Just about a week, we will be going into year 2k8. For me, this year is really amazing. why?
1. I got accepted into the VCU Adcenter, the best advertising school in the US. and the school doesn't let me down at all. It's not about the reputation, new location, pride but it's about meeting new people. And they are friend. Friends who make me better and give me some life's lessons.
2. I miss my hometown so much. At this time last year, I was spending a quality time with my Thai friends at the resort and we were so happy. But living my life here in Richmond is not bad and makes me smile every day.
3. The Adcenter is a place i can think freely and not afraid to express crazy thoughts. I know this school is shaping my mind and thought.
Thanks for stopping by this blog and giving a comment. I hope all my blog reader will have a good time and great holidays for 2007. Merry Christmas :)
Last two weeks I had a chance to do an extra assignment about "slaves to marketing." It reminded me of one image that i have in my laptop for a while. The guy in this image is Ryan Sheckler, an American professional skateboarder, with his last name tattoo on his back. Many people may know him from MTV's The Life of Ryan show. When I re-looked at this image again, some thoughts came across in my mind. 1. This kid is very talented and skillful. He has got a sponsor from skateboarding since he was 10 or 11 and presently (now he is 17) many big companies are supporting him like Red Bull and Volcom. So this image for me is kind of juxtaposition between expressing himself through his tattoo on his back and corporate logos that have been attached to him for 7 years. I feel that his tattoo is meaningless for me because he has been labeled and monetized so something that he tried to identify himself is diluted.
2. Teenage girls love and adore him. Of course, they are the slave to marketing. They think he is cool even he wears a Volcom t-shirt and Red Bull cap all the time. On the other hand he sells his own t-shirt on his official website with his tattoo screened on it like this. I can't deny that we are in capitalism and it works.
Stopped by Flavorpill website to find arts events in NYC, I found many pieces of art on the cover of the webpage. They are created by Chad Kouri.
All I know about him from his website is "Chad Kouri spends most of his time in alleys looking for wood, books, and other treasures to build out some elaborate found-art collage. The rest of his time is spent eating humus, playing guitar, and other things to pass the day. He has most recently taken up bench resting... a workout ritual much like bench pressing, but without all the lifting."
Personally, I really like his works. I like the way he put things together in one piece of art. Here are some samples of his arts I took from his website. I will try to catch up flavorpill website for their new cover artists. I think they are really cool.
Though I hesitate to criticize, there are some things I just don't like about the new Vaseline campaign.As a former media planner for Vaseline in Thailand, I would say Vaseline once focused on the skin health benefits and did a good job in discriminating itself among the competitors as healthy body care product. So the tonality of communication was straight-to-the-point and very functional but still kept a feminine element. In the recent campaign titled “Your skin is amazing,” speaks about healthy skin in a different way. The creative work is brilliant and enhances the strategy with great execution. But I feel that Vaseline campaign is too similar to Dove campaign in a few ways.
As a consumer, I think Vaseline is a simple, affordable product. I feel that Vaseline is trying to educate and convince me about their skin mission statement by telling me that moisturizing my skin when dry is not enough. Taking care of skin is a long-term regime and a thousand ways can disrupt your soft skin. But my Mom won’t understand what they are talking about. The majority of consumers still focus on problem solving and that’s Vaseline job to convert consumers to be more proactive to their skin.As an advertising student who loves to explore new things, I browsed the website and found out that Vaseline paid 5 celebrities to endorse the brand and be a part of skin visions activity. The only one I like belongs to Dave Navarro, a guitarist of Red Hot Chili Peppers and Jane’s addiction. I love the insight saying “My skin is my canvas…my tattoos represent a time in my life….” I hope this quote is real.
Every morning (well, not really) i saw people drinking Red Bull to refresh themselves from drowsiness and fatigue. It is obvious that when you got many tasks to finish in one night or one day to survive the Adcenter, Red Bull is on the top list. For me I rarely drink it because I am distracted by Skittles. Skittles give me glucose to stay awake at night. I have been addicted to Skittles for 2 months. I bought a lot of Skittles presently. Now I realize that i need to stay away from that small round fruit chews. I don't want to feel the rainbow anymore. My addiction was getting worse last week because one night i woke up at 4am. and i grabbed my rainbow candy and put them in my mouth. That's was too much. I want to quit Skittling.
