In the process, I ended up realizing how much I had wished for that same guidance when I was a teen. I remembered how much of a roller coaster ride it was to get comfortable in my own skin. Now, as an openly gay man in the ad business, I’ve come full circle and have been given the opportunity to give back in my own way.

The Live Out Loud logo before

The rebranded logo

When we unveiled the new brand logo I designed to our client, Leo, it was one of the few moments I have ever witnessed him speechless. It became the very first step in our journey together. I still remember one of the proudest moments I’ve ever had: watching Dustin Lance Black, the screenwriter of Milk, as he spoke to students at his old high school, and up front and center on the podium was the new Live Out Loud logo.

Dustin Lance Black: Watch Dustin Lance Black’s Homecoming Project

Live Out Loud soon started receiving the attention it deserved: growing support in the community, increased traction through events, and involvement of celebrities and public figures. I witnessed first hand the growth of the organization, while at Deutsch I was simultaneously maturing, expanding my portfolio, skillset, and being promoted. Progress was something we both shared as we came into our own.

Live Out Loud through the years

In 2012 we created an ad campaign for The Homecoming Project, which developed the idea about passing on valuable life lessons to a future generation. When we presented Gay It Forward, everyone fell in love with it, client and agency alike. It was a massive undertaking for the agency, but with a lot of ingenuity we made it happen.

As we were finding lessons to put in the campaign, I realized I had learned a few valuable lessons myself, in my professional and personal life. I hung onto one the chalkboards from the shoot as a reminder of why I am the person I am today. It reads simply, “I Learned to Shine Without Permission”.

Homecoming Project Video: Watch The Homecoming Project TV spot

The Homecoming Project Campaign

When I first started working on Live Out Loud, it was not an easily recognizable name. Live Out Loud has grown so much in the past few years, connecting countless more students with role models, and helping to instill a sense of hope and pride in LGBT teens that I only wish I could’ve had. Through Deutsch, I have the privilege to work on Live Out Loud each year. I continue to do so because I see a bit of me in the work they do, and what they stand for.

Knowing that the organization has come such a long way, and I may have had something to do with it, makes me reflect on my own growth. And I look forward to both of our futures because I know the journey we’ve started together has only just begun.

<Insert Company Name> congratulates <insert charity name> for its continued hard work in ­<insert charity action>. (Company Logo)

But at Deutsch, we’d like to think ourselves more creative than that.

For the recent Live Out Loud Gala, we had the opportunity to create four ads that really express who we were as a company and why we support that organization.

“We really wanted to embody Deutsch’s brand and what we do here as an agency. We wanted to create simple, yet bold ads that grab people, tell a story about us, and what it means to work alongside an organization as courageous as Live Out Loud,” said *Art Boonklan, the Deutsch NY art director on the work. (Editors note—we think it is really classy how the author of this article quotes himself. Nice!)

The series of ads were spread inside the gala’s program starting with the inside cover, “VISION”, then “THICK SKIN,” “SPINE” and punctuating with the inside back cover: “BALLS.” And it takes a client with balls to allow that line to go through!

Donald, Manager- Graphic Tech 

Q.  Donald. In the Deutsch print STUDIO what do you wish people knew about what you do? We are involved in helping every department in some way, every day. Whether its putting the finishing touches to New Business Presentations and ads that are going to print, or working on PowerPoint decks for Media and Strategy to handouts for Corporate Communications, we help them all. We’ve even had to glue the occasional heel back on a shoe.

Q. They say life is about simple pleasures. Describe one of your simple pleasures and how it makes you feel?

A chunk of dark chocolate puts me at peace.

Q.  What makes someone a Deutscher?

When you make it to your 10th year anniversary. If you can last that long then you ARE a Deutscher.

Q.  Out of all the dogs that visit the Agency, which one is your favorite and why? 

My all-time favorite dog is a Nathan’s with onions & mustard. Actually I don’t have a favorite but I know Dolly best because I happen to pass by Dolly’s way the most.

(I guess Katherine Moncrief’s dog …Ruby… had better watch out! Beware of sauerkraut.)

Tom, Studio Artist

Q. What do YOU wish people knew about what you do? 

The studio is the last place print and presentation materials go before the public or the client sees them. So our work has to be perfect when it leaves the studio. When there is a new business presentation we often have little time to get materials formatted, proofread, printed, mounted, packed, and shipped. There have been many pitches where we have put in an 18, 20, 24-hour days.

