Suggestions
Alison Matheny
Creative Director & Marketing Consultant | My Studio, BEST, Fills Today's Creative Services Gap 🙂 | 20+ Years Evolving the Brand Experience
Alison Matheny is the founder and creative director of BEST, a multi-disciplinary studio specializing in identity, marketing, art department support, and special projects. With over 20 years of experience in the creative industry, Alison leads teams in developing systems for sustainable growth and engagement through creative solutions.2
Alison founded BEST Creative Studio in 2014, which offers comprehensive support, exciting brand engagement, and a streamlined partnership experience.2 The studio comprises remote talent with the capacity of a full agency and the agility of a freelance designer, providing top-tier deliverables with proven processes.2
Before founding BEST, Alison worked in New York City's creative industry for a decade, holding positions such as Creative Design Director at DETAILS Magazine and Art Director at Lucky Magazine.3 She has experience in managing teams, producing large-scale photo and video shoots, and working one-on-one with new brands.3
Alison splits her time between upstate New York and the Gulf Coast of Florida.1 She is also a writer and artist, and has published several collections of her writings, including "News from the North" and a Substack called "May I Please Be Excused".1
Alison's approach to creative work emphasizes organization, meeting deadlines, and attention to detail.2 She is known for her ability to inspire teams to produce fresh work through collaboration and for handling multiple projects with an equitable attitude.
Highlights
I maintain that AI images are ick. The writing is a bore. But the analyzing of meeting data to inform and develop creative strategies? Say more.
In the linked webinar (hosted by Harvest which I use to time track), legend Andrew Nelson speaks on our collective expectation for SPEED driven by a cute combo of excitement and fear.
To be a marketer in 2024! 😏
This means clients (and I'd argue...anyone?) expect more value in less time. More strategy, less time. More creative, less time.
Traditionally I've been skeptical of AI, but as someone who loves to cross things off a list, a next-step recap, and most of all an earlier cocktail hour, I'm listening.
My favorite hack is constantly tinkering the prompts of your AI bot taking meeting notes in the background so that it's really figuring out what the client pain points are, how creative is (or isn't) impacting their business. Then translate that transcript-style so I can brief my team not to mention actually be present on the Zoom.
Scott Galloway says AI isn't going to take your job. Someone who understands it will just show up and prove they can provide more value for less money.
It's the AI as a tool vs AI as literally me that I can get behind. A smarter way to use tech while also upholding that good ole human integrity. 😘
https://lnkd.in/eEbYYBBH
"50 people break down the same campaign on LinkedIn and laud it as a success—but did it even break through for the average consumer? Or was it just a 'success' to the marketing crowd?"
Rachel Karten 's Substack Link in Bio does not miss.
As I navigate how to use these platforms for both myself and BEST Creative Studio in ways that aren't just a regurgitation of performative empty hot takes, LIB's POV on creative marketing REAL people engage with (and FWIW, stay engaged with — a big differentiator for brand growth) is 🏆 🏁 📣
Could it be that crowdsourcing OUTSIDE the heavy-hitting top performers yields the kind of ROI that moves the needle?
