Category Archives: Schools

Denver Ad School: Debut Pioneers

After 14 months, Denver Ad School’s “debut pioneers” portfolios are here! On Thursday, January 28, they’re hosting a virtual hangout where you can hear each graduate walk you through their favorite campaign and ask ’em questions. How cool is that? Cool. Links to portfolios and RSVP for the event are below.

Check out their portfolios here:

Hayley Lyons (copywriter): hayleyjlyons.com

Emily Devery (copywriter): emilydevery.com

Alisha Benda (copywriter): alishabenda.com

Gaby Strnad (art director): gabystrnad.com

Riley Draper (art director): rileydraper.com

Graciela Robertson (art director): graciela-png.com

Trisha Knope (art director): triciaknope.com

Sabrina Saccente (art director): sabrinasaccente.com

RSVP for January 18th here.

Denver Ad School site here.

Aida Chaney

Aida is a new copywriter and a Savannah College of Art & Design grad. All kinds of fun spec projects on her site for brands like Yankee Candle (above), Zoom, Barilla, Scott’s Turf Builder, Swatch, Arizona Tourism, Tile, and Converse. As always, so cool to see student books—before client feedback and production budgets start influencing things. Be sure to check out Aida’s Visual Journal under “Stuff that’s not ad” for a peek into her brain and thought process. Dig it. Can’t wait to see where she lands!

Portfolio: adiachaney.com

Chicago Portfolio School | Fall 2020 Grads

Sarah Latz, Director of Education at Chicago Portfolio School, checks in with seven new grads ready for prime time: Lucas Simes (art director), Winston Thompson (art director), Kimmy Mueller (designer), Rachel Tenuta (designer), Erin Ayalp (copywriter), Nicholas McGuire (copywriter), and Teddy Cohn (copywriter). Link to their portfolios below. Congrats to all!

Fall 2020 CPS Grad Portfolios: chicagoportfolio.com/debut

Austin Anglin

Austin is a new art director in Chicago and a former student at Chicago Portfolio School. His portfolio features spec campaigns for brands like Nike (above, cool get-out-the-vote idea), Payday, Field Notes, Audible, Post It, and Xfinity. Can’t wait to see where Austin lands!

Portfolio: austinanglin.com

Andrew Lepere

Andrew is a senior copywriter at Adrenaline Agency in Atlanta. Since his last post on MC way back on 07.20.16, just after graduating from Creative Circus, he’s been busy. His site features some cool work for Atlanta United (above) and UNIFY Credit Union, plus a spec script for Seinfeld that takes place during quarantine 2020. Time for an update!

Portfolio: andrewlepere.com

Kimmy Mueller

Kimmy is a new graphic designer in Chicago and a recent graduate of Chicago Portfolio School. Lots of really beautiful work on her site including rebrands for Walgreens and Oikos yogurt, a needed fix for an online Myers-Briggs personality test, work for Stoli (above), lettering and typography, logos, and more. Can’t wait to see where Kimmy lands!

Portfolio: kimmymueller.com

Jon Gruber

Jon is a copywriter at FCB in NYC. Since his last post on MC (back on 06.29.17) right after graduating from Miami Ad School, he’s been busy. Cool variety of projects on his site from Purex “How to Laundry” for dads to anti-smoking “70 vs. You” and “Kick(flip) the Habit” to Restaurant Talks for Lincoln Financial Group (above). Dig it.

Portfolio: jon-gruber.com

Creative Circus: September 2020 Grads

Big thanks to Aaron Marshall, new copywriter and recent Creative Circus grad, for giving MC a heads up that links to all September 2020 Creative Circus graduate portfolios are available now at the link below. Congrats to all of the grads—can’t wait to see where they land!

Creative Circus Grads: creativecircus.edu/talent-search

Justin Davidson

Justin is a copywriter in NYC, previously at ViacomCBS and Nickelodeon (before getting pandemic’ed), now on the hunt for his next thing. His site is full of work for/in partnership with Nickelodeon, including something called Toiler Paper Blasters which would have been an immediate MC purchase pre-pandemic, before TP became became the new money. His site also features a two-minute LEGO stop-motion video that he got to write for the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards. That’s not work. That’s just fun. Can’t wait to see where Justin lands next.

Portfolio: justinhenrydavidson.com

Matt Vitou

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Matt is a copywriter/ACD in San Francisco who has spent time at Droga5, 72andSunny, Saatchi NYC, W+K Shanghai, and most recently Lyft in-house (pre-pandemic). Since his last post on MC (way back on 05.08.11, when he was a baby copywriter), he’s been busy—and it shows. His portfolio is so good. It was nearly impossible for MC to pick which project to feature, Dos Equis “Keep It Interesante” or Samsung “Let’s Go To Work” or Nike or ESPN or … had to be Seventh Generation “Vajingle” with the one and only Maya Rudolph (above). OMG so good.

