What if you could go back?

If I could go back….I would definitely have a pen and notebook with me at all times. Write everything down, No loose papers, and no lost notes. I always forget certain things after my critiques – always, and it really has hurt myself in moving forwards. Also, if I keep forgetting old notes, then I never could focus on then new ones, and again, not move forward.

I’ve noticed that it’s better for me to take my own pictures, because at least that way I could control what I really want to show. With my ‘don’t text and drive’ ads, my headlines were so strong, and I think I could have done better with the visual. I photographed it, but that brutal, gruesome truth that I really wanted to portray still wasn’t there. And I’m hoping to fix that in the summer. I’m going to really try and better my photography kill because that’s where I really see my ideas coming to life; the less Photoshop work I have to do, the better. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to slack off on Adobe programs. I will work on it some more.

I would also like to say to the past me that caffeine is your friend, and build that confidence I know I have for presentations. I nailed the Gelusil presentation, because we practiced and practiced and I let my inner me out; because most of you don’t know this (considering…), but I am NOT so ‘soft spoken’ as I appear to be, and I really want to fix that. And also at critiques, I usually don’t say anything, but that started with past classes when I was a Graphic Designer, and I really have to get over it.

On the copy writing subject, I do think that at times I would come up with something amazing - like my headlines for the 'don't text and drive', and the end result of my long copy, but it was no easy task getting to those points. I mean you'd think writing would be easy, because it should be something that should come naturally to you, especially when you're speaking like yourself to your audience, but boy is that idea easily confused. Copy is the one thing that I seriously struggled at some points. Although for the 'Print & Ink' project, the copy and headline that Alex, Curtis, and I came up with, I still thought they were genius, but again, they did have the inappropriate vibe, and it's something I've learned to watch out for.

I do like to write, but I don’t think it’s something I want to take as a career choice. I rally do enjoy my creative imagination, and I like to create things. The advertising world is a chance for me to take my over-active imagination and put it to good use. I know I have great ideas, but as Vivian said, I have to try and make sense out of them, and not just to myself. And I do love advertising, I really do, but I get why people think I’m not that into it. I talk to my family non-stop about advertising, and I’ve never been more content working in advertising that anything else, but again, that a part of me that I haven’t shown to a lot of people, and my people I mean the ad class, because I have no problem chatting it up with everyone else. So words of advise for everyone else, no one is ever what they seem to be.

So this summer, I already have planned certain projects that I am going to completely redo – because fixing these failed babies is kind of a waste of time. I’ve tried again and again to fix some of my ideas, but they still aren’t working, so the best thing to do is start from scratch and see where it goes from there. Although, some things, like my headlines for ‘don’t text and drive’ I will sure keep, and the art direction is what will be changed, (and I already have a few ideas). Also that UMBRA project, I can’t wait to work on it. More advertising in the summer makes me happy, especially since I have an internship to look forward to, and there I really hope to gain new experiences, and maybe there I’ll find my calling (in advertising).

Senior year...I am looking forward to it. Mostly because we are working on our own, and it gives me a chance to rely on myself a lot more, instead of others. How many people usually leave certain works to others, began they struggle too much to do it? I know I've done it, and it's not healthy in a growing advertising world. This will be a great opportunity to bring in my strengths, and improve my weaknesses. Also, hopefully in the summer, I would improve a lot more, so as when I start my senior year, I'll be all ready and willing to start working again!

Last note…I as talking to the guy from my internship, and he said that the fact that I go to an art school, studying/having a background in art & design is very rare apparently. He said that most interns are coming from just the marketing aspect, and he is quite scarce in the creative department :D I might have found my calling after all.

Use your words

Who does that remind you of? Really. "Use your words". First thing I thought of was Chase!



Did you get how I got Chase from this? ^_^
Well I thought this commercial was cute. But personally I don't like juice with bits of fruit in it. That's just gross. It's like having yogurt with bits of fruit in it, or orange juice with pulp! I don't like something disturbing me while I eat/drink something.

