HATCH

Whats your biggest challenge been this month?

Our biggest challenges this month, other than learning how to ride the bus, were each other. When you start this project you quickly realize everyone is just as passionate as you are and cares about the work they are bringing to the table. We have to work with each other on deadlines, discussing creative concepts, and even just deciding what makes it to through the final cut.  You learn to put your ego on the back burner for the sake of putting out good work.

How is Hatch different from what you learned in school?

One big difference was just how each approached advertising campaigns. Within the HATCH program, you get to truly learn how to concept and execute a campaign from start to finish. You get a bit of guidance, but overall you’re trusted to get the job done and ask the questions that matter. That was something in itself that seemed to stick out over our experience in academia.

How has your team bonded?

AAGH, how haven’t we bonded? We’ve laughed, cried, argued, and compromised with each other on a daily basis. Happy hours help, but when you spend 4 weeks trying to create something that’s typically spawned in 4 months, you get real comfortable with one another.

What are you looking forward to most post-hatch?

Being able to apply learned skills and tactics to the real world setting. Oh, and sleep. Lots of sleep.

What have you learned this month?

Career wise, we learned how to pretty much deliver a campaign from concept to pitch. Out of work, we got to love the work itself. We stayed late, brought work home, and had our best dreams and worst nightmares come out of this process.

What is your team playlist?

-The Final Countdown by Europe.

-Lift Yourself by Kanye West

-Don’t Cry Out Loud

-I Will Remember You by Sarah McLaughlin

What comes next?

That’s a good question. Some of us are going back to school while others are looking to break in and find the start of our careers in Advertising.

Reading this and want to learn more about the HATCH program and the 2018 team that kicked its ass? We’d all love to get coffee and hear about why you want to hire us ;)

Drop into our DMs, tweet at us, anything you think might catch our attention. We’d love to talk.

What’s HATCH been up to? We've been lost in the metaphorical concepting sauce. There is now only concepts. Sip our kool-aid and find out what Creative team is getting themselves into.

What’s been your biggest challenge so far?

“(Maniacal laughter) what hasn’t been? It’s been hard understanding the workflow and that sometimes we have to go back to square one even if we’re emotionally attached to an idea. As they say, never go with your first idea.”

How is HATCH different from what you learned in school?

“Everything about HATCH is so fast and furious. We realized very quickly just how much we don’t know. It’s akin to being a babysitter for a night compared to moving into your first apartment--there is just so much more than what you expect.”

How has your team bonded?

“We’ve taken some field trips, both to the library for a burst of inspiration and to a coffee shop just for a change of scenery. There’s also been loads and loads of inside jokes… and fun times like making origami doves and learning to dance the hustle.”

What are you most excited for?

“The big pitch on Thursday. Wait, no. Actually for Friday when the hardest part is over. And I suppose we’re also excited to see the concepts and ideas we’ve been thinking, saying, doodling and living become tangible real world things in the mind of the client.”

What is something new you learned this week?

“The big idea concept has to come before tactics! And, coming up with the big idea is nothing short of exhausting, time consuming, and emotionally draining. Alec in particular learned just how much stitches in your thumb cost and what it’s like to take a Lyft to the hospital…”

What is your current team playlist?

“We had a fantastic early 2000’s pop playlist going the other day. Everything from Gwen Stefani to Hilary Duff. Truly inspirational. “

What do you do when you’re overwhelmed?

“It’s always nice to get out of this little cube of a room and take a walk whether it’s to the park or to go get a soda, it’s just nice to get out of here for awhile. It’s also an important part of the creative process to step out and refill our coffee for the 14th time, actually.”

What is your favorite thing to do after work?

Hey good question! 

! STOP !

This is your chance to ask REAL agency interns REAL questions about their REAL work. If you wanna ask us about the process, our skills, our favorite flavor of ice cream, or anything else send us an ask! 

We’re back! This week, we're tackling target personas, taking a break from research and facilitating the brief to our creative team. So today, we sat down with the Account team as they weigh in on how the process has been moving along and what new things they learn every day. We sat down with Lydia, Maegan and Tia to get their perspectives.

What’s been your biggest challenge so far?

“It has been challenging trying to keep everyone on task and keep the project moving along according to the timeline. We’ve had fewer whole-team meetings, so it has been difficult figuring out how to ensure things are going smoothly across the board.”

How is HATCH different from what you learned in school?

“In school, they tell you what to expect with every project, and there is always someone who has the definitive answer. In the real world, everything is a lot more vague. Also, it’s exciting to see how an agency actually functions. You can read about it on paper and do tours, but you don’t really get a feel for how it works until you see it in action.”

How has your team bonded?

“Being a team of just 3 people, it’s been really easy for us to do things like have lunch in the park and take time to just hang out in the sunshine. Working towards the same goal has also made us closer just by virtue of sharing our thoughts and ideas.”

What are you most excited for?

“We are excited to learn more about media plans and how influencer marketing works. Aside from things we have yet to learn though, we are also looking forward to seeing what the creative team produces and our client pitch, of course.”

What is something new you learned this week?