We are officially done for the first semester at the Adcenter. It's a moment that i had craved for since November. I did some good jobs and fair jobs or bad works but i know i am improving myself. The first 15 weeks taught me a lot not only advertising business and planning but also social interaction and team working.
I learned many things here from the scratch. I learned more about American's brands. I learned how to put myself toward and pull myself out of trouble. I learned to work with people and their personalities. I learn to embrace failure and imperfection and learn to cherish myself with victory and pride. I maximize and utilize my positivity for this school.
Next, It's time for myself. I want to do many things i could not do it during the school. I bought some books and magazines. I am planning my trip to New York and DC. I am thinking about building my portfolio and blogging more.
The next semester at the Adcenter will be fun and exciting. We will move to the new building, located a couple blocks away from my place. and Bye bye 1313 Main Street.
Something I wanna do in the US before I leave (to answer Jordan's question)
- Going to NYC - Going to the MoMA - Visiting friends in California - Sipping Malibu cocktail on the beach - Meeting with my blog friends - Stepping into the US advertising business - Being an ordinary and silly tourist and having fun with sightseeing around this country - Making Adcenter's friends happier and better - Walking with Jordan Childs in the park at night + Christmas decorations (We actually did this and had a good time together, haha)
My first semester at the Adcenter is going to end soon. It doesn't mean that i am not busy now - we still have big presentations awaiting. Yesterday, I realized that studying at the Adcenter. I need to find a balance between "quality" and "quantity."
Quantity without quality is bad. Quality without quantity is bad too. No one can tell you how much quality you should have or how many quantity you should acquire even Rick Boyko or David Ogilvy. To find it, you need to spend your life through it. You will find out many ideas that you crunch are not good and at the same time, you want to do the best in everything but you don't have time.
We have been taught that "Good enough is not enough." It's a juxtaposition between "quality" and "quantity." When we are knackered and tired, we want to say "enough," one of my classmates told us that "Good enough is plenty." It's very hilarious. The photo is from Johnny Blood via Flickr
Two or three weeks ago, i was invited to Pre-Potluck Thanksgiving party at my Adcenter friend's place. I was thinking about what to bring and it was hard for me because I am not good at cooking at all. Then i decided to do Jello Shots. I had 2 recipes - one is strawberry jello with Vodka and lime jello with Malibu. It turned out great and i really love them and ended up eating them too much and dealing with intoxication. On that night I put myself joining my first scavenger hunt game with some Adcenter friends. I ate raw egg, stole 5 pumpkins, and bought Vagisil. It was such a fun experience. Thanks to my friends for spicing up my life.
I am an ordinary person who really enjoy signing in and signing out "Facebook" website. I love it because it keeps me getting in touch with my friends at VCU Adcenter, Thailand, New York, UK, and etc. Facebook is clean and delicate for me.
Recently, Leah Pearlman - the product manager of Facebook ads posted an information about Facebook new advertising solution. I love what's not changing but what is changing....
You now have a way to connect with products, businesses, bands, celebrities and more on Facebook.
Ads should be getting more relevant and more meaningful to you.
You now have the option to share actions you take on other sites with your friends on Facebook.
I don't like them but it sounds better than "Myspace-Era." I feel good that i won't associate with irrelevant ads. Here is an example of Facebook Axe ad. Some posted something good about Axe while some posted something bad. It's reality. I hope Axe's brand manager keeps reading his/her facebook ad.
At VCU Adcenter, we have the Adcenter Quote Wall near the computer lab. Here are some nice quotes...
"Oh my God, I got rejected by match.com" Holly H. "I would taste test my product but it's the boy scouts" Leslie B. "It's sad when one person goes to Costco to get a ream of bananas." Charlie H. "Someone art directed that cupcake!" Slate D. "He hates us...Do you think we could get a group discount on assisted suicide." anonymous "The average stomach of a cocker spaniel can hold up to 12 balloons of heroin." Erica P.
And this is my quote "I don't use Tupperware, I use bamboo box."
