ART TALKS - Today, DECEMBER 6, 623 S. Wabash, Room 203, 6:30 - 8:00. An Introduction to the Brand Utopia. A no holds barred presentation that explores what's happening as this next generation of brand consumers combine their will, their technology, and their taste to transform the brand landscape.
SPEAR CREATIVE GROUP
One of the youngest brand strategists in the country, Spear is regularly sought out for his fresh perspective and no-holds-barred style of consulting on everything from design and gadgets to authenticity and word-of-mouth. Recently his main focus has been the power of the blogosphere, technology, and the impact this new media is having on the world. Josh’s recently launched creative brand consulting company, Spear Creative Group, has already been retained by an impressive select clientele. Spear has assembled a unique team of seasoned strategists, cutting edge designers, and proven trend spotters dedicated to supporting companies to effectively evolve to the next level of visibility, efficiency and excellence.
JOSH SPEAR
JoshSpear.com emerged in 2004 from the back of a Journalism 1001 class. Josh was disappointed with the way major academics ignored the blog-phenomena as a credible form of media. This blog began as a place to catalog those things he saw from a wide range of sectors both online as he surfed the web and offline as he traveled around the globe; he began writing daily about things he liked, reviewing products, ideas, people or places that inspired him.
Today, the blog is a daily source of inspiration for marketers, brand managers, advertising executives, and a wide range of everyday people from around the world who love to stay ahead of the curve.
Spear likes to say he represents a group of people who aren’t shy about saying what they think. He’s a trend spotter, a writer, climber, designer and DJ. Spear currently lives in Boulder, CO although he’s frequently on the road to inject life into the site.
AARON DIGNAN
Co-founder of Brandplay, Aaron Dignan is an accidental brand evangelist, who came to the industry from an education in psychology at the University of Colorado at Boulder. What began as research into the brand development processes at national brands like Apple, Starbucks, and JetBlue became a fanatical obsession with brand strategy, and eventually Brandplay, which was one of the branding firms selected by Seth Godin (author of Permission Marketing and Purple Cow) for inclusion in the Bull Market directory of remarkable resources.
A charismatic speaker for brands like McDonald's, Leo Burnett, and the University of Colorado, Aaron's thinking on the future of brands and the concept of "The Brand Utopia" has earned him a reputation as the next generation of brand guru.
The word on the street.
“I don’t like to share these types of resources, but I owe it to these guys. I just
hope you’re too busy to meet with them. If you meet with them I hope you don’t
believe them. If you believe them I hope we aren’t competitors.”
Norm Shearer, Creative Director Cactus Marketing, Denver
“As one of the blogosphere’s freshest “voices”, Josh Spear clearly understands the
ins and outs of this community of highly opinionated individuals. He is one of the
key architects redefining how consumers can influence the adoption, advocacy or
vilification of products purely through digital word of mouth.”
Rose Cameron, Senior Vice President, Leo Burnett, Chicago
“Aaron Dignan has an uncanny knack of speaking the truth about your brand and
showing you how this truth can make you resonate with early adopters.”
Rose Cameron, Senior Vice President, Leo Burnett, Chicago
Let me say again how much I enjoyed your presentation last Thursday. It was quite thought provoking...”
Adenia Cooper, McDonald’s Corporation, Chicago
http://www.joshspear.com/item/brand-utopia-chicago/