What is Midnight Oil Full-Service Agency (MO)?
Midnight Oil recreates a real-world advertising agency. Members are paired into client teams where they work together to develop creative advertising for real clients located in the campus community. Graphic design, social media, video/photo, strategy, account… we have the right role for you. Apply now and see your designs in the windows of businesses on campus tomorrow. This agency is one of the few application-based agencies of The American Advertising Federation at Illinois (AAF).
What was Olivia Sims’ role in Midnight Oil as Account Manager & Creative Member? (Overview)
Sims applied and was accepted into Midnight Oil at the start of the Fall 2022 semester. She was placed within an advertising team that consisted of managers, strategists, and creatives. Originally receiving the title as a ‘creative’ - Sims worked alongside other creative team members and strategists to analyze the brand identity of the client. The team was assigned to a real client based on UIUC’s campus, Mia Za’s Italian Restaurant. Sims originally worked alongside creatives to create a new brand identity book for the restaurant while receiving assistance from strategists and managers. Sims herself drafted new logos, creative content/elements, created mood boards, and a new brand identity for the restaurant, alongside executing extensive research on the client and organizing all information onto a presentation for the team to use as a guide. Sims was then promoted to the role of Account Manager, which made her responsible for directing the team and ensuring members got their work completed in an organized and timely manner in order to potentially pitch creative ideas to the client to consider utilizing. Sims stepping in as Account Manager created an entire Notion platform for the team that included team schedules, plans, meeting recaps, extensively detailed assignment information, and more. Sims frequently checked in on team members’ progress through the remainder of the semester and assisted where guidance was needed. Sims was also in direct contact with the client, exchanging emails and meeting in person to discuss and pitch creative ideas the team had in mind to execute. She was also in charge of arranging collaborations with other AAF agencies, as Sims was in direct contact with the CTRL+V Agency Manager (CTRL+V Is a video-focused agency that produces commercials for local clients. We teach members essential videography, editing, and advertising skills) to discuss the production of a Mia Za’s commercial. The Mia Za’s MO Team and CTRL+V collaborated to work towards the creation of a Mia Za’s promotional video, even though it was not completed due to the semester coming to an end.
Brief Overview of Responsibilities/Accomplishments from CFE.3/SP23 Season:
Collaborated with other creatives and strategists to analyze the brand identity of the client, Mia Za’s Italian Restaurant, and develop creative advertising solutions.
Contributed to the creation of a new brand identity book for Mia Za’s Italian Restaurant, including drafting new logos, creative content, and mood boards.
Conducted extensive research on the client, gathered information, and organized it into a comprehensive presentation for the team's guidance.
Demonstrated creativity and design skills by crafting new brand identity elements and creative content for the restaurant.
Promoted to the role of Account Manager, responsible for overseeing the team's progress, ensuring organized and timely completion of tasks, and potentially pitching creative ideas to the client.
Developed an organized Notion platform from scratch for the team that included facilitating schedules, plans, meeting recaps, and detailed assignment information.
Maintained regular communication with team members, providing guidance and support as needed to ensure project success.
Established direct communication with the client, exchanging emails and in-person meetings to present and discuss creative ideas for execution.
Collaborated with another AAF agency, CTRL+V Agency, to explore the production of a promotional video for Mia Za’s Restaurant.
Orchestrated collaboration efforts between the Mia Za’s MO Team and CTRL+V to work towards the creation of a promotional video, with significant involvement in planning and coordinating despite the project not being fully completed due to the end of the semester.
Joined Midnight Oil in Fall 2022 as a Creative Member, part of a client-focused advertising team within the campus community.
Mia Za’s Client Work PDF Files by Olivia Sims
Team Intentions & Initial Creative Solutions Pitch Presentation
Sims developed an organized a Notion platform from scratch for the team that included facilitating schedules, plans, meeting recaps, and detailed assignment information.
