Susie is a copywriter/CD in Chicago. She spent 17 years at DDB, during which she took a four year detour from copywriting and was their Director of Creative Recruiting (2007-2011). Now she’s back (freelance) and ready to write.
Portfolio: susiesteinberg.com
Ladies and gentlemen, MC proudly presents the portfolio sites of 17 Chicago Portfolio School 2013 copywriter grads (in alphabetical order):
Amy Bauer – amybauer.com
Brittany Hughes – britthughes.com
Chelsea Berger – chelseaberger.com
Garrett Vernon – garrettvernon.com
Hassan S. Ali – cargocollective.com/hassansali
Jackie Suerth – jackiesuerth.com
Jennifer Smith – jenmadeabook.com
John Olson – sonofol.com
Julia Weeman – juliaweeman.com
Kat Ponting – katponting.com
Kelsey Alfredson – cargocollective.com/KelseyAlfredson
Lauren Fodero – laurenfodero.com
Leighanne Steckbeck – leighanimal.com
Matt Bush - stoutredbeard.com
Michelle Grano – michellegrano.com
Pat Whalen – patwhalen.com
Tom Katers - tomkaters.com
From Leighanne’s What’s A Leighanimal? page, under the heading What I Learned At Portfolio School: “Big ideas are king. Which means puns are either peasants or serfs. How to explain to outsiders that copywriting has nothing to do with being a lawyer. The stranger your idea the better; your partner is always there to reel you back in. Or to tell you to stop talking. I can’t help but play devil’s advocate while brainstorming, which is a blessing but often feels like a curse. Celebrity endorsed ads are mostly crap (with the exception of Nicolas Cage).” Amen.
Portfolio: leighanimal.com
Sometimes you see a big-ass banner in some kid’s portfolio and you’re just like, “Yes. I want to see you knock that sucker down, cable channel for men in their 20s. Hells yeah.” And there’s no reason to be embarrassed about that. Because who wouldn’t?
Portfolio: sonofol.com
CPS Week 2013 kicks off with Ms. Amy Bauer. MC digs: destroyed Barbie® for roller derby, Parker Pens “Your hair shines like those halogen lights that some cars have” (funny), French’s mustard foul pole line, and Roomba Zamboni. Good times.
Portfolio: amybauer.com
Aaron is a copywriter at Draftfcb in Chicago. His portfolio is half produced work, half student, all fun. Check out Motorola (above) and American Greetings for Draft, and Winnebago and Nair from his U of Texas days. Also, don’t miss his write-up, “Boys, indeed.” Dig it.
Portfolio: menwillbeboys.me
Cole is a copywriter at Plan B in Chicago. His portfolio site is all words. (Brilliant.) Instead of thumbnails, you nav through big words. MC loves that. MC is totally geeking out on that, but it’s ok because that’s what CWs do with words. Big ups, Cole.
Portfolio: coleorloff.com
G. Andrew is a copywriter/EVP/ECD at Leo Burnett Chicago. As you can probably guess by the title, his site is loaded with killer work—for clients like Altoids, Corona, Samsung, and Starbucks. His stuff for Altoids could be a dynamite portfolio all by itself. Love it love it love it.
Portfolio: gandrewmeyer.com
Anne is a writer/ACD in Chicago. Her site features a ton of big, national brands for agencies like Leo Burnett and Y&R. Fun to see what she’s done with them. For example, the above bumper cars spot for Always. In which the ride is a giant, um, and the bumper cars represent, uh …
Portfolio: krop.com/ahagerty
Mike is a VP/ACD/Copywriter at Leo Burnett Chicago. He’s got a redesigned site for a portfolio so good it’s scary. (Sorry. Halloween. It’s allowed.) The writing is flat-out amazing. MC recommends clicking through Categories: Print. Or, just go for it and click Categories: All Work. So much awesomeness.
Portfolio: mikeward-creative.com
Cassidy is a copywriter/ACD at Tris3ct in Chicago. (Portfolio submitted by friend of MC Alan McCoy, big ups.) Super clean presentation of her work, and such a writer-ish way to present it. All words: category columns, campaign groupings, individual titles. Did I mention super clean? Maybe that’s because Cassidy is not only a writer, but has been doing a lot of work recently for toilet tissues? (Sorry. Had to.)
