Greg is a copywriter/ACD at Ogilvy NYC. Love how his site is written. Nothing on the home page, just clean. History and Honors is thorough but minimal. For each campaign, there’s just the right amount of set-up (when set-up is needed). And credits are fully blown-out, awards show-style.
Portfolio: greggerstner.com
John is a senior copywriter in Chicago. One of the benefits of working at big shops in Chicago is that you get to produce work that everyone sees. Click on John’s TV section, and you’ll probably recognize half of the spots just by looking at their thumbnails.
Portfolio: johnkastanes.com
Chris is a senior copywriter at Gardner Nelson in NYC. There’s a great mix of work on his site, from Trident White (above), to a guerilla idea for ambulance chasing lawyers, to content for several hilarious blogs, including “Posing With Potholes.” Thank God for the Internet.
Portfolio: chris-baier.com
Gino is a copywriter in San Francisco, previously a Social Media Copywriter at Mekanism. If you’re like MC, you found that title interesting. Social Media Copywriter is awesome on your rez, for sure. And there are killer examples of it on Gino’s site. But does that mean no writing traditional or digital while in that position? Does it mean no social media for the rest of us? Hmm.
Portfolio: ginoclick.com
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
Jerry is a copywriter in the UK. He’s been “oozing creative juices from every orifice” and “spewing concepts across media” for 20 years. His words, not mine.
Portfolio: jerrygross.co.uk
Keith is a senior copywriter at The Kaplan Thaler Group in NYC. This is what you get when you’re an interactive copywriter working at AKQA or Kaplan Thaler or one of those. You get yourself a custom portfolio site. Really like how simple it is to nav. You can jump around and see the whole thing in just a few minutes, which is rare for a portfolio full of interactive work. Nice.
Portfolio: keithzang.com
Matty is a copywriter at Barton F. Graf9000, the new Gerry Graf shop that just nabbed Eric Kallman from W+K. Is there a cooler place to be? No. So, how did Matty get the gig? Well, he’s got a Master’s Degree from VCU Brandcenter AND he was an Eagle Scout. Once again proving MC’s theory that drummers, comedians, surfers and scouts make good copywriters. Of course, Gerry already knew this.
Portfolio: mattysmith.com
Craig is a copywriter/CD in Chicago. (Not to be confused with Craig Miller at CP+B.) On his home page, you’ll find a personal manifesto of sorts – Craig’s likes, dislikes and beliefs. Including this: “Ellipses in headlines are my kryptonite.” Couldn’t agree more, sir.
Portfolio: web.mac.com/miller_craig
Dov is a copywriter/ACD at Ogilvy in NYC. Over the past ten years, he’s also done time at R/GA, FCB, TBWA, and JWT Melbourne. His site is loaded with awesome work, and a ton of it. Lots of which MC hadn’t seen before, like the above campaign for Maxwell House. Yawning IS ugly.
Portfolio: dovzmood.net
Matt is a new copywriter/co-lead singer at W+K Shanghai after graduating from Creative Circus. (MC’s first China entry. Love it.) What kind of portfolio are they looking for at the W+K on the other side of the world? Here’s your chance to find out.
Portfolio: cargocollective.com/mattvitou
Spencer is a marketing/technical copywriter in Florida. Because of the nature of his work, his book doesn’t look like the other books on MC. (Doesn’t make it any better or worse, just different.) About a month ago, I sent out an emergency tweet asking if there was a technical writer willing to help my sister, who’s getting her masters in technical writing, with her final project. Spencer was on it in a flash. That’s good peeps. Thanks again, Mr. Fleury. Very much.
Portfolio: spencerfleury.com
Jamie is a copywriter in NYC. First, check out his work. Then, check out his rez. Since graduating from Miami Ad School in 2005, he’s worked at a couple of shops, freelanced at a bunch, and is now about to launch an eco-denim company. Which, to MC, seems to perfectly align with the CWs coming out of Miami Ad School (influenced by CP+B), which Jamie attended. Entrepreneurs, idea factories, world tours.
Portfolio: jaimeschwarz.com
Ladies and gentlemen, MC is honored to present the portfolio sites of the 2011 VCU Brandcenter graduating copywriters (in alphabetical order):
Adam Aceino – aceino.com
Bill Carlson – wrcarlson.com
Scott Cleveland – scottrcleveland.com
Ryan Contillo – ryancontillo.com
Sam Dolphin – samdolph.in
Jeff Hornung – jeffreyhornung.com
Lane Karczewski – lanekarczewski.com
Richard Langhorne – richardlanghorne.com
Brian Naujelis – briannaujelis.com
Simon Philion – simonphilion.com
Samantha Ridgway – samridgway.com
Lauren Simon – llsimon.com
David Sloan – meamdavid.com
Jennifer Stopka – jenniferstopka.com
Julian Tippins – juliantippins.com
Rebecca Ullman – rebeccaullman.com
Adam Wolinsky – heckvetica.com
Claire Wyckoff – clairewyckoff.com
Another stand-up comic. Another affiliation with the Upright Citizen’s Brigade. Another killer student book proving that: #1 Comedians make awesome copywriters and #2 VCU is one of the top copywriting schools for comedians on the planet.
