Brian is a senior copywriter at Cactus in Denver. His campaign “Thank a Vaccine,” which he did at Sukle before joining Cactus, got into AdAge, CA, and Graphis (nice). Bunch of other fun stuff on his site, too. This month, Brian is also teaching a “Writing for Tone” class at Denver Ad School. Dig it.
Portfolio: briandenison.com
Chris is a freelance writer/CD in Austin, previously at McGarrah Jessee on YETI, Shiner, GameStop and Deep Eddy Vodka. Be sure to check out his first project for Deep Eddy, “V.O.D.K.A. Conference.” As in, “Virtually Optimized Developmental Knowledge Assembly.” Not a real conference, but it should be!
Portfolio: chrisbarnardcreative.com
Shea is a copywriter/creative director at Cactus in Denver. Since his last post on MC (back on 02.04.19), he’s been busy—including making the jump to CD at Cactus. Lots of new work up on his site for Colorado Lottery (ton of fun spots), Odell Brewing, 7-Eleven, and Camp Colorado. Definitely time for an update.
Portfolio: sheatullos.com
Chris is a copywriter/CD at TM in Dallas. All kinds of fun projects up and down his site. Don’t miss his Pizza Hut social posts, which are as hilarious as pizza is delicious. (What a killer assignment as a writer, sheesh.) Also check out his “I’ve Only Got 5 Minutes” page, which is a great idea—and probably something more creatives, especially those with tons of projects on their site, should consider. Dig it.
Portfolio: shaferco.com
Andrew is an ACD/copywriter at McCann in NYC. The work in his portfolio is killer—but it’s the format of his book that puts it over the top. Andrew has created #BAÑOBOOK: “the first Instagram-based copywriting portfolio designed to fight dwindling site visits by focusing on ‘toilet-top’ rather than ‘desktop’ views.” Instead of describing it further, MC encourages all to have a seat, take a load off, and enjoy.
Portfolio (best viewed on mobile): @andrewhajjardotcom
Robbie is a copywriter/ACD at Saatchi & Saatchi NYC. So much awesomeness all over his portfolio. Don’t miss his first project “Marshmallows Only” for Lucky Charms (hello, dream project). Also, Hipster or Horse, because laughing. Also his About Me bio writeup, which is just about perfect. Love it all.
Portfolio: robbieizar.com
Sam is a new copywriter at RPM (an agency that specializes in marketing for Broadway, so cool) in NYC and a recent graduate of The University of Texas at Austin. All kinds of fun stuff on his site, from campaigns for Reynolds Wrap (above) and Pill Pack, to a book “Where Good Apples Go Bad” for Angry Orchard Cider, to his killer IG feed. Dig it.
Portfolio: samuelhoffman.net
Shea is a senior copywriter at Cactus in Denver. Since his last post on MC (back on 02.05.16, almost exactly three years ago), he’s been busy—and making the most of the cool opportunities he’s getting at Cactus. Lots of new Colorado Lottery TV work and the commercial debut of KC’s Patrick Mahomes (who should have been in yesterday’s Super Bowl, ahem) for CommunityAmerica Credit Union. Definitely time for an update.
Portfolio: sheatullos.com
Nothing MC loves more than posting killer graduating student portfolios. (Got to stay up on what the kids are getting into these days, you know.) MC had the honor of hosting both VCU Brandcenter and the University of Texas at Austin graduating classes in 2018, and both were fantastic.
For VCU Brandcenter Week, click here
For University of Texas at Austin Week, click here
Sherlock is a junior art director/brand detective in Los Angeles and a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. Her book is divided into Work (ad projects) and Design, so be sure to check out both. Super fun vibe across all of Shelock’s projects. Looking forward to seeing what she does next!
Portfolio: sherlockchang.com
Big ups to Katie Samuelson and the one and only Chad Rea, amazing Austin writer/CD (and good friend to MC), who helped MC put together University of Texas at Austin Week. So many amazing creatives get their start at UT, one of the few traditional universities with a legit advertising program (along with VCU and Oregon). Can’t wait to see where this year’s grads land!
