It’s COLAB Time!
To those of you looking for an internship in the advertising world, guess what? COLAB time is here again…
I participated in the inaugural 2008 group – wasn’t sure what to think going in, but it was the best six weeks I’ve spent during a summer – collaborating with some of the most forward thinking, techno-savvy, inspiring people.
Oh and plus you get to spend the summer in Portland. Which, I would have to say, it perhaps the best places in the States to spend a summer.
Anyway, COLAB asked us to create a video talking about our COLAB experience…check it out, then go apply. Now. Do it!
Heart in Oregon (and Texas!)
When I was in Portland last summer for Portland Ad. Federation‘s COLAB internship-crazy-awesomeness, I started noticing these Oregon-shaped stickers with a green heart within. For the next few months, I took a picture each time I came across one of these stickers and subsequently wrote a post or two about my discoveries.
Fast forward through the details, and I wind up connecting with the founder/brains behind this movement, Chris Bucci – we exchange a few emails as my curiosity and love for this idea grows…Chris sends me a few stickers, which makes my love for this movement even greater. (=
So as I think we all know at this point, I am in Austin. One of the first things I noticed about Texans is hands down their love and pride of being Texan. I was lucky to meet a handful of wonderful Texans with overwhelming Texas pride, and who were willing and excited to include/share that with me (which I thought was incredibly gracious on their end, and made me feel good about settling here)
Anyway, Chris and I connected again – me telling him how much I am impressed with the Texas/Southern hospitality, BUT at the same time, saying how much more pride I have for where I am from now that I am no longer there. So…a few more conversations happen, a handful more stickers come (of Texas AND Oregon now!) and a project between Chris and me evolves!
We’ll see how this project goes, but as you can tell from the Heart in Oregon website, storytelling is HUGE. I love hearing people’s stories and I love that each and every one of us has such a unique and tailored…anthology, really. Also pretty enthused to combine this with a similar project Ashly and I have been brainstorming…
Last night I interviewed my first person – a now friend who I actually (this sounds sketch) met courtesy of Craigslist (NOT missed connections, although I wish! haha) I bought some furniture from him, we became friends, I found his story interesting and voilà!
Not sure the format or how these storytelling pieces will manifest, but regardless, I am extremely excited to see what’s to come! (and equally excited for my new slew of Oregon/Texas heart stickers!)
Team Kiwi’s first meeting
Back at the beginning of July when COLAB began, when we were still a little awkward and not quite yet a family, here is Team Kiwi‘s first attempt at team bonding:
advertising: it’s the journey, not the destination
Ok, so that’s not completely true. HOWEVER…
The destination of course is important, but in my opinion, the process and strategy is what constitutes a quality campaign.
With this said, I have to say I am quite happy with team Kiwi’s process & brand strategy for our Sameunderneath campaign:
1st brainstorm Sameunderneath team Kiwi
1st week Sameunderneath brainstorm – target audience
Sameunderneath product benefit and target audience
So much more – week 1
Sameunderneath positioning statement – week 1
Sameunderneath brand values week 2
brand values Sameunderneath – week 2
Sameunderneath idea mind vomit – week 2
connecting ideas – week 3
Sameunderneath final pitch layout – week 6
Sameunderneath speech layout – week 6
(just a tasting, there is a whole heck of alot more concepting and brainstorming photos to come…)
final COLABoratory presentations
Check out the slides from both Kiwi and Lattice’s final presentations!