Portfolio: simonphilion.com
Lane is one of the lucky VCU Brandcenter grads who’s already landed a gig. He’ll be ripping it up at AKQA in San Francisco on Audi. How fun is that? So fun. Look out SoMa. Here comes Lane.
Portfolio: lanekarczewski.com
Check out Rebecca’s cool campaigns for Foursquare, Hanes, Mini Thrill Rides, and Carfax. Love the writing of her site, too. Rebecca’s got a wicked smart, snappy voice that’s just fun to read. Almost as fun as her Visual Addendum page, featuring the above photo. Quality.
Portfolio: rebeccaullman.com
VCU is so hooked into the industry, you know that themes in VCU student books are themes agencies are asking to see. In Adam’s, one of those themes is loud and clear: crazy innovation. Or, outlandish entrepreneurial strategic grenades. Something like that. He’s got an end-of-the-world campaign for Costco, Get Gay Married human rights campaign, one for an even faster version of Ramen, and a New Balance race for seniors called The Geriathlon.
Portfolio: heckvetica.com
MC has often said that surfers make good copywriters. Surfers and drummers. Got another one to add to that list: comedians. Don’t know if she surfs or drums, but Claire is funny. Before VCU, she studied improv at Middlebury College, and at Improv Olympic and Upright Citizen’s Brigade. It shows. Smart, hilarious, fantastic writing all over her portfolio.
Portfolio: clairewyckoff.com
Craig is a copywriter/CD at CP+B. The work on his site is presented as a simple reel, or downloadable reel/book. If you’re like MC, you see copywriter/CD at CP+B and you’re like, “Oh damn. This one’s going to kill.” Guess what? It kills.
Portfolio: craigmillercreative.com
Ryan is a copywriter at CP+B. As David Roth, copywriter and friend of MC put it, “probably no person with 2.5 years of experience with more work to show for it.” (Thanks for the heads-up, David.) Wow.
Portfolio: ryanraab.virb.com
Will is a copywriter at Venables Bell in SF. Been there four years, after graduating from Circus. Check out his ComedyFetish.com campaign. Sick. In PRINT/OOH, check out his Slim Jim T-shirt. Brilliant.
Portfolio: thebookofgorman.com
Jeff is a copywriter at Saatchi in Los Angeles. Sometimes you see a piece in someone’s portfolio and you’re just like, “Oh wow, check out that salad car. Dangit, I want to make a salad car!”
Portfolio: stop7workshop.com
Jane is a freelance copywriter in Madison, formerly at Leo Burnett. Her portfolio is classic Burnett, featuring work for Special K, Go-Tarts and Secret. Click into Broadcast and then scroll down to Go-Tarts. Casting is priceless.
Portfolio: copybyjanekoh.com
Jim is a copywriter/CD in Los Angeles. His site is hosted on Krop. Love how the horizontal slider lets you nav through integrated campaigns quick and easy. Each starts with a simple set-up card, then goes big pieces to outer reaches. He’s also got a deep radio selection, which has become a rarity on writer sites. Tip o’ the Hat.
Portfolio: jimrealcreative.com
Greg is a copywriter/ACD at Firehouse in Dallas. He’s got a brand new site that’s loaded with killer work. Don’t misses: Spike TV, Full Throttle + NHRA, K-Y, and Mother Candles.
Portfolio: cargocollective.com/greghunter
Jose is a copywriter/ACD at CP+B in Boulder. Check out the above spot for Pepto Bismol, which Jose wrote at Leo Burnett Lapiz in Chicago for the U.S. Hispanic market. Burrito, mobster, burrito, Frankenstein, burrito, alien, burrito. Oh, and the burrito is a romantic burrito. Now that’s a script.
Portfolio: josefunegra.com
Steven is a copywriter/CD/VP at McCann NYC. You know what’s awesome? When a CD with the credentials, portfolio and experience that Steven’s got includes a campaign on his site that’s all about making “the 5th floor of Ogilvy’s old office a livelier place.” Love it.
Portfolio: stevennasi.tumblr.com
Jeff is a copywriter/ACD at Cramer-Krasselt in Milwaukee. (Brand new gig, big congrats Jeff.) Check out this note to Jeff from Jason Alexander, after Jason received Jeff’s first script for his Jenny Craig Video Blog, “Jeff, I am literally blown away. Brilliant. I couldn’t have said it better. You truly got my voice down. I have no notes and anyone who knows me knows that is a first. It’s perfect. Go with it and thank you. If I ever run for office you are hired as my official speechwriter. Happy holidays. I’m telling my wife that I am blown away or in the words of George, ‘I am speechless. I am without speech’.” Nice.
Portfolio: vzcreative.com
Carol is a copywriter in São Paulo, Brazil. Sometimes you see an ad or a spot and you think to yourself, “How the heck have I not thought of doing that before?” Check out Carol’s Crazy About Ketchup spot for Hellman’s. How the heck have you not thought of doing that before?
Portfolio: cargocollective.com/carolsaraiva