If it’s not obvious from the title of this blog post, we are looking for interns to join us for the fourth cycle of our internship program OrangeAid.

Let me rephrase that, we’ve gone through three cycles of the internship. Three. That’s an entire year. 12 amazing students. One brochure. Two identities. Two websites plus one in the works. One Milwaukee 99 award. One movement. And we want to do more of that, so join us. We are looking for big-hearted, passionate, talented, smart, curious and fun college students and recent graduates with 15 flexible hours a week and desire to learn, grow and help the community. Apply (click on this link) by December 18th, 2011. If you have questions, e-mail us at makeorangeaid@jigsawllc.com, reach out to us on Twitter (@makeorangeaid) or even ask a question on Tumblr (yes, how fancy!).

In case you haven’t been stalking us online (that’s OK, we still like you), here’s what being part of OrangeAid means, according to Joel Rottier. Joel has been an OrangeAider for two semesters now. He is an expert on the topic, so trust him.

Joel:

When someone asks me to describe my time at Jigsaw as an OrangeAid intern, one word comes to mind: Vortex. It was a word that I noticed scribbled on one of the dry erase boards around the office. I doubt it was suppose to mean anything important, but it represents a lot of what OrangeAid taught me. Coming into the program, I didn’t have much experience with deadlines or critiques other than what you learn in school. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I learned pretty quickly that OrangeAid doesn’t work like school.

Things. Move. Fast. You get one semester, and it’s up to you and your team to get as much done as you possibly can. You make your plan. You go for it.

I learned that your first idea is never the best you can come up with, and either is your second, third or fourth. You will get challenged every step of the way, and I can promise you, you’ll come out better for it in the end.

For future OrangeAid sponges, my advice to you: Leave judgment at the door. Never hold back. Leave no idea behind. Think outside of the box. Bring chocolate. Speak up. Have fun. Ask for help. Prepare to learn more than you could have ever expected to, and remember that the more you put into it, the more you’ll get out. At the end of the semester you’ll look back and wonder where the time went. It will feel like a blur, a vortex of experience, laughs, great people, lots of candy and the color orange.

So go apply! The deadline is December 18th. Get your application in early! Go above and beyond for your application. Do something awesome and show them what you’ll bring to the table. Read the application carefully and follow all the steps! Trust me, you wont regret it for a second.

There is nothing better than working on a brand with a soul—something I’ve come to appreciate about our client Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare while producing their recently launched brand campaign.

At the heart of the campaign is the simple truth—that when someone is sick, hurt, or in need, family and friends rally to do what they can to help. Whether it’s making a meal, sending a card, or a personal visit. As a member of the community, Wheaton does its part—with many convenient locations, expert providers, and the latest technology, as well as by demonstrating compassion and empathy. Beyond that, Wheaton and its associates are involved neck deep with the communities they serve through public service, volunteerism, philanthropy and more.

To cast the television and engage Wheaton’s staff, interviews were videotaped of Wheaton associates telling their personal stories of what they do at work and on their own time to improve the lives of others. The stories were profound and very moving, including mission trips to Guatemala to help patients who are many times left to die, providing primary health care to Milwaukee’s homeless, and acts of kindness as simple as playing music to comfort patients who are afraid.

The campaign—summed up by the theme line Making Our Communities Stronger. Healthier. Better.—includes television and radio spots, print ads and outdoor. A website and social media content was developed that provides visitors with useful tools and information that enables them to “do what they can” to help their family and friends. Original music was composed and recorded with talent including our creative director Nick Pipitone and our client Deb Kozina on vocals.

I’m proud of the work. It’s true to our client and has renewed my faith in the power of humanity.

It’s not a secret anymore in today’s market that user participation in social networks is more a necessity than it is a suggestion. With over 800 million users on Facebook (yes folks, that is the population of the entire continent of Europe) there is obvious demand by consumers for fun things to contribute to their social networks.

So when our client, Alverno College. came to us with the great news of being voted number one in the Midwest by U.S. News and World Report—we had an idea. Why not involve the students who made it happen? Why not give the students a chance to show their pride for their school? And why not make it fun?

So we got to work. It was simple. We created a 32×40 polaroid frame and recommended an event. Alverno created a fun lunchtime-in-the-cafeteria event, distributed the frame to students, and had a contest to encourage them to take their photos in the frame and update their profile picture on Facebook. Slowly but surely the news began to spread. Student and faculty participation turned into alumnae participation and tens of thousands of eyeballs could see Alverno’s news in their Facebook newsfeeds.

Who’s #1 in the Midwest? Why Alverno College is.
Special thanks to Facebook for making this way too easy and to our client for teamwork on a great idea.

After the Clios last year in New York

While I haven’t been too vocal about it,  it’s true—I got asked to judge the Clio Healthcare awards. What’s that? Well, it’s a newer awards competition, a sibling contest, similar to the long-standing Clio Awards, that is supposed to recognize the challenges that health care presents advertisers and agencies. Why me? Well mostly because we have won several statues in the three-year old competition. And given it’s an international competition, I’ll remain incredibly flattered. Especially since my peers include the likes of Helayne Spivak, former creative head at Hal Riney NY, Y&R New York, Ammirati Puris/Lintas, and JWT New York. And current CCO of Saatchi Wellness in NY. Winner of every creative award that matters to anyone who looks like me—CLIO’s, One Show, Art Director’s Club, and Cannes. Just to name a few. Among the others, there are impressive names from every corner of the globe. And then there’s me, from Jigsaw, in Milwaukee, WI.

Impressive jury, but that doesn’t change the way I approach my job. To me, a great idea is a great idea. And there are no excuses. not even in health care.  Not legal resrtictions or any other excuse. Just because the lawyers require 15 seconds of a 30 second spot for pharmaceuticals be legalese, doesn’t give that spot a handicap.

There were entries from around the world. Humbling, quite frankly. And there were plenty of great ideas. And there were plenty of bad ideas. But like any good awards competition—judged by professionals, mostly creative-types—by round two, the “wheat was certainly separated from the chaff.”  While I am sworn to secrecy about the judging, I can tell you the Clio Healthcare Awards is growing fast and in the right direction. Because it’s growing from a model set by a respected award show. The results are in tabulation and the show in October in NYC.

Thanks to all who run the competition, to my fellow judges and to the entrants. While I didn’t get a chance to go to NY to judge (it’s online), I doubt that getting the cast together that formed the jury would be possible any other way. I appreciate the chance to participate. I appreciate the recognition that we have accomplished in the short time Jigsaw have been in existence. I look forward to what we will accomplish in the future.

We went to a golf outing as a hole sponsor and conducted an experiment to identify the relationship between relevant, aspirational messages and the golf swing. Here are the results.