Andrei is a senior copywriter at Energy BBDO in Chicago. As MC regulars know, I sometimes get a little jealous of Chicago CWs. Of their accounts, specifically. Like Altoids, Orbit and Corona in Andrei’s book. Two Corona beach shoots. Plus a Corona beach microsite (a classic). Arrrrg.
Portfolio: andreichahine.com
Cassie is a copywriter at space150 in Minneapolis. She’s gone and done it. The very first Pinterest portfolio on MC. And you know what that makes her? The winner. Nice.
Portfolio: cassiebroeckert.com
Shea is a copywriter at Trumpet in New Orleans. (MC’s first New Orleans shop, during Mardi Gras, DING.) Don’t leave without checking out his bonus section, Lagniappe. Which, by the way, is a word that entered English from Louisiana French. Is MC throwing Mardi Gras beads all over this post or what?
Portfolio: sheatullos.com
Joe is a senior copywriter in NYC. The first two pieces in his portfolio are self-created apps, Recco and Pee & Poo Save The World. About the latter, in Joe’s words: “It follows a pair of superhero …uhh… excrement in their epic quest to stop sinister aliens from abducting Earth’s baby animals.” Yes.
Portfolio: joesay.squarespace.com
Mikal is a copywriter in NYC. In addition to print, TV, web and alternative media on his site, Mikal also has Onion headlines, a cartoon and a race—The First Annual Billy Burg Bolt. That’s the first footrace in a portfolio on MC, if we’re not mistaken. Tip ‘o the hat, Mr. Cook.
Portfolio: mikalandrecook.com
Joel is a senior copywriter at Integer in Denver. Don’t misses: CAT, Hooked On Phonics and NatureMade (print), falling snowflakes for Big Bear (TV), and an executive meltdown for Cisco (interactive).
Portfolio: joelmaron.com
Ross is a junior copywriter at R/GA in NYC. One of MC’s fave things about portfolio sites is checking out what people did before they became copywriters. What lead them to a life of copywriting? For example, between May and July of 2006, Ross was a professional Ghost Hunter for Supernatural Occurrence Studies in Chicago. It’s like, duh. How else are you going to follow that up?
Portfolio: cargocollective.com/rosswolinsky
Kathy is a copywriter/ACD at Proof in Austin. If you’re a sucker for crazy animation/illustration like MC, check out Kathy’s campaign for Heritage Boot Elves. (In Broadcast, second to the last spot.) Bonus points for Spanish with subtitles.
Portfolio: kathyfarley.com
Aimee is a copywriter/ACD in Chicago. Her site was submitted by fellow CW Mike Tuton (big ups), and it’s easy to see why. All kids of awesome work for a cool variety of clients like Adidas, Sorel, Tilex, Piperllime and Chipotle. She’s also started a new card company called Brain Surgeons & Rocket Scientists (link below). Love it.
Portfolio: withtwoees.com
Cards: bsandrs.com
Anthony is a copywriter in Birmingham, AL. He’s incorporated as Battery Ads, and his site is part personal portfolio, part one-man shop. Which brings up an interesting question, especially relevant to 2012. As a freelance creative, at what point do you make the switch from individual writer to small biz? And to what degree?
Portfolio: batteryads.com
Mark is a copywriter/ACD in NYC. There’s a killer variety of work on his site for clients ranging from Corona to Mitsubishi to Washington Mutual. But don’t leave without checking out his Personal section. Mark’s also a talented singer/songwriter, voiceover guy and photographer. His blog, Fucked Umbrellas, features pics of broken umbrellas abandoned on the streets of NYC along with captions of what each umbrella’s owner might have been thinking. In Haiku.
Portfolio: markradcliffe.com
Bob is a copywriter/CD in Boulder and a fellow Duck (go Ducks!). In his Outdoor section, he has a campaign for the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame that features “the longest copy outdoor ads in American advertising.” About 10,500 words each. That’s what we like to see on MC. Only one complaint. Wish we could zoom in to read all of those beautiful words.
Portfolio: bobrickert.com
Jeff is a copywriter at 22squared in Tampa. He’s got a ton of Buffalo Wild Wings work in his book, including a print campaign for their 18 signature sauces. Which got MC to thinking, how has MC never been to a Buffalo Wild Wings? Hello, New Year’s Resolution #1. Nice to meet you.
Portfolio: jeffpospichal.com
John is a student copywriter at Creative Circus who’s about to graduate. (Got a theme going this week.) You have to like a creative who is both confident and self-depricating. Someone who can dress it up and laugh in the mirror. And judging from John’s site (check out his “About I” link), he does both. Look out advertising, here comes John Ennis.
Portfolio: cargocollective.com/myadshere
Christian is a 22-year-old student copywriter who’s graduating from Miami Ad School Europe at the end of December. His site’s called The Banner Theory, and it’s crazy on the eyes. Like Netscape Navigator circa 1995. Hilarious.
Portfolio: thebannertheory.com
MC is two years old this month. To celebrate, I’m doing something I’ve never done before. I’m posting my own site. Which is both exciting and terrifying. To everyone who’s sent a link to MC over the past two years, the CWs, friends of CWs, schools, students, CDs, ADs, spouses, and that one Mom, thank you. It’s been a blast. Let’s keep it going.
Portfolio: jasonsiciliano.com
Max is a copywriter at WAX in Calgary. Yes, it rhymes. What do you do when you’re handed a brief for boring insurance? If you’re Max, you make a boring campaign (above). Great line, from Max’s Calgary International Film Festival campaign: “Film Festival? I think my wife already donates to them.”
