Jillian Marie Brown

Good things are on the way.

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More blathering/unsolicited career advice. Like and share and blah blah blah so more people see it and I achieve fame and fortune on LinkedIn. Also, if you find these ramblings wise, please know I am available for freelance CD/writer work and will include such thinking when you book me, absolutely free of charge! Vol. 8 of Unsolicted Career Advice. After a project wraps, ask for feedback from your CD/boss how it went and what you personally could have done better. I began this practice when I felt like I sort of blew a project. I was on production on a fairly high-stakes campaign and working on another project at the same time. It was kind of a garbage project, but nevertheless I wanted to impress Chris Ford, the GCD I was reporting to. Once the project was over and the results were, you know, “fine,” I approached Chris to talk over what worked and what didn’t. I was clear with him that I felt I didn’t perform my best, but I still wanted to learn from the experience and didn’t want my showing on this project to be his only window into working with me. One note on when to do this: wait until a few days after the project’s shipped and gone, but not more than a week or two because everyone’s attention span is about 3 seconds. Either do an impromptu pop-by when they don’t seem busy, or set up a quick talk beforehand. Be as open as possible that you want to learn and improve, but also be as open as possible to hearing feedback you don’t want to hear, without getting defensive. I kept this practice up, especially on projects that went less than smoothly. It was always a good window into how to work with others, learn from my mistakes, and improve the way I operated at work. Transparently, it was also an attempt to gain respect from the higher ups and better position myself for bigger opportunities. It seemed to work in that regard and always seemed to be appreciated by those I asked. I definitely learned from it, so continued it when I could. Were I to change this practice at all today, I’d also consult producers, strategists, and account people I respected to get feedback as well so I was a more pleasant and effective coworker than I currently am in my state of serious enlightenment*. *This is an attempt to use false arrogance to bring levity and humor to the brief. I do in fact think I am more pleasant and effective that earlier in my career, but I still have a lot to learn. As covered in an earlier edition, I am a ray of fucking sunshine to work with, however. #UnsolicitedCareerAdvice #GreatestLinkedInfluencerEver

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"Venom" vector game card illustration for Funko's awesome Marvel Battleworld (Series 4) game. It goes without saying I'm a HUGE and lifelong Marvel fan - loved doing these! #toys, #toyindustry, #toypackaging, #childrenspublishing, #childrensbooks, #childrensillustration, #kidlitart, #kidsbooks, #packagingdesign, #characterdesign, #boardgames

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Photoshop could be unrecognisable in five years' time. I interviewed some Adobe execs to find out where things are heading.  Https://https://lnkd.in/eax9nQ2c #photography #photoshop #adobe 

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A Brief History of Creativity, Fourth Installment, which finds Americans driving on the left side of the road. Springfield, Missouri had a traffic problem not unlike ones that exist all over the US: at one particular intersection, it could take up to 20 minutes to make a left turn. So Gilbert Chlewicki, a traffic engineer, suggested a risky workaround: diverge the traffic at the intersection so that all lanes actually swap sides, and when it’s time to take a left turn, you’re already on the left side (and oncoming traffic is to your right). He named it the Diverging Diamond Interchange. He's an engineer, not a writer. That was in 2009 (Gilbert first presented a paper on the idea in 2003). Today, there are over 150 in the US, with 80 currently under construction. Some people don’t like the idea of driving on the left side of the road, but the consensus is that it saves time and reduces accidents. Needless to say, Gilbert is now a bit of a rock star among the fluorescent yellow vest-wearing crowd. #creativity #engineering #traffic #driving #transportation #problemsolving #necessityisthemotherofinvention https://lnkd.in/esfSxDVm

