The Willy Wonka of Design

Thursday night I went to an AIGA lecture. My professor was nice enough to dismiss class so we could go. I really wanted to attend I had been planning on it for the last month or so, but as it got down to the last minute I started thinking that I probably should just stay home and work on my assignments, because I am really behind. Well after humming and haaing around I decided I needed a break and jetted to SLC to hear Brian Collins of Oglivy & Mather (and his dept. BIG) discuss design. And I just need to say that going to this lecture was probably one of the best decisions I have ever made. First off, Brian Collins is a very entertaining lecturer, and I needed a good laugh. Next, it was nice to hear that my storytelling approach is a good way to go. Back in my architecture days my design process/philosophy was: "Everyone and everything has a story to tell, and my job as a designer is to tell that story creatively." Which was basically Mr. Collin's concept. He was continually saying, "You have to find the story." Lastly, I just needed to hear someone talk passionately about design. Now it's not that my professors and peers aren't passionate, because they are. Just lately, the energy doesn't seem to be there. And Brian was just so romancing and seductive in performance about design. His enthusiasim just reverberated off the walls. He was like a kid in a candy store, telling everyone about his favorite candy. He is just so in love with design, after talking about the Hershey's campaign I couldn't help but think of him as the "Willy Wonka of Design." He gave that boost I needed to get excited about what I am doing again.