Anyways, while the commercial was cute, it was weird connecting the bats with the fruit. I mean I know that there are fruit bats, and the minute I see a fruit and a bat next to it, I instantly think "fruit bat!". However, in this day and age, I don't think a lot of people make that connection. Bats connect to blood, which make people think of vampires, doesn't it? Maybe for some people. But the placement of the product in the fruit tree had a cute, nice touch to it, and technically the bats made the it picture perfect. But maybe something less creepy looking, like a bird or something. But then again, birds and other cuddly critters are too predictable, so the bats work out just fine in the end - if you can get past the vampire aspect.

Fun fact, fruit bats pollinate many fruits! (like mangos, bananas, and peaches)

Really?

Windows comes out with a new phone, Windows 7- after all, 7 is the lucky number right?. Lucky indeed, and this video is just plain hilarious.



As I was watching the video, I didn't like how one girl said "really", but then as I watched more of the video, other people said it, and it kind of just meshed well. It was random at first, but adding that one line, in a sea of speechless, zombie phone addicts, made a good balance. And that one scene, where the kid playing baseball throws the ball at his dad's head = priceless. Can't stop 'lol-ing'.

iSupport

Amnesty International Deutschland (Germany) presents this unique advertising commercial using the iPad from Apple. Amnesty is a global movement aiming to end severe abuses against human rights. So, what does the iPad have to do with abusing human rights? They took that touch screen movement technology of the iPad and translated it into "daily human right violations can't simply be wiped away".

Amnesty International Deutschland iPad ad (engl.) from TBWA Germany on Vimeo

When the Amnesty International square comes in, you would click it and it would take you to their website, where you can support them and learn more.
I thought the idea of using the touch screen technology to their own advantage was actually pretty cool. In advertsing, it's always cool to use what you got, and work with it, right? That's why those clever ambient advertising things are so effective. When I was watching, I really felt like the picture was going to come to life, like the person was going to move out of his corner, like the creepy ghost in the elevator from the movie "The Eye". All in all, I thought this was creative.

Agency: TBWA, Berlin, Germany

Zen of Social Media

‘The Zen of Social Media’ by Shama Hyder Kabani

The book was about understanding how people think when it comes to using social media, and then using it to your own gain. It said you should “alter your own attitude and how you market’, and then you’ll sure to succeed. It’s described as an effortless job, just gather a lot of people and go with the flow it says. I think that that part was right, because in this day and age, we there is always that competition (it may not be real, but it’s there) about who had the most followers, or who has the most friends, etc, and this kind of thinking puts you on top. If you think about it, the more people you connect with, the more you’re exposed to, and the more you know about how to spread things.

The good thing about social media is that it’s fast and easy. Before you’d tell a person or two about how awesome something is, and hopefully word would get around without any response on how they felt. But now it has become a whole new world, where people can find a Facebook or Twitter or blog page on practically anything, read about it, and comment. It gathers more customers, keeps them informed, and allows you to improve you product by their feedback (faster too). Also now, people have changed, and since then, you locating your demographic isn’t a one-way street, it’s many streets; streets that you can target at once, instead of searching one by one. I liked how it said that we are “savvier”, because we are. We don’t believe everything the TV tells us anymore. There are ways out there to get the truth, and we will goo far to get it.

I personally love the traditional media; it helps me have a ‘more natural’ grasp on things because it was physically there, or maybe having no control over it, made me feel I had control over it. With everything going online, I felt that the traditional stuff would be extinguished, but then again it was just a feeling. It’s has now become a vicious cycle of radio spots and direct mail leading you to Facebook or blog spots. They’ve added more to the torture, just in a more organized way.

Social media is ‘online platforms where people connect and communicate’. Examples are blogs and social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter, Youtube).
The point is to create a conversation with the consumers, not ‘a monologue’.
Why Social Media? Because it’s where the people are at, ALL the time. With cell phones have Internet now, almost everyone can and definitely will access their favorite social networking site, or blog, etc. Secondly, no one trusts advertising anymore, but we trust our friends. If you treat us badly, we’ll treat you badly. It’s as simple as that. Third, join the conversation. People are bound to talk about products, it’s kind of a automatic thing, so the best thing for us to do, is add your comments.

