PREACH!!!!!

Wanting to work on the client side of advertising myself, this video really hit home. I believe that the stronger and healthier your relationship is with your client directly effects the quality of any work produced. A great relationship can foster and create amazing work regardless of the account, product or situation. The ability to have an open conversation about things you like or dislike without feeling like you’re going to be told to go screw yourself is a huge advantage in producing great ads. 

16 hours ago

24.) The Future Belongs to the curious.

Constantly on the prowl for creativity and Inspiration, I stumbled upon creativesomething.net. I Immediately became a fan and was compelled to share my new findings. This blog offers advice and exercises to help you through creativity blocks. It offers inspiration and insight into the creative process. Through this blog i came upon another site called thethinkerbot.com. This site states that logic is the enemy of creativity. The site generates completely random audio, video and pictures in hopes that something out there in cyber space could help in your creative process. These websites, along with many others, could potentially be very useful to some of us in the near future or later on down the road. At the very least, it offers some entertainment value. 

One post spoke volumes to me. It was a video titled “The Future Belongs to the Curious.” I think it’s something everyone should watch, mainly because it speaks the truth, but also, because it broadens your thoughts. Deb is always talking about staying curious and i think this video embodies a lot of the principles she tries to instill in us. So, from one creative strategist to another, I hope you enjoy this video as mush as I did.  

3 months ago

23.)The test of time: Chuck Taylor’s

For our term project we have decided to explore and examine the brand that has proven most resilient to the test of time: Converse’s Chuck Taylor All Stars. I wont be giving too much away here simply because the project is underway. However, i will give you the idea and concept behind our study. 

We have researched this product and learned of its humble beginnings and how it has grown into the shoe it is today. Originally made as a basketball shoe, made popular by Chuck Taylor, it was worn throughout the NBA.  Wilt Chamberlain wore them in his 100 point game. More interestingly, it became the official shoe of the army. Outfitting every soldier through basic training. As time passed, new technology for athletic shoes were developed and the Chucks never hit hardwood again. However, they found a new home. Adopted by the rockabilly culture, the shoe became the standard choice of the greaser outfit. The rest is history. Suddenly, Chuck Taylor’s took a turn from being the official shoe of every GI to the standard shoe of every rebellious cultural movement through the nineties. From JFK, Elvis Presley and Kurt Cobain to The Ramones, NWA and Wiz Khalifa, Chucks have become an iconic cultural statement. The have withstood the test of time and have been chosen by many to cushion the soles of their march in culture. Our project will further analyze the reasons behind this brand’s timeless presence and try to bring some insight on why and how they became forever young. 

3 months ago
22.) If you dont have an iPhone… The iPhone has been the single greatest marvel, in terms of communication technology and cultural integration, in our history to date. The info graphic above is a bit dated, but you get the picture. Apple has created a new technology, market and, most importantly, a new cultural icon. Since its release in 2007, Apple has remodeled the iPhone a total of three times. Each remodel had critics raving and saying it couldn’t get any better. Well, it continually has. Along with the iPhone came a brand new market dubbed ”The App Store.”  The App Storehas just recently reached its 25 billion download mark and that number is steadily growing. The iPhone has taken all of societies interests, loves and wants and made them accessible and readily available in the palm of your hand. Facebook, Twitter, E-trade, Wells Fargo, the New York Times, a flash light, games, the internet, all of your music and so much more is just a tap away. The iPhone has changed the way we do LIFE. Not buying it? You probably don’t have one. Until recently, my roommate was the only one in the house without an iPhone. We had to put up with his constant nagging about how we spend too much time on our phones and how we should feel guilty for wasting our lives away. Since the purchase of his 4s, the kid hasn’t put his phone down to breathe. Many users consider their iPhone to be very dear to them. In fact, I personally know people who have cried after breaking or losing their own. Apple has managed and propelled a cultural phenomenon. The iPhone has become synonymous with music, communication and the mobile device in general. You don’t just have a cell phone anymore, you have an iPhone. You didn’t lose your phone again, you lost your iPhone again. Apple has created a device that plays in a league of its own. I can only speak for myself, but i think most would agree, when I say that my iPhone has become an essential tool in living the lifestyle that i have made myself accustomed to. From web browsing to lighting up a dark room, this device is constantly in use. Apple has penetrated the culture and made themselves a part of it. An amazing business model. High-res

