Thursday, April 7, 2011

Candyless Strangers

"It's so cool that we've hit it off the way we have," my new acquaintance Kevin says after a 7-minute explanation of the way he strategically dilutes his pink lemonade with ice.

Bound to be a riveting friendship.

Really though, I love talking to strangers. It's my favorite thing about traveling and second favorite thing about cities (twenty Chinese food places within the same two blocks being the first.) Regardless of the often vapid conversations, it's an interesting way to learn about the general public and a good reminder that you will never figure them out. Ever.

Boy do we try, though. Particularly in advertising. We categorize, analyze and prioritize not-so-indirectly claiming that we know what they want. We might. We might not. But we're sure as hell going to sound confident enough that they might just believe our assessments over self-assessments. It's an interesting thing, the power of persuasion.

However, everyone's different. Perhaps we shouldn't be trying to speak to all of them at once. We can't. Perhaps, instead, we need to speak to the individual. Because it just so happens that we're all individuals.

Individualized messages that are consequently universal. An oxymoron for the ages. People are smarter than we often give them credit for. Complexities in advertising should be created by the observer, not thrown in their face. By providing a simple canvas that requires the observer of the ad to think and interact with your brand, it empowers the consumer. And that's pretty cool. When people really "get" each other, they often finish each other's sentences. You want your target to "get" you. To finish your sentences.

I'm on a creative exploration. For simpler solutions and simpler messages. Sometimes i talk my self in circles. I want to shrink those circles into periods. Period.


Monday, March 21, 2011

Unretouched? I'm touched.

Refreshing news. There's a makeup company that's trying something new with advertising. The standard makeup ads we've seen before generally feature a product that suggests porcelain doll-faced results. Skin that looks literally flawless. Now, I'm sure people find this appealing but I, for one, have pores and know better. Sure you want to look flawless... but let's be real. Aiming for something that doesn't really exist is seriously unhealthy. So, as a result, I'm kind of digging these ads. They're not retouched at all meaning the skin actually looks like skin. (Crazy, right?)

I won't lie. Photoshop retouching, though amazing, scares the shit out of me. Especially when media produced images have such an influence on our culture and ideologies. It's outrageous the way a face can be completely transformed yet presented as the "norm". I mean, seriously, when did freckles become so unappealing?? M. Seth Jones has some amazing Photoshop skills, no doubt, but his gallery is enough to make your jaw drop with concern.

The brand, Makeup For Ever, has produced an interactive (and pretty creatively shot) video that reminds you of a masquerade ball as well as some print ads that remind you of your friends' self-taken Facebook photos.


Now, don't get me wrong. The models in these photos and videos have pretty damned near flawless skin to begin with. It's easy to go natural when you look as if you've never had a blemish in your life. Or hey, perhaps that means the make up is actually doing it's job. Unfortunately, a product that is designed for the sole purpose of helping us attempt to achieve a feigned and unnecessary version of perfection isn't really what we need to better ourselves. But makeup can also be looked at as art, I think. And realism isn't the only style out there.

Regardless, I think this campaign takes us a step closer to advertising that's a bit more interested in treating consumers as real people rather than could-be's and should-be's. And I'm happy to recognize that step.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Planned Parenthood saved from budget cut


This afternoon, Senate voted against the bill that would cut Planned Parenthood funding. The bill, created by House Republicans, was rejected 44-56. Though Senate has a long way to go before effective action is taken on the budget--demands on both sides run unrealistic as of now--this is exciting news for the thousands of people out there who depend on Planned Parenthood for the benefit of their sexual health. Planned Parenthood is an important resource and I refuse to let the government ignore it's value and jeopardize the rights of youth--both men and women--like me.

Sadly, I missed the Springfield, Mo. area Feminist Happy Hour today, but I'd like to raise a glass to all of my fellow women out there. Cheers to strong and empowered voices being heard!

The Washington Post posted a well-opinionated sketch of the Senate's decisions (or lack there of). I encourage you to read it.

To celebrate, Here's a truly awesome video shot by students at Wesleyan University in Connecticut.


