Happy Holidays Seniors!

Wishing each of you the very best this Holiday Season!
You've had a spectacular fall semester and I'm sure you won't hold back a bit in 2012!
Just make sure you relax, chill out and share special times with your family and friends during this break. I wish each of you the best and brightest!

Don't forget to turn in your CD/DVD by Friday December 9th

I will pick up your work from MODA this week and keep it safely in my office until I see you in January.

Art Basel: Aqua with the Grad Students

I was lucky enough to travel on Friday and Saturday to visit the Art Basel annual event in Miami and got to see a large group of our grad students from GSU showing their work at Aqua. It was fantastic to see their work among the throngs of other international artist. Again, always wonderful to see my students doing so well with their accomplishments and their passion in design and art.

Their work has been well received and many of the grad students sold their work at this event. It's the first year that such has happened in our grad program so it was a nice way for me to view their work in the environment of Art Basel. If you haven't seen the catalog you need to as it was produced in-house at GSU.

Graphic Design MFA students, Jim Chapman, Cat Normoyle and Meta Gary were represented there among the other disciplines from GSU.

What's Due on Tuesday November 6th

Your final video project and Poster in Advertising is due on Tuesday December 6th.
Kirk Sieder from JWT Advertising Agency will be in class as guest critic. Critique starts at 11am so don't be late.

Make sure you bring your final client project ready to show.
You will show your poster first that somehow captures the video you've created for either client (The Trevor Project or Stop Bullying.org) It would be smart to tag your videos with either of the logos. You can also give credit on your videos if you wish.

I would like for you to also put them up on YouTube or Vimeo so others can also see your videos and provide feedback. My plan is to let both organizations know your work has been published (hopefully to get you some more PR...after all, this is an advertising class, right?)

FINAL CD/DVD:
Each of you should prepare a final CD/DVD of all the work you've done this semester.
This includes any comps, sketches or other materials you feel were possibly overlooked during the assignments.

You should have every project and campaign you turned in to either myself, HLN or MODA on this CD/DVD. Animations, openings, print, packaging and other printed materials such as your MODA invitations.

NO CD/DVD, No Grade.

The format is up to you although a pdf would be preferred. Your call on this.

December 1st, 2011: World AIDS Day

Design courtesy Sarah Adams and Museum of Design Atlanta.

The 10 Best Commercials of 2011

www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/10-best-commercials-2011-136663

Kirk Sieder: JWT Advertising

Alumni Kirk Sieder will be visiting the last critique scheduled now for Tuesday December 6th to review your "Trevor Project and Stop Bullying" video assignment. Kirk is currently Creative Director at JWT/Retail First (Atlanta.) Kirk has also taught at GSU in the past and is familiar with the graphic design program and the strong work. He has also hired several of our graduating seniors who have gone on the work in the advertising business and motion design business (Brandy Porter who is now at Artifact for instance.) He's a true professional and a candid and insightful (and witty) friend and colleague of our program. I think he'll have some insights into your work.

(If you are thinking of getting into Advertising once you graduate you should discuss it with Kirk while he is in the studio with us. A great opportunity once again to have some one-on-one time with someone in the industry.)

One Account – Endless Opportunities
By Nancy Rabern, Business Development, Hire Profile, Inc.

This month I spoke to Kirk Sieder, Creative Director at JWT/RetailFirst who handles all the advertising for Ford in the southeast. I asked Kirk,
“How do you keep your creative team inspired when they are working on the same account week after week?”

Kirk pointed out that keeping his creative team inspired is not difficult. "They are a very talented and self-motivated bunch with different backgrounds and varying points of view. The real challenge is how to take a worldwide brand like Ford and make it entertaining, informative and culturally relevant on a regional level."

The strategy behind how they are achieving this is to continually tell the Ford story. While featuring different products in Ford's vast lineup, they focus on unique product features, attributes and claims that are targeted to a specific audience. By utilizing a full media landscape including broadcast, Web, interactive, print, sponsorships and social media, they provide a consistent brand message that focuses on quality, technology, safety and green – hybrids and top fuel economy.

It became apparent in my conversation with Kirk that working on the same account for a long period of time can be very rewarding. The creative team gets to know the products inside and out. Working closely with the client, they develop a deep and instinctive understanding of what product attributes are important, compelling and pertinent to consumers.

I was particularly fascinated by the challenge of sending the same sales message in two very different cities like Miami, Florida and Knoxville, Tennessee. As the cultures of these two markets differ significantly, it's important that the message be delivered in an authentic way that speaks to that particular audience. So while the message might be the same, the execution may be vastly different. For example, Kirk explained that in a city like Atlanta (watch TV spot) a football partnership might resonate with the audience, while in Miami (watch TV spot) the focus may be more on the many events, festivals, and social media opportunities.

The message has to be relevant to each market through each medium and it has to find a way to tell a piece of the Ford story that will make people listen and, hopefully, care. So even on one account, like Ford, there's no shortage of creative opportunities.

Lesson learned!


courtesy: http://www.hire-profile.com/newsletter/thebuzz3-2011.shtml

Happy Thanksgiving 2011

However you celebrate this Pilgrims Day of Thanksgiving I hope that your are reminded of all your good fortune and blessings. Enjoy this week and this day off from classes as well.

Fall Grade Rubric

FYI: How Final Grades will be broken down according to projects this semester.

5% Self Promo Designs /2 posters (internships)

5% Bed Bug and Ad Council Designs/ 2 Posters

5% 9/11 Commemorative Poster

25% HLN Best of 2011 Presentation
(Team 15% & Individual 10%)

25% MODA World AIDS Day Presentation

20% Final Project for Semester

5% Blog

10% Critiques, Class Participation, Absences/Late

The HLN Visit & Presentations at CNN Center

Thanks to Scot Safon, Priscilla Saunders, David Horslev, Dallas Howell, Aimee Scher and so many of the others at Headline News for being a part of this remarkable professional experience for each of you. You did beautifully.