23 Questions!

Be it Social Media Strategy Development, Online copy writing or company profile launching, Rebecca's strong foundations in Digital Media, Writing and PR ensure a quality solution. Read on to discover the many talents of Artisan's latest word smith ...

What sparked your passion for writing?
I was introduced to poetry writing at the age of 7 and just loved it. I was obsessed with the malleability of language, something that continues to fascinate me. I also loved dreaming up slogans and tag lines for various ad campaigns. In the 70s I thought the existing Fanta commercial was lame and wrote my own.

How creative were you as a youngster?
I spent a lot of time inside my head. I was a well-mannered child with no obvious talents outside my ability to write stories and to devour books.

Do you come from a creative family?
No, I was definitely switched at birth :) There was no art school or trips to Paris to extend my French. I experienced your typical suburban upbringing with kids driving unrestrained in the back of station wagons, bmx bikes and roller skates and if you were lucky a two week beach-side vacation in a caravan. In hindsight I think perhaps it was the free and unbridled upbringing that instilled a sense of creativity and resourcefulness within me.

Were they supportive of your desire to be a copywriter?
My mum thought that teaching might be a more suitable vocation for a young lady.

What sort of education and training have you had?
BA in journalism and marketing. I also completed a copywriting course through the AFA a few years ago and it was brilliant, conducted by the very talented Barry Robinson.

Who did you want to work for when you first entered the industry?
I didn't have a 6 month plan, let alone a 5 year plan, so I was happy to feel my way around and seize opportunities as they came my way.

Tell us about your first project and what do you feel about it now?
When starting out you tend to get the less sexy writing projects (with the exception of haemorrhoid cream I've tackled them all - funeral plans, industrial plastics - you name it!). My first project was pretty dry and boring subject matter, but I feel that I nailed it and communicated the key points in a succinct, engaging and audience-appropriate manner.

Is digital technology going to eliminate the need for print?
Print will still have its place however I think it will increasingly be used more judiciously, with growing environmental concerns and the pressure to minimise marketing budgets.

Whose work do you really admire and why?
I admire the work of those nameless, faceless creatives that develop something that makes you laugh, or brings a tear to your eye, to the point that you are compelled to share it with your friends. Respect!

Who has been the greatest person that you’ve ever had the pleasure of working with and what have they taught you?
Too many to name. The best people are the ones that can be creative and develop ideas as if they are on tap. They are the ones that are most valuable to your team, not the ones that have to wait for inspiration. Reliability and professionalism count for a lot in my book.

How would you describe your work?
On time, on brief, well-considered and to-the-point.

What are your plans for the future?
Did I mention that I didn't do plans?

What sort of company would you like to work with next?
I would love to work with a multi-disciplinary team of creatives that are dedicated to their craft and their quest for great ideas.

What is your opinion of Australian design?
Better than it thinks it is. Cultural cringe has a lot to answer for. Build a bridge and get over it. For design to succeed it must be culturally relevant. Australians create designs for Australians and for the Australian experience.

What is your creative outlet outside of design?
I would love to say that I am working on the great Australian novel or developing programs for disadvantaged youth, but the closet I get to creativity these days is raising kids, cooking and plaiting my daughter's hair.

What is the best designed bar in Melbourne?
See previous question and you'll understand why I'm not qualified to answer this question.

What are your top 5 websites at the moment?

digitalministry for industry news and happenings
tmz for mindless trash and gossip
facebook for poking my nose into my friends' lives
TripAdvisor for when I need to dream about my next holiday
Wikipedia for when I just need to know stuff

What CD are you currently listening to and is it any good?
I'm way too ADHD for just the one CD, however my current iPod playlist contains a mix of Smashing Pumpkins, the Cult, the Shins and Lou Reed.

If I was a font, I’d be...?
Not very sexy - I know, but I have all the hallmarks of Arial; that sturdy, reliable work-horse of a font. None of that frilly-around-the-edges serif nonsense. I'm no show pony, I'm all about the clarity.

For Rebecca's current availability, contact Erica at Artisan NOW on 9514 1000!