Trouble in Paradise

Both the Society of Publication Designers (SPD) and The New York Art Director's Club (ADC) have been the center of controversy lately.

SPD
"As reported in some of the New York papers on Wednesday, November 23, an indictment was recently voted by the Grand Jury charging Former SPD President Bride Whelan with Grand Larceny (theft by embezzlement) in the 2nd Degree, a class C felony. The indictment charges that over the last five years Bride stole, at a minimum, $150,000 from SPD".

ADC
"The ADC's 85th Call for Entries poster, "Pimp My Brand," is eliciting some strong reactions, positive and not so. Created by the New York agency, Anomaly, it satirizes the growing trend of mainstream brands to co-opt "urban" culture and vice versa. The title and image are parodic, a comment by and for creative people who deal with these issues every day."

Happy Holidays!

We are turning Japanese

Recent additions to my bottle collection...I have a fetish for Japanese design.

A different ad company?

I have recently started to consider a career change. Advertising has glamour, recognition and a healthy client budget. I'm not star-struck, I know it's very competitive, and has extremely long hours but there's a certain appeal of working on a brand that you are passionate about and believe you an seriously effect their perceived value.

I'm researching ad companies to find cool start ups/non-stale traditional agencies that are looking to take over the world. (Insert evil laugh here)


Strawberryfrog | New York, Amsterdam ("We don't just want to do ads," McKeon says. "We want to shape culture.")

Leoburnett (I love the website, oh and the ads are great too!)

Taxi (The Toronto branch is amazing and NY is starting up.)

BBDO (The EBay "IT" holiday campaign delivers emotion.)

TBWA Amsterdam, NY, LA & SF office (legendary Apple campaigns and the more recent Adidas campaign).

Fallon| London (They made a great Sony Bravia ad)

Fallon| Minneapolis (The iconic Citibank identity theft ads)

Crispin Porter + Bogusky | Miami Do I even need to explain? (Mini Cooper and Burger King- Masters of integrated campaigns and viral marketing)

Toy | New York (their Oxygen ads are hilariously)