Adcentered

McCain is older than Velcro, Obama is a Terrorist & Clinton is a Bitch

Political marketers sell ideas and personalities. People who run for public office are watched through a microscope. Everything they say is analyzed and compared to previous statements. Politicians have little room for verbal error as we have seen. The use of surrogates is common practice when a candidate can’t personally vocalize a strong statement. But what about the non-affiliated surrogates. People who are not tied directly to a campaign can do whatever they please since they have nothing to lose. One blog directly attacks John McCain’s age (www.thingsyoungerthanmccain.com). This blog has a variety of social links, making it easy to share and spread the “love.” It has been tagged on del.isio.us 392 times. There’s also a viral video that has been seen over 45,000 times.

McCain is not the only candidate under attack from user generated political mud slinging. Some people are even profiting from dirty politics. You can buy all the anti-Obama stuff you want at www.notstuff.com/obama.html. Be warned that the products offered are offensive and in bad taste. If you hate Hillary Clinton you can buy a hoody to prove it at www.cafepress.com/dontvotehillary, but if you don’t know where to start simply visit www.donotvotehillary.com. Hating season has begun. I don’t support any of these sites or their opinions. They do however, highlight the negative side of politics and non-accountability. Several negative sites have been shut down for one reason or another, but others are created daily. Early in the campaign the Clinton camp purchased the domains votingpresent.com and votingpresent.org to criticize Obama, but fortunately the sites never materialize. I’m a firm believer in freedom of speech, but when it gets dirty hateful, it can feel like digital pollution. I don’t know if it’s more irresponsible or dangerous. The solution is not to prevent the negativity, that’s always going to exist. The real challenge is educating people people to sort through the trash.

Week 60 of SIXTY at VCU Brandcenter

It's over. We began our journey in August of 2006 and last week it ended suddenly. No more presentations, competitions or peer reviews. At least in the collegiate sense. Now it's time to apply our lessons in agency and corporate settings.

To me, the VCU Brandcenter experience is worth it. I now have a masters degree and I am part of the future of the industry. It wasn't always easy and frankly, I didn't think I'd make it after the first semester. I had to do more outside of school in order to become a better student. In addition to the required course work, I read dozens of advertising/branding (audio) books, wrote nearly 400 blog posts and stayed focused on the big picture. I made some new friends and expanded my professional network. I also seized the opportunity to  differentiate myself using digital technology.

So, if you're thinking of attending VCU Brandcenter in any track, remember that everyone has sixty weeks to earn their degree. What you do in addition to school can have a major impact on your progress. The same concept holds true in the workplace.

Obama, Clinton & Chisholm

Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton represent a changing of the guard in presidential politics. Yet, the concept of a black American and a woman running for the highest office in the nation is still novel to some. Look around. This is a historic moment. Regardless of who wins the primaries, politics will be a little bit different from now on. This important moment was made possible in part by the audacity of individuals who personified the change they sought. Mavericks have a natural tendency to stand out from the crowd. But when they inspire others who in turn inspire others, they can fuel movements that resonate long enough to affect tomorrow’s leaders. If you look closely enough at the Clinton and Obama campaigns you can see the legacy of Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm. Nine elections ago, she was Barack and she was Hillary. (watch Video)

Not Lost in Translation

La Communidad is a great agency. If you’re into really random funny ads, you might like their work. Some of their clients include MTV, Virgin Mobile, and Volkswagen to name a few. La Communidad is has two locations, one in Miami and the other in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Much of their work is seen in Latin America, but they have won awards for work that appeals to all audiences. This beer ad in particular originally aired in Argentina and if you pay close attention you’ll noticed that it has been dubbed into English. You don’t have to pay close attention to notice actually. The point is that these folks produce good work that is not bound by language. Have a look at on their site to see more work.

The Story of Stuff

One of the things I hate most about this industry is the use of the word consumer. It’s a bad word and it implies that humans do nothing more than consume. What bothers me about the word consumer is that it objectifies people and neglects natural cycles. I usually replace the word with people or audience whenever possible. But, by doing so I avoid thinking about the negative side of consumption. Like most of you, I am not a “green” freak, but I am a logic freak. We can’t consume forever without some natural corrective cycle. I came across a neat little site, which tells a great story in a way that is easy and logical to follow. It tells The Story of Stuff. It brings to life human production and consumption patterns. It’s a must see for two reasons. It’s deals directly with an issue that many of us (or maybe just me) haven’t looked at beyond a surface level. The story of stuff is also a good example of digital and mixed media being used to engage, entertain and enlighten without losing sight of simplicity.

Google Maps Street View Sees All

Less than two years ago, people began to see cars equipped with strange video equipment driving all over the U.S. Google apparently commissioned a fleet of cars for their street view project, which is now live. I decided to give it “test drive” to see what the hype was all about. It turns out that street view gives you just that. A view of the streets from a drivers perspective. I tested it on my street and found it cool, yet creepy. I’m not suggesting in any way that Google has voyeuristic tendencies, but they can get pretty detailed. I was able to see my roommate’s Marilyn Monroe poster on his window. Then I started thinking; there must be hundreds of little surprises waiting to be discovered in the Google street view video universe. Unfortunately, I don’t have the time or the desire to look for them, but if you do find something, let me know.