Portfolio: cassidyfletcher.info
Craig Likhite, Vice President/Creative Manager at CK Chicago, is looking for a mid-level copywriter to work on Corona, Panera, Hilton, Cedar Fair, Porsche, and other (awesome) accounts. From Craig: “CK is looking for a mid-level copywriter. What’s a mid-level copywriter? You’ve done some things. You’d like to do more things. Some of your things are good. You’d like your next ones to be great. You’ve worked on this and that. You’re looking to work on this, that and the other. TV. Radio. Digital. Whatever. The more curious, the better. Oh, and mid-level copywriters can’t be assholes. They have to be seniors to be assholes.” Amen. If you’re interested, contact Craig directly at the address below.
Email Craig: CLikhite@c-k.com
Bryan is a copywriter/ACD at Leo Burnett Chicago. Since his last post on MC (Dec 2009, one of MC’s first), he’s got a shiny new Cargo site and all kinds of killer new work. Love it. Definitely time for an Update.
Portfolio: cargocollective.com/bryankarr
Tyler is a senior writer at JacobsonRost in Chicago. First campaign on his site, for Mercury Marine Edge, is a real deal long copy print campaign. (They still make ‘em!) Add a QR code in the lower right corner and you just made an interactive long copy print campaign. New old school. How’s about that?
Portfolio: tylerbkirk.com
Ann is a copywriter/ACD at Euro RSCG in Chicago. The title of her site is “Fearless Copywriter in a Twisted World.” MC likes that. It is a twisted world. And CWs do have to be fearless when it’s time to put the words down on the paper. Or type the pixels onto the screen. Or present the stuff to the room. Or click open the email with the subject line “RND 1 FEEDBACK” with the red “!” next to it.
Portfolio: anntitus.com
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
John and Ben Doessel, cousins, are new copywriters interning and freelancing their way into the biz. John reached out to MC with the idea of featuring both cousins in one post. How could MC refuse?
John’s Portfolio: johndoessel.com
Ben’s Portfolio: copycola.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
Caroline is a senior copywriter at Digitas in Chicago. Don’t miss: Starburst. So true: the asterisk* on her Post adult cereals campaign. “Try talking about the natural advantage of fiber without having it sound like poop.” Word.
Portfolio: imcaroline.com
Caroline is a digitally-inclined copywriter/designer at Denuo in Chicago. It could be an old-school thing, but whenever MC sees a portfolio that lists someone as a writer/designer, we hold our breath. Caroline is the real deal though. Plus, she’s got the digital thing. Can someone say “extremely marketable in the current industry environment”? MC can.
Portfolio: caroline-chen.com
Matt is six months into his first copywriting gig, at Draftfcb Chicago. Check out the Q&A on his resumé page. Then check out the song he played for his Chicago Portfolio School graduation (in Just For Fun). Good stuff.
Portfolio: mattycohen.com
James is a new copywriter at Ogilvy & Mather Chicago, after recently graduating from Chicago Portfolio School. MC loves to see what got who hired where. So, what did the honchos at O&M dig in Mr. Kinney’s book? We’re guessing his tagline/campaign for 9Lives, to start. “Live like it’s your 8th.” Yes.
Portfolio: jmkcreative.com
Dan is a senior copywriter at Leo Burnett Chicago. If you ever want to know anything about Kellogg’s Raisin Bran Crunch, Dan is your guy. Check out his print campaign for Econo Lodge. One of the best things a writer can do for a brand is help it be honestly self-depricating. Nice.
Portfolio: danlewis-copywriter.com
Kathleen is a copywriter/ACD at DDB Chicago. Someday, MC is going to move to Chicago just to see what a real TV commercial budget feels like. We’re guessing pretty nice. Great to see some Chicago sites starting to come MC’s way.
Portfolio: kathleentax.com
Chris is a senior copywriter at FAME, and splits time between Minneapolis and Chicago. Don’t misses: FAME Liquor Lounge, Crowdsourcing My Condo (awesome) and Groupon (love it).
Portfolio: thechrisyocum.com