Last Saturday, I went to the party and drew something nice on Joey's wall.
Do I love Italian food? Yes! Do I love ice cream? Yes!
Since I have been in Richmond, VA for a couple of months, I know where my favorite ice cream is. But i am still looking for a nice Italian restaurant. How about the fusion of ice cream and Italian food? Maybe?? Let me introduce Spaghetti Ice Cream maker. Spaghetti ice cream is a fun look-a-like that you will love to make and eat. This post is not paid by advertiser. I just feel it's really fun.
I knew I had not blogged for a long time. The best excuse is "I had to practice singing for American Idol." Anyway, while some people here at VCU Adcenter were busy with liquid protein, Burt's Bees, Dyson, etc., my heart was in Dubai. I was wondering how the advertising industry in Middle East will be like until I did some research on it. No surprise that people in Middle East are like the rest of the world.
They don't trust advertisements. They expose to online media and email. They need to control the media. Viral marketing is more popular than other form of advertising.
So far, the Middle East market is growing and more interesting. There were two creatives from Arabian Gulf Advertising that won the Cannes Lion Young Creatives 2007. One of them was interviewed by local press and said "The world is just beginning to identify the UAE as a melting pot of global ideas and creativity."
How about Bangkok? We did a good job last two years but nothing solid happened locally. I guess we overlook the young generations and have no basic foundation. We are so busy with global glory but do nothing with our industry in Thailand. It's lame. For example, Dubai Media City - a media hub in the region where all media-related businesses thrive together. DMC creates a world-class environment for every kind of media business, which broadly includes media and marketing services, printing and publishing, music, film, new media, leisure and entertainment, broadcasting and information agencies.
And Dubai Studio City - they facilitate the creation and development of an environment and world-class infrastructure to foster the growth of television, film, and music industries in the region.
Dubai Lynx Advertising Awards - This is an ad that won the award. (Karate class for kids by Grey Worldwide) Peace in the middle east.
It is a great honor for me having my blog, A Closet on this niche rank called "Advertising Young Minds - The top27 blogs of people under 27" I was so surprised and stunned by the fact. Thanks Daniel M. at AdStructure blog for his creation. The ranking is witty and awesome. See the full details here.
While people are enjoying Apple iPhone and knock off price news, there are many people considering to buy iClone phone as well. Meizu Minione M8 phone is manufactured in China and it look like iPhone. See the news in details from CNet Asia.
I am amazed by how technology is easily copied. And it comes fast. It made me realize that being different and innovative are not easy at all. iPhone is not cool anymore.
Anything from Japan is always cute and adorable. Copet is an example. Copet are polygon animal characters designed and illustrated by Seijiro Kubo. Some of his works were engaged in AIWA advertising in Japan. We also can do Copet paper crafts from their website. Copet is a polygon zoo.
First of all, I went to Great Clips last Friday for haircut. It's only $11. I don't like my haircut at all and service is terrible. I was disappointed. I will pay more for better thing. Last week, my roommate witnessed and suspected one criminal and many cops paid us a visit at 2.00am. I hate this situation. Two parties in a roll....i love it.It's my birthday on last Sunday...it's sad because i had to do my assignments and team project all day long. Pity me.
The next 4 days I have to come up and present about my God and my relationship with God. Yesterday, I thought of God all day. It will be very interesting assignment for me. That's why we call it, creative thinking class.
I am aware that tonight Britney Spears was in the MTV Video Music Awards at Las Vegas and performed her new song, Gimme more. As far as i know from reading an article from Washington post, MTV want to improve their viewership that has been continuously dropped since 2004.
It doesn't work for me at least. Watching Britney back in music industry is not my call. This is my favorite part of this piece of reading, "The "awards" part of the show usually is overshadowed by the performances and the chance that something outrageous will happen, like same-sex kisses or naughty utterances. The lack of excitement in recent years, amid a government crackdown in media decency, has been blamed for the slide in ratings."