Voyeurs are not the only who may find this tool useful. This is another great way to explore your city or town without having to put on your shoes. Street view has the potential to revolutionize the real estate industry. I remember a when virtual tours of homes were new and exciting. Now you can check out the neighborhood before you make a formal visit. The technology is still in the early stages but as it develops, I could see existing virtual stores being linked into the equation. I wrote a paper a few years ago about a concept called “Google Maps Retail.” This concept allows people find businesses on Google maps, get directions and then get efficient directions inside the store (using a 3-D planogram) based on a shopping list. This is more than possible now. Who wants to go halves with me on the venture. I’ll put in the first 20 bucks.

Zoo York lets you ride Jenna Jameson

Zoo York launched a limited edition Jenna Jameson skateboard deck. The Kama Sutra style ads really caught my attention. They are simple and they work. DavidandGoliath is responsible for the though provoking work. Jenna made headlines earlier this year, announcing that she was quiting the business. She stopped “acting” several years ago and has become quiet the entrepreneur. She has used her “brand” to sell books, comics and apparently skateboards now.

VCU Brandcenter Week 57

Man, It has been a busy semester. A busy two years at that. When I first signed up for VCU Adcenter I had no idea what I was in for. I knew I was going to learn a lot about advertising and branding, but I had no idea how much things were really changing here at the school. Adcenter is now VCU Brandcenter and the school has earned some new credentials. We are now one of the top Design schools in the world and most recently the top digital school for marketing by Adage.

It's been a great experience and I don't regret any of it. I apologize to any readers who may feel abandoned by my lack of writing on this blog. I have been writing at Beneath the Brand and at Beyond Madison Avenue a little more these days. In addition to grad school work and writing my thesis. But I feel like I owe aspiring ad people some content. I originally set out to document my experience at VCU Adcenter, now Brandcenter and you deserve nothing less.I will be posting a lot more in my final three weeks of school to cap off the experience. I will be pulling some posts from other blogs that I write, but I'll keep the Brandcenter commentary going until the end.

Hillary Clinton Endorses Obama

BBH London's created this ad of Hillary Clinton endorsing Barack Obama. The print ad asks you to "Imagine the power of AXE." A little controversy can go a long way.

This could not have come at a more pivotal time in the American Primaries. Now I have to ask a few questions to you folks out there? Do you think that non-political advertisements can have an effect on an election? Is this a political ad and therefor subject to the same rules that govern political advertisements?

The (Anti)Productivity Machine

I finally did it. I ended my contract with Sprint. I am officially an AT&T customer. I am now an iPhone evangelist who practices what he preaches. I have been praising the iPhone since it first came out. I’ve played with one at the Apple store and cautiously admired friends who had them early. I’m not in love with Apple as my enthusiasm might suggest. I use Macs at school and at work, but I have never owned an iPod or any other modern Apple product. I have been looking for a phone/PDA that works the way I do. I finally found it.

Everything about the ownership experience has been interesting. It was easy to set up. It’s fast and easy to use. It allows me to multi task and get the information I need when I need it. Did I mention the phone is a head turner.

There are countless ways to customize the iPhone. It can make you more productive if that’s what the situation calls for. It can also distract you in as many ways as it saves you time. A phone that adapts to your individual needs? There is definitely an “I” in iPhone, but it also helps me work with my team better.

Award Show Season

The ad industry is preparing for the big shows. The ANDY Awards, ADDY, Clios, One Show, Cannes and the Art Directors Club begin their calls for entry between September and April. These awards shows celebrate the best of the best. Judging is done by expert panels of industry folks. Each one of these shows also features a student competition, where students from all the ad schools (and brand schools) submit work. VCU Brandcenter and Miami Ad School both have solid reputations at these shows. Some of the student winners will go on to be creative directors.

This ad is an example of some great student work. Jason Rosenberg is the Art Director and Tim Gordon is the Copywriter. The work took many hours to produce because it was made using hundreds of still images. Working with no budget and limitless creativity Rosenberg and Gordon created something special.

This ad for JBL Creature Speakers is off to compete at the The ANDY Awards. I’m predicting that they will come home with an ANDY.

The Apple MacBook Air

MacBook Air is Apple's latest innovation. It is less than an inch thick and features a 13 inch screen and full back lit keyboard. I'm not usually big on superlative marketing, but this is the thinest notebook around. It doesn't have an optical drive, which is why it is so thin. Apple compensated for the lack of optical drive by allowing you to create a wireless connection to another computers drive to load software. It's pretty cool. I really like that they went beyond the superlatives and added some cool thinking into the product. I've seen plenty of products try to be the thinest, flattest, or fastest. None of these things mean much without a little consumer friendly design and innovation to match.

VCU Brandcenter: New Name, School & Site

Change is here. That's what is says at adcenter.vcu.edu/change, the location of 10 viral videos leading to a final video titled "Erasing." The lines between creative/business, content/communication and interactive/experiential were said to be blurring lately. Blurring is an understatement. The folks at the top have begun to change their view of agencies in general. Advertising is a part of branding. The lines are being erased as this video suggests.

