Brad Ulrich
I’ve put together this little book to show you what I can do to help you as an intern during the summer. I’d come down and tell you myself, but I live in Oklahoma and usually ride a bike. I figured this was more efficient.
highest reach: 7’3”
height: 5’101/2” weight: 161 lbs.
wingspan: 73” eyes: blue hair: brown teeth: white DOB: 7/10/1988
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Hi. I’m Brad.
I’m a junior at Oklahoma State University. I started reading Relevant Magazine in September at a friend’s house and subscribed myself later that night.
The content, the design, the worldview - it all lined up. After a quick look through the web site, I found the internship page. After dealing with a personal struggle with the corporate, consumerist, advertising profession, I’ve come to realize I’d much rather work for an organization that shares my values as a Christian, than at an agency that would be counter-productive in spreading the kind of life I hope to lead.
This seemed like a problem considering I am an advertising major with a marketing minor. How was I to use the skills I’d spent years accumulating? Relevant gave me hope that there are companies out there where I can contribute without trading in my soul for a cubicle (mainly the soul part – cubicles aren’t that bad). I belong at a place like Relevant Magazine because I feel that I reflect the culture that it promotes, and I am a skilled marketer and designer ready to do work that I believe in.
Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will. Rom 12:2
Despite my recent dissociations with typical advertising and marketing culture in America, I’m probably the most involved advertising student on campus at Oklahoma State.
I know the industry. I understand the techniques. As the VP of our OSU AdClub, I organized people and events, facilitated visiting speakers, and designed advertising for the club. A branch of AdClub, University Advertising, is a student-run advertising agency for local clients and campus organizations. All of the money we make goes back to AdClub. So I’m used to working for free - and working well for free. I am the creative director and a graphic designer for UA. Last summer I worked as an unpaid intern for Jordan Associates - a full service advertising agency in Oklahoma City. I worked as an assistant art director, but was involved in the whole creative process on multiple accounts. At the end of the summer they asked me to work for them as a freelance production artist. Last semester I started working for OSU’s Student Union in the marketing department as a marketing assistant and graphic designer. I have created newspaper campaigns, magazine ads,
promotional materials, posters and marketing strategies for campus organizations and Union events.
I have also worked as a freelance designer in Oklahoma City. Jan Stewart owns a women’s clothing boutique in Oklahoma City. She needed a modern look and feel to give her brand a sophisticated image. I had some photography done and have produced 20 direct mail pieces for her since September.
CASADY SQUARE
Christian spirituality was not a children’s story. It wasn’t cute or neat. It was mystical and odd and clean.
Oklahoma to Orlando. Why would someone from Stillwater, Oklahoma want to come all the way to Orlando for a summer to work for free? That’s what my parents asked me when I told them I wanted to come work for Relevant. I told them it was because I feel that by working for Relevant in whatever capacity I can, that I will be contributing to a positive Christian movement. I’ll be using my God-given talent and work ethic for a higher purpose than making ads to sell lottery tickets. That’s what I did last summer working for an agency in Oklahoma City. I want to be a part of something more helpful - more beneficial - more important. I love design and I love communicating with people. But I’d rather do it in a positive, Christian environment than in a worldly counterproductive environment. So that’s why I would rather spend my summer working two jobs in Orlando than one unfulfilling job in Oklahoma. And it was reaching into dirty. There was wonder in it and enchantment. -Donald Miller / Blue Like Jazz
In case you didn’t care to make it through the whole thing and flipped to the back, here’s the gist. I won’t hit you with a slew of clichés. I won’t call myself a “game-changer,” a “mover and shaker” or “a real-life Jonny Quest.” What I will say is that I’ll work hard, I’ll learn quickly, and I’ll be committed to helping Relevant in any way that I can.