Deconstruction is meaningful to me. I often de-construct things in my life and make something new. Even doing some homeworks at VCU Adcenter (Oh gosh, why i just can't stop writing about Adcenter) I need to de-construct my life stories and arrange them for better presentation. For me, deconstruction is really helpful in looking things in many perspectives.
that's why i posted many de-construction arts here. This one is another example of my inspiration, Adidas Deconstructed by Yoshiaki Kaihatsu. I found here.
The most boring package in the US., i guess. I need it by the way to survive 60 weeks at VCU Adcenter. And Redbull will be my second weapon. Now, I am working on point-of-view statement for GAP, three self-portraits, colonial village, unethical ads analysis, and more readings.
I got 2 books to finish this week. I got about 6 writing assignments to finish within next week. I got about 9 articles to read within next week. I have to dance in front of class tomorrow. I have to do researches for the above assignments. I have both individual and team assignments. I need to catch up the advertising industry movements. I need to party
Things keep coming and coming day by day like a fancy parade that you enjoy watching it not being in it. "I wish i could have more time."
This post is going to be a fresh baked cake from an oven. Today is my first first class, creative thinking, here at VCU Adcenter taught by Professor Hall (love this word "Professor" haha) We touched on the basic terms which were Creative and Thinking definition. All of us had to speak in front of the class plus video recorder in front of us telling people a bit about ourselves and the definitions. I was the second person who came up and talked something which i can't remember now because i guess i was overwhelmed by each individual definitions of everyone in the class today.
It's good having a chance to speak my mind but it's better having a chance to listen to what others think about the definitions. The definitions that you can't find in any textbook or blog or even in Adage's Power150 blogs. Ours are unique and meaningful. Some were defined from their childhood, undergrad class, Adcenter's wall and friends. What i absolutely learned from the class today is "to listen" like Professor Hall said, "It's crucial to listen to your peers and to respect them."
Yeah...listen to our classmates so we don't need to ask them the same questions again which are ... *Where are you from? *What's your name again? *What's your track? I am bored asking these questions coz life goes on.
Consider this as a new media for your client's presentation. Ad or message on a plastered arm or leg when people got the broken arm or leg. It will be a nice idea, i guess.
What we've seen in the sci-fi movies is coming to our life. By starting from here - The Galactic Suite, a space resort providing a fully integrated space tourism experience. The customers will be given a training session by an astronaut in a hideaway island and prepared for an orbit tour in their space resort. The experiences are weightlessness activities, space sports, star gazing, surreal sleeping arrangements, taking pictures of auroras, and etc.The service will be started in 2012 according to their website. I am wondering who is the first group that make this trip. It will be awesome. By the way, they don't mention anything about the cost...it must be damn expensive, i guess. Or do they have shoestring or backpacker version?
See these 2 videos - one is from Sony Bravia "Balls" shot in San Fran 2005 and another one is funny twin of Bravia "Balls" ad. (It's better to play them at the same time)
From Balls to Paint in Glasgow 2006, I am excited about this year bunnies ad from Sony Bravia. It's something that i am waiting to see by leaving any positive or negative comments behind. That's just for an entertainment's sake. The below pic is Bravia's bunnies shooting in NYC (borrowed from Johnny Vulkan at Anomaly)
A couple days ago, I got a forwarded email talking about 7-11's logo. What's wrong with it?, i questioned myself. The point is "n" letter of "ELEVEn" is the only one with a small capital letter, why? The email said something about 7-11's owner Feng Shui belief. With that small capital letter of "n." The owner believes that "n" depicts the picture of magnet of retail business like strongly attracting customers to the shops. Any another inputs on that "n" letter myth? I am not sure this is true or not. I hope someone who named "the fan" area in Richmond got the strong belief in Feng Shui. Coz i wish the fan would be the fan that makes me feel cooler. Arrrggggg! HOT!
Sunday in Richmond, VA is so quiet...shops are closed, most of restaurants are closed too and people seem to leave the city to somewhere, I don't know. I decided to walk to the new VCU Adcenter building a couple blocks away. No people but the building on progress and machines. It seems to be nice and spacious. Yeah, It's the place that i will spend about 45weeks there and 15 weeks at the current building. Can't wait to start! By the way, i got required readings from my teacher. I gonna spend time tonight reading them.
It has been a long time that i hadn't checked out the fashion trend esp. men fashion. I came across at details magazine website and foundTop 10 Spring looks. Here they are...
