Abigail Braun and Madelyn Thomas
Advertising, Advertising
Class of 2021
How are you using the skills that you learned at Moody to start your own agency?
Abigail: The biggest thing I notice that has been most helpful is the knowledge of how to cultivate and bring ideas to the presentation board. From scratch marks on a notepad to mock-ups, and then full campaign ideas with real strategy and meaning behind them. Knowing how to present ideas to the client in a way that shows the brainstorming and effectively convinces them that your ideas can be trusted. We practiced this skill starting on day one of the creative program, with the 100 ideas project, and then every presentation day of Texas Creative. Being prepared to present to our classmates and professors prepared me for the client calls, and numerous meetings I've been in where I have all the questions and answers prepped.
Madelyn: In my classes at Moody, I learned to gather reliable data and synthesize it into helpful insights for our clients. Utilizing efficient and effective research methods isn’t something that I would have anticipated would come up in my daily work as a creative, but having that skill in my back pocket has helped me land clients, impress executives, and garner trust with stakeholders. I’m able to be confident when proposing strategy and creative briefs because I’m prepared with flawless research to back up my claims.
Tell me more about the agency! What sets y'all apart?
Abigail: Moving from collaborating on college campaigns to handling real-world campaigns has been invaluable. In some of the agencies I've been a part of previously, there wasn't an in-house copywriter, which I believe is essential for achieving optimal results in a project. Our brand benefits greatly from our synergistic approach to art direction and copywriting, positioning our clients for success. We take pride in partnering closely with local Austin businesses, allowing us to forge personal connections and evolve alongside their brands.
Madelyn: Abigail and I work with local businesses that need branding to help them stand out in the crowded Austin market. We can integrate with an existing team to find and enhance their strengths.
How are you enjoying running your own company/agency?
Abigail: It like anything when having a career you work at has its pros and cons. The balance of “freedom” has been an interesting thing to juggle. This experience has allowed for opportunities that would not have been possible at a traditional 9-5 agency and it has also taught me a great deal. That to say, I know that I do desire to work with either an in-house brand or agency again!
Madelyn: Honestly, it is stressful. We have a lot of instability, we pay high taxes, and we’re constantly thinking about our next project. We love the flexibility and autonomy of picking the brands we work with, creating our schedules, and executing our ideas.
Do you have a favorite project y'all have worked on?
Abigail: I’d have to say a passion project of sorts has been the most fulfilling. Along with starting AM Branded we have also started a side brand we call Prodigy. We throw networking parties for anyone in any creative field in Austin. Everything from naming the brand, the colors and logos, to the event marketing and planning. It’s been fun to dream up something from the ground up. And who doesn't love parties? Check out the inner working of this project on our website: https://abmtportfolio.com/prodigy or buy tickets to the next event here: https://posh.vip/e/prodigy-presents-nightmare-after-xmas
Why did you study at Moody?
Abigail: I chose to study at Moody specifically for the Texas Creative program. Selfishly I was looking for a career that allows me to pour out my thoughts and make them useful. Advertising does just that, it has allowed for creative ideas to come to life. A bonus of studying at moody and finding myself in this career space, is the collaboration of ideas and minds which is what I really find fulfilling.
Madelyn: I also chose Moody for the Texas Creative program, which was a gamble! I couldn’t even apply until I’d been at Moody for a year! A few weeks into my first year, I knew that even if my Texas Creative gamble didn’t pay off, I’d be able to find something else that I’d be excited to pursue. Moody values creativity in all types of communication, which helped me be confident in myself and my ideas!
Were y'all in any student orgs?
Abigail: Alpha Chi Omega
Madelyn: Absolute Texxas! It helped me make friends outside of my school and major, which helped me have a broader perspective on college and my future. AT was my favorite part of college, and I still live with my AT friends!
How was your degree helpful to your career?
Abigail: Having gone through the Texas Creative program and graduating with a bachelor's in Advertising I think we were set up for a lot of success. I learned a great deal on how to properly use my skills to further a project, the ins and outs of industry standards, and uniquely the access to minds that are only available at UT. Which I find tremendously helpful when handling client work in my everyday life.
Madelyn: Having a degree opened many doors for me — connections with my fellow students, institutional knowledge of the advertising realm, upgrading my communication skills and more. Texas Creative has name recognition and proves that I know my stuff.
Having a degree opened many doors for me — connections with my fellow students, institutional knowledge of the advertising realm, upgrading my communication skills and more.
What have you learned so far working in the field?
Abigail: Work life balance is so key! Asking questions never ends. Making a client happy or doing well on campaigns is super rewarding. Deadlines can still feel like buzzer beaters. Knowing your worth is important, this field requires talent and skill, if you're in it you have both, and deserve credit for that.
Madelyn: Keeping detailed notes is essential. In college, there is a clear goal — an exam, a paper, class project. In the real world, the ask will change, the client will change their mind, the market will change. Keeping detailed notes on meetings and past work helps me pivot when outside factors cause us to pivot.
What advice do you have for #TEXASMoody students?
Abigail: Enjoy it! Get to know your professors and ask questions, learn from your fellow classmates and get involved. Oh and if you're interested in that student org even a little bit DO IT, or at least go to one meeting. I still think about how I would've loved something like Spark Magazine!
Madelyn: If you have accommodations — deliver those letters in person during the first week of class! You’ll start off each semester with a personal relationship with your professors. Put your devices on do not disturb and really engage with class. You’ll save yourself so much time studying if you have a great foundation from your time in class! Invest in your friendships and organizations, because learning to interact with people from different backgrounds and industries will be essential to your post-grad life.
What do you miss most about Moody College?
Abigail: I miss the other creatives 100%. It was so incredible to be surrounded by people who were always busting at the seams with ideas. Bouncing off your thoughts with other people in the agencies I've worked at of course still happens, but there's something different about being surrounded by 20 or so 20-something year olds. The wildest ideas never ceased.
Madelyn: I miss being able to pursue my interests through my classes. I got interested in photography, took a class, and now I’ve got college-level experience in one of my hobbies! All the knowledge I’d ever want was one class away!
Can you talk about your career path?
Abigail: I started off in an internship my Junior year of University which led to me taking a full time job offer near the end of my senior year. I worked at Nimaroh Creative house in an art director role. Later finding myself at Idea Peddler and now currently working with my work partner and copywriter, Madelyn at our boutique agency.
Madelyn: I was at a loss of what to do when I graduated– I graduated in 3 years and spent much of that time online because of COVID-19. My first job was branding at a small disaster recovery firm. I didn’t love what I was doing, but it was a valuable experience and helped me build a real-world portfolio. From there, I started AM Branded with Abigail!
What classes and professors helped the most?
Abigail: Rohitash Rao was hands down my favorite professor i’ve ever had, I still look up to him and his works. His class for art direction was a great pairing for the main creative program classes, it was freeing to explore new ideas on the side in tandem with the main campaigns we dealt with for class. More times than not the silly things we played with in his class helped me realize a new way to approach a bigger idea I needed for my portfolio at the time.
Madelyn: Sean Labounty was an incredible professor and mentor to me. Through his classes, I became a strong presenter, confident in my ideas and ability, and able to accept and pivot based on feedback. I reference Advertising Law frequently in my work (we’re in a highly regulated industry and it's so helpful to have a framework for what is legal).