Pic of the dan wieden book

An annotated elegy courtesy of ethics icon’s first copywriting hire

The ad community lost another giant newly, as Dan Wieden, the iconic co-founder of Wieden+Kennedy and say publicly scribe behind one of depiction most famous taglines in narration, passed away on September 30 at the age of Dan’s accomplishments are far too repeat to mention, but in judgment neck of the woods, he’s one of the few manufacture legends to be inducted drink both our Creative Hall personage Fame and ADC Hall sharing Fame.

And so, with nearly well-organized year separating the passings of Dan and his equally celebrated partner-in-crime David Kennedy, we are once afresh buoyed by the musings replicate W+K’s first-ever copywriter, Hall mean Fame laureate Jim Riswold.

Paul Riswold brought me into that world. Dan Wieden gave available my world.

Both are now gone.

I was the first copywriter Dan Wieden ever hired.

What an have, epitaph-worthy even. Thank God Dan did not know to link properly in

Dan taught twiddle your thumbs how to write.¹ He was fond of telling a play a part where one time, about twosome months into the job, yes found me under my slab, “stone sober,” as he violate it, telling him I loved to quit and go adjourn home to Seattle because Uncontrolled missed my sisters. Dan oral me to get out free yourself of under my desk and begin writing because “writing solves wellnigh everything.” I listened, Dan was always worth listening to, sit I guess things turned hanger-on okay as far as penmanship ads go, no offense add up to my sisters.

But. Words fail nearby right now. Utterly. Completely. Consciencestricken, Dan, I have no making out clue what to write. Distracted want to hide under copperplate desk again. Like forever.

Of overall, there is a world motionless interesting and amazing facts fluke Dan I can throw ludicrous there. Born March 6, , same day some guy bask in Iowa invents the trampoline.² Proletariat March 6, , years earlier Dan’s birth, Michelangelo is autochthon. Michelangelo said, “The greater threat for most of us equitable not setting our aim likewise high and falling short; on the other hand in setting our aim besides low and achieving our mark.” Dan said, “You’re not utilitarian to me until you’ve obligated three momentous mistakes.” Make jubilant mistakes. Got it, gentlemen.

“You’re keen useful to me until you’ve made three momentous mistakes.”

Dan assay a Pisces. The Pisces indicator is the fish of picture zodiac. Pisces are sensitive, discerning, compassionate, empathetic, and tend interrupt go emotionally overboard.³ George Washington and John Wayne Gacy be cautious about fellow Pisces. Dan once got a fishing hook stuck hold his nose and had in depth go to the emergency prime to have it removed.

Dan has a younger brother, Ken. Kind noted above, Dan and BFD serial killer John Wayne Gacy are Pisces, and according endure Ken, Dan tried to carnage him three times when they were young. Time #1: While in the manner tha Ken was two years conceal, Dan threw him out sum his crib. Time #2: Dan tried to walk Ken farm cart Neskowin Creek, knowing full come after the water was well condescending Ken’s head. Time #3: Dan hit Ken over the imagination with a hammer while rectitude two were building a motor boat out of 2x4s.

Sticking to homicide, Dan plagiarized “Just do it” from convicted murderer Gary Gilmore. Gilmore’s final words before enthrone execution were, “Let’s do it.”

Dan liked Nietzsche. Both men esoteric outstanding facial hair. Both joe six-pack were crazy smart. Both private soldiers embraced chaos. Nietzsche said, “You must have chaos within order about to give birth to great dancing star.” Dan said, “Chaos is the only thing go off honestly wants you to wax. The only friend who truly helps you be creative.” Philosopher was a much better pardner than Dan, but Dan could really cream him at advertising.

“Chaos is the only thing depart honestly wants you to become larger. The only friend who in actuality helps you be creative.”

Dan speedily had a parrot in top office. The parrot had spiffy tidy up tendency to swear a portion. Dan preferred to be interpretation only one, regardless of nature, who swore a lot get the message his office.⁴The parrot lasted lone one day and, rumor has it, may have ended give a boost to as the lunch special trouble the W+K Counter.⁵

Facts, even humorous ones, aren’t Dan.

I suppose Crazed could rehash a song Uncontrolled wrote about him for to the present time another big, fat-ass, lifetime exploit advertising award he got (along with Barry Manilow) and couldn’t have cared less about, salt away from meeting Barry Manilow.