1. Hammer Pants : I have one nylon Hammer pants but i didn't bring them here. 2. Neon Signs : Just a glimpse of intense color. 3. Sheer Modesty : The classy way to do see-through. 4. Hockney Effect : I got no idea what it is. i will skip this one. 5. All Zipped Up : The biker jacket goes upscale. I think bigger zip is better. 6. The Shawl Thing : Does handkerchief work? 7. Flood Alert : Cropped pants hit the runway. 8. Synth Rock : From nylon to neoprene, non-natural fabrics. 9. Light and Layered : Muted color, weightless fabrics and effortless result. 10. Pajama Game : Pretty laid-back.
After spending about 10 days in Seattle, It's time to move to Richmond, VA. Phew! finally, I am in RVA. I got some random thoughts, well nice thoughts about things happened in Seattle.
1. It's awesome visiting my friend, Nunoo and his girlfriend, Kate. We had not met for a year and they welcomed me nicely. They brought me good times. 2. My first time visit to the US, and also first time eating Krispy Kreme. It was so delicious. (astonishing fact is if i want to open Krispy Kreme in my home country, I need 30 million dollars to show them, oh gosh) 3. The city of Seattle is so good. Luckily, when i was there, the weather was really nice - no rain at all. 4. While i was staying at my friend's room, his landlord took us cruising the bay area of Bellevue. He got a ship and is trying to sell one of his ships to someone. He is damn rich. (I passed by Bill Gates's house on the shore, a lovely home) 5. The landscape of Seattle is nice, no ridiculous and messy outdoor advertising like in Bangkok.
Thinking about VCU Adcenter, there are many things waiting for me. 1. I got course schedule last week. Well, it made me getting more excited about my classes and instructors. 2. I hope i can get along well with my classmates. Sometimes I may do something stupid and they will understand me. haha. 3. A thing that keeps challenging is my English proficiency. I want to read, listen, speak, write BETTER in English. Coming to the states is my great opportunity to develop my skills. Mates, excuse me for my broken English. 4. Yesterday, I got an email from Caley Cantrell, my strategic thinking class teacher, about the required readings. I am so excited about reading my many good books while i am here.
While i am writing this post, there is a first friday Artwalk down under my apartment. I gonna take a walk to view the event. Wow, I am so happy.
Right now, I am in Bellevue - Seattle, a small room in the basement of landlord's house. I do really enjoy the scene - much less outdoor advertising than in Bangkok. Ironically, i fall in love with the city subconciously. I feel calm and harmony. I haven't exprienced the real downtown scene yet but i will do it today. I visited Mt. Rainier, a lovely place for hiking and driving. See more of pics at my Flickr.
I am going to start my life as a graduate student at VCU Adcenter real soon. Now, I am in Incheon International Airport in Korea. Unfortunately, I couldn't find the better air ticket so i had to transit here and wait for 6 hours to catch the flight to Seattle.
Yea, 6 hours sounds boring. It's not really. I walked around the airport, slept on a sofa, visited duty free shops, browsed an internet, and read a book.
I sprayed CK One Summer perfume on my right wrist and Giorgio Armani for Red perfume on my left wrist. My body odor is getting better or worse haha... Well, i will do it again when the smell is gone. See you again in Seattle, my next stop.
I had gone for a week and i missed blogging. I have been so busy and got a fever for a few days from vaccine injections. Packing things is still in progress, buying things is on the way and there are so many things to do right now for the changes in my life, yea i am going to the US. next week.
There are 2 things that made me happy and cheerful.
1. Our Bangkok Planners Meeting is going good. Last Thursday, we got about 12 persons joining our meeting. We had fun talking about many topics. I am so sad that the next meeting will be my last time but I wish them the best. They are so lovely group of people with good intentions, wits, and warm hearts. Of course, we will keep in touch. 2. I created Adcenter'09 group in Facebook on May 2007. The group is pretty amazing. We chat, poke, meet, write, and read each other. We also form a good friendship before the school started as one of my fellow Adcenters, Brittany, stated here. I truly believe that we will blast the next 2 years together.
