Graduate Guide...

A little while ago, I promised I'd stick up this little graduate guide from Open Ad, NABS & Liz H... We picked it up about half way through our final year, perhaps it will be useful to someone...

Basically it's a Creative graduate, scrap that, Junior Creative handbook if you like, some points seems obvious, others not so much, but take it or leave as you will... everything from resources, finding a partner (that you get on with), industry advice, book pointers, getting out there, book crit tips, placement tips and then what to do once you've got your dream job... 

*We've not got to that bit yet...

Some of the people/places are a little dated, but the actual information is spot on. 

Hold on to it. It's useful.

Here's the linkage to download it...

Good Deeds.

Over the last couple of weeks Phil and I have made ourselves at home in NABS. As we're there most days of the week, it really has become a useful resource. Yes, we could work at home, but there's too many distractions, plus it actually gets us up earlier than what we would if we stayed at home.

We've been shelling out the strategies, scamping up some ads and making our way over to various ad agencies with our book.

Everyone knows that advertising's a pretty small world, and if you upset someone and send out a bad vibe it could make it way across London before you do. To date, we've had a good run, everyone we've met has been great, helped us out, or we've helped them out.

Today though, we felt like we'd do our bit - at least to try and say thanks to NABS for all the free printing if anything. (Uni used to be 50p a colour a3 print - which is good, but it all added up when you're printing a whole new 'folio). Besides, the current climate doesn't allow excessive funds for print outs!

Anyone who has been in NABS knows there's 3 Macs & 3 PCs. The Macs have the Adobe Creative Suite - the PCs don't. So while scanning the Adobe website we found out non-profit organisations (aka charities) can be eligible for free software (worldwide) - we spoke to the lovely Iwona at the front desk, printed off some bits and it's being looked into! It would be great to see it happen! I'm sure we wouldn't be the only people who would appreciate it.

It wasn't completely selfless - maybe next time we go there we might not have to fight so hard for access to Photoshop. ha ha.

Now we just need to get some decent space for drawing stuff up!

I don't even know what day it is...

Busy Busy Busy!!!

Now seemed like a good time to get back to the blog, time just seems to fly on by doesn't it? So much so that the thought of the week has become the thought of the month...

So much has gone on in the last few weeks since the last posted - I genuinely have no idea where to start.

Well after the mix up, Phil and I got back to working with each other. Having both been quite successful with our respective partners, we got back into the swing of things and sunk our teeth into a re-pitch for the whole week with an integrated campaign/ branding idea. Branding is kind of nice every now and again, especially when you have complete freedom to do what you want, it's all advertising though right? The result, it seemed to go down a storm in the agency, most people liked it, in both accounts and creatives depts, which is always a nice :) We'll probably find out how that goes in a little while, perhaps once we're back - and if it doesn't run we'll pop it up on here for some fun.

We've now finished at My Agency for Christmas. After a chat with the ECD, we've been asked to come back after christmas. A total of 4 months in the grand scheme of things, which isn't bad going, our work has been well received and we've made friends with some bloody great people. The days have been long and the nights longer, polishing it off with an hour journey home after work simply finishes me off. It gives us a bit of time to sort things out

Most this week we've been hot stepping it over to NABS this week for a multitude of reasons, lining stuff up for when we get back, getting some free print outs, but mainly hammering out some new strategies to mull over the hols. We even managed to get roped into to hanging the fairy lights in the reception. (compliments are welcome - disprovals too). Didn't take long and it's all for a good cause so we don't mind. We happened to bump into Rory from the Talent Business for a good ole natter, whilst he was overseeing the Lonely Hearts book club - sorry if we took up anyone's time!

Anyhow, we're off to the Work Christmas soirée on Thurs for a spot of Belgium food and then to see Gogol Bordello for a bit of caberet, punk, dub at the Round House. I'll report back on how that one turns out...

M.

Nip over to NABS

On thursday during our lunch break, we nipped over to the wonderful folks at NABS. Met up with Alistair who gave us a good tour round and some information on how the place works. He was kind enough to give us some feedback on our book, which is always greatly received!

Sounds like the whole place is going to be a very useful resource for the future, access to printing facilities, studios etc - always comes in handy when you've not put your roots down anywhere so to speak.

As we were waiting in the reception for our meeting we came across this:

As you might remember, Phil and I were asked to choose a press ad for NABS June's Ad of the month, well it's still up, so if you want to discover our logic for choosing such an ad then nip down to NABS and take a look.

Word gets about at NABS.

'Ad of the Month'

The wonderful people at NABS have given Phil and I the opportunity to select June's Ad of the Month for 2008. There were a few restrictions, it had to be print and from the last 4 weeks or so.

We have chosen AMV BBDO's most recent brand work for the Economist. Specifically, the 'Balance' execution. It was not an easy decision to make but 'Balance' was our final decision.

AD - Tim Riley & CW - Paul Cohen

AMV BBDO's beautifully crafted artwork & our reasons of choice can be seen displayed on the wall of the NABS reception for the month of June.

Please feel welcome to leave us some feedback.

Mike.