Portfolio: cargocollective.com/mattvitou

Benji Shaw

Benji is a senior copywriter who was recently furloughed from DDB NY and is on the hunt for his next big thing. Since his last post on MC (way back on 12.16.14), when he was fresh out of ad school, Benji has added all kinds of cool campaigns to his portfolio for brands like Jameson, Nespresso, VISA, Capital One, and Tostitos. Don’t miss his 7-Eleven project “53¢ FOR LIII” (above), for which he got to write a real-deal long copy ad that ran in the Boston Globe. For a copywriter, that’s victory.

Portfolio: benjishaw.com

Brendan Howard

Brendan is a copywriter at Fallon in NYC. As one would expect from a Fallon writer’s portfolio, there’s genius and hilarity all over his site, including projects for Cumberland Farms, Hotels.com, RITAS, and a handful of spec projects as well. But the grand prize goes to Brendan’s masterpiece: “Work From Home” set to the tune of “Let It Go” from Frozen, to benefit Broadway. It’s what the world needs now.

Portfolio: brendanthewriter.com

Tarik Atallah

Tarik is a new copywriter and a recent graduate of VCU Brandcenter. (Big congrats!) All kinds of fun work on his site for brands like MTV, Kodak, Depop, Vital Farms, and North Face. In Tarik’s “Not Ads” section, don’t miss “Surviving Winter” (created with AD Emily Adamson). Which absolutely needs to be a real thing.

Portfolio: tarik-atallah.com

Matt Moyer

Matt is a copywriter/creative director who splits time between New York and Los Angeles. So many great campaigns on his site, including a Super Bowl spot for Busch Beer, a Febreeze save-the-day project for the Parrish, Alabama Poop Train (have to see it to believe it), a Febreeze Super Bowl spot about a man whose bleep don’t stink, hilarity for Booking.com (above), plus tons more. Love it.

Portfolio: matthewmoyer.com

Emily Rhodes

Emily is a new copywriter and a recent graduate of VCU Brandcenter. (What a time to be graduating, sheesh.) All kinds of killer spec projects in her portfolio, including a super fun idea for Halo Top ice cream. Which is technically not ice cream, but is ice cream. Right? Right.

Portfolio: emilyrhodes.work

Robert Schneider

Robert is a copywriter/ACD formerly at Commonwealth/McCann in Detroit (pre-COVID-19). His portfolio was submitted to MC by Joel Austin, a fellow copywriter located in Dallas. (Big ups!) Huge variety of projects on his site for brands like Chevrolet, NAPA Auto Parts, Key Bank, International, University of Alabama, and more. Joel also recommends Robert’s “Quarantine Check-in Videos” where he interviews fellow comedians and creatives. (Link to video below.) Good times.

Portfolio: robertsbrains.com
Quarantine Check-in Episode #2: youtube.com/watch?v=iFgkPi3AJKI
Joel Austin’s portfolio: runthejoels.com

Shevek Anandan

Shevek is a copywriter at McCann in NYC. Since his last post on MC (back on 04.19.18), he’s added all kinds of new work to his portfolio including projects for Verizon, New York Lottery, Purell, and Soundcloud (above). His site features a “here’s the pudding” link that curates his portfolio into four bite-sized categories for recruiters short on time. Smart.

Portfolio: shevekanandan.com

Chicago Portfolio School Spring 2020 Grads

Big thanks to Sarah Latz, Director of Education at Chicago Portfolio School, for sending MC the latest CPS grads sites. So much great work! Below are links to all Spring 2020 grad portfolio sites, plus a note from Sarah.

From Sarah:

“Chicago Portfolio School has been offering a free class to undergraduate students who now have to finish their academic year from home. Jeff Epstein, the founder of Chicago Portfolio, leads the online class and discussion of more than 70 college students from around the country. Advertising professors from around the country helped spread word of the class, and students from all of the Big 10 campuses, and state schools like Florida, Oregon, Arizona, as well as smaller schools, are registered.

Recruiters from Leo Burnett, plus veteran copywriters, art directors and strategists have virtually visited to talk about how to get a job and create award-winning campaigns.

For now, the class is ongoing, and seniors (creative and non-creative majors) are still welcome to register for the online class. Additionally, the school’s allowing anyone to virtually “sit in” on a number of other classes they offer.

