W+K PORTLAND

A Visit From John Maeda

John Maeda may have gotten his start as a software engineer at MIT, but his passion for design took his life on a journey where these two fields intersect. Thanks to John Jay- Maeda took the time to visit and speak with us in Portland today. His talk focused on human connections, being present and inspiring people to do more with their lives. It sent us all back to our desks (and lives) with a new sense of purpose. 

John is currently the president of RISD. Check out his book “Simplicity” or view John's profile and speeches for the TED Talks.
 

seven-figh-nine-figh

We love her. She loves us. She loves someone more. So Washington D.C. is stealing our flannel-wearing, relentlessly-cursing, lesbian, "loving" project manager away from us.

As protest to her departure, we wore "I'd switch teams for Grogan" shirts and retired her phone extension as an act of gratitude for her 10 years of humor, scandal, harassment, hard work and dedication. The entire agency will feel her absence and I'm sure a phantom "seven-figh-nine-figh" will echo through these walls forever.

Following the rules

Even though our thoughtful electrician posted this warning- our faithful head of HR, Kristen Clark, gracefully tempted fate and turned the lights on. Thankfully, she's still alive.

Tipi on deck

We have a Tipi on our deck! As part of the fundraising event for Caldera 24/7 a few of us helped learn how to set it up (only took an hour!). The event is this Friday, October 23, from 6:30-8:30 at Wieden+Kennedy. Call 503.937.7594 for tickets and come check out the Tipi!

Imagining Mozambique

The traveling art show collective, Imagining Mozambique, a fundraising drive for ASEM, a non-profit organization that helps the children and orphans of Mozambique makes its North American premiere starting next week.

Colonization, civil war, natural disaster and economic instability have plagued Mozambique over the last 25 years, which has led to widespread uncertainty for tomorrow's youth. What will the Mozambican children of today create to change their destiny? What will peace and prosperity look like in their 21st century? Will the future be bright? Or will the cycle of despair continue?

Imagining Mozambique, the brainchild of Interactive Producer Jamie Kim, was to gather together a group of internationally renowned artists (Parra, Superdeux, Florence Manlik, Happy Centro, Marcos Chin - to name a few) to create thought-provoking art inspired by the Mozambican children and bring attention to their day-to-day plight for survival and change.

Open to the public: 26 October – 1 November Times: 12-8pm every day Address: MassMarket Gallery, 105 Rivington Street, 2nd Floor, NY NY.

Opening night preview: 25 October @ 7:30pm (invite only for artists and guests)

ART + COPY

Art & Copy, the feature film about advertising, interviews some of the most rebellious minds in the business. The film has been re-released and is showing at Living Room Theaters. Go see what Dan and Dave have to say.

china design now

This October 10th, the Portland Art Museum brings the first international exhibition devoted to the emerging power of contemporary design in China. In 2006, China set a national goal to become a society about innovation. Led by young individuals, design would become a tool for China to think, speak and create a new voice.

Our own John Jay with his Studio J, were instrumental in coordinating galleries and events around the city in conjunction with the show at the Portland Art Museum making it a city wide event. This includes the opening exhibition at the White Box, a new visual laboratory by the University of Oregon in the White Stag Building in Old Town, a Chinese underground comic show at Floating World as well as a series of programs for PNCA. The opening at Goldsmith gallery, Jelly Generation includes over 30 artists, designers and photographers.





“China Design Now” in Portland promises to be a revolution of its own. Watch JellyGen.com for announcements as many of our friends in Portland's new Creative Corridor launch new galleries, events and special appearances in support of this creative explosion.

W+K opened the event with 100 Portraits of Shanghai in our lobby- hanging throughout the month of October.

Levi's marksthe spot

We've buried $100,000.00 somewhere in the country. Go to Levi's website. Let the hunt begin.

Read more about the campaign on the New York Times blog

Be a literary omnivore

What’s Wordstock without some charming videos? Nothing. That’s what. Here’s WK12’s take on how delicious words are. And also an incredible pun from the pun factory.

15 years, 3,400,000 wildpostings and 11,000 sticks of butter later, Lonnie Winter retires.

Lonnie Winter, our fearless print producer and agency baker of everyones birthday wishes, retired today. Family, friends and the whole damn agency showed up to send her off with a hand tunnel, dancing cupcake, a facebook account and some tears.

But maybe Dan put it best. She’s the matriarch of the agency, here when we are bad, here when we’re really bad, and always there to give us a cookie and tell us it will be alright.

Lonnie, we love you and we wish you the world in your retirement!