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How to leave Wieden-style.

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As you all know, The Kennedys recently reprogrammed and redesigned a full sized version of StreetFighter to represent all the people, experiences, characters and scenarios they endured in their 9 months on the program. Well Rob loved it so much, he asked them to make him a half sized version for him to take to LA when he moves there. And here it is. And he fucking loves it. Not sure about his wife though. And with that, this absolutely the last post of The Kennedys Shanghai 1. Till next time ...

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Annnnnnnd Breathe ...

So that’s it.

The end of the first ever Kennedys Shanghai.

In the next few weeks, some of the guys will get hired at Wieden and the rest will get great opportunities at other great companies.

It was an amazing experience for everyone … us and them … but it wouldn’t have happened without these people:

+ The Magnificent Seven … Carmen, Felix, Griet, Matteo, Meng, Quentin and Wenshu

+ Juni Zhu, the Patron Saint of Saints

+ Arlene Lu and Maxito, the dynamic duo and table tennis losers

+ Patrick Rockwell, also known as the fixer

+ Bryan & Yang

+ Azsa

+ Stone

+ Grainne

+ Nike

+ Boom Boom Bagels

+ Jill Barker

+ Paula Bloodworth, Northy and Marula

+ Yvonne … for never raising an eyebrow when we put in our weird expenses

+ Kim Papworth, Joe Staples and Richard Turley

+ John Rowe and Ryan Johnson in Tokyo

+ Blake Harrop, Alvaro Sotomayor and Judd Caraway in Amsterdam

+ Tony Davidson and Ryan Fisher in London

+ Vitor Abud in Sao Paulo

+ Wieden HR who didn’t say anything even when we made The Kennedys do very weird shit

+ Everyone at Wieden+Kennedy Shanghai

+ Everyone who was part of the Kennedys in Amsterdam, London & Sao Paulo

+ Everyone who applied for the journey

… and finally David Kennedy [and Dan Wieden] who let this thing happen because on April 1st 1982, you started a company that believed in the freedom of creativity

If you ever have the chance to be in – or part of – The Kennedys in the future, whether that is in Shanghai or any of the other Wieden+Kennedy offices, grasp it with both hands.

It will change your life.

It did for us and I’m pretty sure it did for the 7 guys who were our guinea pigs in Shanghai.

Thank you and goodnight.

Rob 

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The Kennedys Shanghai make a little thank you, goodbye and good luck film for Rob - our Ringmaster - as they graduate and he prepares for a new chapter of his life in Los Angeles. There were tears.

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It’s official. And we’re happysad.

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What many people don’t know is Rob, the leader of The Kennedys and head of planning at Wieden+Kennedy is leaving. So The Kennedys decorated a pair of classic Chinese shoes so he would remember them and China forever. It was also to encourage him to stop wearing Birkenstocks, even if he is moving to LA. There were tears. Sad, happy tears.

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9 months ago we were strangers. Today we leave as friends forever.

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The Kennedys get back together to enjoy the sun. Note the headscarf on Wenshu’s head to hide her questionable haircut.

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This would be such a nicer picture of The Kennedys graduation if Rob wasn't dressed like a pregnant Nottingham schoolgirl.

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This would be such a nicer picture of The Kennedys graduation if Rob wasn't dressed like a pregnant Nottingham schoolgirl.

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This would be such a nicer picture of The Kennedys graduation if Rob wasn't dressed like a pregnant Nottingham schoolgirl.

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Rob, the Ringmaster of The Kennedys, writes on his blog about the last 9 months and how 7 strangers gave him one of the most rewarding, exciting and creatively-fullfilling times of his career.

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Graduation piss-up commences. With a bit of Kennedys created gameplay in-between.

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Yes you did ...

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9 months of The Kennedys in 60 seconds.

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The Kennedys end of year book. Featuring the work, stories and dirt on 9 months of beautiful chaos.

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As their final assignment, The Kennedys had to create a gift for Wieden+Kennedy that represented what they learnt and reminded everyone in the building what W+K believes. So they bought a Streetfighter arcade game and reprogrammed and redesigned every aspect of it to represent the characters, environments and storyline of their life in The Kennedys over the last 9 months. And they did it all in 3 fucking weeks. THREE! As one person said when they played it, “it’s like South Park on speed and LSD”. What better compliment could there be than that?! Wieden Portland might have their Fail Harder wall, but Wieden Shanghai has their own, fully customized ‘Kingdom of Chaos’ arcade game.