Cameron Day

It’s hard not to notice Cameron Day. He’s 6’5” and wearing an orange (but not quite Longhorn Burnt Orange) shirt. He came up from Austin, where he’s McGarrah/Jessee’s Executive Creative Director, to spend two days speaking to and meeting with Portfolio Center students.

Cameron wasn’t lacking for stories and advice in his presentation. It’s obvious he had an early passion for advertising, being the son of Guy Day, founder of Chiat/Day Advertising. But, besides a few pieces of wisdom from his father (like being approachable to a client, but never their friend), Cameron has plenty advice to give based on his own career.

Cameron spent time at larger agencies, including Saatchi & Saatchi, BBDO Detroit, and GSD&M, working on the Diesel, Chrysler, and Land Rover accounts. Now he heads up the creative department at a 40-person shop in Texas, with many Texas-based clients. And he loves it. Because, he maintains, McGarrah/Jessee doesn’t do any bad work.

And the key to this, he says, is finding the truth in the brand. Each brand has its own message. If you honor the product, you’ll find the truth within it. And this means getting to know the brand as well as you can. While working on a radio spot for Central Market, an Austin-based grocer, Cameron went into the store and wrote down all the bizarre beer names for a spot focusing on that department. Employees saw what he was doing, and talked to him about it. Getting to know the product on all levels helped him write a memorable spot.

At larger agencies, Cameron found success by focusing solely on the work. He admits he worked at places where he felt like he didn’t fit in. He warned not to let politics take your attention away from the work. He said you should kill yourself to do something great, because it’s something you’ll always have in your book. But to realize there’s a trade-off and don’t forget the importance of a balanced life. Cameron admits he needs a fair amount of sleep to function, and he likes having a life outside of work. He does his best to make sure his employees keep a balance, too, even telling one art director he was putting in too many hours at work.

He maintains he got the best assignments at the large agencies by not giving up when his first idea was rejected, like many of his colleagues did. By not letting an ego get in the way or believing it’s the best you can do.

While at GSD&M, Cameron heard the Rolling Stone account, which he wasn’t working on, was in trouble. He had the idea of using recognized photo portraits already used in the magazine, and putting them with song lyrics of different artists, which gave both new meanings. The result was a campaign with lots of legs that impressed Rolling Stone so much the editor insisted Cameron be made Creative Director of the account. He was CD of both Rolling Stone and Land Rover, but GSD&M resigned the account before the work ran.

Another example of persistence at keeping an idea alive was when Cameron worked on the Chrysler account. Chrysler was coming out with its first car that went 150mph, a fact he wanted to use in the headline. But Chrysler’s legal department killed the line. So, Cameron spoke directly to legal to see what needed to be done to keep the line. With a change to the body copy, both parties were happy.

Like most creatives, Cameron Day has intense passion for his work. What was striking was the determination he had to keep fighting–finding unusual paths to produce something he believed in. He recommends young creatives start someplace small, work for someone you respect, and really focus on improving your craft as a writer or art director. And to work hard for the best work, but to be conscious of what you’re giving up to get it. Do your homework with clients to partner with them and help them solve problems. And finally, if you have to work long hours, come in early rather than work late. Because “when you come in early you feel ahead, but when you stay late you tend to feel behind.”