THE WEEK(s) IN REVIEW: WEEKS 1 - 5

By M. Susan Wilson, Word Wrangler and Blog Editor


So, yes, the blog's been a bit dormant the last couple of weeks. But that's because the Ping Pong crew has been buzzing around the office, gearing up for the quarter. And have we got plans, baby! We're going to take this town by storm.

Here's the rundown of what we've done so far.

WEEK 1 (April 6-10)

The first official meeting of the Ping Pong Club (held on Tuesday, April 7) was a big, fat kick-off event. We even had an agenda. And a white board.

Assignment 1 was handed out: To create an ad campaign for a cosmetology school, the current brand leader in the region. If any of the ads we create are strong enough, our Headmasters/Fearless Leaders (Frank and John) will take them to the (potential) client.

Also on the roster for the inaugural meeting:

• Our Ping Pong Club team poster, the design and management of which was assigned to Design Diva Becka Wilson.
• The making of a documentary film, tracking the concepting, photographing/layout, and completion of the poster, assigned to Copy Cat Suryn Longbotham.
• The Ping Pong Club's official Web site (up soon!) and blog (both assigned to me, M. Susan Wilson, Word Wrangler).
• And the assigning of cleaning duties (I'm in charge of wood surfaces and kitchen duty—as you can imagine, I'm very proud).

WEEK 2 (April 13-17)

At this week's Ping Pong Club meeting (Tuesday, April 14), I was, um, not in attendance. They tell me there was face painting and ponies, but I'm fairly sure they're lying.

They also tell me there was a Big Presentation of our first concepts for the beauty school campaign. Becka Wilson had teamed up with me. Suryn Longbotham had teamed up with Dina Supino, a freelance friend of Square Tomato.

A few concepts were chosen to move forward. Refinements of those concepts would be reviewed the following week.

WEEK 3 (April 20-24)

Once again, I was AWOL (or IFFMCW--In Florida For My Cousin's Wedding). This time, they tell me everyone in attendance got a new car. Again, I am dubious.

They also tell me final concepts for the beauty school campaign were selected. (Next step: to create presentable mock-ups for the client.) And, Assignment 2 was handed out: to create catchy ad concepts for a local leader among sex-toy shops.

WEEK 4 (April 27-May 1)

This week's Ping Pong Club meeting was a hoot. But, then again, how can you go wrong when your ad concepts have dildos in them?

There was some blushing. But there were also some really rockin' ads. Per usual, our mentors gave us some constructive criticism and advice for moving forward with our strongest concepts. (They also giggled a little.)

WEEK 5 (May 4-May 8)

Aside from submitting refined mock-ups of our sex-toy-shop ads, the Ping Pong Club this week made it's photo debut. The crew gathered on Tuesday, May 5, at the Seattle studio of photographer Doug Landreth to capture some truly awesome action shots and portraits for our club poster and collateral. Check out the sneak peek, above.