Hasta La Creative!

Chicago-based artist, designer, photographer and NoPattern Studio founder Chuck Anderson has joined Havas Worldwide Chicago as creative director of design. He will be responsible for setting the overall design vision for the agency, “infusing a sense of craft into client work,” and mentoring young talent.

Anderson founded NoPattern Studio when he was just 18 and, despite no formal training and the decision to forego college, he has worked with clients such as ESPN, Nike, Absolut, Burton, McDonald’s Google and Microsoft. He was also named a Design Icon by Computer Arts Magazine in 2010. Andserson will continue heading NoPattern Studio in addition to his role at Havas.

“Individual creativity is not only allowed, but encouraged here at Havas. We are a better agency because of the unique talent and perspectives people bring to the table,” said Jason Peterson, chief creative officer, Chicago and North America, in a statement. “Chuck isn’t a ‘cookie-cutter’ creative—he brings a strong vision along with incredible experience honing his craft while running his own design studio. He embodies the perfect mix of talent and passion for design, and I think he’ll raise the bar and inspire all of us at the agency to do amazing work, whether for clients or our own individual passion projects.”

“I have been fiercely independent for 11 years doing my own thing, but feel ready to take the leap into a team role,” Anderson added. “…my approach to creativity has always been about adding excitement in new places. I feel that same sense of creative energy at Havas. It’s like the stars have aligned and I’m really excited to collaborate with the teams and mentor young designers who are just learning the ropes.”

Anderson also seems quite taken with the Havas office and has already begun promoting the agency’s lifestyle to his Twitter followers.

Havas Worldwide Chicago tapped former college football stars Matt Leinart, Heath Shuler and Brian Bosworth in their latest spot for DISH Network, promoting the DISH Anywhere app.

Also featuring the kangaroo mascots that just refuse to go away, the spot finds the three athletes deciding to head back to college after misunderstanding a conversation about watching live college football anywhere with DISH’s app. This is about as painful as the rest of DISH’s recent advertising, with the involvement of Leinart, Shuler and Bosworth the only thing really differentiating it. Hardcore college football fans might get a kick out of seeing the trio, but for the rest of us this is just another annoying DISH ad. Credits after the jump. (more…)

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Havas Worldwide Chicago has launched a new March Madness campaign for DISH Network featuring a new kangaroo mascot, which also marks Havas’ first campaign for the company since being named lead digital agency last summer.

The kangaroo mascot, voiced by Rebel Wilson, makes her debut in the TV spot “Mobile Basketball.” In the 30-second spot, the kangaroo shows off the DISH Network’s capabilities by watching college basketball at work, only pretending to be engaged in actual work when the boss walks by. While the spot never quite hits the humorous mark it’s aiming for, it’s still world’s ahead of the campaign’s painful digital spot, “Fight Song.” As you might have guessed, the 30 second spot is built around a “fight song” for DISH Network (in the style of college team’s fight songs) extolling the Network’s ability to let you watch March Madness games anywhere. “Fight Song” will run on sites like ESPN.com, where it will most likely be muted after approximately 1.2 seconds. Havas’s campaign also includes social media activations on Facebook and Twitter featuring the new mascot. Stick around for credits after the jump. continued…

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The folks at New York Festivals are putting on their annual “New York Show” beginning this Wednesday, May 1st at the New York Public Library (video from last year’s event above). Seeing as they sponsored our January AgencySpy party and all, we’re sending back a little lunchtime love and letting you know that the NYF currently has 40 tickets up for grabs for the two-day creative-focused event, which will include speakers such as Havas Worldwide CCO Jason Peterson, Saatchi & Saatchi worldwide digital CD Tom Eslinger and David Rolfe, head of integrated production at BBDO. If a bevy of creative speaking sessions as well as cocktail events, an Awards gala and other activities tickle your fancy, you can register here for a free ticket. Make sure to fill out all the fields and use the code 8888 to have at ‘em.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.