Dog handler, assistant swim instructor, and Miami Ad School Europe student Mariel Bulaong is currently a creative intern at Ogilvy & Mather Paris. Bulaong shared some of her insights and experiences with adobo magazine:
What are some of your tasks as an intern at Ogilvy & Mather, Paris?
Here at Ogilvy, I work in a creative team with two friends also from Miami Ad School, Colby Spear (Copywriter) from the US and Carine Howayek (Art Director) from Lebanon. Together, we work on real agency briefs and present our ideas to senior creatives for feedback.
What was the application process like, and how did you end up getting the internship?
The application process is pretty easy, at least for the students. You upload your book into the Miami Ad School online platform, enter your first three choices for internships, and hope for the best. I had my first year of Miami Ad School in Hamburg to build my portfolio from scratch. We have great teachers and mentors in school and the agencies; most of them have been working in ad agencies all over the world, so we know that we’re in good hands.
What has been the most challenging part of your internship so far?
When it comes to work, my biggest concern is always the impression I leave in an agency. It’s definitely a challenging environment, but Colby, Carine and I have definitely learned a great deal from the people in the agency and especially from our mentors, Benjamin Dessagne and Stephane Santana. It’s inspiring to be taken seriously as a creative team working on real briefs from big clients, but it also puts a lot of pressure on us to present our best stuff.
How about the most exciting part?
I’d say that the most exciting part of being in Ogilvy is that our ideas have a real shot at getting produced. It’s not just a crazy student idea being presented to teachers. Here we have the opportunity to see our stuff turn into real executed work.
Why did you choose Paris?
Choosing an agency to intern in was definitely a hard decision to make, since Miami Ad School offers so many amazing internships all over the world. Frankly speaking, when you’re choosing between agencies in New York, Paris, Stockholm, London, or São Paulo, any choice would be good one. In the end, I heard really good things about Ogilvy Paris from former students and chose to apply there together with Colby, who was my team partner during my first year of school, and we later teamed up with Carine as well.
What are some similarities and differences in design trends that you’ve observed in Manila, Germany, and Paris?
I think it’s clear to see that both Germany and France have huge art scenes; you see it everywhere, in the streets, inside bars and cafés… not just in museums. Although they have very different styles, Germany with very modern, minimalistic design, and France with a more intricate, detailed design influence, I’ve learned a lot from both places as an art direction student. The Philippines has a few more steps to go before art is celebrated as much as it is in Europe, but I can proudly confirm that the Manila art scene is present and growing with a lot of new talent to show off.
How do your interests influence your design process?
The ocean is a very big inspiration in my life. Growing up, I was always with my family at the beach on the weekends and during school breaks, so I guess that would explain the influence of that element in my work. For example, when I was in Germany, I came up with a book called Flow for a typography class, which I filled with design and photography inspired by the ocean.
What does it take to be able to reach opportunities outside Manila?
Nowadays, I think it’s easier than ever to be discovered by creative people outside Manila. All you really need is an idea that you know is good, and share it online. Before social media, I can’t imagine how hard it is to “make it” outside your city.
After your graduation, what are your next plans? Do you intend to join the industry in Manila?
As of now, I have no concrete plans after I graduate. It all depends on what my options look like. Let’s say, if I have the opportunity to work somewhere in Europe or the US, I would take it — at least for now. On the other hand, I would love to go back home to be with my friends and family for a longer period of time. Ad-wise, I think Manila has a lot to offer, so I’d also love to see what I could do there.
Who are your design heroes?
Tough question. I draw a lot of my design inspiration from film. I love recognizing a director’s personality being translated into characters and a storyline, especially in animated or stop-motion movies. I’ve looked up to people like Baz Luhrmann, Tim Burton, Don Kenn, and Michel Gondry for the individuality of their work. I could also spend an entire day browsing through my favorite Tumblr design and photography blogs, as well as art blogs like Juxtapoz and Buamai.
A print campaign for Momentum, headphones by Sennheiser designed to be compatible with all smartphones. Art direction and copywriting by Mariel Bulaong.