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Doing some late-night reading. I feel like things have been stagnating a bit lately with Mason Ayres Creative, as it seems like no matter where I turn, there are so many opportunities that turn to smoke and mirrors as soon as I engage them, which is disheartening. The economy is struggling, and that's leading to a lot of clients choosing to hold off on engaging in our previously discussed plans - which really hurts the bottom line of my business. I've been looking for solutions, and I came up on this article by Wandering Aimfully on different strategies to take on when business is stagnating. https://lnkd.in/eKKPjn5k And a big part of that article is about "Limiting beliefs." I'll be the first to admit that if there is one thing in the world that I am the ABSOLUTE BEST at, it would be justifying my insignificance and reducing my capability on paper and in practice. After which, I seem to pick clients that are "at my level." This is a bad idea. Often times the ones who are "at your level" when it comes to limiting beliefs, aren't even up to the level of being able to pay you. Struggling with confidence in a world where you can instantly view projects and work of a hundred people who are better than you at what you do and younger than you is a hard sell for your case. After all, if you're a decent person, you'll always want the client to go for the best option for them. The problem occurs when these justifications start echoing throughout your business. There's not a lot you're going to be able to say to a client when you genuinely believe you're mediocre. It's often hard to see the bigger picture, where you're actually in the top 1% of people in the world with that skill, and you don't know it because you're looking at the top .01%. Like everyone else, I want to strive to be perfect. Unfortunately, that unrealistic pressure causes the opposite effect to happen, where I (and many others) self-limit the clients I choose to work with because I believe that I'm not a viable option for them. I have a huge lack of confidence. Which is unfortunate, considering I'm fluent in the entire Adobe Creative Suite, professional photography, am able to direct, shoot, and edit videos completely on my own in many different genres, can create branding strategies for businesses that actually make sense with the core of their identity, am fluent in HTML, CSS, and Wordpress, can draw traditionally as well as digitally, have and probably will again create viral content reaching millions of views on social media, have the ability to really listen to someone's concerns and come up with creative solutions, and always stick my neck out whenever I can to make sure someone is happy, or that the right thing is done. I guess that's not enough to be confident about. Anyone else struggling with this? #creativeblock #limitingbeliefs #creativebusiness #graphicdesign #photography #mentalhealth

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Laura Silverman questioned at the beginning of this episode why Kirk Visola (he/him) would bring her on the Kirk + Kurtts Design Podcast - as she's not the typical guest profile - but Kirk and I thought, why WOULDN'T we bring her on? Introducing the term "NAnthropologist" - a mash-up of "NA" and "Anthropologist" - to describe the field Laura has pioneered. Her knowledge of the non-alcoholic beverage brands is expansive, and she doesn’t just look at what brands are cool (like Kirk and I do) - her assessments are multidimensional and thoughtful. When she gives recommendations (and she gives many in the episode - listen for them!), you take note and immediately go out and buy all of it. This is such a fun and timely episode with all the focus on the #NA category and the shift in drinking culture to less or no alcohol at all. And as Laura says, she's at the nexus of this industry. Listen in and learn from Laura: https://lnkd.in/epUSmg2i And make sure to follow Laura and Haylee Jordan and tune into their next #NADossier episode. And please review the show if you have a sec! #DesignPodcast #MentalHealthAdvocate #NonAlcoholicBeverages #ZeroProofLifestyle #PodcastEpisode #Branding #MindfulDrinking #DesignInspiration #betterwithbuttermilk

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This was a really cool read. After finishing the exhibition last year, I feel like the universe is putting more cool stuff my way that I think aligned with the hypothesis of the transparency project: "How representation affects reality". Not only does there seem to be more visibility for Trans identities, but from Trans creatives and stories BY people of that identity. Obviously, there is more work to be done, but this potential shift is what I was hoping to see more of and hope continues. https://lnkd.in/egxz2xKX

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Adobe Premiere Pro just got an AI upgrade! Adobe Firefly now adds generative magic to your video editing. #AI #PremierePro

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Recently, the team has been discovering how to make the most of Adobe's Generative AI updates, specifically for more corporate purposes (spoiler alert: it's not just for creating fantastical masterpieces, although that is fun too!). We've put together three simple how-tos that are applicable to our typical in-house marketing, so keep your eyes peeled on Jigsaw24 over the coming weeks to find out more. #jigsaw24 #generativeai #adobeai