Copywriters
Brennen Cooke: brennencooke.com
Carolyn Hinojosa: carlynhinojosa.myportfolio.com
Charlotte Lichtenheld: charlottelichtenheld.com/work
Joy Kim: joykim.work
Kaie Samuelson: katiesamuelsen.com
Lexi Acevedo: alexisacevedo.squarespace.com
Marisa Valente: marisavalente.com
Art Directors
Angela Dai: angeladai.com
Bolero Munkhbold: boloramunkhbold.com
Chelsea Tijerina: chelseasheadspace.com
Drew Butler: drewbcreative.com
Jake Leber: jakeleber.myportfolio.com
Madeline Cuba: madelinecuba.com
Madii Poirot: madelinepoirot.com
Charlotte is a new copywriter and a recent grad of the University of Texas at Austin’s Texas Creative program. The first two campaigns in her portfolio (at the time of this post) are exactly what you want from a student book: a stupid simple strategic hook and outrageous execution. “Families That Murder Together, Stay Together” for Clue, and “Premium Nip for Premium Pets” for Yeowww! Catnip. Ridiculous.
Portfolio: charlottelichtenheld.com
Angela is a new art director and a recent graduate of the University of Texas at Austin’s Texas Creative program. Sometimes you click through a portfolio and you can just tell—this person had so much fun making this creative. Amazing energy in all of Angela’s work. Be sure to check out her Illustration and Future pages. Awesome.
Portfolio: angeladai.com
Chelsea is a new art director/designer and a recent grad of the University of Texas at Austin Texas Creative program. Her site’s URL is “Chelsea’s Headspace” and that’s exactly what you get—to see in her head, with brilliant campaign ideas for brands like A Pea In The Pod, BBC, Arizona Tourism, Rosetta Stone, and Twitch, in addition to other pages (click “Art”) of super smart design, sketches & illustration, and 3-D design. Love it.
Portfolio: chelseasheadspace.com
Brennen is a new copywriter and a recent graduate of the University of Texas at Austin’s Texas Creative program. Bunch of super smart campaigns in his book for Yoplait GoGurt (hilarious), Yahoo!, Aeropress (above), and others. Don’t miss his Grammarly project—which the Internet desperately needs.
Portfolio: brennencooke.com
Leonard is a copywriter at Sanders/Wingo in Austin. So many hilarious videos in his portfolio, including “Actually Doing Something” for Volunteer March (above). Almost painful it’s 2018 truthiness. Fun dialogue all over his site, which isn’t always the easiest to pull off in Adland. Dig it.
Portfolio: leonardrader.com
Joy is a copywriter in Austin, previously at Sanders/Wingo. The first two pages on her site are for Stubbs Bar-B-Q Sauce and include a huge variety of projects, from an Alexa integration with the voice of Stubbs Bar-B-Q Sauce’s founder to the vintage vending machine (above). Delish.
Portfolio: joybarnett.com
Carter is a copywriter/director/CD at Sanders/Wingo in Austin. At the time of this post, he’s got 14 killer projects up on his site for clients like DirecTV, Bud Light, Burger King, State Farm, Intel, and AT&T (above). Don’t miss his Passion Projects page, which include a couple of unbelievable agency holiday cards. So true they’re terrifying.
Portfolio: carterpagel.com
Chase is a copywriter at Firehouse in Dallas. Bunch of killer projects up on his site for clients like Interstate Batteries (OMG the van), National Cheerleaders Association, and Nothing Bundt Cakes. But what’s featured above is not on his site. It’s a video cover letter Chase made back in the day to try to land a gig at Wieden on Sprite. It’s a rap video, which, I know, if you’re like MC you’re like “Oh no,” but oh yes. It’s really good. And it’s all Chase. Tip o’ the Hat, sir.
Portfolio: chasezreet.com
Randy is a freelance art director/CD in Minneapolis. All kinds of killer projects on his site from his time at Carmichael Lynch, Martin Williams, and freelancing all over. Of course, this being MC, especially love his use of type and how he brings words to life. Dig it.
