We’re thrilled to announce the FindSpark members selected to be students of FAME by Grey x FindSpark: The Famous Academy of Modern Effectiveness. FAME is a free, selective portfolio program exclusively for FindSpark members from diverse backgrounds who are creative, hard-working, ambitious, and proactive but haven’t had the opportunity to attend a formal advertising portfolio school.
Students will learn fundamentals of the advertising business in an intimate, inclusive setting and leave with work for their portfolios, new connections, and mentors.
Read more about the story behind the partnership between FindSpark and Grey for FAME in AdAge.
Alexandra Glembocki
Focus: Copywriting
Fordham University
English Language and Literature, General
Ali is currently a marketing coordinator, writer, and editor with an interest in art, music, publishing and design with passion for connectivity and connection.
Recent ad campaign that inspired you?
I’m a big fan of American Eagle’s recent campaign AE X ME, which uses a multi-platform, multimedia technique to highlight young creatives’ lived-in, day-to-day style using American Eagle pieces. It’s organic, personable, and opens up natural ways for American Eagle fans to participate by following the highlighted artists’ social media channels to get to know them better/support their work, and also by giving fans a chance to be featured on AE channels using the #AExME hashtag. The highlighted creatives come from all disciplines and backgrounds, and the imagery isn’t overly curated; they’re shown how they see themselves.
Alicia Prieto
Focus: Art Direction
Hunter, CUNY New York City College of Technology
Studied Communications Design Advertising Major
Alicia Prieto is originally from Russia, she was raised in Mexico City, and now resides in New York. Her goal is to create socially conscious advertising that reflects the changes happening in the world. She is most excited about collaborating on projects and learning from the best at GREY.
Recent ad campaign that inspired you?
A recent campaign that inspired me was the TurboTax 2018 Commercials. I thought the idea behind it, that there’s nothing to be afraid of, was very clever! I also think that the way the ads were shot was genuinely scary until the reveal, which made them a lot more effective since it made the viewer feel fear then relief.
Alvaro Olmedo
Focus: Art Direction
The New York Institute of Technology
Studied Communications Arts
An urban boy from the south of Brazil, Alvaro is an aesthete at heart, passionate about non-linear narratives, bold statements and the nuances of everyday life. Fascinated by finding meaning and beauty on the small things and blowing them into witty aesthetically pleasing projects. He has lived in 3 continents and enjoys bringing cultural references to everything he does.
Recent ad campaign that inspired you?
Controversial to say the least, Seamless campaigns always manage to capture New Yorker’s attention, and their Special Instructions campaign did it with humor and wit. By simply taking quirky and weird special instructions users had included on their orders, Seamless brought the New Yorkers behind the screen to light, making it super relatable and eye-catching on what otherwise would have been a boring subway ride.
Andrea Hernandez
Focus: Art Direction
Penn State University
Studied Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
Andrea Hernandez is an up-and-coming Creative from Queens, NY. A proud Penn Stater, her academic expertise is in Women’s Studies and Latino/Latina Studies. Andrea values innovation, creativity, and progress. She is excited to be a part of FAME as she takes this leap into the world of advertising.
Recent ad campaign that inspired you?
Last month, Diesel set up a “fake pop up shop” with real Diesel clothing, except the branding was called “Deisel”. This advertising strategy was brilliant, in my opinion, because the experience opens up so many conversations about brands, branding, marketing and consumer tactics.
Andrew Cardenas
Focus: Creative Resource Management
Ramapo College of New Jersey
Studied Marketing
Andrew is curious about everything. Well, except for cupcakes and donuts — he doesn’t seem to be interested in desserts for some reason. What really defines him is his passion for his work. Everything he touches is carefully orchestrated from the consumer’s point of view. I guess that’s why he loves documentaries and conferences. He’s almost like a sponge full of quirky facts.
Recent ad campaign that inspired you?
Nissin Cup Noodles @originalcupnoodles – their social media is goofy, youthful, & shareable!
