The Cool Shit | John Alabaszowski

Like a battle ready ninja John Alabaszowski, VP Group Creative Director at MacLaren McCann, burst into our classroom. Imparting knowledge like a shuriken to the brain. Though truthfully his presentation was far less violent than how that sounds...

MINIBIO
John has been places. John has done things. You don't get to be VP Group Creative Director at one of Canada's largest agencies without having done things. Good things. Coming out of Ryerson's New Media program John brought his big ideas to NuRun, and Infinet Communications after starting out at a few small shops. Freelance called and John answered living the life of a renegade designer until settling in for the long haul (currently 7 years) at MacLaren McCann. He may have never attended Sheridan College, but today he's here, ninja style.

THE WISDOM
The world of design isn't so serious. Work hard and have fun. You can do the cool shit, the fun projects; they're out there. Go after then, work towards what you want to do. Show your interests and get involved, and definitely don't take yourself too seriously. Think broadly. Be open to possibilities. 

JOHN SAYS
YOUR PORTFOLIO. HAVE ONE
Put it online. Want to work in web? Be on the web
Show your best work
Put your strengths up front
Good skills are transferrable, show your skills
Let your passion and initiative show
Keep growing your book
Show it off
and for Godsake organize it!

INTERVIEWS. NAIL THEM
Be organized! Have your work ready to show and know how to show it
Know the company you're interviewing
Having a hook doesn't hurt but your work has to be good
Ask for feedback afterwards: "What did you think of my book?"
Listen!

THE JOB. GOT IT, NOW MAKE IT

Go after the work you want to do
Do what you're paid for, then do more
Be active, get noticed
Be part of the culture
Don't take criticism personally
More ideas die than survive
Don't be more drunk than your boss

WORKS

Here's the cool shit. John's worked on some huge and impressive campaigns, for some equally huge and impressive companies. He's been in the driver's seat with Chevy with sites for the Volt, the Sonic, and the Orlando. He's helped sell Locust Meat to hungry gamers for Microsoft's Gears of War 3 campaign. Though the coolest shit of all is the non-profit work done by MacClaren McCann's Kindred division: Camp Oochigeas. Whether you want to be slaughtering aliens into a gory mess or helping kids go off to camp and just be kids, there's cool shit out there, and you can be making it. 

SO?
Clearly John didn't go full ninja mode on us (we saw him after all) but he definitely brought the cool shit. The big guys aren't so bad after all it seems. Job=Fun is a great lesson to learn. Thanks John. Smokebomb. Gone.