The Temerlin Advertising Institute welcomed Shon Rathbone of Publicis Dallas to speak as a part of their monthly Brown Bag meetings. Shon spoke about modern storytelling and how advertising can use this form of interactive storytelling to their advantage. Specifically, Shon pointed towards role-playing style video games and their ability to draw the viewer into the experience by allowing them to make decisions that influences how the story unfolds. Shon believes that by making an advertisement interactive, the audience will feel more engaged with the product and the ad. Marketers can engage viewers through various online content, such as YouTube videos or websites, to continue the story beyond the advertisement itself. The possibilities are endless, and Shon stressed the importance of teaching young advertising students the potential of interactive storytelling.
Shon is a recognized force in the advertising world and the lead creative at Publicis Dallas. He has built an award-winning creative team that has attracted blue-chip clients. Over the years, his work as been recognized by nearly every national and international awards show including Cannes, One Show, Communication Arts and Effie.
The Temerlin Advertising Institute Brown Bag meetings take place once a month during the academic year. Each meeting features one to two speakers that share their expertise in the advertising industry. These speakers have included TAI faculty, Communication Studies faculty, visiting professors, and Dallas Ft. Worth area advertising and communication professionals. If you are interested in speaking at a TAI Brown Bag meeting, please contact Dr. Yongjun Sung, Associate Professor for TAI, at ysung@smu.edu.