Story teller, advertising consultant, University of Oregon student, photographer, and blogger.

Name: Kim Karalekas
Passion(s): people watching, random knowledge, traveling, music, cultures, taking pictures, storytelling, youtube and stumbleupon, reading, sarcasm, blogging, new experiences, airports, thinking, asking why
Age: 21

Top 3 trend setters across all industries: TED, Russell Davies, Seth Godin, DO Lectures (that’s four, I know…)

Visual art trend to look for in late 2008 – 2009: Any form of art that tells a story, keep an eye out for the digital arts

Technology trend to look for in late 2008 – 2009: Today, people have so many online identities – facebook, flickr, youtube, twitter, del.icio.us, digg, blogs, etc. Time managing each identity accumulates quickly and cuts into the time once spent maintaining “real life” identities. Because of this, the convergence of media and Web 2.0 platforms will be key. Additionally, untraditional means of showing rather than telling will begin to surface – watch out for MEANINGFUL viral-based storytelling trends, (think, the TAP project, not banner ads that tell you to punch the monkey for a free iPod).

What will become of the traditional advertising agency model? The traditional model won’t be just account managers, planners, strategists, art directors and copywriters. It will be all of these, PLUS architects, digital strategists, philosophers, sociologists, poets and anthropologists. All of these “creative strategists” will be collaborating, mind mapping, and brainstorming to tackle the increasing challenge of understanding lifestyles and reaching consumers on a deeper and more personal level. Ethnography, participant observation, thinking both creatively and analytically and problem solving are key in creating brands of value, rather than idiosyncratic, shallow brands. Agencies will build brands to let consumers tell their own stories – think of it like baking – brands will provide consumers with ingredients and consumers can take the ingredients and form their own creation.

2 books and 2 magazines every tastemaker should read: Reading anything and everything – if it features societies, cultures, trends, people, video games, politics, sports, religion, science, music, boating, cooking, gardening or children’s toys and if it sparks inspiration and curiosity, or just has great design – any and all of these are gold. A handful of industry-specific book include: Blink, The Tipping Point and How to Think Like Leonardo DaVinci. Magazines include: good, how, and domino.

What projects are up next for you?: Being a full time student is a project in itself! However, I am currently managing the awareness/communications campaign for the NVC (New Venture Championship) international business plan competition. I am also working with Portland Advertising Federation, helping plan the Rosey Awards (good stuff in the works, keep your eyes up!). I have a handful of freelance blog/social media consulting/strategy projects as well as working on a campaign for the One Show college competition…like everyone else, the list goes on and on…

What should we have asked you?: How does one “get” an idea? Does advertising promote culture or create it? Where to do I go for inspiration? How can someone be an interesting person? What is my favorite people watching experience? What was the last picture I took? Best storyteller I’ve met?

Want to know more about Kim?
http://kimkaralekas.wordpress.com