VCU Brandcenter launched their new site today. The site was designed by R/GA. It features a new triangle logo and more flash functionality. I haven't made it through the entire thing yet.

There's a lot to take in. In a few short hours we will have our first classes in the new building. Change is definitely here. It's actually been here for a while. We are just being more vocal about it these days. 

Ty Montague of JWT

Ty Montague, Creative Director of J. Walter Thompson on change. # 10 of 10

John Butler & Mike Shine of Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners

John Butler & Mike Shine of Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners speak about industry change for VCU Brandcenter viral campaign. #9 of 10

John Boone of Boone Oakley

John Boone, Founder and Co-creative Director at Boone Oakley on industry Change. # 8 of 10

John Partilla, Time Warner

John Partilla, President, Time Warner Global Media Group and Senior Vice President, Time Warner on Industry Change. # 7 of 10

Mike Hughes on Change

Mike Hughes President & Creative Director at The Martin Agency weighs in on change for VCU Brandcenter viral campaign. # 6 of 10

VCU Brandcenter, Change # 4 & 5

Joe McCarthy, VP Worldwide Advertising and Marketing at Johnson & Johnson weighs in on change. # 4 of 10.

Bob Scarpelli US Chief Creative Officer, DDB. # 5 of 10

Ad Age on VCU Brandcenter

Advertising Age just released an article on VCU Brandcenter. They interviewed Rick Boyko, Mike Huges, are our very own Joe Quattrone (CBM 08). The article is part of an increased publicity effort to share the Brandcenter concept with the world. The article, "More Than an Ad School" highlights some of the steps that were required for the change to happen. read article

click here for more photos

Jeff Steinhour on Change

Jeff Steinhour, Managing Partner/ Director of Account Management at Crispin Porter + Bogusky is the third speaker in a series of ten to speak about the change that is happening in the industry. VCU Brandcenter is bringing out the ad biz’s heavy hitters to promote it’s new image. Steinhour is on the Brandcenter’s board of directors. He mentions the importance of understanding digital media, industrial design and architecture as ways of getting a brand’s message across. Nothing is out of bounds. CP+B has consistently lived that message for years.

VCU Brandcenter Viral Campaign

It looks like we have a viral campaign in the works for VCU Brandcenter. We received an e-mail yesterday which directed us to a brief video of Paul Lavoie, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of Taxi, speaking about change.

Today we received another e-mail with the subject line, "Change is coming." This time there was another video. The two top Ogilvy ladies behind the Dove real beauty campaign gave their two cents on change. Nancy Vonk and Janet Kestin are the second in a series of "Change is coming" clips. There are several empty boxes on the page, indicating a series of 10 videos. Who will be talking about change tomorrow?

VCU Brandcenter

Is this the end of an era? Why is this guy scraping off the VCU Adcenter logo? VCU Adcenter has been known as the number one school for advertising by many. The school offers a masters degree in art direction, copywriting, and strategic planning. The school prides itself on keeping up with the changing industry. But what happens when advertising begins to fade?

In 2005, the school added a new track to prepare students to work on the client side. Creative Brand Management is a Marketing MBA alternative. It prepares students for leadership roles with major brands. Teams at the school simulate the entire industry process from problem to solution. Creatives, strategists and brand managers work together to solve complex business problems. Sometimes they advertise, sometimes they create new products, channels, or business models. The cross disciplinary program recently put VCU in the ranks of the top global design schools. Creative Brand Management represents a changing of the guard in the industry.

VCU Adcenter has been teaching more than advertising. The students here have been learning branding and business fundamentals. Industry leaders demanded the change. They wanted to create better clients. The board of directors is chaired by Mike Hughes of the Martin Agency, which is a block away. The board also includes dozens of creative leaders, including Bob Greenberg, the man behind R/GA, the digital agency responsible for Nike+, among other ground breaking non-ad campaigns. Other board members come from Ogilvy, Chiat, CP+B, Taxi, Wieden+Kennedy, Motorolla, and Martha Stewart Omniliving.

Advertising is still one of the best things done at Adcenter, but a broader approach is now the industry standard. It all starts with a solid strategy with a clear understanding of the consumer, the brand and the competitive landscape. It should be no surprise that VCU Adcenter will cease to exist in a few short days. Change is coming. VCU Brandcenter is coming. On January 14, students return to class in a new building with a new name and a new promise to the industry. A brand is born.

Media Medium

In an effort to keep busy and to highlight my interest in new media, I created yet another blog. Our industry has so many cool elements and it's difficult to show interest in more than one area. I am taking the multiple story line approach to demonstrate a more rounded interest in marketing and innovation. Adcentered is a mixture of all things interesting, while Media Medium offers a unique media perspective. My role as the Media Medium is part futurist and part psychic. In this blog I make predictions about about the future of media. Some of the predictions are wishful, but I try to be honest and forward thinking in each post. Give it a look if you get a chance and tell me what you think.