Friday, February 25, 2011

In Cowboy Country

My father would be appalled...

...his daughter, that he raised so carefully to be a Washington Redskins fan, in Dallas, Texas--enemy territory.

Turns out Dallas isn't such a bad place to be, though, especially if you're in the advertising industry. I came to realize at the AAF student conference last fall, that a lot of great talent comes out of Southern Methodist University, and today I had an opportunity to explore some of the local gardens of advertising creativity.

Moroch is everything I anticipated and more. I, once again, felt that exciting rush of adrenaline as we walked through the expansive agency. The size is overwhelming but that atmosp
here sparks that competitive determination that's in the recipe for any great advertising effort.


Duncan/Day's office was beautiful and filled (well, not so "filled" on a late Friday afternoon) with the kind of people who have that relaxed and confident air about them--the kind of people I would kill to do some concepting with. Creativity was seeping through the walls, as I looked around and imagined myself working in a small agency similar to their's.

And a trip to see Rebecca from Rebecca Hackl Events veered us away from our traditional advertising path. She gave us new insights from an industry so different yet so similar to the communication field in countless ways.






All-in-all, the DC Networks 2011 Career Quest was a success. I am so grateful to be part of an organization of individuals who continue to inspire me everyday. Our ambitions got us to Dallas--I'm excited to learn of the future adventures that I know these young professionals will pursue.

With that, I'm off to explore this sun-kissed city a little longer. If anyone out there has recommendations for food, drink, nightlife or Saturday activities, please connect with me and let me know! @LNNS

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

I broke Reddit.



I am not addicted to Reddit. But I sure can't seem to stop reading it.

I've been a member of Reddit for about half a year. The obsession set in quickly. By the second week, I was reading every other post. By the first month, I was completely dependent.

I mean, what's not to love? I'm getting interesting (and more-often-than-not hilarious) information constantly throughout the day. Pictures. Politics. Videos. Religion. Advertising. Feminism. It's tailored to include whatever I'm interested in. Not to mention I get to blow hours of time I don't have into reading the impressively witty and amusing comments of people I'll never meet.

But I feel like I know these people.

Granted, Reddit is not for everyone. It's to be taken with a bit of humor, and a grain of salt. A big heaping pile of sarcasm doesn't hurt either. The community is what makes Reddit. Insurmountable shameless displays of ignorance and genius all in one place. All of it great, in it's own way... even if you completely disagree. (Okay... not always. But that's what the downvote is for.)

But now, on this graveyard shift of life, Reddit is in what's called "emergency read-only mode".

What the hell is that, really? I can't log in. I can't comment. I can't vote. What CAN i do? (The answer would be, apparently, whine about it on my blog.)

Come on, Reddit. Don't fail me now. If nothing else, at least give me a good FAIL page.


Wednesday, January 19, 2011

LGBT Hospital Visitation Rights

It went into effect Tuesday that patients now are able to make decisions regarding their own visitation rights and whom is to make medical decisions on their behalf, "paving the way for members of the LGBT community to have further control over their own medical decisions, " according to an article in the Huffington Post.

I was certainly glad to hear this. Stories of people unable to see their loved ones in times of crisis haunt me and have been a constant concern for those in committed homosexual relationships. This new legislation is great. It is important. But it is also, not enough.

I can't help but worry that this legislation and other legislation that is intended to accommodate the LGBT community is pushing us further away from the primary issue: equal marriage rights for everyone. I'm fearful that the more we develop laws that cater to the LGBT community, the more arguments will arise that gay marriage is no longer necessary now that there are loopholes in which gays can acquire the rights that they deserve. These rules would not need to be put into place if gay marriage was legal and rights could be distributed as such. We don't need loopholes, we need equality. I only hope that this is increasing the sensitivity of our country and supporting a more progressive mentality.

I'll take this small step towards equality with a grain of salt. Salt makes everything taste better.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Green Gadgets

http://www.letitflow.com/ten-green-gadgets/

This list of green gadgets is way cool. Cooler than I expected. I want that computer mouse made out of cork... bad.