By Priscilla Castro

Four weeks ago, I was lucky enough to enter through the doors of Deutsch LA, and entered a very orange world of advertising that had enough energy and spirit to match its sunny and bright Los Angeles surroundings.

I toured Deutsch LA thanks to a kind invitation to the Cal-State Long Beach University Marketing Association. I’m always a little nervous when I tour ad agencies. I always try to think of what essential things to ask, and how I should network with people, and always feel intimidated by those that I meet along the way. But here at Deutsch, I felt a different vibe that made me feel I was welcomed with open arms. I mean, what other place has ever let me write a blog for them?

I was dressed in my best casual business clothes, hoping to make a good impression with my most professional demeanor. But although Deutsch is definitely a business-forward setting, I learned that here you don’t have to dress like you’re in an episode of Mad Men. It made me feel kind of silly being business casual when everyone else is rocking their favorite sneakers with jeans.

You don’t have do feel that you have to be stuck in your cubicle to get your work done. The environment here is very interconnected. I saw that reflected the company’s take on diversity, and how Deutsch embraces different ideas, cultures, and backgrounds, especially with its wonderful employees we were lucky enough to meet.

It seems that part of the reason that Deutsch has created so many brilliant advertisements is the integration of different ideas and thinking outside from your usual line of thought, which Deutsch does so well.

It is no question to me why Ad Age has noted Deutsch as one of the “Best Places To Work.” The company is a character in itself, and while it goes out to give brands like Volkswagen, Dr Pepper, and Taco Bell their own a voice in pop culture with entertaining and attention-grabbing adverts, they still manage to put in their own fun and distinctive flavor.

The culture that has been embraced here, along with the work ethic, is something that makes a recent college grad like me drool at the thought of just stepping inside. And the Deutsch dogs that sit all snuggled up in their humans’ cubicles are definitely added brownie points for best place to work. I think they should plan an annual Deutsch Dog Show, because I know if I worked here, my dogs would have some stiff competition for “Best In Show.”

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!

The Coachella Music Festival can pull in some of best music acts in the business, but it’s also a festival—and that brings with it all of the standing, the sunstroke and, well, the outdoors.

Deutsch LA’s Julie Matheny, along with freelance art director Ivan Cash and freelance technologist Scott Blew, created a way to bring the joy of discovering new music to you, on your couch, away from the heat and hipsters with the Couchella Music Festival.

The curated online music festival, featuring only original content, showcased the best of what the internet had to offer, from the humblest of stages: the couch. The idea was born as part of a promotion for the Art Director’s Club Portfolio Night 11 LA. The team was put into a room for 24 hours and asked to concept something that would be worthy of their books.

“YouTube is great, but it’s so big that it’s hard to find real, original music, way harder than a few years ago,” Julie says. “We wanted to create something that celebrated the good stuff, and find a way to elevate it so that it stood out from the rest.“

You can relive this magical music festival at http://www.couchellafestival.com/ and check out the playlist.

The hour-long sparring match was moderated by Steve Jarmon, an assistant professor at St. John’s University and Columbia. The opponents: Deutsch NY’s Chief Creative Officer Greg DiNoto and the outspoken Barbara Lippert, media critic and columnist at MediaPost.com.

The panel dug into why Go Daddy’s “Perfect Match” grossed out consumers and critics, yet triggered not only the best buzz but also record sales for the brand. Barbara was pretty adamant GoDaddy’s advertising “devalues the kiss”, and asked, “how something so beautiful (kissing) can be made so disgusting?”

Spoken like a true Deutscher, Greg said, “Barbara had all of the hostility—I was chill,” about the discussion. Greg also noted the science behind “Perfect Match,’ is that the ad marries GoDaddy’s edgy brand with their reputation for taking care of customers in a way they think will be surprising and, more important, entertaining.

A vocal audience and spirited opinions Super Bowl ad made for a very lively debate. After the panel, Greg spoke with Doug Zanger, Creative Week Social Media Director, about the kerfuffle. Click here to listen to the podcast.

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.

Read more about the Target Dollhouse.

Read more about the Target Dollhouse and see the time-lapsed video of it coming to life.

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.