22.) If you dont have an iPhone…

The iPhone has been the single greatest marvel, in terms of communication technology and cultural integration, in our history to date. The info graphic above is a bit dated, but you get the picture. Apple has created a new technology, market and, most importantly, a new cultural icon. Since its release in 2007, Apple has remodeled the iPhone a total of three times. Each remodel had critics raving and saying it couldn’t get any better. Well, it continually has. Along with the iPhone came a brand new market dubbed ”The App Store.”  The App Storehas just recently reached its 25 billion download mark and that number is steadily growing. The iPhone has taken all of societies interests, loves and wants and made them accessible and readily available in the palm of your hand. Facebook, Twitter, E-trade, Wells Fargo, the New York Times, a flash light, games, the internet, all of your music and so much more is just a tap away. The iPhone has changed the way we do LIFE. Not buying it? You probably don’t have one.

Until recently, my roommate was the only one in the house without an iPhone. We had to put up with his constant nagging about how we spend too much time on our phones and how we should feel guilty for wasting our lives away. Since the purchase of his 4s, the kid hasn’t put his phone down to breathe. Many users consider their iPhone to be very dear to them. In fact, I personally know people who have cried after breaking or losing their own.

Apple has managed and propelled a cultural phenomenon. The iPhone has become synonymous with music, communication and the mobile device in general. You don’t just have a cell phone anymore, you have an iPhone. You didn’t lose your phone again, you lost your iPhone again. Apple has created a device that plays in a league of its own. I can only speak for myself, but i think most would agree, when I say that my iPhone has become an essential tool in living the lifestyle that i have made myself accustomed to. From web browsing to lighting up a dark room, this device is constantly in use. Apple has penetrated the culture and made themselves a part of it. An amazing business model.

3 months ago

21.) Spring Break: Vegas Baby!

Why has Las Vegas become the spring break capital for 21+ crowds? Simple enough. Its is home to MTV’s spring break and it’s the city that never sleeps. Las Vegas braces itself every year for the spring break rush of over-worked and ready to party college students. This college frenzy becomes one of the premiere events for companies to advertise to college students. On the front lines of this campaign is MTV. The pop culture television network hosts parties and events that span throughout the week. All events are sponsored by headlining liquor companies, energy drinks and popular resorts. I will be enjoying and partaking in the madness this year for the first time. It’s pretty hilarious how creative strat has changed my outlook on so many things I would have easily took for granted before. As soon as I found out I was going, i was immediately interested in what kind of campaigning would be going on that week. It just seemed like an opportunity for so many brands to throw themselves out there. Thankfully i’ll be right in the middle of it all. I will be staying at the Palms where MTV will be hosting it’s spring break. Dont get me wrong, im going to party but I’m genuinely interested in how these companies are going to be promoting themselves. I mean, I’m sure we could imagine but I think I’m going to enjoy it a whole lot more in person. I will be reporting back with my findings, hopefully. 

3 months ago

20.) Music: Gotye (Go-te-yae)

This song has been on repeat, for the last two weeks, in my house in every room. Belgium-Australian singer/ song writer, Wouter “Wally” De Backer has jumped and stayed at the top spot on Spotify for the last three weeks (maybe longer). Gotye’s voice has been compared to Sting and Peter Gabriel. His refreshing new sound and semi-creepy music video has kept things interesting, and for that i thank him. This song has sparked a fever on youtube, inspiring hundreds of cover performances. The most notable one was done by a group named Walk Off the Earth. 