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I once thought AI was scary and didn’t want to even look at it. Now…we’ve got #ai #studios helping us expand! 😂 these are tools to help us get better not to take our jobs. #innovate #tech #podcast #business

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I’ve just published a new blog on Curved Screens VS. Sharp Edges Screen for Anamorphic content: Which is better?, and I would love to hear your thoughts. Do you believe curved screens provide a better viewing experience? How do they compare to other types of screens in your opinion? Check out the blog and share your perspective in the comments. https://lnkd.in/dtMJR6YW #anmaorphiccontent #doohmedia #dooh #ooh #oohmedia #userexperience

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🎥New Project Spotlight: Wedding Video trailer 💍 I'm excited to share my latest work on editing and color grading a beautiful wedding function video! Capturing and enhancing these special moments was a joy, and I'm proud of the final result. #WeddingVideo #VideoEditing #ColorGrading #PostProduction #WeddingMemories #FilmMaking

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Sometimes, it takes time to see what you can't initially see. When the Apple Persona VR solution was announced, my question was, beyond the cool factor, who is the "persona" or customer for a $3,500 solution? Often, we see Apple as a B2C firm with the iPhone, Mac computer, and Apple watch products. However, a couple of weeks ago, I visited a family member in the hospital. One of the things that caught my attention was how embedded the iPhone is in the nurses' daily tasks, from tracking medications tied to the patient's armband to recording vitals. The brief glimpse I got of Apple's medical B2B ecosystem, makes me believe the first place the Persona will roll out is with existing ecosystem partners in the B2B market. Apple's $25B (WSJ) B2B enterprise market will help them iron out the use cases for the Persona first before it rolls into the B2B consumer space. Looking forward to seeing which segments move on this first.

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For my fellow creatives out there, fill in the BLANK: •You do what you do for a living because ________. Hold on a second, there are some ground rules: You can't mention perks like pay, PTO, flexibility, tech, the people, the culture, power/leadership, office environment, the $5,000 coffee maker, or the collaborative environment. You get the picture. And you can't take the high ground either. Of course your job benefits others (customers, clients, co-workers, community, non-profits, your boss, and your boss's boss). This question isn't about them; it's about you. Sure, it sounds good and makes you feel all warm and fuzzy, but in this exercise, the answer must be selfish. I'm sure it's getting harder for some of you, right? You might be mindlessly moving along your career journey, tagging milestones without reflecting on your BLANK. Ultimately giving up 40-plus hours a week for what? Others? Benefits? Being a creative isn't about any of those things. Those are simply by-products of BLANK. When a creative idea hits me at 2 am, I don't jump out of bed compulsively because it will impact others or result in a higher payday. No. I bust my toe in the dark because of the BLANK. It's completely selfish. I'm placing my own needs and priorities above all else for this insomnia-inspired creative endeavor. This happens all the time. Have you figured out your BLANK? If so, reverse engineer it: •Because of BLANK, I _______. This should elicit a whole host of answers, hopefully positive ones. Funny how that happens. My answers: •You do what you do for a living because it's FUN (I'm a simple man-child). •Because I'm having FUN... I am passionate, eager to learn, want to share, willing to work harder and longer, motivated to try new things/experiment, hear and accept new ideas, willing to sacrifice, overlook compensation, urge to collaborate, forget ego/pride, and I'm happy.

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Check out that input speed. Imagine what this means for AI applications with the heavy weight towards input tokens. Conversational AI applications, streaming data inputs, caching for summarization, etc. The horizon looks really bright for Groq.

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As someone who has spent over 10 years pursuing stories and films that I hope can make a (small) difference, I am deeply troubled that Participant, the company that inspired me more than any other, has just folded. But I draw inspiration from Brad's message here - that the work mattered, beyond the bottom line. I'll carry on focusing on that, and worry about if I ever make something that pays my rent second. Because that IS the way to make things that matter (not to mention feel good to put your name to). Step by step. With the help of those who connect with each project. Theme by theme. Personal story by personal story.

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