“We learned a lot about producing consumer journey maps, another thing they don’t teach you in school! Oh, and we also learned that if the Light Rail is coming in 9 minutes, you do not have time to run to Starbucks. You will miss the train.”

What is your current team playlist?

“Lately we’ve been jamming to a lot of country and some indie acoustic bops! We also listened to a podcast earlier, but I’d say our anthem is Lift Yourself by Kanye West… but only the last 30 seconds.”

What do you do when you’re overwhelmed?

“Make a list. It’s important to prioritize, especially when you feel like you have to be a part of every project going on within the agency. It’s also important to remember we can ask our mentors for help at any time, especially as far as figuring out what needs to be done and if we are on the right track.”

What is your favorite thing to do after work?

“We all keep up with the Bachelorette! It’s also nice to wind down with a glass of wine, and do a little bit of yoga sculpt if I’m feeling motivated. And I try to stay outside as long as possible to take advantage of the sunshine after being in the office all day.”

The Brief: Learn it, live by it, scribble it onto your arm like 8th grade math answers.

We’re kicking off our HATCH mini-blog with a Q&A from our outstanding research and strategy team! We want you to have the inside scoop on our experience here at HATCH. So, follow along to see our progress, as well as our thoughts and feelings. Here’s the first week’s look into the learnings and the doings of HATCH.

What was your biggest challenge this week?

“Aside from adjusting to waking up and getting motivated for that 9 to 5 grind, we’ve been working through a LOT of research information, and trying to figure out what to prioritize and what to put in the “Random Fun Fact” folder.”

How is HATCH different from what you learned in school?

“School has been a lot of learning in a hands-off sort of way. That’s not HATCH. Also, in school, every project is based on a hypothetical situation where it’s ok if you don’t know every detail, but that’s not the case here!”

What is the most interesting thing you’ve learned?

“We’ve come to realize that we don’t know nearly as much as we thought we did. That, and that a lot of strategy is informed by what you don’t know more than what you do.”

What are you most excited for?

“The handing off of the creative brief, for sure. I’m looking forward to seeing how the transfer of power from strategy to creative will impact the final product, and how our teams different strengths will work together.”

What’s something new you learned this week?

“We’ve all learned the power and importance of teamwork; you are going to either sink or float together. And, that relying on others actually makes you a better teammate. One person can’t do it all.”

What’s your current team playlist?

“All Fleetwood Mac, all the time, but currently, Where is My Mind by The Pixies” seems appropriate.”

Best way to get through a challenge?

“Talking through everything in detail, and trusting that the answer will show itself. Remembering to absorb every bit of information, just in case. And, lots of Post-It notes. Lots and Lots.”

What is your favorite thing to do after work?

“Sleep. And, packing the next day’s lunch, because the grind never stops.”

Delaware on Day 1:

"Until you step into the unknown, you don’t know what you’re made of.”

“If you’re reading this and have signed up for HATCH, or are considering signing up for HATCH, this post is dedicated to you.

HATCH is unlike any experience I’ve ever had. And that’s saying something coming from somebody who has traveled all of Australia and once literally ran away to join a circus. HATCH is fast-paced, exciting, challenging and forces you to use your brain in ways you may never have. You’ll be forced to meet tight deadlines, consider every angle to a strategic or creative idea, and immediately kill ideas that you thought were brilliant. While this challenge may seem daunting, don’t let it scare you away. The four weeks you’ll dedicate to HATCH will provide you with as much, if not more experience than you’ll gain at a traditional three-month summer internship in advertising. If you dive in completely, you’ll be given opportunities to gain a ton of tools and explore rare nooks and crannies of what it’s like working at an advertising agency. That being said, you are in complete control of how much you gain from HATCH. “What you put in is what you get out” is truest at HATCH, so challenge yourself to feel uncomfortable for a month; it’ll be worth it.

ALSO, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE MENTORS + HUNT ADKINS TEAM!! While they may be busy with their own work, they’re expecting you to branch out and introduce yourself.  If networking isn’t your jive, consider it a part of your work at HATCH. Full disclosure: while Hunt Adkins may have a “No Bullshit” approach to their attitude and work, all the employees are super sweet and serious about seeing you excel at HATCH and afterwards.

Last, but not least, have fun! You’re going to meet really flippin’ dope people at HATCH. Many HATCHers are like-minded, motivated and ready to make an impact.  Before you know it, you’ll all be really close, vibey and have a million inside jokes (don’t let your inside jokes seep into your social media agenda). Whether you’re still in school or just graduated, HATCH will provide you with an amazing opportunity to meet extraordinary people in the industry. If you’ve already committed to HATCH 2018, best of luck - you’re lined up for an exciting ride. If you’re still considering the opportunity, well, just take the blue pill.”

Scrapbook, back cover.

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Scrapbook, pg.18

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We are beyond grateful for the sick gifts from our mentors! They’re exactly what we needed in these final hours before the pitch. 

T-24 hours before the client walks through our door.

**MOOD LEADING UP TO THE FINAL PITCH**

Scrapbook, pg.17

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