How To’s
Tips for Successfully Transitioning Focus Groups Online
Until COVID-19 upended the world as we know it, advertising focus groups were in-person events, often held at special facilities where clients and agency staff could watch the responses from behind two-way glass. Earlier this year we scheduled a series traditional focus groups for the Perinatal Health Initiative (PEI) within the San Diego Health and…
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The Ultimate Guide to Successful Recruiting – The Interview
It seems so simple. Establish a need for a position. Write out what you’re looking for in a candidate, and people will come calling in droves. Well, turns out that’s not exactly how it works. Recruiting is hard. Writing, refining, interviewing and even the DECISION process, all take precious (and otherwise billable) time away from…
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A Complete Guide to Campaign Measurement
Before we get going, let's address the elephant in the room: measurement is boring (to most people). That's why we've done the leg-work and research to understand the essentials of campaign measurement for you! In this post we're going to outline the importance of measurement and distill down a few of the key considerations when…
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How to Provide Value During Coronavirus
In this time of unprecedented crisis, many businesses are struggling to balance a need to generate revenue to support continued employment against the stark realities of life amidst a global pandemic. While no one wants to appear to be taking advantage of the situation for financial gain, we must sustain as much commerce as possible…
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How to Write Blog Posts People Will Want to Read
Before diving into the world of blogging, it’s important to know how to write blog posts that people will actually want to read. Blogs are supposed to be informative, but not dry and clinical. They’re not a college essay, and shouldn’t be written like one. With dedicated time and effort, a blog can become extremely…
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Why (Some Of) Your Ads Should Suck
Ah, the advertising creative process. It’s why we do our jobs. Who doesn’t want to spend their days coming up with exciting, challenging, clever words, concepts, and images that impress our friends, make our moms proud, and delight our clients so much that they want to kiss us on the lips? Of course, all of…
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Interview Tips for New Creatives in Advertising and Design
Civilian conducts a decent amount of informational interviews with students interested in the creative field, as part of our mentorship efforts. It’s a good way for recent grads to practice interviewing, plus get feedback on their work and how they present. As a bonus, these meetings are great networking opportunities for both sides. After every…
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Jessica’s Untitled Zine Project – Part 3
Part 3 of 6: Like-Minded Individuals Disclaimer: After extensive research (aka one google search), I have come to the conclusion that what makes a zine a zine is that the creator calls it one. So, in the interest of unwavering accuracy: no, the independent comic book I am going to bring up isn’t technically a…
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Jessica’s Untitled Zine Project – Part 2
Part 2 of 6: Straight from the Source: An Interview with Joel Barber In order to get a first-hand account of what making and marketing a zine is like, I interviewed Joel Barber, a comedian and writer whose zine, Million Dollar Underwear, I have contributed design and illustrations to in the past. Joel offers some…
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Jessica’s Untitled Zine Project
Part 1 of 6: An Introduction and History Lesson The rise of social media, especially as a marketing platform for brands and individuals alike, has not only given a voice and reach to individuals and artists, but has also dragged some of the more traditionally “underground” forms of artistic expression to the mainstream. For example,…
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