David is a senior copywriter at HUGE in NYC. His site navs horizontally, which for some reason makes everything in it seem more important. Why is that? He’s got a tight portfolio, which you can do when it’s this strong. Just enough to make ’em say, “We gotta call this guy.”
Portfolio: dfredette.com
Tom is a copywriter/CD in Chicago. His portfolio is just awesome, but his print section (“READ”) is especially sick: Altoids, Porsche, Gatorade, Bahamas. Yes, please.
Portfolio: hiretomwilson.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
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
Chiyong is a senior copywriter at JWT NY, formerly at Ogilvy & Mather and Leo Burnett. That’s a rez right off Mad Men, but Chiyong’s work is fresh as fish. (Fresh as fish?) Bing, Yahoo!, IBM, awesome.
Portfolio: chiyongjones.com
Howard is a copywriter at DDB NY. His portfolio is fun all the way through, but check out his stuff for NY Lottery. Piglets in bunk beds. Bunnies riding tea cups. Could MC be more jealous of that shoot? No. MC could not. Just ridiculous.
Portfolio: howfink.com
Marc is a senior copywriter at CP+B in Boulder, after four years at W+K, after graduating from VCU. That’s how you do it. His site is as awesome as … ham panties. (Print: Weber)
Portfolio: marcdavignon.com
Sara graduated from VCU in 2004 and has been at Martin in Richmond ever since. So, if you graduated in 2004 but haven’t been at Martin ever since, you can check out Sara’s site and see what might have been yours. [Sigh] What might have been yours …
Portfolio: diamondinacornfield.blogspot.com
Will is a senior copywriter at Razorfish in Portland. How much does MC love the Pacific Northwest? W+K, Razorfish, Publicis, Creature, Cole & Weber, WongDoody, Wexley School For Girls … awesome. Plus, U of Oregon (Ducks!). So much great advertising. And the best people anywhere.
Portfolio: Click here
Jenna is a copywriter/CD in San Francisco who’s done time at Riney, W+K Amsterdam and Fallon. Don’t miss her Travel Writing section. Russia, Morocco, Rwanda, Japan, Vietnam, Tibet, Chile … seriously.
Portfolio: jennahall.com
Peter is a senior copywriter at GS&P, previously at Y&R and Mullen. Ton of great work in his book for a really awesome mix of clients, from Sprint to the Sopranos. His site is hosted on Cargo, which has taken over the Portfolio Site Universe over the past three months, and for good reason. Clean, easy to nav, and makes work look tay-ay-asty.
Portfolio: cargocollective.com/petercarnevale
Rebecca is a copywriter/ACD at AKQA NYC. Her site is super quirky fun. (Totally stole my theme song, BTW.) A little taste from her self-description: “West Virginia native but I still have most of my teeth. I’m allergic to cats, in need of a tan, and teach Easy Bake Oven cooking classes in my free time. (Very tiny meatloaves).” Want one! Don’t leave without checking out her Weird Fun page. It’s weird. And fun.
Portfolio: freewebs.com/rebeccarenner
Stephen is a copywriter/ACD at Gotham in NYC, Lowe and Ammirati before that. Go to the TELEVISION section and click on the Stella Artois spot “Femme Fatale.” I don’t know how they got the daughter to cry “Mommy!” like that. (Not sure I want to know.) But it’s sooo perfect.
Portfolio: stephenlundberg.com
Barbara Schwartz – baschwartz.com
Chris Stephens – awisebeardedwriter.com
Dylan Meagher – dylanmeagher.com
Grace Harris – lydiagraceharris.com
Heather Ryder – heather-ryder.com
Joe Hagel – joehagel.com
John Colin Quinn – johncolinquinn.com
Matt Spicer – mattspicer.com
Mike Nichols – tallmikenichols.com
Natalie Hammel – nataliehammel.com
Nate Totten – natetotten.com
Talia Ledner – beersontheroof.com
Chris just accepted a job as a Jr Copywriter at Chiat NY. (Yes!) Right out of school, just like that.
Portfolio: awisebeardedwriter.com
Nate is graduating from VCU on May 22nd. He calls himself Man Of The Wind. “Oh, he’s from Chicago,” you think. Nope, Kansas. “Then why not Dust In The Wind?” you ask. Because Nate’s so young, he’s probably never heard Dust In The Wind. “Oh God, I’m old,” you think. Me too.
Portfolio: natetotten.com
Colin graduates from VCU in May. There’s a ton of good writing on his site. Diamond Toothpicks is hilarious. Check out his rez, which is a big map of the world. Where hasn’t he taught English?
Portfolio: johncolinquinn.com
Natalie will graduate from VCU in May. Her portfolio site is titled DIE FAT: “Die Fat is an attitude, approach toward life and a social experiment. I was put on this planet to be a sponge and I won’t be satisfied until I soak up every bit of curious matter in my surroundings and non-surroundings. Like creative chlorophyll, I get my breath from absorbing the world’s ecstatic experiences. Die Fat is how I want to live every day until the day I die fat.”
Portfolio: nataliehammel.com
Dylan will graduate from VCU on May 22nd. It’s so interesting to compare student books from different schools. (Note: No favorites here. All of the schools featured on MC are awesome.) Dylan’s portfolio is all about integrated case studies. Check out Pampers. He’s thought of everything.
Portfolio: dylanmeagher.com
Casey is a copywriter at BBDO NY. In the year-and-a-half since she graduated from VCU, she’s put together a really fun portfolio, including that AT&T spot with the Jr. Assistant who runs around getting stuff for Mariah Carey. Love when he kicks the elevator button. Perfect ending. She’s also got a killer blog called People Who Deserve It. Getting punched in the face, that is. Soon to be a book.
Portfolio: caseyrand.com
Jason is a freelance copywriter in LA after doing time at Ignited, DDB, Zuckerman, and The Richards Group. His Rose’s Cocktail Infusions campaign is funny. Makes me embarrassed to be a guy. Also check out his Zuckerman Self Promo. Gross, but you just know someone wore it to an agency party.
Josh is a freelance copywriter in San Francisco. He graduated from VCU in 2006, interned at AKQA and did some time at Arnold. The first thing in his portfolio is the “Carnival Interactive Aquarium” and it’s just ridiculous awesome.
Portfolio: joshfinderup.com
Kevin is a copywriter at The Martin Agency in Richmond. If you’re a fan of long copy, you must click over to his site and read the above print ad immediately.
Portfolio: slashweasel.com
Brett is a copywriter at Arnold Boston, AKQA before that. He’s done some crazy amazing interactive, including work for the NHL, truth, and an absolutely outrageous site for Fallout 3.
Portfolio: brettreese.blogspot.com
Mike is a senior copywriter at Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners in Sausalito, Cole & Weber before that. Awesome awesome awesome site filled with amazing work. I’m a sucker for the long copy, and Mike’s writing on his US Department of State campaign is just beautiful. Give yourself some time to savor and enjoy this one.
Portfolio: tutonglobalwide.com