Smithereens - A Creative Podcast

Ep. 9: Ladies Are Taking Over by Mr. Smith Agency, LLC

Trust and camaraderie in the workplace is important, and in our office, the best way to strengthen this bond is to bring in food. A lot of food. Last summer, our team decided to have monthly potlucks centered around a specific theme: Mexican, Italian, Thanksgiving. And after inhaling more food than usual, we pulled out the mics to talk about how these potlucks bring out fresh ideas, natural conversations, and a chance to press the reset button before diving back into work.

Consumer technology is all about giving users a unique experience, from the public-facing design to intricate control settings. So, how do we incorporate these trends into our own work? On this episode, we take a deep dive into the world of tech – from Teslas to facial recognition apps – and how these products affect not only consumers, but other industries that are incorporating artificial intelligence into their brand.

“Meth. We’re on it.” No, not us. We’re talking about the viral South Dakota anti-methamphetamine campaign that was launched last week to bring awareness to the meth crisis. This controversial tagline sparked an interesting conversation both online and inside our office – and that’s exactly what the agency behind this campaign wanted. On this episode, our team takes a look at this viral campaign and whether or not it was successful. We also weigh the pros and cons of taking huge risks as an agency and how we’d go about presenting those ideas to clients.

It’s Friday afternoon and you’re staring at a project on your computer screen. It’s due in 30 minutes, but you know it isn’t perfect. That hard deadline is getting closer and closer, so do you send those files off anyway? On this episode, our guests go back and forth on whether or not “perfectionism” is an attainable goal, or a complete hindrance. On one hand, unrealistic standards can push us to improve our craft. But this desire to publish perfect work can be a frustrating cycle that keeps us from publishing any work at all. So, where do we draw the line?

When you click on an ad, that means it’s intriguing. But when that click leads to an actual conversion, that means the ad has served its purpose. Now, what exactly made it so effective? On this episode, we talk about the last time we’ve seen a compelling ad that made us give up our email, or even give up some cash. Our team also looks at the way ads are targeted on different forms of media, and which brands have the most persuasive messaging.

For decades, we’ve seen companies stick to gender-specific colors, typefaces, and logos based on their consumer demographics. But when it comes to the future of branding and design, we predict more gender-neutral messaging. On this episode, our creative team talks about finding a balance between patterns, textures, and colors so that a design doesn’t feel “too masculine” or “too feminine.” They want their work to resonate with a person as a whole, and not just a person’s gender.

Problems can be positive. In our office, we see every challenge as an opportunity to find a creative solution that propels our agency forward. It’s all about changing the way we look at the issues in front of us. On our latest episode, we talk about how creative problem solving is a test to great teamwork. Everyone on staff is tasked with leaving their egos at home and coming to work with an open mind. It’s the only way to approach a project with a fresh set of eyes. But when you have a team of people with different views and skills, what’s the most effective way to tackle problems as a group? Our guests give their thoughts.

Shampoo, guitars, lipstick. We may or may not use these products every day, but does that have anything to do with how loyal we remain to the brand? Google says brand loyalty is “the tendency of some consumers to continue buying the same brand of goods rather than competing brands.” But in 40 minutes, we realized this term isn’t so easy to define. On this episode, we’ll look at what brand loyalty means, why we can’t turn away from our favorites, and at what point we’d walk away from the products we love so much.

Welcome to Smithereens, a podcast by Buffalo, NY creatives talking about great big ideas in tiny little pieces. Our team at Mr. Smith Agency had planned on creating a podcast over a year ago to serve as a creative outlet and fun internal project. In the last six months, we finally got around to it. We’ve recorded our first season and it’s ready to launch. Are you excited? On this intro episode, you’ll get to know our two co-hosts, Tom and Jared, who will interview other members of Mr. Smith’s team as guests. We’ll be looking at design, tech, and other cultural trends through the lens of our agency. You’ll get to know our favorite brands, our least-favorite marketing strategies, and how we solve creative roadblocks.