And so it is, JT, so it is.

I can't believe it's MAY and I haven't updated the site. Very naughty. I blame my newest online obsession: Tumblr. Okay, okay, so Tumblr is nothing new but my fascination with it is. I now have three Tumblrs: 1. That I'm running concurrently as I write my non-fiction book (about coming out) 2. That complements my online fic 'The Possibility of You' with visuals and music and 3. Random shit that cracks me up.

This year was a slow starter on the work front, then BAM, March hit and it was all on. I've just finished up these projects:

• 9 Spokes: A tech start-up that is about to seriously kick arse in the Cloud business space. Sue and I, as Indiego Big On Writing, have done tone of voice, user journey and copy for their portal website, brand messages and their interim website. This was a really challenging job but I can't wait to see it revolutionise Cloud computing. 9 Spokes has already been named a 'Cool Vendor' with Garnter, so watch this space: www.9spokes.com.
• Hyundai HQ - Shine: A complete overhaul of Hyundai's key website and community for Hyundai drivers. I gave them a new tone of voice, wrote all the words and gave some input on page IA too. Website to come.
• Hyundai Family Time - Shine: Just a wee bit of help with navigation, forms and Share copy here. It's going to be a cool campaign, URL to come.
• Kapiti - Shine: Getting their new brand book into order.

As you can see, I've been 'Shining' a lot recently. Oh god, stop me now.

Our last project at Soda Communications for 2011 was the creation of six TVCs for Fintel Insurance. While creatively it wasn't groundbreaking – as we followed an existing creative format – it is a good story of David beating out Goliath. For the second time in two years, Soda was awarded this project over Aim Proximity, part of the global Colenso BBDO network. It was, of course, our cost-effective price that contributed largely to this decision, as well as our previous high performance. But I think what tipped the balance was our offer of helping with the strategy, from early planning stages. It goes to show that going the extra mile can make a difference, and an affirmation of the approach that I try to take to all the things I do.

Here are a few of the ads (link through to YouTube).

A month or so ago I worked in at G2 advertising agency for a week (now BCG2), and came face to face with a brief I'd worked on before - the Art of the Envelopes call-for-entry.

For the last two years the awards, run by Candida, had been using a concept thought up originally by my art director Matthias and I when I was fulltime at BCG. What a coincidence that I would be involved in coming up with a new approach in 2010.

I was only involved at the concepting level, coming up with the core thought "Sexing up the envelope". We decided to use current DM hotshots from the ad industry in 'sexy' poses - everyone loves to laugh at people they know. Take a look at the end product, I reckon they did a great job:

Here's a link to some PR on advertising blog Stoppress: http://www.stoppress.co.nz/news/2010/07/scantily-clad-marketers-get-sexy-turn-envelopes-into-mmmvelopes/weeblylink_new_window

Back in April I was interviewed for a segment on TV One's "Close Up" about how young interns are treated in advertising agencies while they're on trial placement or internships. The 10 minute piece aired on July 18th, around the time that our government is reviewing employment policies.

http://tvnz.co.nz/close-up/options-young-graduates-3649149/videoweeblylink_new_window

I was lucky enough to avoid this period that many newbies go through - being paid $100 a week and kept on for up to a year with no guarantee of a job at the end. And quite frankly, I don't think I would have put up with it for more than a couple of months.


The journalist who interviewed us asked a lot of leading questions and was obviously out to collect the evidence for only one angle: that is, us telling him all about the exploitation that goes on. Of course we were all a lot more diplomatic than he wanted; in fact my friend Jono who was also interviewed tells me the journalist kicked a rubbish bin in frustration because he wasn't getting the juicy gossip he expected. Media, huh.


The end result wasn't as bad as I expected, but it wasn't great either. For a 10 minute piece there was a lot of repetition, and they cut out a lot of my comments that offered the other side of the story. That is, while there is definitely exploitation going on from the agencies' end, young creatives play a part too. It's their responsibility to ask for more money or to walk away when it's obvious they're being used. Instead of just bitching about it and stealing booze from the agency fridge to make up for it. That's the only way we'll change the internship system from our end - by just saying no.


I'm glad the piece aired and I hope it starts the wheel turning for change. I'm not holding my breath though!

Another link to the piece here:

http://tvnz.co.nz/close-up/options-young-graduates-3649149/videoweeblylink_new_window