Artemis Ward

Attention is rented. Emotion is owned. The brands that understand that, will outlast everyone. This is one of my favorite most recent interviews. Thanks Chris Maier. Let me know your thoughts. Article: https://lnkd.in/eM87Uu6A Also hit me on IG at 3rdgeers 🖤

One of my favorite things about doing the IQ,UA interview series is that I sometimes get to sit down with somebody who I've never met before but feel like I should've met decades ago...because our minds seem to move in similar directions. That's exactly how I felt last week when I caught up with Walter T Geer III. Over the course of my conversation with him, we talked about the need to understand the emotional sides of our audiences, the importance of figuring out the "why" and not just the "what" in cultural moments, the lost art of listening before talking, and so much more. I already can't wait for the next time we chat. The IQ,UA with Walt is out today — an awesome conversation full of plenty of great insights and thought provokers to take into the rest of your week. cc: Artemis Ward https://lnkd.in/eCpyMN3H

The latest from me on signifiers, myth-making, and how to cast a spokesperson in an age where celebrity means everything and nothing: "As marketers, our job is to turn products into signifiers. We give them meaning by surrounding them with symbols that represent the qualities we want associated with them. The celebrity spokesperson is no different. While we celebrate different types of celebrities for different reasons, at its core, the celebrity myth is one of status earned through effort, talent, and skill. In a purportedly meritocratic society like our own, this myth is a seductive one. The celebrity — mythically speaking — is proof that hard work pays off, and the products they endorse suggest that you could have for yourself some part of what they’ve achieved." https://lnkd.in/exbWXW-T

My latest Substack on the rise of full meal content — because let's be honest, we've been snacking a lot. I compare the rise of longer-form brand content to the Slow Food Movement. Give it a read and let me know what you think. And follow The So What for more good reads. https://lnkd.in/ec5n9Qb5

I’m not sure any name has been referenced on TikTok more than Carolyn Bessette Kennedy. And I'm tired of watching people argue about her. More on that (and the state of TikTok conversation in general) in my latest for Artemis Ward's Substack. https://lnkd.in/ePJGnGUz

In this week's Friday Mixer, I address an important question: What would happen if Taylor Swift came to a struggling mall near you? The residents of Croydon in South London are finding out what a brush with fame can (or cannot) do for the Whitgift Centre, where key scenes from Swift's latest music video were filmed. https://lnkd.in/eMMpDfqD #taylorswift #cocktailpartybanter #celebrity #london

In the latest IQ, UA interview, I caught up with Jim Quindlen, VP of product design at The Atlantic — and we talked about what it means to design digital products and experiences that appeal to modern audiences without getting in the way of the journalism at the heart of the magazine. That means a design ethos centered on simplicity, intentionality, and restraint. Give the full interview a read to get a peek behind the curtain at The Atlantic and a glimpse into Jim's perspective on how product design can help one of America's oldest magazines find new audiences. https://lnkd.in/efCfkaY7

My latest contribution to The So What is something that's been bouncing around in my head for a bit now. We're surrounded by so much great art that has been taken to such amazing levels of perfection. But do we create new art forms anymore? I unpack why I think this is and what we can do about it. Give it read and give us a follow. https://lnkd.in/e64ixSEv

New from me on why everything sucks (and why I'm optimistic that we can make things better): https://lnkd.in/emQi79s8

Is the offline movement real — or is it just good content? In our latest issue of The So What, director of content Olivia DuCharme digs into the analog hype and what it means for brand work right now. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/eGRx9SqJ