Anita Criollo
Focus:Art Direction / Design
Baruch College, City University of New York
Studied Marketing
Anita will soon be graduating from Baruch College with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing Management and is excited to apply what she’s learned in either the profit or non-profit sector. When she isn’t studying for exams, she can be found bringing her creations to life through her favorite weapon of choice, Illustrator. She draws inspiration from textile patterns, nature, magazines and other artists. She is most excited to learn about Art Direction and Design.
Recent ad campaign that inspired you?
If I had to choose one inspiring campaign it would have to be Escolares Útiles by Zavalita Brand Building for Mi Banco. The word útiles translates to supplies. The word útil means useful. This campaign is centered around the question, “Qué tan útil eres?” / “How useful are you?” Throughout the video, the spokesman asks us to reflect on the effectiveness of one’s education. It ties in how Mi Banco is prepared to finance courses for students when consumers take out a loan with them. This campaign really made me reflect on how we can misuse our education. It encourages viewers to step outside the guidelines and ultimately make an impact on the world around you.
Ashley Hobbs
Focus: Art Direction
Georgian Court University
Studied Journalism
Ash is a Jersey girl (who recently learned to pump her own gas) with a background in writing and education. She is inspired by all forms of storytelling, collaboration, and travel. Ash is thrilled to soak up everything she can about art direction by participating in FAME.
Recent ad campaign that inspired you?
I loved Secret deodorant’s ‘Stress Tested For Women’ campaign last year. With all of the movements for women in the past two years, the campaign was well-timed and the copy paired perfectly with the artwork.
Chante Harris
Focus: Copywriting
American University
Studied Communications, Legal Institutions, Economics, Government (Interdisciplinary)
Chante Harris’ passion stems from encouraging others, tapping into the power of words and helping individuals incorporate positivity into their everyday lives through shared connections and experiences. In her current role, Chante is a business strategist and consultant for brands and companies looking to create and maintain long-term sustainable growth in the New York market. Understanding that today’s brands are personal, she is inspired by the ability to connect businesses to people, and looking forward to gaining more insight into the industry of copywriting through FAME.
Recent ad campaign that inspired you?
Mastercard’s Start Something campaign with Sza.
Javed Eid
Focus:Art Direction / Design
Iowa State University
Studied Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
Javed’s background is in engineering, He went to Iowa State University to study Aerospace engineering but he also have a great passion for art and design. Design has always been compelling to him. He is influenced mostly by movies. The most exciting part of FAME for him is the ability to turn concepts and ideas into reality or to bring it in front of people and influence them.
Recent ad campaign that inspired you?
The ad campaign called “Think Different” was put out by Apple in 1997 has inspired me because this particular ad campaign is very unique and different hence the title Think Different. Instead of telling how great their computers are or in what way they are better than any other computer company like IBM, they talked about their core values and what they believe in and why they do what they do.
Nelson Morales Jr.
Focus: Art Direction
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey-New Brunswick
Studied Journalism and Media Studies
Nelson Morales Jr. hails from Newark, NJ but spends time in New York working with bloggers, influencers, and models creating images and videos to enhance their brand, promote products, or generate content for blog posts. His inspiration comes from looking at magazines, editorials, and various Instagram accounts to create something new and original. The part of FAME he is most excited about is creating a portfolio that will allow him to use his experience while branching out into the ad world to show what he can do in any future campaign.
Recent ad campaign that inspired you?
One of my favorite campaigns at the moment is for Apple’s new device, Homepod, which Spike Jonze directed a short film about a woman (played by FKA Twigs) who had a long day and uses music to escape her confines while in her apartment. What draws me to this is how all the effects of the stretched out apartment were created in real time with no digital graphics (except for the second dancer which has FKA Twigs’ image overlaid) showing how it feels to be in the moment when there is a great song that makes anyone feel excited. I see this ad and it gives me the inspiration to step up my creativity and want to pursue projects in photography and video similar to this campaign because there’s a story being told with very little dialogue and the viewer has to follow along to see how she is when music is in her mind.
