“The only thing separating you from a job at any agency in the world is a great portfolio,” and Breaking In is the book that’s going to help you put together the right portfolio to be hired.

Written by William Burks Spencer, who used to work at W+K London, Breaking In is a collection of interviews with some of the most renowned advertising professionals, who answer questions about what they are looking for in a portfolio, what kind of work should be in it and how should it be presented.

For his book, Spencer interviewed Dan Wieden (of course) and many other W+K people, including our own V Sunil and Akash Das.

Here is where you can buy Breaking In from, and the book is available for India here.

“There’s been a financial crunch, not a creative crunch,” writes Tony Hall, in his introduction to After the Crunch, a book that takes an optimistic look at the financial crisis.

Sunil chipped in with an article exploring the changes in the Creative vs. General Public relationship.

To read Sunil’s article, and the whole book, download it here.

Found abandoned as a cub five years ago, Rani the Leopard was ‘saved’ and put in this cage at the Malsi Deer Park in Dehra Dun. All day, Rani paces from one side of her little cage to the other, while wildlife-lovin’ tourists try to provoke a reaction by making funny noises and smacking the side of her cage. Wildlife SOS have been informed.

London-based designers Nipa Doshi and Jonathan Levien of Doshi Levien were in our office on Monday with their bonny infant Rahul. They shared some of their recent work and their illuminating insights and observations on the new India.

Nipa talks about traditional Indian elements and modern design

A photograph taken during a research project in India

Jonathan with their latest creation

In the run up to Republic Day, as we bring our saffron and greens out, we’d also like to recall Kadam Kadam Badhaye Ja the inspiring the INA anthem (wav file attached) which is still the regimental quick march for our Parachute Regiment. And more importantly, evidence that we were daring and idealistic…once.

Download Kadam Kadam Badhaye

www.pocketelectric.in

While the Metro construction threatens to bring traffic to a standstill, it’s good to know that at least the sign painters are having a ball. Bringing some much needed mirth to these grey, foggy winter days. Here’s the second installment of trippy directional signage. Some of these were taken on the Ring Road near Golden Dragon restaurant and some near Saket.

Last weekend, La Traviata came to town. Opera is not exactly common in Delhi, so everyone in the office wanted to go. Our resident Milanese, Annalisa went to considerable trouble to get tickets for everyone in the office. And the three who made it on Sunday were treated to a spectacle. The theater was packed, the audience enthusiastic and the romantic drama was moving. Many elegant ladies wrapped in their sarees cried at Violetta’s desperate “Amami Alfredo!”, which is something that doesn’t happen that often (the sarees at the Opera, not the tears). Momo (who, for the record, wasn’t wearing a saree) said she also was very, very touched, but some idiots sitting behind her kept giggling through the show, so she felt rage rather than anguish. Many thanks to Annalisa who arranged the tickets. Those who took tickets and didn’t turn up have to buy her lunch next week. And we’re not talking Subway sandwiches.

So a bunch of us went to the Russell Peters show…a 15 minute jaunt from the office turned into a 45 minute ordeal with most of the time spent waiting in the car right outside the venue fighting for an inch of space. Parking was a nightmare that included the usual fender-bender, a threat by an oldish lady to slash our tires if we parked in front of her building, and a 20-rupee goodwill fee to some dude who promised to protect the illegally parked car. The show was as expected – funny.  With the brunt of the jokes directed at the Chinese, the Irish, a 17-year-old token Canadian white guy, and aunties that “ear-muffed” their kids every time RP cussed.