LIA Insider / News
05 September 2024
LIA Insider Issue 349
Hanna Smith a Mentee from INNOCEAN USA Shares
Reflections from the Creative LIAisons Virtual Coaching Program
Story by: Hanna S
mith
Art Director
INNOCEAN USA, Huntington Beach
Meeting up with three industry professionals was an amazing experience, which taught me so much about creativity, agency life, and how to navigate the professional world as a creative.
Firstly, I met up with Julia Dovlatova, a Prague-based executive creative director for Geometry. She gave me beautiful advice on how to seek out clients and projects, which have a lasting impact on the world, with an emphasis on more than just advertising. She gave wonderful insight on how to search for a problem for a client and how to strategically come up with a solution, keeping important aspects in mind such as demographics, budget, and overall strategy. Julia taught me that design is so much more than just beautiful imagery. Strategy, storytelling and problem-solving is key for big clients and everyday people alike.
Next, I met up with Mario Kerkstra, Creative Design Director at AMV BBDO in London. Mario and I had a really fun casual conversation, where I asked for his advice on what to put on my online portfolio, how to find my illustration style, and how to stay creative and inspired in a sometimes monotonous career. He gave me advice to take any and all creative opportunities, which may arise, so that I become a well-rounded artist. He also suggested posting everything to my website to show a diversity in skills, and with time, my style will gradually become more and more cohesive. His passion for branding and creativity was infectious.
Lastly, I met up with Kathy Delaney, Chief Creative Officer of Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness/Public Health. Kathy gave me a wonderfully joyous, funny, and heartfelt account of her time in the creative industry, starting from her time at art school and detailing the various types of clients she’s worked with, ranging from banks, cars, food products, sports, and of course, the health and wellness industry. We talked at length about managing a good work-life balance and how to find a career path which aligns with your personal desires and outlooks on life.
Overall, my experience doing the 2024 LIA Creative LIAisons Coach and Mentee Sessions was super fun, helpful and a rare opportunity to get time with industry professionals one and one! I’m so excited to take what I’ve learned and apply it to my own career path.
Next, I met up with Mario Kerkstra, Creative Design Director at AMV BBDO in London. Mario and I had a really fun casual conversation, where I asked for his advice on what to put on my online portfolio, how to find my illustration style, and how to stay creative and inspired in a sometimes monotonous career. He gave me advice to take any and all creative opportunities, which may arise, so that I become a well-rounded artist. He also suggested posting everything to my website to show a diversity in skills, and with time, my style will gradually become more and more cohesive. His passion for branding and creativity was infectious.
Lastly, I met up with Kathy Delaney, Chief Creative Officer of Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness/Public Health. Kathy gave me a wonderfully joyous, funny, and heartfelt account of her time in the creative industry, starting from her time at art school and detailing the various types of clients she’s worked with, ranging from banks, cars, food products, sports, and of course, the health and wellness industry. We talked at length about managing a good work-life balance and how to find a career path which aligns with your personal desires and outlooks on life.
Overall, my experience doing the 2024 LIA Creative LIAisons Coach and Mentee Sessions was super fun, helpful and a rare opportunity to get time with industry professionals one and one! I’m so excited to take what I’ve learned and apply it to my own career path.
Jake Barrow Shares His Experience as a
Creative LIAisons Coach
Jake Barrow
Group ECD, Sydney & Melbourne
VML
Melbourne
VML
Melbourne
Yesterday I met one of my mentees, Francisca Duhamel Berríos, Copywriter at Cheil Chile. She’s a riot.
It was our first session of the 2024 LIA - London International Awards mentoring program.
Clearly a creative person, Fran also had the extra, importance piece of the puzzle that will make her go very far in this industry – drive. That’s probably the best piece of advice I could give to a young person trying to make an impact in the creative industry. Creativity is one thing, attitude is everything.
Thanks for making the call fun, Fran! You are a credit to your network, don’t forget about me when you’re running it."