The 2008 Art Directors Club National Student Portfolio Review was held on the 5th and 6th in New York City. 200 of the most promising graduates were selected from the most respected advertising and design schools in the country, and we, of course, are one.

For two full days, seasoned professionals came from coast-to-coast—representatives from packaging firms, corporate ID firms, publication corporations, magazines, environmental firms, advertising agencies, design firms, interactive firms, retail firms, and world wide global branding firms, along with all sorts of other media and communications firms: Cliff Freeman, Goodby Silverstein, Modernista, Martha Stewart, the New York Times, Taxi, …more

What do companies like Ogilvy & Mather, Martha Stewart, The New York Times, Microsoft, McCann, Jackson Fish Market, Carbone Smolan, Frog Design, Blue Marlin, BBDO, Landor, RGA, Avenue Razorfish, AKQA, Interbrand, and Nike all have in common? Five, ten, fifteen years of some of the fabulous alumni below, who have come out in full force over the last two days to support Portfolio Center students while they are in NYC showing their work. Some amazing people and alumni—all leaders in their firms—once again proving that the value of a Portfolio Center education is the tremendous future opportunities for doing great work …more

Data Blitzes are done every week at Portfolio Center, and we just had one of the craziest ones ever. These are little chunks of media that students showcase during the weekly seminar, so they might get to know each other a little bit better or discover something about their peers that they never knew. The performances are a lot of fun, and over time we’ve had some amazing ones, but WOW—oh WOW—this one was pretty wild: it was the story of two roommates…the challenges of getting along, and a lesson about how PC classmates often turn into valuable, lifelong friends.

“Hey! Carnase here,” the voice in the telephone said.

“Be right down, Tom,” my hurried reply.

And that was the beginning of the re-invention of an acquaintance, friendship, and inspiration with a true design hero that had misplaced itself for several years— my friend, Tom Carnase.

It is a reunion that would last for several hours on this evening.

Tom is not a hero simply because of the work he has done but because of the humanity he is, a side that most don’t know… the personal ethos he is, is one we might all wish …more

Eva Cassidy, the late eclectic-to-unpegged singer, was not properly celebrated in her lifetime, but that didn’t stop her from creating exquisite music (which is finally getting recognition)… I am reminded of a comment she made just four months before her brave death… “You reach people because you love it, not to please someone else.” She devoted her time to perfecting her art and leaving her mark.

When I see their spirit—the talent, the thinking—it’s clear how much our student body loves their work and how their attitude defines this quarter’s new WALL and all the work put into last quarter—what a …more

American humorist Evan Esar said, “A signature always reveals a man’s character - and sometimes even his name.”

This morning in the New York Times, Steve Heller interviews Brian Collins on the meaning of a signature in the supreme game of politics as they opine the value of typography in that arena. Brian takes time out to respond to him while in the middle of building his new design firm Collins offering up some poignant viewpoints on how effective visual communication can raise the meaningfulness of the messages through design. Thought you might enjoy reading about it …more

Today I attended one of the Atlanta Ad Club luncheons, this one at the Fish Market in Buckhead. Despite the fact that I can always think of a million reasons not to drop everything I’m doing in the middle of the workday in order to attend, as always I was glad I talked myself into it. I urge everyone to go next time you have the opportunity. The speakers are inspiring and the food isn’t bad either. Special shout-outs to David Cohen for doing such a fine job with the program planning this year. Club president Patrick Scullin has given …more

It seems appropriate to borrow from the imagination of long-time Dallas coach Tom Landry, since we’re visiting in Texas, “Leadership is getting someone to do what they don’t want to do, to achieve what they want to achieve.” Molly unquestionably has this magic.

When you smile this much, you’ve a rainbow in your heart. Having dinner last night at Molina’s Mexican restaurant in Houston with my granddaughter Molly… Liz, Brian, Nancy, Jack, Nora, and myself, I was reminded how even at this young age, Molly’s beautiful spirit is that rainbow every minute. How lucky we are she shares her colors.

Here …more

‘New Place! New people! New Ways!’ and a bit about Internships. Some of the things that make a difference in an education come to mind, maybe in part because I just received a letter over this past week from Portfolio Center student Anna Shypailo as she prepares to return to Atlanta and refocus on her education after spending 3 months as an intern with Abercrombie & Fitch.

The March snows at Abercrombie & Fitch in northern Ohio were as magical as the internship has been for Anna.

I suppose the incongruity that frames the wit for all of this is …more

Portfolio Center Advisory Board member and industry legend Luke Sullivan recently released the third edition of his classic, Hey Whipple, Squeeze This. A Guide to Creating Great Advertising. The book is available in stores and at Amazon.

Luke Sullivan is a Group Creative Head at GSD&M in Austin, Texas. Previously, he spent ten years at Minneapolis agency Fallon, five at The Martin Agency, and four as Chief Creative Officer of an agency in Atlanta. He began his career as an understudy of industry icon Tom McElligott and has over 20 medals to his credit in the One Show. His …more