May 9th, 2013
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
Posted in Chicago, Chicago Portfolio School | 1 Comment »
May 8th, 2013
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
Posted in Chicago, Chicago Portfolio School | No Comments »
May 7th, 2013
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
Posted in Chicago, Chicago Portfolio School | No Comments »
May 6th, 2013
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
Posted in Chicago, Chicago Portfolio School | No Comments »
February 14th, 2013
Alex is a copywriter in San Francisco. In an age of conceptual CWs, its such a pleasure to click through a writer’s site and find a bunch of fun headlines. Yahoo! Grudge Judge, Twisted Root, 7-Eleven Las Vegas Billboards, dig ‘em.
Portfolio: alexharv.com
Posted in Chicago Portfolio School, San Francisco, TracyLocke | No Comments »
October 25th, 2012
Ladies and gentlemen, MC presents the portfolio sites of nine Chicago Portfolio School October 2012 copywriter grads (in alphabetical order):
Alex Gavin - alextgavin.com
Bettina Kozlowski - cargocollective.com/bettinakozlowski
Courtney McCormack - courtneymccormack.com
David Drake – cargocollective.com/daviDDrakePortfolio
Eddie Rybarski - eddierybarski.squarespace.com
Jared Perkins - jaredperkins.com
Larry Scott - larry-scott.com
Molly Lartz – cargocollective.com/TheMolltron
Paul Thelen – paulthelen.org
Posted in Chicago Portfolio School | No Comments »
October 24th, 2012
Alex is a new copywriter and currently interning at AKQA in San Francisco. (Fun.) Which is a perfect fit, as all six of the campaigns on his site are heavy digital/social. MC also noticed that almost all have a good-for-the-world POV, which is good to see.
Portfolio: alextgavin.com
Posted in Chicago Portfolio School | No Comments »
October 23rd, 2012
MC’s said it before and we’ll say it again. Surfers, drummers and comedians make the best copywriters. David is a new copywriter fresh out of CPS and a stand-up comedian, and we’re talking real-deal. As in, named the “Best of the Midwest” by the Iowa Comedy Festival. What agency doesn’t need more funny?
Portfolio: cargocollective.com/daviDDrakePortfolio
Posted in Chicago Portfolio School | No Comments »
October 22nd, 2012
Molly is a new copywriter from CPS, freelance hairstylist, and she does some work for Bye Bye Liver: The Chicago Drinking Play. That’s like the three best jobs, all in one person. MC really, really wants to see that play.
Portfolio: cargocollective.com/TheMolltron
Posted in Chicago Portfolio School | 3 Comments »
June 1st, 2012
Ladies and gentlemen, MC presents the portfolio sites of eight Chicago Portfolio School 2012 Fall copywriter grads (in alphabetical order):
McCamie Cole - cargocollective.com/mccamiecole
Steve Horak - cargocollective.com/stevehorak
Eleanor Koh - eleanorkoh.com
Sara Kristen - sarakirsten.com
Laura Madary - cargocollective.com/lauramadary
Johnny Michael - cargocollective.com/johnnymichael
Mark Sandy - markpsandy.com
Will Sharpe - cargocollective.com/willsharpe
Posted in Chicago Portfolio School | No Comments »
May 31st, 2012
Even though MC is a huge fan of Cargo Collective, it’s nice to see someone try something different. Sara’s site is beautiful, and changes color like the bar at XYZ in the W San Francisco. Can’t … stop … looking … pretty … colors …
Portfolio: sarakirsten.com
Posted in Chicago Portfolio School | No Comments »
May 30th, 2012
You can do things in a student book that you can’t do in real life. That’s part of the fun of making them, and part of the fun of looking at them. Looks like Will had a lot of fun making his.
Portfolio: cargocollective.com/willsharpe
Posted in Chicago Portfolio School | No Comments »
May 29th, 2012
Big-ups to McCamie Cole for helping organize this year’s Chicago Portfolio School Week on MC. Much appreciated. You know, there’s nothing better than finding the perfect line for a campaign. Once that’s nailed, everything gets easier, from executing to selling. McCamie’s got a couple of gems in his book. “A thousand pictures for every word” for Flickr, and “Get out what you put into it” for Public Storage.
Portfolio: cargocollective.com/mccamiecole
Posted in Chicago Portfolio School | No Comments »
May 24th, 2012
Will is a copywriter/CD at Kirshenbaum in New York. So much killer work in his book, including a ton of stuff for BMW. His site is Cargo, and is broken out into six categories: Latest Work, Branded Content, Web, TV, Print/OOH, and Case Studies. Interesting, because you can view the work by media (old school) or by case study/campaign (new school) or just check out the latest. All in six links. Very cool.
Portfolio: bloodsweatideas.com
Posted in Chicago Portfolio School, Cramer-Krasselt, Kirshenbaum, Leo Burnett, New York, Y&R | No Comments »
April 16th, 2012
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
Posted in Chicago, Chicago Portfolio School, Euro RSCG, GSD&M, JacobsonRost | No Comments »
March 2nd, 2012
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
Posted in BBDO/Energy, Chicago, Chicago Portfolio School, Cramer-Krasselt, McCann | No Comments »
November 14th, 2011
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
Posted in Calgary, Chicago Portfolio School, WAX | No Comments »
October 14th, 2011
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
Posted in Chicago Portfolio School | No Comments »
October 13th, 2011
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
Posted in Chicago Portfolio School | No Comments »
October 12th, 2011
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
Posted in Chicago Portfolio School | 1 Comment »
October 11th, 2011
Check out Lisa’s campaign for Excedrin, celebrating famous holiday day-afters: May 6th, March 18th, July 5th. Great idea for a campaign. And the giant Wranglers billboard. And the Grain Belt reclining bar stool. Good stuff.
Portfolio: cargocollective.com/lisanorris
Posted in Chicago Portfolio School | No Comments »
October 10th, 2011
Hello, Chicago Portfolio School Week! MC’s first, and we’re psyched. Kicking it off with The Book of Jake. Can’t tell you how many times MC has heard some version of this: “How come they don’t make copywriters who can write headlines anymore?” To which MC responds, check out Jake’s book. Ton of headlines in there, and more than a few are awesome.
Portfolio: bookofjake.com
Posted in Chicago Portfolio School | No Comments »
August 31st, 2011
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
Posted in Chicago, Chicago Portfolio School, Draftfcb | No Comments »
August 5th, 2011
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
Posted in Chicago, Chicago Portfolio School, Ogilvy | No Comments »
May 23rd, 2011
Matt is a senior copywriter at Barkley in Kansas City. Bunch of fun work on his site, including Sonic Drive-in, Blue Bunny Ice Cream, Krispy Kreme, Mr. Coffee and plenty more. The caption above his Sonic TV spots simply says, “These commercials increased sales by 1000%. I’m sure of it.” How many times have I wanted to write that? Also, be sure to click on Bio for one of the most awesome family photos ever.
Portfolio: mattbowneexperiment.com
Posted in Barkley, Chicago Portfolio School, Kansas City | No Comments »
