What’s the Big Idea?
As the executive creative director and founder of the Pocantico Hills-based “advertising Utopia” Amsterland, it’s Lauren Amsterdam’s job—and that of her 26 colleagues, whom she describes as “creative Gods” and “gems”—to come up with the big ideas.
“Lauren Amsterdam is to marketing design what Manolo Blahnik is to shoes: elegant, classy, polished, original, and an eternal fountain of new ideas,” says Amsterland client Jessica Dee Rohm, CEO of Foreign Management Company in White Plains. (Among Amsterland’s other clients: the Trump Organization; The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester; and General Motors.) “Her creativity is inspiring, her energy uplifting, and her diligence refreshing. I cannot imagine ever going elsewhere for design services.”
But Amsterland, which has more than 200 accounts, isn’t just receiving praise from its clients. The company has a long list of honors that includes accolades from the CLIO Awards, London International Awards, Communication Arts, Print magazine, How magazine, ADDY Awards, and Big W Awards. Plus, every app the agency has created for Apple has appeared on the retailer’s “What’s Hot,” “Top Grossing App,” “New and Noteworthy,” and “App Store Essentials” lists. The apps also have been featured by CNN, ABC News, the New York Times, Wired magazine, and Oprah Radio.
“I’m addicted to our clients’ positive reactions,” Amsterdam, 40, says. “I’ve been told that when we present concepts to them, they feel like kids on Christmas morning. They’re giddy when results exceed expectations. It’s so fulfilling.”
