Think Global, Act Stupid

Nick+Anna

Nick and Anna recently left WK to travel the world.  Latest image from their trip has them in a picturesque desert...what follows is the work of Art Directors with too much time on their hands...

Someone Old, Someone New

Someone Old: Eva Rausch...

Eva has been with us here at W+K Amsterdam for over 10 years now and is the Group Account Director for HypoVereinsbank and Sharp.  And to think she could have been driving buses all this time...

When you were a kid, what was your dream job?

In the early years, I wanted to become a bus driver, because he always collected money from everyone.  Later, my dream job was to be a pharmacist because a friend of the family did holiday stand-ins when a pharmacist went on vacation.  I thought it must be great to only work a couple of weeks during the vacation period and then be off the rest of the time!

What was the most influential decision you ever made?

Moving abroad.  Being an expat and seeing Germany from the outside gives a new perspective on things.

Who do you most admire in the industry?

Jeff Kling.  He is one of the craziest, smartest, nicest people I have met in the industry so far and also has a great Swabian accent when he speaks German!  He knows when to get involved and when to let go.

What have you been most proud of in your career?

Being part of a group of people that produce something great together.  And really, every time a piece of great work that I have somehow been involved in goes on air.

What campaign gives you work envy and why?

It's the simplicity of the Apple campaign 'Think Different'.  Very rarely does a campaign explain so well, in so few words, what the brand is all about.

Now enough of the serious questions...

You win the lottery - what is the first thing you buy?

A bottle of Champagne!

What's the most inappropriate thing you've ever said to a colleague / in a meeting?

"This is absolutely nonsense and useless".  It didn't go down well... I'm happy to say that I've improved my communication skills since then!

Favourite city / place and why?

So far, I would say my favourite city is New York because it's cosmopolitan, crazy and offers everything.  My favourite place is Schwarzenberg (a tiny village in the Austrian Alps) because some of my best childhood memories are of there.

Who would play you in a movie of your life?

I'd quite like Courteney Cox Arquette - do you think she would do it?

What do you think will be written on your gravestone?

"The world will not be the same without her". (And indeed it wouldn't, Eva)!

Someone New: Miranda Kendrick...

Miranda has recently joined us from neighbouring Strawberry Frog.  As you can probably tell from her photograph, she is an Art Buyer through and through...

When you were a kid, what was your dream job?

For a school project I once presented the class with an in-depth (for an 11 year old) analysis on the difference between English and American cigarette advertising in the 80s.  So, it was either advertising or lead dancer for Madonna.

What was the most influential decision you ever made?

Getting married.  I heard a lot of people started doing it after i did...

Who do you most admire in the industry?

Anyone who can successfully achieve a work/life balance to working in advertising and win awards.  And Mel Gibson in "What Women Want".  He was really sensitive in that movie.

What have you been most proud of in your career?

Sleeping with an Art Director...?  Or the work for 'EA 'FIFA 08' campaign with Wayne Rooney - we shot it in record time, in the rain in Manchester.  Also, a print ad that I worked on for Onitsuka Tiger - it was basically a giant shoe made out of sushi and toys.

What campaign gives you work envy and why?

I like the Harvey Nichols print ads, year on year.  I think they stand out, are well executed, have the right tone of voice and don't follow the formula.  I'd like to have made them and they speak to me as a consumer so that's two votes from me!

You win the lottery - what is the first thing you buy?

A dog - a big one.

What's the most inappropriate thing you've ever said to a colleague / in a meeting?

"No, you'll never be able to produce that for the budget and these timings are never going to work".

Favourite city / place and why?

I really like Coney Island, New York.  I grew up in a seaside town in England, and Coney Island is like the memory I have in my head of it without actually going back there and realising that it's not the same place at all.  And they have a 'shoot the freak' game where you get to fire paint balls at a half naked guy - wearing a football helmet, of course - in a pit.  What's not to like?

Who would play you in a movie of your life?

Will Ferrell.  I'd like to see him in my clothes and with hair extensions.

What do you think will be written on your gravestone?

Miranda May Vall

1978 - 2009

Died peacefully at her desk.

Those crazy Swedes

The Swedes are taking over the Nike group! Anders Stake has been joined by Felipe and Emmeli, who join us for two short weeks, as Interns in the Creative Department. Why so quick a visit? Because they are both currently finishing up their final year at Berghs School of Communication in Stockholm. Emmeli has interned at Mother in London and Droga5, New York. Felipe has both worked for hard cash, as well as interned, at Leo Burnett, Lowe Brindfors, and Forsman & Bodenfors, in Stockholm. You can get a flavour of Felipe and Emmeli by visiting their own 'aesthetically challenged but somehow compelling' blog.

Sure, they can concept and art direct and write copy, but if you really want to see where their real talents are, check out their movie masterpiece. Needless to say, Emmeli scored high with her intricate knowledge of the shape of The Netherlands.

What's not to love.

Welcome onboard, Corey

We're celebrating Corey Bartha's arrival, this week, as Head of Broadcast. We stole him away from the Portland office with promises of tulips and cheese and mice in clogs dancing on the steps of windmills.

 

Corey started as a production assistant in the early 90’s and moved on to be agency producer at Ground Zero in LA, amongt other places. In his five years there, he established their post-production facility.

More recently, as senior producer, Corey helped transform Crispin's Broadcast department into something more interactively friendly. Which is when the Portland office snapped him up. He created the first Sims Machinima spots and has since served as Executive Producer on Coke and Diet Coke.

Can you tell we're excited to have him? Even people who we passed up for the job have called to say how wisely we’ve hired. Now that's an endorsement if ever there was one.