3 months ago

19.) Culture: Stop being a creeper, be genuine and be a gentleman. Ask her out.

So because i did what any great college student does, procrastinate, I’m running out of advertising related posts (though I could argue that this might be applicable to the industry in some way) for the night so I decided to have some fun and address a problem I constantly hear about.

It seems like nowadays most young men have this sadly mistaken view on the dating process and how that initial contact with the opposite sex should be. Cheesy pick-up lines, over dramatic compliments and awkward moments is what today’s dating world has in store for a young woman. Let’s change that up, shall we. Now, let me get this out of the way before I start getting into the meat of things. I don’t think I’m some relationship guru and I don’t think I can land any girl of my choice.  I’m not going to tell you how to pick up on a girl because that just sounds douche-baggish. I’m going to remind you that you’re a man so you should act like one. Ok, here we go.

1.) Dress to impress:

A man’s wardrobe doesn’t have to be worth a million dollars or full of the latest and greatest brands that money can buy. Whatever your style is, stay true to it. Be you in everything you do. If that means you like rocking cut up jeans, white T’s, ballet shoes, a mullet and a mustache then go for it. All I ask is that you be prepared for what comes with that territory. But seriously, there’s a fine line. This job gets a lot harder once you cross it. Please note that there is a difference between style, whatever that means to you, and looking like a bum. Dirty is gross, and always will be. Avoid looking like you don’t care that a bus just hit you. Clean and presentable in any situation is the best guideline. The way a man dresses himself speaks volumes about his personality. Be sure you’re sending the right message.

2.) Initial Contact:

As I have mentioned in one of my earlier posts, eye contact and how you use it is extremely important in daily life. Approaching a woman is no exception. Rule #1: don’t be a creeper. In order for eye contact to be effective, it needs to be welcomed and appropriate. When eye contact is unwanted, it goes from gazing to staring, and being stared at makes people uncomfortable. Creeper! Good eye contact has been proven to excite physiological arousal. This happens not only when you’re directly looking into someone’s eyes, but also when you simply perceive that someone is staring at you. This arousal can be a good thing–if you and a lovely lady are looking into each other’s eyes, it can create a more intense connection.  But when someone fixes his or her gaze on you in a creepy way, it can feel as if a predator is stalking you in the wild. If a woman meets your eyes, don’t be the first one to look away. Holding your gaze simply signals your confidence, which is attractive to women. 

Interpreting her eye contact: When you look over at a woman, she will usually look away, whether she’s interested in you or not. But the way in which she looks away tells you a lot about whether she wants you to approach her or not:

If she looks down and then looks back at you less than 45 seconds later, she is almost definitely interested. This sign is so nearly fail-proof that you don’t need any smooth pick-up lines when you approach her—just offer your hand and introduce yourself.

If she looks away horizontally, she’s not sure if she’s interested in you or not yet. Smile and make eye contact again to see how she reacts.

If she averts her gaze by looking up, she’s not interested. Basically, she just rolled her eyes at you.

3.) The Conversation.

It’s hard enough to strike up a conversation with a complete stranger, when you’re genuinely attracted to that stranger; it’s ten times harder. Get that out of your head right now.  If you are any where near belligerent, this is not going to work at all.

Here is where we have all failed you ladies. So we’ve worked up the courage to approach you and something like “you’re so hot” or “what’s your name?” comes out of our mouths. The latter is easier to recover from, but either way, you deserve better.  Timing is everything and the opportunity will present itself so be patient. When it’s right, meaning she’s not engaged in another conversation, dancing with someone else or walking to her car by herself (creeper), you approach. Something like a gentle tap on the arm to get her attention is enough. Introduce yourself and then proceed to start a natural conversation. Questions like: where they’re from, if they’re having fun and who they came with are completely fine. Be creative but genuine. At some point you need to make it obvious you’re not trying to be put in the friend zone. Politely interrupt the conversation with a compliment about her. Shit just got real. Encourage her to keep talking afterward. Maintaining eye contact always. If it’s going good, keep it going. If you sense some awkward silences and you cant avoid it, its time to go.

