Last night we finished the logo to represent team Argo. The word “Argo” is the name of the ship in which the hero Jason sails, according to the Greek myth. The logo represents the sail of the ship. We’ve taken to calling ourselves “Argonauts.”
As the final presentation draws closer, I’ve adopted the mantra: “sleep less, drink more coffee.” Hopefully my body won’t figure out what I’ve done to it until after the presentation is over.
Folklore says the best way to catch a jackalope is by setting a flask of whiskey out at night. But Team Jackalope is not your ordinary jackalope- and we prefer snacks. In the final push of our campaign, we meet (and eat) together daily.
Here’s a list of what’s fueling us lately:
Sure it might not be the healthiest diet, but right now all of our effort is focused on the campaign. 8 days to go…
- Erin
Last day at Ascentium. My how time flies. I will certainly miss it here, the big open office space, ambiguous wall paintings, the work, the people. I’m very grateful for all of the opportunities the team has given me to explore new styles of writing and learn about the inner workings of an agency.
In my time here I was fortunate enough to sit in on multiple client meetings and brainstorm sessions, write scripts for voice overs, a typography video, and infographics, and write copy for banner ads and social media posts. Who knew the life of an intern could be so interesting? Muchas gracias to Ascentium for an awesome 3 weeks!
Megan
Today I went on an Instagram walkabout lunch with Sarah Prince and Tyler Riewer from Grady Britton.
Mine:
Tyler’s:
Sarah sniped this one of me walking back:
So sad tomorrow’s my last day!
Can you really feel growth in two weeks? I think so. Perhaps this is my Jesuit education talking, but I’ve been reflecting a lot lately about the last two weeks.
I came into this program with a substantial (if I do say so myself) print background. So naturally, when I think about solving an advertising problem, I go directly to print. I think:
Image
Tagline
Logo
Placement
Boom, problem solved.
But the thing about problem solving is that one size doesn’t fit all. Different strokes for different folks, right? Exactly.
So when I sit down with some of the projects I’ve worked with at HMH, my normal framework doesn’t always fit. The most recent example has been in terms of events. When I was told that the print or production budget is low and that an event would be best, my first reaction was to freeze. A few community calendar checks and google searches later, I stepped back and realized the pigeonhole I was creating for myself.
Now, I won’t try to make this sound like I’ve made a complete 180, but I’m certainly in the process of the u-turn. The longer I spend thinking in these new terms, the more I like it. Problems can’t always run to the next-door neighbor (print), because sometimes print is out of town, in a fussy mood, or asking for too much in return.
- Erin
Look at him, so blissful! The happiest whale in the world!
Grady Britton is stellar. Some of my friends have internships where they’re treated like slaves, but this one’s different. Also, everyone here rides razor scooters around. I ride a scooter at school sometimes, but University of Oregon is no place for that. The student body president has consistently ignored my petitions to make campus more scooter friendly. I digress.
This is awesome.
Yeah.
Thankful. That’s one word that sums up how I am feeling.
One-point-five weeks at Anvil media, under the umbrella of Colab. I have heard a lot about the program by now, and I have heard countless times what a great opportunity this is. There was no ‘schooling’ for advertising 50 years ago. barely any 20 years ago.
Along with the trepidation, I have been encouraged to make bold choices. (Jim Beam. -Anyone?) I have been reminded that this is the only time in my career I can reach out to just about anyone within the industry and actually get a response. This is big stuff. As one coworker pointed out- “you can’t pay money for the experience you are getting.”
So thankful, yeah. And empowered.
-Eli
Four people have already asked me if I’m from Portland. I really want to say “yes” even though it’s been just as many days as I’ve been working at HMH Agency.
Portland, you are everything I could ask for in a city. The food, both in the form of farmer’s markets and eateries is wonderful. “Why doesn’t every city have a local, organic, artisan movement?” I wondered while eating almond brittle and chocolate ganache ice cream last week (@ Salt & Spoon). I think I’ve tried four new beers and each has been my new favorite (with the current frontrunner of McMenamins Ruby). And maybe it’s just the Los Angeles in me but let’s talk about how easy it is to get around this town: so easy! It feels like there’s parking everywhere which makes exploring the city a breeze.
Colaboratory has been a rush. Just a few days at my first agency (HMH Agency) and I’ve been trained on a media list program, am conducting a survey about online donations, have sat in on meetings about new energy technology, and have been setting up informational interviews to learn more. With only a short three weeks here, I want to get involved with as many projects as possible.
Our client project is getting underway as well. Jackalope (Eli, Josh, Lauren, Tucker and myself) met yesterday to talk about some initial ideas and we’re already moving in a great direction. With all of the coffee shops we look into closing at 7 PM, we met at the waterfront by Burnside Bridge. Not at all a bad place to chat with some smart people about advertising! I can’t wait to hear what our guest speaker at Frank has to say about strategy and planning tomorrow at our first milestone session.
Only question that remains is, “is it too soon to be chanting RCTID?”
-Erin
It is the end of day 6 here in Portlandia, although the sky is still so blue you’d think the day was just beginning. Despite the partially poopy weather this last week here in the northwest—a mythical place where the sky is grey nearly as consistently as the conifer tree nettles are green—the sun finally made an appearance just in time for lunch earlier today.
The last week has certainly been one for the books. Nine other interns and myself arrived in PDX on Friday for our Colaboratory orientation. After a meet and greet, veggie buffet, and icebreaker we were ready to be broken up into our teams which will be competing against one another to create an advertising campaign for this years’ client, the Portland Timbers (Go team Argo—woot woot). A creative brief later, it was time to celebrate…with beer. We went to Lucky Laborador Beer Hall to get to know everyone better, interns and agency employees alike. Needless to say, everyone was awesome and I can’t help but feel more and more encouraged every day that I picked the right career path.
Saturday and Sunday were adventures of themselves. A few of the interns and I spent the weekend exploring Portland—walking around farmers markets, eating at various foreign restaurants, watching the Timbers play, and of course spending an ill advisable amount of time in a PSU dive bar singing karaoke until wee hours of the morning. Before we knew it, the first day of work had arrived and we all wished each other luck as we headed off to our own agencies.
Ascentium was the first stop for me. On Monday I was introduced to most of the office and right away I felt at home. Having never been inside an advertising agency before (I know, *gasp*) it was great seeing how everything works outside of a classroom. Since then I’ve gotten a few copywriting assignments, writing drafts of taglines and scripts for various assignments, and have even had the opportunity to sit in on multiple client meetings. Overall, these last three days at the agency have been a lot of fun and very informative! And although I told myself I was moving out of the PNW before October, I must admit that I’m falling a little bit in love with this city.
—Megan B
Michael Taylor made it to Pullman, WA for Homecoming. I loved our reunion. Go Cougs!
