work with. An example of a bad conversation filler would be "I saw online that you and your wife are getting a divorce. How is that going?"

A good article for more on this concept is ArtBistro's "Stalk Your Way to a New Job."

World Wide Rave

2010-01-13T10:34:00.002-06:00

Recently I was glancing through a blog that I'd bookmarked, ThirdWay Advertising Blog, and came across another book, World Wide Rave: Creating Triggers that Get Millions of People to Spread Your Ideas and Share Your Stories by David Meerman Scott. It looks to be a good read, and has received a bunch of publicity and good ratings.

On ThirdWay's blog, there is an interview with the author, Ten Questions with David Meerman Scott; a great read for anyone who is into Advertising or Marketing. Also check out the video below to see what all the hype is about:

Do you know Kuler?

2010-01-11T08:37:00.002-06:00

Kuler, by Adobe

Do you ever have trouble coming up with color themes for your projects? kuler.adobe.com can help. Kuler is a website where you can browse and create color themes. There are literally too many to go through, and with a simple sign up process you can be saving and creating themes for your own use. When you sign up for an account, you are able to save themes that you like and open them in Adobe programs (ie. Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, ect.).

You can create themes one of two ways; first would be to create the theme from a color.

In this instance, you can create your own color themes by moving either the sliders below each color square, or by moving the circles on the color wheel at the top.

The second option is to create a theme from a picture.

This option allows you to either upload your own picture or browse through flickr's most interesting pictures to create the theme. The site automatically creates a theme for you, but you can move the circles on the picture to select different hues/colors yourself. Also you can change the colors the site picks by simply changing the mood to the left of the picture.

The site offers a lot when it comes to colors. Its a free tool and it's not hard to use, like many 'free' sites out there.

Check it out at: http://kuler.adobe.com

Great Article: Top 10 Tips for Your Resume

2010-01-08T14:38:00.000-06:00

I found this article when I was working on my resume, I found it very helpful. Thought I'd share!

Top 10 Tips for Your Resume, from Career Builder.com

"Out with the old, in with the new," isn't that what they always say? The same thing applies to your résumé. Chances are you applied for hundreds of jobs in 2009, only to be ignored or rejected. That means that something has to change....

Visit CareerBuilder for the whole article... it's worth it!

Steps to a Credible Campaign

2010-01-08T11:48:00.000-06:00

Here are 5 Steps to a Credible Campaign, I got them from the October AAF Student Conference...Enjoy!

Begin with the end in mind. (purpose, marketing objectives)
Always focus on the main marketing message. (avoid message overload)
Put the concerns of your audience first.
Respect the functional expertise of everyone. (everyone has a function in the process)
Establish procedures to monitor progress. (ie. weekly updates)

* Also, remember that your campaign should be capable of being believed and worthy of being viewed.

Creative Resumes

2010-01-08T00:37:00.001-06:00

I recently updated my own resume and in doing so I saved a bunch of neat resumes that I thought I'd share with you...the layout is the main part so focus on that. These 15 are just for inspiration...I copied and pasted them from the internet. Good luck with your own resume!

Recommended Book: Advertising Next

2010-01-08T00:15:00.000-06:00

Advertising Next, by Tom Himpe
I recently received this book for christmas, it is 400 pages of some of the best advertising creativity out there. It is a very large book, and though I'm only about 40 pages in, I can tell you it's a must see. It has many pictures (which works for those who are visually stimulated, as I am) and with each picture comes a description of what the advertisement is all about. It amazes me the genius that comes from some people!
The great thing about this book is that once you finish with this first one, Himpe has recently published another Advertising Next with another 150 winning ad campaigns. A definite next on my book list.

First Post

2010-01-08T00:12:00.003-06:00

Just to get started, I wanted to give a little about myself. Currently I am a senior in Communication, studying advertising. I love everything that comes with being creative, though as with most, I have experienced more than one creative block. When I'm bored I have a tendency to look through the internet at information that pertains to advertising, graphic design, ect. I have came across a bit of info that I found useful that I thought I'd share. So here it is!