Paola Cruz
Focus: Copywriting
LaGuardia Community College
Studied Journalism
Paola Cruz is a Filipina. She came to NY five years ago to fulfill her creative pursuits. She gets her inspirations from the people she meets who produce meaningful work—witnessing their enthusiasm and genuine passion for making other people’s lives better by creating something worthwhile. She is mostly thrilled to meet and learn from the mentors and other students from FAME program. She cannot wait to share her ideas!
Recent ad campaign that inspired you?
Recently, I saw an ad from CP All, a company which operates 7-Eleven stores in Thailand. It tells the story of the property market-stall owner, who is perceived as a cruel person for verbally distressing the tenants, who are behind their payment for rent. In the ad, someone takes a video of a certain scenario and it suddenly went viral. The lady owner was judged by millions of people because of the video—condemning her and saying unpleasant things about her. Little did everyone know, the lady boss actually has a big heart. She was the one who helped the tenants get back on their feet and secure a stall in the market so they can have a business. “Never judge a book by its cover” indeed. It’s an old and monotonous saying but it never loses its significance especially when people today can get easily sucked up in the dangers of social media. The ad is timely and a reminder for viewers that we cannot all be too subjective—always learn the other side of the story. I admire the creativeness that’s been put into the ad—the story is impressively told—it is honest, relevant and impactful. This Thai commercial is one of the things that inspire me to be a better person thus I aspire to create such meaningful work that will inspire others, as well.
Phoebe Yu
Focus: Copywriting
University of California, Riverside
English Language and Literature
As a California native, Phoebe Yu’s exposure to advertising was mainly through billboards and fruit stands along highways. In addition to these mediums, Phoebe was (and still is) an avid consumer of magazines and frequently papered her walls with interesting and colorful ads. Now, as a FAME student, Phoebe is excited to learn more about creating well-written and visually stunning work that will hopefully be on a billboard or in a magazine one day.
Recent ad campaign that inspired you?
StreetEasy ads on subway trains.
Quratulain Annie Hussain
Focus: Copywriting
Queens College, Hunter College
Studied Political Science
Annie Hussain is a native New Yorker who loves writing, volunteering with animals and exploring her home city. She gains inspiration by looking for the details in everyday life, from random street art to unexplored places that are overlooked. What excites her about FAME is the opportunity to make change through creativity and create campaigns that will benefit people in the long run!
Recent ad campaign that inspired you?
A recent ad campaign that inspired me was by Dawn soap. It inspired me because it’s a campaign dedicated to giving back to the animal community and inspires others to do better by becoming involved in being more aware environmentally.
Ricardo Verdesoto
Focus: Art Direction
City University of New York, 2017
Studied Public Relations, Advertising, Applied Communication, and Journalism
Growing up in South America allowed me to experience and understand many aspects of life that simply do not exist Stateside. Things like villages, indigenous people, and a culture (at the time) largely untouched by any American influences, made it a truly unique place for me to be raised in. After emigrating with my family to New York City in 1999, I quickly realized how much more there was to learn for me to fully adjust to life in a new place – an unknown place.
Recent ad campaign that inspired you?
Dolce & Gabbana Fall 17 camping, It blended the simplicity of every-day life with the high fashion that the brand is known for.
Sabera Qazi
Focus: Art Direction
City University of New York at Baruch College
Studied Business Communication with a specialization in Graphic Communication
Born and raised in New York City, Sabera Qazi has always been interested in fashion, beauty, and the arts. Sabera currently majors in Graphic Communications at Baruch College and spends her free time blogging for her own website, saberaqazi.com. She is excited to be apart of FAME to help further her understanding of advertising and to make memories that will last a lifetime.
Recent ad campaign that inspired you?
An ad campaign that I found inspiring was T-Mobile’s #LittleOnes Superbowl Ad. In this ad, T-Mobile used babies to show diversity and empowerment that we are all equal. Being a large company and having a great platform to speak out, I believe T-mobile did a very inspiring act by pushing towards equality. The use of babies as well was great, as babies are all innocent, bright, and equal no matter their race or gender.
