Hi! I'm Elyse Ash, a Minneapolis-based advertising copywriter. I love all things design, pop culture and creative. Think in Bright Colors is a compilation of my favorite ad/design/interactive work, inspirations and beyond. To check out my advertising portfolio, visit www.elyseash.com.


Quote

May 21, 2013
@ 9:47 am
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It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

— Theodore Roosevelt, The Man in the Arena


Video

May 20, 2013
@ 10:02 am
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This trailer for the upcoming documentary Sign Painters looks interesting AND fantastic. Maybe I am totally biased, but who hasn’t wanted to take a glimpse into this world?

It’s coming to Minneapolis in June and I just know Diana Quenomoen will want to go with me! It’s coming to some other smaller cities as well, so don’t fret. Check out the dates and locations heresies.


Video

May 17, 2013
@ 12:05 pm
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Writing a novel—especially a rich one with a lot of characters—can get confusing to write very quickly. That’s why many authors have some sort of outline or blueprint during their writing—to keep them on-track and accountable for all the plot points and such. Check out this collection of handwritten outlines by famous writers and their famous novels here. My favorites are above in ascending order: JK Rowling for Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix, Joseph Heller for Catch-22 and Sylvia Plath for the Bell Jar.

(Via FlavorWire)


Video

May 16, 2013
@ 4:48 pm
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designcloud:

Side by Side project 

The world is full of contrasts, and contrasts are full of beauty. 

Side by Side project uses Instagram as its main platform. The idea is to choose a couple of pictures from different Instagram users and put them together to create a contrast or relation between them.

Be part of Side by Side project, post your creations here at our fan page and tag your friends.

Facebook

(Source: cosascool)


Chat

May 16, 2013
@ 12:16 pm
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Jordan: We're going to be golfing too, which is another sweet form of "exercise."

Elyse: Ugh. Golf is just a good walk ruined.

Jordan: Ok, Mark Twain...


Video

May 16, 2013
@ 11:19 am
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62 years ago, Jack and Betty were high school sweethearts. At the age of 81, the two found each other (thanks, Internet) and decided to schedule a rendez-vous to try and reconnect. A quick-thinking filmmaker who was on Jack’s flight from LA to DC, made this adorable short film. The whole thing is VERY “Love in the Time of Cholera.”

(Via UpWorthy)


Video

May 14, 2013
@ 1:19 pm
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Sorry for the blog diarrhea today. Guess there’s a lot of cool stuff on the Internet and not that much stuff on my to-do list.

I love this new spot by BBH London for Robinson’s juice. Talk about a great twist ending. In fact, it feels more like a short film than an ad. If you want to learn more about how it was made (and the copywriting and art direction decisions behind the spot), read this article over at Ad Week.


Video

May 14, 2013
@ 1:09 pm
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I love these ridiculously photoshopped classic paintings (now with more celebrities!) from Worth1000. It’s amazing how old timey and shockingly non-out-of-place some of these stars look. Check out all 25 here.


Photo

May 14, 2013
@ 11:29 am
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It’s such a great feeling. Getting a card in the mail from one of your favorite people (shout out to Meg Staley!) full of gossip and news and jokes. And when the card itself is also just about perfect? That takes the cake. She sent me this gem in the mail, which I got yesterday. And oh boy, does that girl know me or what?
The only thing that would have made it better, would have been if she got Ryan Gosling to lick the envelope shut.
You can shop the card here at Grey Moggie Press. 

It’s such a great feeling. Getting a card in the mail from one of your favorite people (shout out to Meg Staley!) full of gossip and news and jokes. And when the card itself is also just about perfect? That takes the cake. She sent me this gem in the mail, which I got yesterday. And oh boy, does that girl know me or what?

The only thing that would have made it better, would have been if she got Ryan Gosling to lick the envelope shut.

You can shop the card here at Grey Moggie Press. 


Quote

May 14, 2013
@ 9:03 am
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To achieve great things, you need a plan and not quite enough time.

— Leonard Bernstein


Video

May 14, 2013
@ 8:58 am
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Oh, Minnesota. I am having a total lovefest with you as of late. Not only are you about to become the 12th state to pass a gay marriage amendment (today, maybe???) but you also have these cute little towns with very weird customs.

Dorset, Minnesota has a population of 22 people, and their current mayor is 4-year-old Bobby Tufts. In Dorset, mayors are picked by drawing names from a hat and serve a one-year term. It reminds me of Ben Wyatt’s character on Parks and Rec who bankrupted his hometown when he became mayor of Partridge, Minnesota at the age of 18. That being said, I dare you not to smile when you watch that video.

Original story here.


Quote

May 13, 2013
@ 1:35 pm
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I love people. Everybody. I love them, I think, as a stamp collector loves his collection. Every story, every incident, every bit of conversation is raw material for me.

Sylvia Plath

(Get some other quotes by this brilliant, tragic lady over on Matchbook)


Video

May 13, 2013
@ 1:20 pm
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South African artist Katrin Coetzer is showing her latest exhibit called “Honeymoon” at Salon91 in Cape Town. And wow. Her work is just beautiful. Airy, yet textured. Grounded, yet fantastical. I’m loving all these pieces (especially “Lion Around.”) See all the pieces of the exhibition here.

(Via Miss Moss)


Video

May 13, 2013
@ 12:58 pm
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Did anyone else catch the new Oreo commercial during last night’s Mad Men? I DVRed right through the spot, but caught it as it made the blog rounds this morning.

I really wanted to hate it. Really. I did. And yet, here we are. And I am in love. The song is pretty catchy and uplifting. It’s cheesy but with just enough edge/surprise to prevent it from being saccharine. I’m wondering who their target demo is. It feels very college-y to me, but then again it’s on during Mad Men. Do college kids watch Mad Men? Is it geared towards me? The Juno-loving, Converse-wearing, don’t-wanna-grow-up-no-matter-what Millenials? I’m not too sure.

And even though the story in this spot makes NO sense, I think it’s imaginative and whimsical and just sort of funny. Cheesy? Yeah, ok sure. But Oreos are pretty cheesy. So it makes sense.

Plus, this doesn’t align campaign-wise at ALL to their Superbowl spot which premiered just like 3 months ago (Remember?) So that’s curious…

Ok, I’m done asking questions and being confused. Clearly this blog post has no focus or point and was not at all thought out. Sorry for this Monday Morning Mind-Dump.


Video

May 8, 2013
@ 1:43 pm
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What’s better than Jimmy Fallon and John Krasinski? Jimmy Fallon and John Krasinski competing in a lip synching contest, that’s what.