INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS : INITIATIVES

VBP Academy

I was tasked to remake the Venables Bell + Partners intern program into something credible and enjoyable for all involved.

We started with the application process, asking for potential interns to define a word ('fugform'), solve a riddle and create a strategic escape plan from a frozen refuse blocked alley by choosing three items from a list that included a baby otter and a mini-fedora (choosing the mini-fedora was automatic rejection).

The program itself was adapted to a j-term type model, a crash course in advertising that put the talent of the future in the thick of it as actual, paid employees.

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The Suggestion Box

People like having a place to say their piece, no matter how trivial. The Suggestion Box had two purposes: one, to allow people to get on a soapbox and anonymously say whatever it is they want say and two, to keep the agency honest. When people want change, we're here to make sure that happens.

The Big Move

Morale at the office was low. I decided, with help, to change the entire seating chart to try and drum up energy. To give it some kick, we closed the office for the day, and every person in it had to either move their desk or help clean to make that place sparkle. There was an elaborate checklist for each person and once everyone had accomplished it, we were released to a bar to celebrate. Beers were drank, pizza was eaten - I'm pretty sure it was the best cleaning party I've ever been to.

The Lending Library

I'm an obsessive reader and I wanted to incorporate that love into my job. I built out the VB+P Lending Library as a constantly updating free library for the staff. I took recommendations from 5 readers (plus my own) and opened the "doors" on the library with 200 books and a ribbon cutting ceremony. Everyone got bookmarks, letter-pressed library cards and an invitation to a Goodreads account that had all of our available books online. 

We also made a drunken spoof of Reading Rainbow.

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INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS : VIDEOS

For a long while I, with the help of many others, made 'cultural videos' to entertain our staff. They definitely hew towards inside joke-y, but I think the concept and execution is pretty solid.

 

over/under

I wanted people to say silly things about Halloween. So we borrowed liberally from Pitchfork's "over/under" series. Silly things were said.

VB+P Wrecking Ball

After a hard year, we wanted something a little inspirational, a little bit entertaining and a whole lot of one special man in his underwear.

INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS : EVENT ASSETS

Creative direction, event planning

Over the course of my career I’ve conceived and produced hundreds of events, some big, some small, some very strange. Regardless, in creating these events I managed small teams to bring big ideas to life with incredible design and copy (much of which I wrote myself) in service to our larger goals, whatever they might be.