Shannaine Franklin
Focus: Art Direction / Design
CUNY New York City College of Technology
Communication Design
Shannaine Franklin is from New York City. She draws her inspiration from interpersonal experiences and creating genuine human connects with her peers and mentors. She loves working in groups to hear and learn from people that come from different backgrounds, both gender and racial wise. And will jump at the possibilities to develop her skills to become an all-around creative and valuable member of her team.
Recent ad campaign that inspired you?
Whirlpool – Care Counts™ Program
When I think about advertisements, I’m usually attracted to ads that have some kind of emotional attachment or reaction to the human senses. This ad made me feel emotional sadness and pain.
Shirley Yu
Focus: Photography
Rutgers University
Computer Science
Shirley Yu was born in 1994 in Beijing and moved to New York City in 1998. Today, she is working as a photographer, photo editor and photography producer. She practices photography out of love. She’s inspired by her experiences, which leads her to photograph women that live double lives, women who use their personal style to express elements of themselves that they want to show rather than say and women who have worked hard to live by their own rules. At FAME, she’s excited to meet mentors, for advice and guidance, and expand her portfolio.
Recent ad campaign that inspired you?
I love when ad campaigns partner with an artist or photographer known for a unique visual identity. Think about H&M and Wes Anderson holiday campaign! More recently, OkCupid commissioned the multimedia artist Pierpaolo Ferrari, who doesn’t shoot conventional commercial work, to shoot their “DTF” campaign. I love the campaign Pierpaolo stays true to who he is as a photographer, using his humor, wit, and whimsy and OkCupid supports him to be true to himself. OkCupid x Pierpaolo Ferrari campaign inspires me because it reassures me that I won’t have to deviate from the core of my visual identity to be successful.
Stephanie Nam
Focus: Copywriting
University of Pennsylvania – The Wharton School
Studied Economics, Concentration in Marketing
Stephanie is an artist, maker, and designer. She enjoys sewing clothes, calligraphy, drawing, dancing, playing music, writing poetry, and dabbles in comedy. She has always been intrigued by words which is what inspired her to become a polyglot and is excited to use these interests to pursue copywriting alongside talented and inspiring people!
Recent ad campaign that inspired you?
The StreetEasy ad campaigns that are currently in subways inspired me. They use simple words and maps to simply describe their product while also appealing to a variety of people and adding a touch of humor. I found myself wanting to read all of them while on the subway which is not how I feel about many ads on the subway.
Tina Solo
Focus: Art Direction
New York University
Studied Media, Culture, and Communication
Tina Solo loves rich color palettes, humanist sans serifs, and a good Oxford comma. She’s originally from Brazil and currently in Brooklyn. She draws inspiration both from award-winning TV shows and from Tumblr mood boards. To her, the most exciting aspect of FAME is the opportunity to get proper coaching after years of somewhat cluelessly winging it.
Recent ad campaign that inspired you?
I’ve been inspired by OKCupid’s “DTF” campaign. Though I have some qualms about how well the premise works, I think the visuals are absolutely stunning. I love how vibrant the colors are and how surreal the photos get. Plus, the campaign can get really bold with suggestions about sex, drugs, and politics, so I love how daring it is. Any time I’m in a subway car that contains these ads, it’s impossible to notice any competing messages. Here’s AdWeek’s take on it:
Vienhang Yeung
Focus: Strategy
University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business
Studied Business Administration
A Florida native, Vienhang Yeung is an aspiring strategist trying to break into advertising. Whether bungee jumping off Macau Tower or interviewing farmers about their soda preferences, she is constantly in pursuit of new experiences and knowledge about the world around her. As a FAME participant, she is excited for the chance to finally dive into the uncharted creative world.
Recent ad campaign that inspired you?
The Missed Spaceflight: I absolutely love anything to do with astronomy and budding technologies! This campaign combined both of my interests and showed me how there may be a cure for FOMO after all.
Congrats again to all those selected!
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