“I feel famous!” proclaimed Hannah as she stepped up to the mike…

“University” said Matthew in his Harvard Scholar voice.

“Semester” said Tim in a scarily convincing lady impersonation.

So, some of these didn’t make the final cut, but yesterday we popped around the corner to our friends at Bang Bang Studios.

It was time for the recording of some upcoming radio adverts for the University of Ballarat. As one of the concepts required a vast array of voices, CUBED and UB agreed the best way to approach this would be to use some in-house talent. The CUBED team members stepped up to the challenge, many recollecting fond memories of speech and drama days. Everyone had a go at recording a few words – some enjoying the spotlight a little more so than others (I’ll leave it up to you to guess who).

This was also a fantastic opportunity for some of the newer starters to experience just what goes on in a studio. Some were a little disappointed at the lack of scantily glad girls and bottles of whisky, but we all left feeling suitably impressed with not only our own performances but that of Bang Bang’s. Initial edits have already been turned around, and everything is sounding primed and prepped to go on air in a couple of months to launch UB’s Mid-Year campaign.

Mid-year is a drive for anyone who is already in the workplace and looking to upskill, or may have simply missed out applying or being accepted at the start of the year. If this sounds like you or someone you know, be sure to keep an eye on the University of Ballarat leading into the start of June.

Picture this.
New Creative Director is introduced to the team.
Staff are told he starts in a weeks time.
Staff are excited, this guy has awesome creds.
Next day he announces he’s helped CUBED secure a new client relationship.
“Get real!” You say. “Got real estate!,” he says “and not just any real estate agency, one of the best names in the business, Greg Hocking”.

Sound like a scene from schmoozey Mad Men? You could be forgiven for thinking so.

If you’re a follower of CUBED in the news, you would have already heard about our newly appointed CD (that’s Creative Director), Bruce Williams.

Bruce’s diverse client experience includes brands so big you use them as verbs, take Google for example. His drive and passion for effective creative work has seen him win such prestigious awards as Gold in the International Echo Awards (not to mention AWARD and ADMA spoils for the trophy cabinet). Ok, ok, we’ll stop now because we’re probably making him blush. (Sorry Bruce!)

We’re also delighted to announce our new working relationship with a well-known and respected name in real estate, Greg Hocking. We’ve been busy working up some top-secret concepts to introduce a new team member (who comes with 28 years experience). So if you live around the Bayside area, keep your eyes peeled for the launch press ads in the local papers early next week when all shall be revealed.

After just one presentation to Greg Hocking and his team, client feedback was very positive. We delivered above expectations and their team found it ‘refreshing to actually have a company understand our wants and needs (thinking!) for a change.’

All in all we’d say although it’s pouring rain outside, things are looking sunny in the CUBED residence.
So here’s to 2011, we reckon it’s going to be a good one.

This week, we were stoked to welcome on board our long time friends and collaborators, Harvard and Andre.

A talented and gifted team, their credentials are unquestionable, as is their desire to work with CUBED.

Together they’ve already worked on our successful V/Line Autumn promotion. And don’t tell us boys can’t multi-task – not only is Andre an award-winning copywriter, he’s also an accomplished jazz musician. As for Harvard, he’s fluent in 5 languages and is also quite adept at putting his foot in his mouth, as anyone who’s a follower of our CUBISMs wall will already know.

Welcome to CUBED, boys! It’s going to be fun.

We’ve just added 29 new CUBISMs to our flickr. The latest batch includes references to giant diamonds, Brendan Fevola, comedic pugs and creased pants.

Here are our two favourites. See the rest here.

When some people take a sabbatical, they leave one type of work in search of an alternative lifestyle. Others leave study to go travelling and get real world experience. Then there are those who leave responsibility behind to go bowling.

And get good at it.

Really, really, really good at it.

You should never go bowling with those people.

Sadly when ten of us went out for a pizza and a social bowl this week we didn’t realise we had amongst us a bowling ninja. On Troy’s team, the sledging and baracking started early, while on Dave’s team, Nik was just offering team mates the occasional helping hint. Then he stepped up to bowl.

BAM! You know what that is? That’s the sound of Nik getting strike after strike (while Dave and Kate sent bowling ball after bowling ball down into the gutters). To be fair, in the second game Brendan showed his sporting prowess to record a very respectable 186, Steph, Sina, Big Dave and Elise all scored over 100, but at the end of it all, Nik’s 221 was by far the stand out score of the night.

Next time we do this, I dibs being on Nik’s team.

If he’ll have me.

Last week, we waved goodbye to the man who thinks eating fruit after dark is weird.

Yes, Mickey T, our Studio Manager (and regular contributor to our Cubism wall), has headed off to London.

His farewell party appropriately involved an afternoon of Foosball (Mickey’s team won, Brendan’s team lost) and far too many drinks at the local pub. And though he’ll be sorely missed, Mickey’s promised to keep those Cubisms coming over via email – which will no doubt keep us all amused.

Before Mickey left he formally handed over his keyboard to our new Finished Artist – David Santolin aka DJ d-vise. That’s right, now we have a resident funk/disco/hip hop DJ in the office!

We’re bugging him to bring in his decks and mix it up this Friday during 80’s hour.

He’s not convinced…yet.

But don’t worry, we’ll keep chipping away.

And if we’re unsuccessful, we’ll just have to organize an agency excursion to his Saturday night gig at First Floor on Brunswick Street.

So welcome to CUBED, David. We’re thrilled to have you on board – and pleased to know that keyboard is in safe hands.

On Saturday, February 27, CUBED Business Director Chantelle Warren walked down the aisle and became a Lane (badda bing!).

Our Chants married handsome Maori songster Adam Lane on Torquay beach in a fun ceremony where Adam promised to buy her a coffee before every road trip and Chantelle promised to never say he had too many guitars.

After a long and lively reception, the bride and groom made it home. At 4am.

Congratulations from all of us to Mr and Mrs Lane.

Recently we welcomed Nik Shetty to the CUBED fold.

Nik joins us as Account Manager after a 5-year stint at Samuelson Talbot where he worked on The Age, Brown Brothers and Swinburne University. But he’s not just an account manager. Oh no, he’s a man of many talents.

He studied IT, majoring in eCommerce and Management Information Systems, so he’s got plenty of digital smarts.

And he’s also an accomplished cook. In fact, last Friday he brought in several bunches of home-grown sage and tempted us all with some droolworthy menu suggestions.

Nik says that it was CUBED’s ethos of giving something back that attracted him here, as he shares the same philosophy.

Just quietly, we’re hoping that means we’ll be seeing more sage in the kitchen – or maybe some of his white wine duck breast risotto.

How ’bout it, Nik?

Our new favourite CUBISM. Thanks Chants.

It’s always exciting to get our grubby little mitts on the printed samples of our work.

And after 99 days since the University of Ballarat Program Guide first hit CUBED, the project’s designer, Ellie, and account manager, Shaina, were stoked to finally be holding the real deal. Once bribed with Laura’s pavlova, they were even happy to pose (quite unnaturally) for a blog pic. Thanks gals.

This piece is a further extension of the bigger-than-Ben-Hur Learn to Succeed campaign, which – so far – has helped increase the University’s number of first preferences by 13%.