Showing posts with label Maymester. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Maymester. Show all posts

6.24.2013

AdPR students visit NYC advertising agencies to meet and learn from professionals

AdPR students visiting Arnold Worldwide
What better way to learn about New York agencies than to visit them. This May, AdPR students again accompanied Dr. Kirsten Strausbaugh to the Big Apple as part of her maymester seminar course. The AdPR 5990 class, which took place from May 14 to June 5, gave students the opportunity to learn about the communications industry, develop case studies, and do a one-week tour of New York advertising agencies to meet and learn from professionals.

“It was truly a BANNER year for us, with a total of 19 advertising agencies, public relations firms and internal communications departments visited! An unbelievable pace, but an invaluable takeaway for all of us!” said Dr. Kirsten Strausbaugh-Hutchinson, a senior lecturer in the Department of Advertising and Public Relations.

Some of the agencies that the class visited included Social@Ogilvy, DiMassimo Goldstein (DIGO), A&E Networks, Strawberry Frog,  360i, Arnold Worldwide, BBDO, Porter Novelli, and Yelp! among others. In addition, students participated in UGA-related events, including a reception with the Peabody Award winners and a networking mixer with New York-based UGA/Grady alumni.

“I loved the trip!! I learned so much about the industry that I could not have learned just by being in the classroom. I was able to see what I have learned in my classes being applied in a real corporate setting,” said Nicole Tate, a rising junior and public relations major. “Because we went to so many different types of agencies I now have an idea of what kind of agency I could see myself working in in my future. I also am thankful for all the connections I have made.”

"It was incredible to experience the world of advertising in New York,  especially due to the pace of the city and the immense amount of competition among the agencies," said Madison Skeens, a junior and advertising major. "I  became increasingly more impressed with the smaller agencies, like Strawberry Frog and Concept Farm. The way in which they collaborated was considerably more intimate;  giving each person the opportunity to contribute to an idea or piece of work, despite their strength or  position."


Once they returned to classroom, students selected their favorite agency, examined the agency's current client roster, identified a potential category or piece of new business that the agency could/should pursue, and then and applied its approach in creating a full blown new business pitch, including creative concept, and multi-touchpoint outlets.

This is the second year students traveled to New York as part of a course. "It represents our commitment to the students and the profession to be there every year," said Tom Reichert, AdPR Department Head. "We've had many students find their way to New York over the years but this trip helps current students see that they can make a go of it in the city. If you want a career in brand communication, New York should be on your list."

AdPR students visiting Erwin Penland advertising agency 

6.22.2012

UGA AdPR students gain valuable experiences in NYC Maymester

Students from AdPR 5170 take in the view at Central Park during their NYC visit.
(photo courtesy of Kandace Sweat)


Twenty-one AdPR students gained class credit and firsthand agency knowledge when they participated in a New York City Maymester class. The AdPR 5170 class, which took place from May 15 to June 6, gave students the opportunity to learn about the communications industry, develop case studies, and do a one-week tour of New York advertising agencies to meet and learn from professionals.

“It was truly one of the best [Maymester classes] I've been on in the entire twelve years I've been doing this,” said Dr. Kirsten Strausbaugh-Hutchinson, a senior lecturer in the Department of Advertising and Public Relations, and Maymester instructor. “It was an excellent mix of agencies, from large to small, godfather to boutique, and spanned so many relevant areas — from advertising, public relations, culture creation, the spurring of humanitarian movements. You name it, we did it.”

“The ADPR Maymester in NYC provided a unique opportunity to see firsthand the diverse landscape of agencies the city can offer,” said Bree Riley, a graduating senior majoring in advertising who took the course and blogged about the experience. “I had no idea that the skill set that I've gained at the Grady College could be lent to so many job descriptions.  We learned about everything from ‘solutionists’ to community managers to positions without official titles.”

Some of the agencies that the class got to visit include Grey Group, McCann-Erickson, Strawberry Frog, 360i, LaForce + Stevens, and Momentum, among others. In addition, students got to participate in UGA-related events, including a reception with the Peabody Award winners and a networking mixer with New York-based Grady alumni.

As advertising continues to evolve and expand with new technology and practices, students in the class said it was important to learn more about the industry.

“This type of exposure is not something most people get to experience,” wrote Alexandra Walker, another student who blogged about the trip. “I enjoyed getting to visit the vast group of agencies that we did. It opened my eyes to the wide variety of agencies out there.” 



Students visit with Taxi, a creative boutique agency,
(photo courtesy of Kandace Sweat)
 On one such visit, a student found career advice with Taxi’s executive creative director Dave Clemans, who told the students to chase new work opportunities. 


“Taxi was founded with the mantra, ‘Doubt the conventional. Create the exceptional,’ an agency slogan that truly embodies the mentality and creative process at the agency,” wrote Channing Jones, a sophomore advertising and marketing student who blogged about the Maymester class. “Mr. Clemans emphasized that if there is no doubt in the creative process—that the work is not yet extraordinary—then you’re doing something wrong and you haven’t yet figured out the solution and the right creative message.”

“This class was one of the best decisions I have ever made,” said Kandace Sweat, another AdPR student who took the course. “I just did not know the level of creativity and hard work of these agencies. It was quite inspiring.”

“It was an incredibly informative week,” said Dr. Strausbaugh-Hutchinson. “And I think the takeaway for the students was that there are a myriad of career paths that are open to them and that the New York market really is accessible to UGA grads.”