Welcome Jonas and Jenny

They've had a couple of weeks to settle in so we thought it was time to get to know a bit more about W+K's new Senior Strategic Planner, Jonas Vail and Senior Communications Planner, Jenny Howard...

 

Good to see you're keeping the moustache theme alive, Jonas!

Where are you from?
JV   I went to high school in San Francisco and have spent the most time in my life there so I consider it home, but I was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma and lived there until I was 12. Both were great places to grow up, but I’m glad I got the F out of Oklahoma when I did. Phew!
JH   I was actually born in Liverpool but I moved the family away  at the age of one. After that I lived all over England but I ended up in London for the last 8 years, so I usually just say that.

Why W+K Amsterdam?
JV   Because I wasn’t finished with my European adventure after two and a half years in London and besides, where else would you want to work in Europe?
JH   It all happened a bit out of the blue really - I hadn't really planned to move abroad but W+K called and it was too good an opportunity to turn down.

What is your biggest motivator?
JV   Happiness and the ability to afford having a really good time.
JH   Fear and KitKats.

Who has made the biggest impression on you since being here?  Why?
JV   I’m going to have to go with Kerrie Finch, for all the obvious reasons, but probably also because she keeps super-poking me on Facebook. Now I have to think of what to super-poke her back with next...
JH   I'm going to go for two people: Eliza [Esquivel] as she is teaching me the path to health, tranquillity and inner peace and Dave [Cobban] as he is teaching me the opposite.

What do you miss most about home?
JV   My standard answer to this question is always American TV and Mexican food. But now that NBC’s stupid greed over $0.99 not being enough led them to ditch iTunes, I’ve been forced to learn how to use bit torrent sites (which, ironically means I now get NBC shows for free – but I digress). Plus I’ve discovered the fajitas at Alfonso’s on the Utrechtsestraat, so I have to re-think that answer. I’ll say good film distribution – and obviously my friends.
JH   Obviously I miss all my mates although they all seem to be coming to visit over the next few months, which is cool. More specifically, I'm really missing Le Beaujolais which is a small rickety old bar off Charing Cross Rd where we would usually spend most Friday afternoons drinking red wine (I used to work at a media agency so this was an integral part of the job).

What do you like most about Amsterdam?
JV   There’s so much of it that reminds me of San Francisco, minus the hills of course. The architecture, the greenery, the attitude. What’s not to love?
JH   I'm loving how beautiful it is and how I can shoot round everywhere on my bike. If I can master the art of holding an umbrella and talking on the phone whilst I'm cycling then I will feel like a true local!

Which Dutch word did you learn first?
JV  Gezellig, obviously.
JH   Bitterballen. What the hell is in those things anyway? (Trust us Jenny - you are better off not knowing).

Impressions from a W+K Intern by Kirsty Worden

 

When I was offered a job working as an intern at Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam, all sorts of things went through my mind. Firstly, I’d be working in Amsterdam for a month - that in itself was very cool!  I was also very excited to see what goes on behind the scenes in an advertising agency, especially since I have just finished a degree in marketing, and advertising is an industry that I’ve always wanted to work in.

However, I was also slightly anxious and worried. I might not have a clue what I was supposed to be doing and the people might be pretty brutal…

As it turned out I shouldn’t have been worried in the slightest. Everyone has been extremely welcoming and friendly - most people have gone out of their way to introduce themselves and make me feel comfortable. Wieden+Kennedy people have piles of attitude and confidence which was a little intimidating at first (but then again, I knew there wouldn’t be a boring moment.)

I imagined an ad agency to be a busy, chaotic environment; W+K Amsterdam has certainly lived up to expectations! I’ve been working in the PR department with the lovely Kerrie and Sarah. The phone is always ringing, colleagues constantly come in and out of the office, and there is always something that needs doing, like, now! Morale is high though. The whole building is always full of laughter and it is clear that everyone is passionate about their jobs. All this makes the Amsterdam office a great place to work.

John and Al come across as highly respected creative leaders of the agency, with no spare time on their hands (there always seems to be a queue of about ten people at their door). In fact, everyone is so busy that you usually have to book time with them a week in advance if you need anything! But it is exactly this chaotic, creative atmosphere which makes W+K Amsterdam what it is - an inspirational and innovative place to work. 

International 'Draw Gwen' Day

This week was Gwen's birthday. She likes drawing people - and we like her doing it. In honour of her creative talents here's a selection of birthday tributes from around the office - from Spain, Australia, the UK and Italy, to Sweden, USA, France and the Netherlands.

Your favourite?

Meet Barney & Rick

Rick and Barney are a creative team here at W+K Amsterdam.  Through the years they have managed to produce a lot of great work, kids (Barney's daughter Myrtle is 4 months old) and stay remarkably sexy.

In addition to fantastic beards and lustrous hair, both of the aggressively sensual men have managed to stay in terrific shape.  Those of you in advertising know that staying in shape isn't always easy given the long hours and crap food.

Despite their challenging schedules these two hirsute geniuses have managed to keep their combined weight to a staggering 198lbs/89kg (this is greatly aided by the fact that Rick only weights 70lbs/31kg).

When asked their secret the two merely giggle and wink.

If one could figure out a way to bottle these two you could sell it for millions despite the taste.

'Bye Tom

It's a sad day for Amsterdam when the agency receives an email from Gate D22 at Schiphol Airport.

Tom Dunlap, Head of Broadcast, left the building and the country today. With trusted Blackberry in hand, he sent us a final goodbye just before boarding his flight to LA and pastures new.

Here's a tribute to you, Tom. A little something we put together to remind us of the good times, the drunk times, the hungover times and the less than photogenic times.

Time to make the donuts

I'm leaving Wieden+Kennedy for a new adventure. Somebody else is taking over the blog so there might be a slight disruption in service. It's been fun, let's do it again sometime.