Reach out to Sarah at sarah@chicagoportfolio.com for more information.”

CPS Grads Week: Nick Archibald

Nick is a new copywriter and a new Chicago Portfolio School graduate. His Pizza Hut packaging redesign is what the world needs now. The best thing about ordering pizza tonight is having leftover pizza tomorrow. So why not include reheating instructions inside the box?

Portfolio: nickarchibald.com

CPS Grads Week: Julia Herrick

Julia is a new copywriter and a new graduate of Chicago Portfolio School. With her Rent the Runway Airbnb partnership project, “you can rent your vacation home and the wardrobe you need for the trip.” Um, yes please. Such a good idea.

Portfolio: juliaherrick.com

CPS Grads Week: Eric Hulting

Eric is a new copywriter and a new graduate of Chicago Portfolio School. The first project in his portfolio for Golden Road Brewing brings celebrities, stolen by Hollywood, back to their hometowns—with an apology and a gift. Craft beer. Apology accepted.

Portfolio: erichulting.com

CPS Grads Week: Solomiya Chuyko

Solomiya is a new copywriter and a new Chicago Portfolio School grad. (Big congrats!) The first project on her site is “Equal Payday,” using the classic Payday candy bar to promote equal pay for women. (Also seen in Hilary Stevens book.) Super smart. Also, candy bar. Win win.

Portfolio: solomiyachuyko.com

Casey Fielder

Casey is a junior art director on the hunt for his first gig after graduating from Creative Circus. His site was sent in by his friend Ricky Depugh who is a junior copywriter in Atlanta. How nice is that? So nice, MC is including links to both of their sites below. Some crazzeee spec campaigns on Casey’s site, including “The Savage Citrus” for Simply Grapefruit Juice (above). The video on his About Me page is pretty wild too. Can’t wait to see where he lands!

Casey Fielder’s portfolio: caseyfielderad.com

Ricky Depugh’s portfolio: ricky-depugh.com

Sara Muchnick & Katie Coward

Sara (copywriter) and Katie (art director) are a creative team at Pereira O’Dell in San Francisco. Since their last post on MC (back on 10.29.18), they’ve been busy. There’s new work on both of their sites (and different work on each), including a super cool project for Ese by Pearson (above). Time for an update!

Sara’s portfolio: saramuchnick.com

Katie’s portfolio: katiecoward.com

James Paul

James is a new copywriter in his first week at his first junior copywriter job at Moxie in Atlanta—after recently graduating from Creative Circus. How cool is that? Almost as cool as his portfolio, which includes projects for Timberland, WWE, Hamburger Helper, Apollo, Super 8, WNBA, and more. Love it. Can’t wait to see what James does at Moxie!

Portfolio: jamespaulcw.com

Deniz Makal

Deniz is a senior copywriter in Los Angeles. Before moving to L.A., he was a copywriter in Istanbul, Turkey—where he created the first project in his portfolio, Toys of Hope for UNICEF (above). Nothing better than seeing a fellow copywriter use their powers for good.

Portfolio: denizmakal.com

Gil Templeton

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Gil is a copywriter at The Variable in Winston-Salem, NC. Sometimes you click through a writer’s portfolio and you can just tell how much fun they had making it—and you can see how they made the most of the opportunities that came to them. That’s definitely case with Gil’s site, from Beer Hunting Season for Lowes Foods, to his writing for Oklahoma Joe’s Smokers, to his videos for Peanut Better (wow). Dig it.

Portfolio: lookwhatgildid.com

Nicolas Perez-Molina

Nicolas is a new copywriter in Miami, formerly at VMLY&R, now on the hunt for the next big thing. Don’t miss his “Just In Case Whopper” idea for Burger King (which may come in handy this year). Good times. Can’t wait to see where Nicolas lands!

Portfolio: nicolaspm.com

John Wrend

John is a copywriter/ACD who recently moved to Portland, formerly at mcgarrybowen in Chicago. His site features projects that you have to see to believe. “All I Really Want For Christmas” by Kool-Aid Man and Lil Jon (above). An 11-hour Sausage Yule Log video for Jimmy Dean. Putting a new cord on an EGO String Trimmer while plummeting 120mph toward Earth. And that’s just three projects. Can’t wait to see where John lands!

Portfolio: wrendwrites.com

Carl Peterson

Carl is a copywriter/ACD at Arnold Boston. All kinds of good stuff on his site for brands like Jack Daniel’s (above), Grain Belt, Jaguar, Coppermine, and Colle McVoy. According to his About Me page, “It all started when my mom met my dad and they fell in love and they had me.” Word.

Portfolio: carlianpeterson.com