I liked the “respect people online”. You wouldn’t want someone bugging you in real life about a business, let alone flooding you’re feed. Show some respect, and don’t spam, randomly add people, and respect their ‘virtual space’. There was something about not treating everything as a ‘shiny toy’. So like don’t grab at every opportunity, it may not work out. Research and learn, then move forward. I kind of don’t agree with using your real name. It said that people prefer to talk to someone real, they want to be able to connect with a specific person. Myself personally, I don’t care if I’m talking to Apple or John Smith, if either one screw up, it’s both that take the blame. And using your real name really puts the pressure on doesn’t it? And whose to say that you’re the only using that account? It could be a company deal working under your name. Yikes. I’m just saying. Also it’s true about being ‘proactive’. You shouldn’t wait and see what the sites do for you, because only you yourself can take action. Setting up an account is one thing, but you’re not going to create conversations, and connect with people, then what’s the point?

There is a lot more to this book, and I advise you to read it. This was but the first three chapters, and it had some really interesting stuff/facts about social media, and how it can help you/your product/company/etc. All in all, it was really interesting ans insightful. Although at times I did not agree, it’s really about trying things out, because we all learn from the things we do or don’t do.

Sudden Death

Android vs Apple vs Blackberry. Yes, the ultimate battle, but who will win? Dun dun dun....
I found these videos and I thought I'd share, just because well, they are quite funny, and the ending pulls it all together!

First: I present to you the Android kicking some Apple butt


I think Android could have done better. Just saying, that was a little bit lame.
Next, Blackberry decides to get in on the Apple "butt-kicking" action.


Oh wow. Well guess what Blackberry? Apple decided to hit ya back.


Oooo. Burn.
What better way to finish off than this: ( I thought this video was hilarious, and oh so true! Well, I'm not sure about the Blackberry part, but the Apple stuff is on target.


Have Fun?

Do the Android!

Androids...They look like strange looking cell phones to me, but then again I've never really physically seen or touched one. Suppose to be as good as the iPhone and what not. But anyways, I wanted to show you this funny video of the Android character. This green guy seems to have some pretty slick moves, and it's one interesting way to sell the product.



I'm pretty sure that there is a person in there, but then again those crazy Japanese people always inventing the craziest things, so that could be a robot, but I seriously doubt it. I thought it was so cute to see the Android guy breaking some moves! And if you saw the whole thing, at some point he sits down to rest or something, when someone goes over there, and suddenly he's up and dancing again. Can't you guys give the green guy a break? This I think is one of those things that really gets people talking... Speaking of "getting people talking", I saw these little Korean Android commercials, I thought I'd share.



Cute creepy little guy isn't he? And even though I don't speak Korean, I get it. It's really straight-forward; the whole "that's in me" kind of thing; but of course he makes it into a sandwich...and eats it. I thought it was cute.

Bad Writing Reflection~

A couple of days ago, I watched a documentary called 'Bad Writing'. These are a few extra thoughts on the film, aka my reflection.

What do you think the filmmaker was trying to communicate to the audience with this documentary? Did he have definite point of view?

I think the filmmaker was just trying to say that writing can be taught, but in a way that you have to bring it. He thought he was a big shot, and was put down by important, famous writers, so he realized that you are not what you think you are. It always good to have a little more insight, besides what your own teacher tells you. And that he learned the mistake he made, and making mistakes makes a better writer out of you. I didn’t quite get his point of view exactly, but he seemed to get what everyone was trying to tell him about the makings of a good writer.

What were the most important things you learned about writing from watching this film?

I learned that you can’t be taught good writing, but you sure can learn how to write well. Also that good writing comes from the heart, and not that whiny heart that know one cares about; I’m talking about the deep, harsh, tear-filled emotions you have bottled out, that you just need to let loose. I think I found a new way of expressing myself, without the anger. Someone had said that humor is a good way to start, and I disagree. I think true writing is in the sadness, and depression. That’s what really gets to people. Also I learned that just because you think it’s awesome, doesn’t mean it is – ‘Kill your babies’.

How can you take those learning’s and apply them to the practice of writing advertising campaigns?

Since emotions are where you build up a story, it’s important to start there. You have to try to feel what it is your advertising, and once you have that mood and audience; you should be able to go off from that. For example, in my “don’t text and drive” campaign, I decided to go with something gruesome, because texting while driving could kill you, and showing a beat up old car is telling indirectly what will happen to you. I tried a more direct approach, and I think with the headline and art direction, it just said it. All in all, emotions are a powerful thing, and should be used well.