Wieden + Kennedy 12
ART DIRECTION, DESIGN, CREATIVE NONSENSE
In 2012 I was one of 13 selected to participate in a year-long experimental advertising school within the walls of the global advertising agency, Wieden+Kennedy. The school accepts 13 students over the age of 21 who spend 12 months creating advertising campaigns for local non-profits, making art, and learning how to collaborate with 12 other people.
While at W+K12, I worked as an art director on a variety of campaigns and projects, including re-branding a local children’s museum, creating a state-wide launch for a water park with a 747 on it’s roof, and a slew of personal projects that honestly had nothing to do with clients whatsoever. I've added several of these projects to the main portfolio, below are a few select shots from the other fun stuff we made throughout the year.
Mock 1960's VW Ad
Jim Riswold, ad-industry legend and former creative director of WK12, loves the classic DDB VW ads from the 60’s. I mean, who doesn't? They are simple, funny, and talk to you like a human being.
So he tasked each of us with creating our own, in the same voice, and in the style as the ads from 50 years ago. Our ideas had to be unique and they had to be engaging.
I decided to focus on the numbers. This was the result, which I wrote and designed to fit right at home in a vintage Advertising Age from 1965.
Agency Welcome Mat
The 13 of us collectively wanted to let the agency know when our first day was. The result was our own welcome mat comprised of 13 individual IKEA mats put together. These were placed at both entrances of Wieden+Kennedy, and remained there for a week.
Evergreen Wings and Waves Waterpark
We branded and launched a campaign for a waterpark with a 747 on the roof. Full project can be viewed here.
Yes, the water park truly did have a 747 on the roof.
Because this is what you do when you are given an accurate Apollo replica spacesuit for a week.
TIME WITH TINKER HATFIELD
Among our many visitors throughout the year was the legendary Nike shoe designer, Tinker Hatfield. We spent an afternoon learning the basics of shoe design, and were tasked with developing the ultimate cold-weather surf bootie. Mine was heavily critiqued, even with the U of O colorways (Tinker's Alma Mater).
Art piece from show titled 12x12.
When You Were 12 Show
To introduce ourselves to the agency (and have the agency get to know itself) we created an art show titled "When You Were 12". We requested a personal story from each person in the agency from when they were 12 years old. The ever-talented Yi-Fan Lu and Alexander Barrett provided the character illustrations while the rest of the team set forth building, designing, and printing the rest of the assets in addition to collecting and organizing over 200 individual stories.
Story submissions received a custom illustration and were hung up for the agency to read.
When You Were 12 Show
My 12 story
WK12's stories from when we were 12. Illustrations: Yi-Fan Lu and Alexander Barrett
Surveying the prints
Campaining in the elevator
Screenprinted submission envelopes were placed around the agency.
7 Classic Drinks You Should Know How To Make
It turns out that learning to make drinks is quite a popular class subject. So along with a friend, we created the event "Learn How To Make 7 Drinks You Should Know How To Make" and held it in the top floor of Wieden+Kennedy. Bartenders were brought in from local establishments, and we sold out 60 spots in 3 days.
Since this idea - like all great ideas - was originally sketched on a bar napkin, we handwrote and hand drew everypromotional piece. We even enlisted some fellow 12ers to design custom napkin posters to add variety. These were hung around the agency.
These handmade coasters and wallet sized recipe cards were handed out at the end of the event to give people at least a fighting chance at actually remembering some of the drinks.