Plan:

You’re leaving but you would love to take her out. Is it cool if you get her number? Lose graciously and win humbly. Rejection is part of the game and it will happen so brace yourself.

“No”: “Have a great night and be safe.” You’ve lost nothing.

“ Yes”: “great I’ll text you tomorrow. Have a good night”, give her a hug and walk away. If it was yes, chances are the conversation went pretty well and you guys had some chemistry. Call the next day if you said you would. Wait a little if you didn’t specify.

This isn’t one night stand business. If that’s what you were looking for, I’m sorry. I know how hard it is to actually work up the courage to talk to someone who you find attractive or that you genuinely have an interest in. Remember, Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Always display confidence and know that you have nothing to lose if you get rejected.

Credits to artofmanliness.com for the staring and gazing data and inspiration behind the post.

3 months ago

18.) Oregon As a brand

Oregon, along with many institutions of higher learning, does not do a good job of branding itself. A brand should be about the vision and culture of the organization along with the parts that make up its whole. I think we do a good job of displaying our qualities and diversity as a University of Oregon, but what are we about exactly? We have an amazing athletics program. We have the best fans in the Pac-12. We have amazing majors with highly credited national presence. We have uncle Phil. We’re track town USA and we have a gorgeous campus that Animal House was filmed on. In class, we’ve talked about brands being verbs. Nike exhorts, IBM solves and Sony dreams. What does the University of Oregon do for everyone it comes in contact with? The University of Oregon wins, educates, thrives, motivates, excels, out-works, creates and solves, but most of all I think we inspire. If you want to be a part of a community that has the greatest sports fans and college teams on the west coast, come to Oregon. If you want to create things, solve problems and excel in life, come to Oregon. If you want to rock Nike gear like it’s your job, come Oregon. But before you come to Oregon, be ready to be inspired. This brand image of inspiration would undoubtedly resonate with our nation’s youth. The best part about it is that it’s true. What high-school graduate of junior-college transfer is looking for inspiration? Every #$*!%&^ one of them. I think this would be an amazing project to take on and would love to hear from anyone who has an idea on how to brand our University of Oregon.

3 months ago

17.)Music: Kendrick Lamar

A Compton, California native, Kendrick Lamar, was crowned the new king of the west coast by, highly reputable and well-certified to do so, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. Lamar made is his debut in 2003, but it wasn’t until 2008 that he would start making strides toward celebrity status. Lamar has not been considered mainstream until recently when his single, Hii Power, produced by J.Cole hit the airwaves. Lamar hasresurrected a style of rap that has ben missing from the mainstream game for quite some time. In Hii power (shown above) there is a message of self-empowerment being delivered by Lamar. A call to “build your own pyramids, write your own hieroglyphs.” He’s not always rapping about “blunts and broads….sex and expensive cars” (no disrespect biggy). A more educated and insightful message is being conveyed through some of these songs. Still not in the most politically correct language, but you can’t change that about rap. It’s part of its identity. J.Cole is another rapper who has joined in on this higher intellectual style of rapping. Graduating from St. John’s University in NYC on a academic scholarship, Cole has brought a new image to the rap game. Proving to kids that you don’t have to have to be a high school drop out, drug dealing, gangster to rap. 

3 months ago

16.) Athlete+Artist: Ayele Forde

Ayele Forde is a student-athlete at the University of Oregon. He plays running back on Oregon’s 3 time pac-12 championship football team. Like many players on the Oregon football team, his sport does not define him. Recently, Oregon has been caught up in a whirl of bad press. It’s funny, none of the good news ever gets out. I chose to do this piece to shine light on the other side of the players. The side no one ever gets to see. 