Portfolio: pilot-adv.com
Regan (copywriter/CD) and Jason (art director/CD) are a freelance team in Los Angeles. All kinds of great projects up and down their joint site, including work for Allstate, Hefty, Hornitos, and a hilarious campaign for Neato Robotics (above). Dig it.
Portfolio: tisserkline.com
David is a freelance copywriter/ACD/stand-up comedian in San Francisco. Since his last post on MC (11.06.13), David has focused on comedy and comedy projects—and his site totally reflects that. Which is both awesome and once again proves MC’s theory that drummers, surfers and comedians make great copywriters. Killer projects up and down his site, but don’t miss his first link, Stand-Up Comedy. So funny.
Portfolio: seriousboyfriend.com
Reagan is a senior copywriter/ACD in New York. So many killer projects on her site. Peyton Manning for DIRECTV, “Never Again” for PIXMA, Nexcare Nana vs. Car Wash, and the one and only MC Hammer for Command Hooks (above). Dig it!
Portfolio: cargocollective.com/reaganwrites
Mike is a copywriter at VML in NYC where he helped create the above Moto Dojo campaign highlighting Motorola’s Moto Action. There are times when every copywriter gets lost in the grind of penning 500 tags for some new product that doesn’t really need a tag and questions, “Why? Is this really a job? Is what I do worthy of my short time on this planet?” Then comes along a project like Mike’s Moto Dojo and it all goes out the window. Of course this isn’t a real job. Look at what we do. And yet, somehow, they pay us. Shhh.
Portfolio: mikebreighner.com
Shea is a copywriter at Cactus in Denver. MC was laughing all the way through his portfolio, from the testimonials on the home page, to his Extracurriculars projects (would really like to hear some of those Hot Tubbin’ voicemails), to his References focus group. So funny.
Portfolio: sheatullos.com
Jeff is a senior copywriter at Sanders\Wingo in Austin. (His site was submitted to MC by Alan McCoy, big ups!) Lots of cool projects in his portfolio for brands like Republic Tequila (above), AT&T (featuring Paul George), and Run For The Water—a charity run in Austin that gives one person in Burundi, Africa clean drinking water for life for each entry. Good times.
Portfolio: cargocollective.com/seejeffwrite
Derek is a copywriter at McGarrah Jessee in Austin. All kinds of great work on his site (Indexhibit), including tons of quirky awesomeness for Shiner beer, plus YETI, Guitar Center, and Merrick dog food. Don’t miss “Jump” for Merrick. Could watch that all day.
Portfolio: ilikederek.com
Ladies and gentlemen, MC is honored to present the portfolio sites of 13 2015 University of Texas at Austin graduating copywriters (in alphabetical order):
Mary Adams Bode – maryadamsbode.com
Warner Boin – warnerboin.com
Hayden Butler – haydenroybutler.com
Allison Burzlaff – allisonburzlaff.com
Jason Cahill – jxlc.co
Rachel Dawer – racheldawer.com
Colleen Hoofard – colleenhoofard.com
Lauren Lakin – laurenlakin.com
Cynthia Osborn – cargocollective.com/
Kait Pennybacker – kaitpennybacker.com
Lacey Rouse – laceyrouse.com
Hannah Sanderson – hannahsanderson.com
Lulu Wimberly – luluwimberly.com
Lots of smart work in Hannah’s portfolio, including projects for Swingline Paper Shredders (above), Dramamine Kids, Lumen, Fix-A-Flat, and Merry Maids. Who hasn’t needed an anonymous Merry Maids postcard for a friend with an especially disgusting bathroom? The world needs this campaign.
Portfolio: hannahsanderson.com
Campaigns for pest control aren’t uncommon in student portfolios, but to MC’s knowledge Hayden’s for Combat is the first to feature a full newspaper obituary page of roaches. So fun to write, geez. He’s also got cool projects for Monoprice, Jambox, Happy Socks, and Black Rock Charters. Good stuff.
Portfolio: haydenroybutler.com