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Wrath of Cannes Winner Tells His Tale

Last Thursday, while the advertising world frolicked on La Croisette at the Cannes Lions Festival, New York ad agency Woods, Witt, Dealy & Sons held the third annual Wrath of Cannes “award” show in Brooklyn. Beer was savored, the state of the industry was discussed, leading to more beer being savored, and dozens of juniors and students displayed their wares in hopes of winning the Grand Coney, the highest honor at Wrath of Cannes — if you can call a trophy of a man with his head up his ass an honor.

When the night was through, art director Alan Kwon took home the esteemed Grand Coney for his print ad for Crunch Gyms (well, he took home the honors and an IRO fixed gear bicycle; the actual Grand Coney trophy stays in the Wrath of Cannes Hall of Fame.)

Now Alan is no stranger to us at ihaveanidea. Okay, he was a stranger until we met him at Portfolio Night 7 New York a few weeks back. So we connected with Alan to find out his life story. After all, as a Grand Coney winner, he’s gonna be in high demand.

“I was born and raised in Chicago IL by my two lovely parents whom are originally from south Korea. I was your typical innocent Catholic school boy. I went to undergrad at the university of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, then onto the Chicago Portfolio School to become an art director.”

“I wanted to get into advertising because it’s a field in which creativity thrives and big ideas have power over rank or privilage. The pay aint bad either! I believe advertising is sociology in action. People today are so cynical about advertising, so I think it’s more about connecting to a person’s passions that already exist in them. Everytime you do an ad for someone, you’re trying to solve the puzzle into their comfort zone. If it comes down to one thing, I love connecting to people and being curious about the world. Wheter it be a great ad or your true love, when you understand something so completely, it’s the greatest feeling in the world. Advertising as a profession is a desk job that makes you think outside the desk. Being Asian, my parents always pushed me to be financially successful yet they gave me the option to do what I was passionate about. I think we hit the sweet spot.”

“Umm, I hope that wasn’t too tacky.”

Come on Alan, you just won a gold plated man with his head up his ass. Tackiness isn’t an issue.
crunchcoupon Wrath of Cannes Winner Tells His Tale

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