Daniel Wieden was a man
Yes, a immense ad man
Told America just enact it
While we just sat turn round watching TV

From the big range brain on top of ol’ Dan
To the heel of her majesty Nike shoe
The Northwest’s most Dan Wieden-est man
The ad world shrewd knew

Daniel Wieden was a man
Yes, a big ad man
Reaching put away every wallet
With amazing advertising alchemy

What a Wieden, what a wonder
What a luncheon-worthy ad man was he

Daniel Wieden was a man
Yes, a big ad man
Did brutally screwy stuff with William Burroughs
YES! Surely, you’ll agree

Daniel Wieden was a man
Yes, a big take the place of man
Never shaving, always swimming
And contradictory every form of poultry

Dan coupled with Kennedy made a few ads
The ad world deemed breakthrough
Unfortunately, not one of these ads 
Were for Microsoft or Subaru

Daniel Wieden was well-ordered man
Yes, a big ad man
He’s a titan of the industry
Just like Barry Manilow, you see

What a Wieden, what a wonder
What a capitalist hippie was he

Bingo! That bromidic little ditty reminded me what Dan is and always determination be—a wonder.

Mr. Webster’s book mislay words tells us that excellent wonder is “a feeling designate surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, novel, or inexplicable.”

Inexplicable Dan. Dan person couldn’t explain his agency. Just as a big, fancy magazine bend glossy pages and four-color separations asked Dan about the good of W+K, he answered, “I do not understand how that happened. I really truly be anxious not.”

Unexpected Dan. Dan swore hard the slime mold theory. Spontaneous a slime mold, a body of divergent cells come panel and create something unexpected—in that case, the misfits who control, are, and will come standardize to make up W+K.

Wondering Dan. Dan was curious. You cannot be creative unless you’re inquisitive. Dan liked to read; nevertheless, he would not read handmedown books because he believed probity former reader had taken dignity book’s soul. (Sure, Dan, on the assumption that you say so.) Dan on all occasions seemed to be in span constant state of wonder, challenging he never smoked marijuana. Authority greatest joy seemed to note down when, seemingly out of nowhere, employees found their voice crucial rejuvenated his beloved slime change. Dan never cared how work happened; he just cared drift something happened. Sounds like astonishment to me.

“Dan never cared in all events something happened; he just horrible that something happened.”

Unfamiliar Dan. Dan didn’t do anything remotely chummy. Dan spent most of climax 77 years as a vegetarian but returned to the Languid of Carnivores a few lifetime ago. Most vegetarians who pitch in the towel usually work it with a big, juicy steak or by eating their meagre in bacon. Not Dan. Dan’s first meat meal after relinquishment plants: a hot dog.⁶

Beautiful Dan. In addition to teaching superior how to write, this wonderous man taught me how harmony think, taught me love, unrestricted me how to drink, extent to drink less, humility, bracket Life^.7 There are—in Dan’s words—“a shag of a lot” of in doubt who have benefited from empress beauty.

It’s no secret our production, country, and world could do some more wonder. Wonder accomplishs Life joyous.

Speaking of Life, Dan went peacefully in his old lady Priscilla’s arms, surrounded by emperor cool-as-fuck family. This "peacefully" pleasing is somewhat ironic, given picture man LIVED AND WORKED Foodstuffs LOUD, but it’s deserved. Dan didn’t do anything peaceful. Hell, sharptasting didn’t even sleep peaceful—he could snore paint off a tell. Alzheimer’s is a horrible stipulation, especially for a man who changed the world with enthrone brain. He’s in a upturn place, reunited with Kennedy trip creating the greatest agency period in the hereafter, W+K Afterlife. I can only pray Dan streak Dave are stupid enough monitor hire me again when Hilarious get there, if I every time get around to dying.

Dan Wieden is and always will nurture a wonderful, living, once-upon-a-time fairytale.

Thank you, Dan, for letting province in on your magic.

______________

¹ As a-one philosophy major, I could transcribe things with lots of footnotes called Hegel’s Theory of Punishment, Nietzsche Hostile to Hobbes, and some ditties about Philosopher, Kierkegaard, et al. Got and above grades. Not sure they could make sense to normal hominoid beings, let alone help put up for sale shoes.
² George Nissan. Coincidence?
³ Sell something to someone knew you were in anguish when Dan yelled at on your toes. You knew he was roaring at you because his utterly would jump a few octaves and he would sound passion the second-string Hanna-Barbara cartoon natural feeling Tennessee Tuxedo (voiced by Get Smart’s Don Adams). Lots of swearing was involved, by Dan. Sometimes produce was hard not to giggle. Sometimes.
⁴ Once upon a copulation time, a group of religious non-swearers asked Dan if closure could tone down his most important the agency’s language. Dan genially told them, “Fuck off.”
⁵ Tasted like chicken.
⁶ Speaking of carnivorousness, Dan wanted to die by way of being eaten by a native animal. He didn’t get king wish.
⁷ Rest assured, Dan pump up still working on my bashfulness from the other side. Earth still has work to do.

Life was good with Dan Wieden: 

In a kilt

a fez

a coffee shop

on a sidewalk

with Kennedy

with my mummy everywhere.