Forde is an aspiring artist and digital art major. He paints and draws in his free time. He is currently working toward his dream of writing and directing his own animation. He hopes to, somehow, impact the world and invoke change. 

His views and beliefs drastically resemble the values that we talk about in class everyday. Forde wants to produce quality work that serves its purpose and rewards its consumers. He believes in making a difference in the world and that there is always an opportunity to do good. Whether he is using his image as a football player or his skills as an artist, he is constantly looking to better those around him and make a difference. Personalities like Forde are what make up the Oregon football team. Do we mess up sometimes? Sure. But show me 18-21 year old who hasn’t. The only difference is the spotlight.  

3 months ago

15.) I love College

It’s about to be week 9 in our winter term so i know there might be a little disconnect from the title, but try and remember the good times. My roommates and i were discussing the the little time we have left as undergrad students. You know, before shit gets real! While we still have a full year until graduation, it’s truly amazing to think about how fast three years have flown by. After having the discussion, we came to the realization that these years are filled with the least amount of responsibilities we will ever have. So enjoy, because it will never be the same again. 

I thought about it for quite some time and decided to explore the the culture of college at the University Of Oregon. What makes the college experience, in general, so unique?

  • The Arts

It is incredibly easy to find people who enjoy the same type of music, literature and art that you do. More importantly, your social network consists of the most diverse and multicultural people you will ever be around the rest of your life. Meeting new people allows us to experience new things about their culture, taste in music, food etc…

  • Free Time

At what other point in your life are you going to be able to go out thursday through through saturday and have enough youth in you to grind out all your homework the following sunday? Never.

  • Turning 21!

A great time in your life that will always be associated with college. Your, and all of your friend’s, 21st birthdays.  That one night that you went to every campus bar and closed down Max’s at 2:30 and woke up the next morning swearing you would never do it again. Yet, you rallied and and repeated the same plan of action just because you could now. 

  • Relationships

Some meet their future spouses during their college careers. Another amazing moment to be associated with college. Personally, I can say that have made life-long relationships with multiple people through my years here at the U of O. Like, their on the wedding list type friends. (note: a great tool for measuring the status of a friendship is asking yourself: “will i pay for them to eat at my weeding?”).

  • Living on your own

Hands down the biggest perk of going to college away from home. You truly grow as an individual when you have to completely responsible for yourself. No mom and dad waiting up for you at night = freedom (at least that’s how you’re thinking when you’re a freshman). Your first taste of freedom, yet another moment to be associated with college.  

The list can go on and on, but these are the basic things that i associate with my college experience. I’d love to go into depth about this and maybe i will in a later post. I’m sure there is much more in store for us as we move on from college. Many more experiences that will shape and mold us, but truthfully i think your foundation is sealed in your college years. I believe you continue to build on the beliefs and experiences you solidified in college throughout your life. Your views might (most likely will) change after starting your career, buying your first home or having your first kid. However, i think this point in our life is in the same category.  

3 months ago
14.) My Thoughts on Pinterest Despite the raging debate on how long it’s going to last and whether or not it presents any true value, i remain optimistic. I think Pinterest has potential written all over it. It has made the user experience ridiculously simple and easy to use. You like a picture?Click on it and off you go to wherever it came from. Many times you’re redirected to magazine articles. If you really like it, go ahead and re-pin it. Free circulation and advertising on a social platform made simple. Images have, and will always be, superior to txt in terms attention grabbing. A picture is worth a million words now more than ever. This platform has presented a new business opportunity for many, especially magazines, DIY companies such as Better Homes and clothing brands. I think that it is important to note that women, although men have recently started coming around, make up the majority of users. These women happen to be young and tech savvy. I know i can speak for girls here at the U of O when i say that they love it. There has always been this overflow of information on the internet that has always been readily available to us. Recipes, fashion advice, home projects. You name it, it has always been around. However, pinterest has now made it a fun social interaction to share and, more importantly, actually try new things with your friends. The same information that has always been there is now being spoon fed to consumers by their friends and family. Brilliant! Im extremely interested to see in which direction pinterest heads next.

