With a month left until the application period for The Kennedys — our in-agency creative accelerator — comes to a close, we’re continuing to profile one former Kennedy a week on Optimism. This week, we’re featuring an interview our Kennedy cohorts at W+K Amsterdam held with Andrew Duncan, now a copywriter at their office.

Read on to learn more about Andy’s transition from student of W+K’s “creative chaos” to full-time employee below, and don’t forget to submit your own application via http://thekennedys.nl/.

The transition from hard-working Kennedy to one of Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam’s most beloved copywriters (and jokesters) was a smooth one for Andrew Duncan. Learn about how it happened for him in the interview below.

1. What were your impressions after a week here in the program?

Andy: The annual Founders Day party obliterated my fragile memory of those early days, but from what I can remember my impressions were something like this: This place is mega.

2. What was your favourite piece of work you produced here?

Andy: We did a lot of work for Spotify to help dream up their festival at South by Southwest. And they bought into all kinds of wonderful ideas that I’m probably not allowed to share. But if all goes to plan you can check them at SxSW.

3. What was the most memorable thing that you guys did in The Kennedys house?

Andy: That would be the living room VELODROME. This involved eight highly trained volunteers on bicycles orbiting a man in an impeccable red suit pirouetting on roller skates in our spacious living room. That man was me seconds before I turned 27.

4. What was the most surprising thing you learned about yourself while working as a Kennedy?

Andy: One of the best things about the Kennedys was getting dropped right in the deep end, presenting to some big ol’ clients. It was one hell of a learning experience. It’s still scary but I’ve learnt that I also get a real kick out of it.

5. What are you working on now?

Andy: Bubbles. I’m mostly thinking about bubbles. For Milka Bubbles.

What’s on your bucket list? Answer this and other creatively stimulating questions when you apply to The Kennedys!

Talent wanted!

The Kennedys is a creative incubator programme hosted at Wieden+Kennedy in London and Amsterdam. This will be the sixth consecutive year in our Amsterdam office and the first in London. Each office will hire six candidates to work as an agency within the agency, tackling real assignments and briefs under the guidance of our team. The 2016 programme lasts from June until year end.

Our Executive Creative Director, Tony Davidson, describes it as a "crash course in creative chaos".

This is an opportunity for movers, doers, thinkers, schemers, and plotters of all persuasions — from animators to tech developers and everyone in between — to grow and flourish at our agency and produce work. Applicants need not have any agency experience, or have worked in a communications role in the past. 

Entries for The Kennedys are open from now until 15 March to candidates eligible to live and work in Europe. You'll be paid living wage and and we'll provide accommodation.

Think you fit the bill, or know someone who does? Visit thekennedys.london for more information, and to apply.

We routinely hire Kennedys on as full-time staffers after their seven month run is over. Below is an interview with former Kennedy now W+K Amsterdam art director Teresa Montenegro that should give you an idea of how she has found it.

1. What were your impressions after a week here in the program?

Considering that our first day in the office was Founder’s Day (the agency's annual day-long party), my first impression was something like, “WTF, this is gonna get pretty crazy, girl.”

And actually, I was totally right, it did, and it still is.

The WK people + Kennedys are like a mental family, and every day is different than the next.

2. What is your favourite piece of work you produced here?

At the end of the Kennedys we were briefed with a project to help Partizan to promote a new film. I was working with [fellow 2015 Kennedy] Mariusz [Wysocki], doing an interactive trailer. Considering that I knew nothing about editing it was a blast to do, and the result was awesome.

3. What was the most memorable thing that you guys did in The Kennedys house?

We had quite a few moments where things got a little crazy. But for sure something related with Andy and his costumes. I remember one day we came home super tired after work, and for no reason he put his roller skates on, a wig and started to dance around the house to “Dolce Vita – Ryan Paris” with an inflatable banana. Stunning.

4. What was the most surprising thing you learned about yourself while working as a Kennedy?

I learned that I can learn extremely fast.

And that I don’t like being bored. I actually like to be stressed out, haha.

5. What are you working on now?

I’m still working on Sea Shepherd, trying to bring to life the project we started in The Kennedys, and also a fun Milka project you will be able to enjoy soon!