December Events: This Is How We Do It

This month we’ve got two events that pretty much reflect how we like to operate: a little bit of smart mixed with a little bit of sassy.

First up, our annual Jingle & Mingle, co-hosted with AIGA Seattle, at Melrose Market Studios on December 11th. We're again featuring our local designer showcase so you can gift creatively while supporting small creative businesses. Of course we've got food, and this year our holiday cocktail is sponsored by Hand Craft Films and poured by sponsor Shake Bartending. Throw in our ugly sweater contest complete with prizes, raffles and holiday photos by David Speranza, and you've got yourself a fun evening that probably tops whatever survived as your corporate holiday party after those budget cuts. That's the sassy part, by the way.

Register here

The smart part is our next Speaker Series, co-hosted with PSAMA, December 19th, at Seattle Public Library. TEDx speaker and author David Burkus will talk about "The Myths of Creativity" It's our first morning session, and to sweeten the deal we're giving members in attendance a free copy of the book, while non-members can buy it at a reduced price. Plus pastries and coffee, of course.

Register here

We hope to see you out this month!

Update

on 2013-12-15 02:00

Pics from the Jingle & Mingle are now available on Facebook and Flickr. Thanks again to David Speranza!

Update

on 2013-12-21 08:07

Pics from the David Burkus event are now available on Facebook. Thanks to Bianca Jessica!

Goodbye ADDY Awards, Hello American Advertising Awards!

New name, same bragging rights.

Our beloved Seattle ADDY Awards are now the American Advertising Awards Seattle. Not to worry—even though there’s a new name, it’s still the premier advertising competition that recognizes the industry’s top creatives. And the awards are still affectionately called “ADDYs,” so there’s no mistaking what you’ll be taking home.

The powers that be at the National ADDY Committee, including the national ADDY chair, our own hometown bigwig, George Riddell, decided to upgrade the profile of the event, and a name change went along with that. Read more about the name change.

Seattle's own Hydrogen provided this year's campaign, which spawned four posters to be used in print and online:

We've been busy planning since October and we're already looking for sponsors. As usual, we're aiming to hold the event in March. Judges should be announced by January. Our Silver Medal Award winner will be chosen by February. Oh, and call for entries is now - deadline January 10th, 2014!

It's shaping up to be our best awards ever.

More info can be found on our awards page.

Update

on 2013-12-04 03:32

Nominate an Advertising Inspiration

The AAF Silver Medal Award is awarded annually to a member of Seattle’s advertising community—a creator, a mentor, a teacher, a leader—whose career grew bigger than the work. Who’s had an impact on the community which far surpasses their job? Who’s pushed the industry standards and set new bars for excellence? Who’s the type of person we should all aspire to be? That’s who we want. 

Simply submit your nomination to addys@aafseattle.com. More details here.

Art Bash 2013: Creativity in Black & White

Art Bash is always a crowdpleaser. Heck, public vote even semi-crowdsourced this year's theme. The people chose Creativity in Black & White to inspire the agencies, and they did not disappoint!

We received over 20 pieces of art, providing entertainment, competition, and photo opps, and raising nearly $2000 for our scholarship fund in the process.

Guests enjoyed Pom Pom signature cocktails from sponsors Hall & Partners, a festive spread from Herban Feast, and beats by DJ Zapan, appearing in virtual form.

We've been trying a new photo-sharing tool called Everlapse, and got just enough submissions to be worth posting the results:

If you have your own pics to share, add them to our event flipbook. See our event album on Facebook and #ArtBashAAF on Tagboard.

After Hours: Seattle Wunderman Network

We do a lot of serious, smarty-pants kind of events. Witness last month's Content Is Your Brand Speaker Series panel discussion. Great stuff for sure.

But AAF Seattle is not all work, nor are we dull boys or girls. Witness last night's After Hours at the Seattle Wunderman Network. Libations. Networking Schmoozing. Bonding. That's all. This spins our wheels.

And has anybody noticed SWN's recent high visibility? Seems like great things going on over there with their Fantastic Action Contraption and all…

Tag yourself in our Facebook album, add your own pics to our Everlapse flipbook, and check #AAFterHours on Tagboard.

Speaker Series: Content Is Your Brand

Digital Kitchen CEO Bill Fritsch addresses the panel

Last night we assembled a panel of local content experts at Makerhaus in Fremont for a discussion about a topic that's on the tips of everyone's tongues and fingers: content. Digital Kitchen CEO Bill Fritsch served as moderator, with Kelby Johnson of Seattle Wunderman Network, Brian Saftler of Internet Explorer, Andrew Grinaker of POSSIBLE, and Lisa Phelps Dawes of Loop providing the wisdom, keeping a full house of attendees engaged and enthused. We're not kidding—the conversation probably could have gone on all night.

We hope to post a Storify entry going into a little more detail about the content of the event. Until then, check out some of the pics from the event on Facebook. Panelist bios on Lanyrd. #AAFContent social stream on Tagboard.

Thanks to sponsors Sparkle Donkey tequila, Postmates, MakerHaus, Local Craft Tours, and Print NW.