Portfolio: iammaxmay.com
Matt is a freelance copywriter in Los Angeles. His link was sent in by friend of MC, Karyn Campbell (at IdeaLists). The work on his site made me shoot coffee out my nose.
Portfolio: cargocollective.com/mattheath
Erin is a copywriter at The Richards Group in Dallas. She graduated from Portfolio Center in 2010, so her site has both of student and produced work—16 campaigns in all. So cool to see what someone did in school, and then what they do as soon as they land. Such an awesome time in the CW journey.
Portfolio: mypencilhasapoint.com
Mark is a copywriter/CD in NYC. All kinds of awesome work on his site, including a mini-campaign within the MasterCard Priceless campaign about a boy and his Zamboni. And check out kissinglink.com for Dentyne. Who have the people you’ve kissed kissed?
Portfolio: markborcherding.org
Ladies and gentlemen, MC is honored to present the portfolio sites of the Fall 2011 Creative Circus graduating copywriters (in alphabetical order):
Peter Berta – peterwberta.com
Amanda Caldari – cargocollective.com/amandacaldari
Rachel Carlson – rachelmcarlson.com
Megan Cohen – cargocollective.com/megancohen
Marco Diaddezio – marcopywriter.com
Skyler Dobin – skylerdobin.com
Jason Donaldson – thisreadsright.com
Sarah Gatling – sarahgatling.com
Peter Harris – peterharriscw.com
Shannon Hollsten – shannonhollsten.com
Chip Kelly – yochipper.com
Nick Larson – nicklarsonwriter.com
Matt League – mattleague.com
Amy Lieberthal – amylieberthal.com
David Ma – david-ma.com
Kristen McManus – kristen-mcmanus.com
Simmi Nikki Patel – nikkispatel.com
Bryce Post – brycepost.com
Sara Steinberg – sarawithnoh.com
Cameron Van Der Veer – cameronvanderveer.com
Nikki’s anti-facial hair campaign for Gillette cracks up MC. So does her disclaimer above it: “This campaign does not represent the beliefs or ideals of Nikki S. Patel. Any potential employers that have facial hair should not trash her resumé on account of being insulted. We are sure Nikki S. Patel thinks facial hair looks extremely manly and rugged on you, kind sir/ma’am).” Smart move. Especially if she’s eyeing a shop in Boulder or Minneapolis.
Portfolio: nikkispatel.com
I remember seeing David’s GRADMEN idea somewhere (created with fellow Circus grads Deanna Director and Mike Quattrocchi), and thinking it was genius. Doesn’t matter if they got Don Draper to speak at their graduation ceremony or not. They got to spend time with 50 working CDs at agencies most CWs would love to land in right out of school. Winner.
Portfolio: david-ma.com
Lots of student books include entrepreneurial ideas these days, which is awesome. What makes Chip’s extra awesome is the number if those ideas he’s gone and executed. You get the feeling he’s one of those creatives who just likes to makes stuff. Those are good creatives to have at your agency.
Portfolio: yochipper.com
MC had the opportunity to meet Sara, along with fellow Circus grads Shannon Hollsten and Kristina Spaid, when they were in the Bay Area recently doing agency tours/interviews. Can’t say enough good things about the three of them. Can’t say enough good things about Circus, and how fast they are to respond to opportunities for their students. Tip o’ the hat to Kim Kurtz, Director of Career Services.
Portfolio: sarawithnoh.com
Tom is a copywriter/ECD at Brand Content in Boston. You know what’s great about portfolio sites? Versus the old portfolio portfolios? The archive section. If they love it, it’s like extra credit. If they don’t love it, it’s like, so what? It’s the archive section. (Plus, for writers, it means being able to include your fave headlines on one-shots, spec ads, oldies, and so-so art directed pieces.) Be sure to check out Tom’s archive section. Some awesome work in there. Glad we got a chance to see it.
Portfolio: tomkellycopywriter.com
Lee is a copywriter at Colle+McVoy in Minneapolis. His site is titled “THINGS I WRITE:” and his work is organized in categories that finish the sentence – “on bus shelters” and “on jumbotrons” and “for osteoarthritic canines.” Makes you want to click on all of them, just to see what’s what. Fun.
Portfolio: thingsiwrite.com
Ladies and gentlemen, MC proudly presents the portfolio sites of the Chicago Portfolio School 2011 Fall copywriter grads (in alphabetical order):
Eamon Conway – eamonconway.com
Chris Davis – chrisdaviscw.com
Ben Klassman – benklassman.com
Mike McCarthy – mikemccarthyads.com
Lisa Norris – lisajnorris.com
Tim Ottolin – cargocollective.com/timottolin
Natalie Pavalko – nataliepavalko.com
Lauren Phillips – laurennphillips.com
Andrew Shaffer – andrewcopywriter.com
Steve Stenholt – cargocollective.com/stevestenholt
Jake Thompson – bookofjake.com
Big thanks to CPS grad Steve Stenholt for helping put together Chicago Portfolio School Week on MC. Steve’s off to Ogilvy NYC in a week after being named a finalist in the Big Ad Gig Competition, and landing a freelance contract. Sweet. Go get ’em, Mr. Stenholt.
Portfolio: cargocollective.com/stevestenholt
Here’s a new one. How about a campaign for Toys-R-Us, targeting divorced/joint custody Dads, appealing to the fact that spoiling their kids might get them more face time? MC is still laughing.
Portfolio: benklassman.com