Q. You are an artist in your own right. How do you like to express yourself with your art?

I don’t paint and draw as much as I’d like too, but I do like to challenge myself by working with different materials. I recently purchased some foam sculpting materials and have some projects I’ve started. I’m hoping to start a website soon to show off some of my artwork.

Q.  Ten years!! That is a quite a few Deutsch festivities you have experienced. What do you think the best Deutsch Party was?

My favorite Deutsch Party was the Christmas party with the casino theme, I believe that was three years ago. It was fun to bond with fellow Deutschers while playing craps.

Q.  If I opened your refrigerator, name three things that I would find?

I have two growing children that are not fussy eaters. There is always a gallon of milk, yogurt in the drawer and some type of berry, usually strawberry or blackberry.

Q. They say life is about simple pleasures. Describe one of your simple pleasures and how it makes you feel?

Having a catch with my kids, it’s such a simple thing to do but its very relaxing to me.

Click on the image above to view a slideshow of the Dollhouse.

Once upon a time, there was a dollhouse. It was beautiful and inspired everyone who peeked inside its windows. Then, one bright morning, it opened its doors and invited everyone inside…

Grand Central Station is a busy place. Every day, more than 750,000 people (all in a New York rush) hurriedly pass through its hallowed halls.

Now, they have a reason to stop.

This week, Target and our Deutsch LA team have added a touch of magic to Grand Central and its chandelier-decked Vanderbilt Hall. The majestic space, which began its life as a waiting room for first class passengers, is now home to a life-size dollhouse that this week is promoting Target’s Threshold home décor line.

The team and their contractors built the two-story, 1,600-square foot installation in just 54 hours and designed it to showcase roughly 3,500 products –everything from sheets, to throw pillows, picture frames to lamps.

The house is packed with interactive features that draw visitors to the installation and connect them with Target’s “design for all” ethos. These include: a photo station where guests can capture and share their dollhouse experience through social media; a makeover artist in the bathroom; and digital photo frames that will feature photos taken by guests.

As Daniel Chu, our executive VP-experiential creative director explained to Adage: “Target is about the balance of the thrill of expecting more, and the reality of paying less.” With the dollhouse installation, we think Target has exceeded these expectations. We hope everyone in New York had a chance to drop by, but here in LA, we’ll be watching, longingly, from afar.

See the Target Dollhouse come to life in this time-lapsed video and read about the Twitter reactions from spectators.

In Mad Men’s recent season six premiere, Don’s neighbor, Dr. Rosen, seemed taken aback by Miss Chambers, Sterling Cooper Draper Price’s first black secretary. Though Mad Men is set in the 1960s, one can’t overlook the fact that even today, diversity in the advertising and marketing industries is notably low.

In September, the New York Times profiled this situation, citing the US Labor Department’s statistic that of the 78,000 Americans working as advertising and promotions managers, less than 13% identified as Hispanic, Asian or African-American. In a country where nearly a third of our population identifies as one of these three ethic groups, these numbers highlight a disturbing element of our business.

Ad Club’s i’mPART is hoping to improve these figures. Sponsored by an investment from the Advertising Club of New York, the i’mPART initiative aims to raise awareness of the benefits of a diverse industry while rallying professionals around this movement.

In February, I had the great opportunity to attend one of i’mPART’s programs, the Hyper Island Master Class. The class—designed for mid-level diverse professionals—was an intensive deep dive into the modern digital and media cultures, including the recent transition from traditional marketing to our contemporary on-demand culture.

Lessons focused on how marketers could stand out in this ever-changing new society, particularly where everyone has the potential to be both a content producer—whether it’s your artsy Instagram photos or the YouTube reviews you make in your bedroom—and a content consumer. As marketers, we need to begin to think of creative in terms of this new medium of transmission—people—and ensure that our work breaks through in the ever-crowded marketplace. Furthermore, we need to be sure our message is engaging enough to inspire people to continue to share the content to their own social networks at large.

While the class provided a great opportunity to work and learn with other diverse marketing professionals from around the nation, Hyper Island also establishes an environment from day one that inspires discovery not just from presenters and other participants, but also from self-examination.

