Just Like Me is a documentary created and directed by Havas Chicago, senior art director TTK Harris that spotlights Black creatives' contributions to the advertising and design industry and their influences on culture. The film also exposes the challenges many Black creatives face simply because of the color of their skin and reinforces the importance of representation in advertising and beyond. Just Like Me shares stories of triumph and inspiration from eight visionary black creatives who, against all odds, made it to the top of their game and are now throwing a line back to the next generation. Watch here >
The Marketing Meeting with Itir Eraslan
Why businesses need creatives who know strategy and how you can help
Douglas Davis, a strategist, professor of design and principal of Brooklyn-based consultancy, The Davis Group, specializes in helping creative teams become more strategic. His Creative Strategy Framework allows designers to organize the chaos in the creative process while weaving business strategy into design execution. In this op-ed, Davis discusses the framework and shows how you can use it to close the gap and answer problems with creativity that’s on brand, on strategy and on message. Read More >
Way Forward in Design Education: Fostering Friction, Frustration & Failure
Douglas Davis describes himself as “the professor who had no plans to go to college”. In a 30-minute conversation with him about his teaching practices and philosophies, I was struck by his wealth of knowledge about the design industry, his passion for using unconventional teaching frameworks and, ultimately, his care for students. Our conversation went in so many exciting directions that I could write several articles from it, but the theme of fostering friction, frustration and failure in the learning process stood out. And while this approach isn’t the most straightforward way to teach, Douglas reminds us that students are far better equipped to enter the world outside the classroom when they’ve been guided in their questioning rather than having been given all the answers. Read More >
Passing down knowledge and increasing relevance:Douglas Davis on Ed Benguiat’s impact on creative field
In this piece, Douglas Davis contemplates the impact of the prolific type designer and master teacher on his personal vision and creativity, then talks about the role of the TDC in creative fields. Brooklyn-based Douglas Davis, an Emmy Award-winning strategist, author, professor as well as the TDC advisory board member, took Benguiat's type class at the School of Visual Arts in 2010. Back then he was thrilled by both Benguiat’s unique teaching approach and how his personal values closely aligned with his own. Read more >