Can we talk about planning campaigns with old corkboards and magazine clippings?

I found a dusty corkboard in my garage from when I helped run a small ad agency years ago. It was packed with torn magazine pages, sticky notes, and color samples for a local restaurant rebrand. Back then, we'd all huddle around it, moving pieces by hand to build the story. It felt like we were making something real together, not just clicking on screens. Now, everything lives online in shared folders and digital whiteboards. It's way easier to edit and share, but I kind of miss the mess and the group buzz. For my side gig designing band merch, I still sketch ideas on paper and pin them up. It keeps the creative feel alive in a world of perfect digital grids.

2 comments

2 Comments

alex2303h ago

Ever try mixing both ways? I do graphic work and start every project with a cheap sketchbook. Just rough stuff, lines and boxes. Then I take a phone pic and bring it into the computer to clean up. The first idea gets born on paper, where it feels loose. The computer part is for making it sharp and sendable. That middle step, the photo, bridges the messy start and the clean finish. Lets me keep that hands-on spark without getting stuck in the past.

stellarivera2h ago

Cannot believe you call it a cheap sketchbook for your rough work! I always assumed pros needed fancy tools to spark creativity. Your mix of paper and computer is smart, especially using a phone pic to move between them. It makes sense to keep the start loose and the end sharp. But honestly, the cheap sketchbook thing still shocks me.