Having published a book of poetry entitled morning, afternoon, evenings, Seldon has had his artwork displayed at the Museum of Modern Art and Socrates Sculpture Park. He has read his poetry at the Bowery Poetry Club and has his work published in the Franco-German magazine, La Mer Gelee, just to name a few. He also crafted a product that he felt was missing in the market—the perfect bag for riding your bicycle. This idea spiraled into a successful and innovative bag company, SSCY.org.

What inspires you to create your art? Where do you find your voice/style?

I do not know where my voice or style is from. I’m not even sure what my style or voice really is. The poems always start with a line or an idea, and I just figure out how to say it the right way through endless editing. The art is a fairly similar process. I usually have a bunch of ideas I’ve been mulling over and a bunch of visual effects I’ve been playing with, and I try and pair it in a smart way.

Tell us about your bag company. How did you generate this idea?

As with art making, it started with one idea for something that didn’t exist in the form you wanted it. I wanted a bag that no one made, so, much like making art, I made one myself to see if it was even viable and see where I can take it. I first made the Bandolier bag, which is a cross between a lumbar pack and a messenger bag.

Tack Bag – A backpack disguised as a tote bag

Do you have a favorite poem/piece of your own artwork?

Oh boy. Shouldn’t we love all our children equally?

Vacuum/Plenum was a milestone for me. It was the largest and most ambitious piece I had made at that point. It was a culmination of a lot of ideas and earlier works.

Vacuum/Plenum

My favorite poem of mine would be “Behind the Brush.” It’s great for all holidays, weddings, divorces, and funerals:

It seems as though sometimes there is just not enough hours in the day, how do you find time to do everything you do?

Get older so all your friends are married and have children and have no more time for you.

Like a prisoner trying to escape jail, just chip away at the stone wall little by little everyday.

Never get cable television… if I could live without internet I would.

Be prepared to be single forever.

Turn off all emotions and be the robot that you wish you were.

Give yourself off 1 day off a month so you don’t completely burnout. I like the first Sunday of every month.

Sleep less… it might be good for creativity and hallucinations…maybe.

Do you have any advice for aspiring artists and poets?

First, I would say don’t do it. If they didn’t listen, then I’d say learn a proper skill/get a proper job that can support you. And do it because you like it cuz lord knows there ain’t no money in it. This is a marathon.  Be ready to invest in failure. That’s our job.

To learn more about Seldon, please visit his sites here:

www.seldonyuan.com

http://sscy.org/

When Deutsch LA decided on a shoot date for the Volkswagen Super Bowl teaser, Sunny Side , they had little warning that it would be one of the coldest days in more than two decades in Los Angeles. Sunny Side? Yeah, right.

With temperatures below freezing, the team arrived at Ventura Farms at 6:45 am on January 14th. Despite high winds and a bitter cold attempting to bring down everyone’s spirits, there was a universal idea beaming from every person on set, “Get Happy!”

Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff lived up to his role in the video by making everyone happy, chanting and cheering from the dark of the morning into the following day’s shoot at every opportunity. Internet celebrities made famous by their hilariously disastrous viral breakdowns emerged from the surrounding foliage to join in on the cheer of an angry day turned happy.

But how did this strange mix of events come to pass? Super Bowl commercials are the fruition of months of planning and preparation, right?

Not this time.

The idea came about so quickly that Deutschers managed to cram 6 months worth of work into a 4 week period, which included more than a week of holiday break.

At 3 AM the night before they were set to present to VW, associate creative directors Mark Peters and Brian Friedrich threw around an idea. The idea was to complement the VW Super Bowl commercial with an extension of the “Get Happy” message. The project would include Jimmy Cliff singing the Partridge Family’s “Get Happy” to a bunch of disgruntled Internet celebs.  With the Super Bowl less than two months away, the task might have seemed impossible to a better-rested team.

Over their holiday break, Deutsch team members scoured the Internet and compiled hundreds of famous YouTube freak-outs. Of these hundreds of videos, they narrowed it down to 200, and then to 20 worth pursuing.

It was decided that only the authentic Internet characters would be used, no look-alikes would be cast. So working in coordination with an outside vendor, Deutsch then tracked down the individuals starting with just the uploader’s YouTube username. In a few days of negotiations after making contact, Deutsch had its Super Bowl co-stars ready to go.

