How To Be Creative

Haha!

Is it just me, or are all the books/blogs/podcasts/whatevers about “How to be Creative,” a little … weird? A little weird, because reading or hearing about how to be creative will probably not make you more creative.

It’s something you have to figure out for yourself.

But, they’re fun to read. With that said, here’s a great post from gapingvoid. I especially love the drawings on business cards.

How to Be Creative: Gapingvoid.com (Cartoons on Business Cards)

I liked those suggestions best. They make me want to go and actually do something creative … printing T-Shirts, sewing stuffed creatures with friends, painting, and writing. Cheers to the weekend and being wary of turning hobbies into jobs!

Daniel Brian & Associates

There is an advertising agency in Rochester, Mi. It’s called Daniel Brian & Associates. Everyday, their people create campaigns and communication materials for clients. What sets them apart?

Their Mission:

1. God is the source of all creativity and the only authority above a client.
2. Love is the only rule. All others were made to be broken.
3. Character is the beginning of all success. For this reason, we will never intentionally lie to a client or for a client.

What? Really?

They are way ahead of most agencies, with such a strong mission (or a mission at all).

If they were a football team, I would be their painted, foam-fingered #1 fan.

VCU Students Put the Art in Advertising

Looks like the VCU AdCenter trains kids to be fantastically artistic, award-winning advertisers. Which sounds like a lot of hard, fun work.

Some say advertising should be straight-legged, with less art.

Some say art as advertising can be the best method.

Which side are you on?

Ads that Clean the Streets

Interesting idea!

Andrew Bird Featured in Residence Inn Commercials

This is one of those times where I run to my computer for a post, before running out the door. I just saw a Residence Inn commercial, featuring the music of Andrew Bird.

Last summer on Mackinac Island, a friend introduced me to Bird’s music. I loved it immediately. I’m glad that it’s in a mainstream commercial, and hope curious people Google “music in residence inn commercial” to discover him. Here is a bit from someone who’s already done what I’m getting at:

The Yellow Stereo > Andrew Bird Featured in Residence Inn Commercials
There would be four different commercials total, featuring “Banking on a Myth”, “untitled”, “Imitosis” and “Skin, Is My”. The commercials aren’t that bad, and the songs give off a sense of sophistication to them which says a lot about his music. I hope that through these that more people discover how amazing an artist he is.

Honest Advertising

I believe honest advertising exists in organizations like Ad Council. I’m tired of the way so many ad people spend more time figuring out which car they’re going to lease than which campaign they’re going to present.

Ad Council:

 

Ad Council campaigns are produced pro bono by advertising agencies retained by the American Association of Advertising Agencies.

Aah, there’s a heartbeat.

Sweden and Japan do not allow dishonest advertising.  No fine print!  No disclaimers!  How great is that? I’m getting excited about the possibilities of this industry all over again.

The Gondry Influence

Michel Gondry is my hero. He directs commercials, on top of the music videos and movies that brought him to fame. Check out his work on the ihaveanidea blog.

Rethink

The guys at Rethink Advertising know what they’re doing.

Advertising in Detroit

I hear things. Oh yes, people speak to each other behind thick glasses, through cardboard paper-towel tubes. They talk about strange things, and Advertising in Detroit.

It’s a bit depressed. Accounts changing places, clients leaving, jobs moving here and there, but mostly there. I’m glad people aren’t buying such giant, environmental monstrosities of vehicles as often. But I hope that some new things come along, to take their place in the advertising world. Let’s make little tiny cars, or gum that you can chew after you drink soda, so your teeth don’t disintegrate.

Talent costs less, but everyone uses the same people. That’s why we have to go. We have to get out. Or, we have to bring the “out,” in. Freshen things up. Get resourceful.

It’s a good time to be in Advertising. Because it’s a good time to be in anything. Because no one knows what’s going to happen. And everyday, everyone has an equal chance to do something great.

Googling for Candidates?

Be careful where you click. Presidential candidates are buying key search terms on Google, which means many people will find themselves reading about the candidate with the most spending power… just because the candidate spent the most money.

But that’s nothing new. The scary part? “It seems to be working,” said Jeremy Crane, director-search and online media at web analytics firm Compete. “People are clicking on these links.” – Ad Age

Whether they are finding the pages they wanted more easily, or are landing on the opponent’s page, is not clear. But it’s definitely another reason to get your head into the Google search game.

Which, to the surprise of most, doesn’t mean buying search terms. There’s another way. All you have to do is keep a WordPress weblog (like this one) and update it regularly. Using specific keywords and categories relevant to your topic will bring you to the top of Google searches. And what’s better than being at the top of Google (for free)?

So… why don’t political candidates have blogs? Some do. But they all should. And so should everyone else, with something to say.

I learned a lot about the web in Dayton, Ohio at a Websitetology seminar. Go to one. You’ll learn a whole lot, meet some cool people, and get a free muffin from Starbuck’s.