14.) My Thoughts on Pinterest

Despite the raging debate on how long it’s going to last and whether or not it presents any true value, i remain optimistic. I think Pinterest has potential written all over it. It has made the user experience ridiculously simple and easy to use. You like a picture?Click on it and off you go to wherever it came from. Many times you’re redirected to magazine articles. If you really like it, go ahead and re-pin it. Free circulation and advertising on a social platform made simple. Images have, and will always be, superior to txt in terms attention grabbing. A picture is worth a million words now more than ever.

This platform has presented a new business opportunity for many, especially magazines, DIY companies such as Better Homes and clothing brands. I think that it is important to note that women, although men have recently started coming around, make up the majority of users. These women happen to be young and tech savvy. I know i can speak for girls here at the U of O when i say that they love it. There has always been this overflow of information on the internet that has always been readily available to us. Recipes, fashion advice, home projects. You name it, it has always been around. However, pinterest has now made it a fun social interaction to share and, more importantly, actually try new things with your friends. The same information that has always been there is now being spoon fed to consumers by their friends and family. Brilliant! Im extremely interested to see in which direction pinterest heads next.

3 months ago

13.) Ryan Leslie: Art+Talent

Anthony Ryan Leslie is a producer, instrumentalist, entrepreneur, rapper, singer and ,most of all, genius. If you don’t know already, I have an affinity for good music and great talent. Mainly because: #1 I think that the music of any generation is the single biggest contributor and influence to its culture and #2 What’s life without a beat to step to? This man has done everything from producing beats to starting his own record company. At the age of 14 he scored a 1600 (perfect) on his SAT’s. He graduated from harvard at the age of 19. Musically gifted would be a gross understatement. I could write pages about his accomplishment, but thats why you have wikipedia. Enjoy!

3 months ago

12.)Balance of Opposites+Diversity: Advertising.

After sitting through Deb’s class for 8 weeks I have come away with tons of information. A little overwhelming at times, but I am grateful for bit of it. One thing that resonated with me the most is that there seemed to be similarities among all the people who came to speak to us throughout the term. Speaker after speaker, I saw similar characteristics. They were well-spoken, intelligent, creative, humble yet confident. They all also seemed like they knew had to have fun. Like the kind of people you would enjoy having a beer with. In an earlier post about what I would contribute to the industry, I mentioned that I thought I had this balance between party and business. I wanted to touch on that a little more and share why I thought it was important.

This industry is largely based on culturally driven ideas and concepts. In order for someone to be successful in this business and do their job well, I feel as if you need to be culturally diverse. There is a necessity to be adventurous and curious about things you haven’t experienced yet. This is true across the board. From trying new foods and watching Indies to diving into novels and traveling. I get this sense that the more you lean to the creative side the more fun you got to be having. So, here is wear the balance comes into play. All this experience and fun has to be channeled into something tangible. You need to be able to produce what you have experienced into something useful that gives you insight into the culture. Now, I’ve been back and forth between director and planner for quite sometime and still haven’t put my finger on it yet. I know that my life’s experiences have molded me into a very diverse individual. I’m not tooting my own horn here; I’m just trying to make sense of this all. I’m a 21 year-old Mexican kid from southern California that looks like a white boy, whose first language was Spanish. I live with three black guys who are my closest friends and together we have more Jewish friends than a bat mitzvah. I have been blessed to play on one of the most successful college football teams in the nation, under some of the greatest coaches I have ever been around. I have a downs-syndrome brother who is my inspiration to everything I do in life. I enjoy a great glass of beer as much as I enjoy a great bottle of wine. What do I feel like eating? Anything as long as it’s not alive. Wherever I end up is going to be the right place and I’m going to have the time of my life with it.

3 months ago