After two cold mornings filming at Ventura Farms in Los Angeles, Deutsch LA took to the editing room to put together the finished product.

Even though the making of the project sometimes felt like the snowstorm that could have manifested itself on January 14, ultimately the “Sunny Side” project mirrored the axiom from which it was born.

Two NY Deutschers have helped that heart stay beating for a long time: Julia Karlson-Waid, who celebrates ten years this April, and Richard Bryan, an impressive twenty-five!

We wanted to share a little about them and what makes them true Deutschers.

Julia, VP, Director of Client Accounting

Q.  What do you wish people knew about what you do? 

Let’s say lap-dancing bills. A lot of money passes through the agency and most of it isn’t ours. I think I have the same amount of responsibility and stress as all the other Deutsch groups: how to walk the tightrope between properly stewarding the client’ funds and protecting the agency.  My wish: I wish people knew what I say aloud when the client kicks back lap-dancing costs. (Just kidding! This has never happened at Deutsch).

Q.  Does your family know what you do? How do they explain that to their friends?

My family all knows what I do in theory, but they are bemused by it. My mother was an accountant so they assume it’s something similar, but it startles them that I ended up in this discipline. I don’t know why this should be, as I was always good in math, and do a creditable impression of a spinster schoolteacher, so I don’t see the cognitive dissonance.

If they speak of it to their friends, they point to Donny and state, somewhat inaccurately but irrefutably, that I work for him, thereby lending my work-a-day life some borrowed glamour.

Q.  If I opened your refrigerator, name three things that I would find?

Oh, my. I’ve just lost 45 pounds so mostly you’ll find grapefruit. It’s a little boring in there right now. Always on hand are bottles of ginger beer, four Dark & Stormy’s, and limes for margaritas. One has priorities, you know.

Q. Congrats on the weight loss…we feel you on the priorities! They say life is about simple pleasures. Describe one of your simple pleasures and how it makes you feel?

The Argentine Tango. I’m neither proficient nor experienced, but the time spent focusing on pairing the physical coordination with the mental acuity to learn and execute the phrases is time when the green eyeshade comes off and the tight skirt with the ruffle down the butt comes on, and it’s all mine.

 Q. What was your very first job?

Oh, boy. The first post-graduation job that I was offered, but turned down, was as a Bunny in the newly re-opened Playboy Club in 1975. I ended up taking a job as a bookkeeper for a mobbed-up guy who owned a jillion parking lots throughout Manhattan and Queens. Scared me silly and I left after six months.

Q.  What makes someone a Deutscher? Passion, slightly off center, smart and compassionate.

Q.  Out of all the dogs that visit the agency, which one is your favorite and why?  The large one. Not sure of the name.

That large one, Richard…would be Boom Boom. Let’s see if Greg DiNoto will give you an autographed pic!

Thanks for letting us get to know you both a bit better. Your passion and humor shines through. But of course: you are Deutschers!

Congratulations to you both for the celebration of dedicated service and longevity.

Do you remember your first kiss? It was probably as awkward as it was memorable. That’s the feeling we tried to convey in our new Taco Bell commercial, “First Kiss.”

The spot shows how Taco Bell’s Live Mas tagline works in small, believable ways, with people taking leaps they wouldn’t normally take. A teenage couple on their first date in front of a Taco Bell is reminiscent of a John Hughes’ movie — equal parts awkward and sweet. The song, “All Eyes on You” by St. Lucia, has an 80s synth vibe that gives the ad even more of a Hughes feel.

“For us, the ad captures one of those moments where you first felt really alive, where you borrow your parent’s car, hang out with your friends in a Taco Bell parking lot, and (possibly) steal your first kiss,” says Senior Copywriter Melissa Langston-Wood.

Director Zach Math, who also shot our other recent spots for Taco Bell, “Hola” and “The Most Obvious Idea in the World,” worked to create actual tension between the boy and the girl.

“He wouldn’t let them talk to each other until the actual shooting began,” says Senior Art Director Sara Oakley. “Then he ripped a 100-dollar bill in half, and said afterward they could tape it together if they went out on a date.” And in answer to your question, we’re not sure if they did or not!

Here’s to those small moments — and Cool Ranch Dorito Taco breath for your next kiss

Check out it out as AdWeek’s ad of the day.