The tech company announced their new software updates, and we’ve got the bite-sized take

Last week, Apple unveiled a sweeping array of software updates  at the 2021 WWDC (World Wide Developer Conference), including the new iOS 15, iPadOS 15, macOS Monterey, and watchOS 8. These software updates include SharePlay, Focus Mode, design changes to Safari and Apple Maps, and new privacy controls for Siri and Mail, to name a few. It’s an exciting time for anyone who uses Apple products as they continue to develop features and programs that make our lives easier and more productive. These features can also affect the way we think and function in a digital agency, and that has us thinking of ways we can utilize these features in our day-to-day work. 

Focus Feature

Lizzy Field, Project Administrator

Within our industry and across the world, the prioritization of long periods of deep, uninterrupted work time is growing. We see this in Apple’s new Focus feature that serves as a tool to help you reduce distractions from all of your Apple devices. You can customize your Focus feature to only allow certain people and apps to notify you. There can be multiple Focus filters for different times of your day, like Sleep or Work. This customizable feature could be the ultimate deep focus tool for getting into the zone. As a full-service agency, deep work is essential for our creative process, which is why we have Deep Work Wednesday each week—the perfect time for us to use the Focus feature.

Privacy Emails

Katelyn Boisvert, Digital Strategist

One of the features Apple announced on Monday is Mail Privacy Protection. This new update will limit the amount of data that emails can collect from their subscribers/consumers.

From Apple:

“Mail Privacy Protection stops senders from using invisible pixels to collect information about the user. [It prevents] senders from knowing when they open an email, and masks their IP address so it can’t be linked to other online activity or used to determine their location.”

What we know right now is that this affects any email opened from the Apple Mail app—no matter which email service is used, whether it’s a work account or a Gmail account, for example. Hence, you probably won’t be able to determine who opened your emails and when. But again, this only applies to users using the Apple Mail app.

What happens to open rate tracking?

Because we don’t yet know exactly how Apple will treat tracking pixels, we can’t say for sure how much of an impact Mail Privacy Protection will have on open rates. We believe you shouldn’t rely on opens as your sole performance metric in the first place, and that metrics such as clicks and conversions are just as important, so this update could be a reminder to include other metrics when making campaign decisions.

Live Text Using AI

David Hildebrand, Creative Director

Apple’s new Live Text feature digitizes the text in your photos by using on-device AI to recognize the text in an image. Live Text can come in handy when you want to look up the text in an image on the web, copy and paste it on another app, or call a phone number displayed in an image. You can copy the name of a restaurant sign and search for its location, turn handwritten notes into emails, and even search your camera roll for text-based images, like recipe cards and receipts. Unlike Google Lens, the processing of Live Text data happens completely within the iPhone device. It’s all done locally and never leaves your phone. This is a big step forward into the adoption of native AI functionality.

There could be a multitude of use cases for Live Text in the advertising field. For example, after a whiteboard brainstorming session. Simply snap a photo of the notes, copy and paste the text into a Slack channel, and you’re good to go.

TestFlight coming to Mac

Autumn Salazar, Project Coordinator

Testing is an integral part of developing/launching a new website, or in this specific case, an app. It is a long and tedious process that requires a lot of attention to detail, which can become overwhelming. TestFlight is an app that was developed in 2014 and is only available on iOS, but Apple announced that TestFlight is finally migrating over to MacOS later this fall.

This is a big step forward in the world of app testing that will ease the process for a lot of beta testers. With TestFlight, developers can invite up to 10,000 beta testers, receive feedback with ease, schedule automatic updates, launch the app directly from TestFlight, and more. Along with these special tools for testing, Apple also announced Xcode Cloud, an integration built into Xcode. This will allow Apple Developers to build apps in the cloud instead of having a dedicated build infrastructure. It will also include automated workflows, parallel testing with TestFlight, and the ability to record automatic feedback after an app crashes. 

From code, to design, to testing, and all the way up to deployment, Telegraph creates top-quality apps for our various clients. Using TestFlight means our team can deliver fully functional, customized apps in a shorter timeline with a more streamlined and seamless process. 

Universal Control

Kyle DeMarco, Senior Art Director

Two Words: Game Changer. The new Universal Control feature is a unique tool that allows users to effortlessly use a trackpad or mouse across Apple devices. No set up. No cables. Just drag your cursor across the screen, and you can fully control your device. And it doesn’t stop there. You can even drag and drop files across devices. Not just between two devices, but three (if you really need it).

Now, it may seem like a small feature, but it’s going to have a tremendous impact on workflow, especially across devices. Given that we are in a highly remote world, it’s not uncommon for people to have a laptop and desktop, or laptop and iPad, or even all three. The universal control feature is going to save so much time working between the devices. While working, it’s easy to get into the habit of constantly emailing or Slack messaging design files to ourselves, sending links to our own desktops, and AirDropping photos to one another. This new feature eliminates that middle-man step and allows us to work more quickly and freely.

Tele’s Takeaway

Technology moves quickly—as does the advertising industry. These new features give us exciting ways to evolve our working habits and creative processes, a must for full-service agencies in pursuit of the best ideas.

When it comes to buying the perfect gift, we all need a little push in the right direction. Are you struggling to decide what to get the creative in your life? The Telegraph team submitted their favorite Christmas wants, and we compiled their responses to curate the perfect 2020 creative gift guide. Scroll through for some giftspiration!

1. Ampersand Crewneck → Because we want to flaunt our favorite fonts
2. iPad Screen Protector → Because we’re coffee-spill prone
3. Sharpie Art Book→ Because a Sharpie tip holds a million possibilities
4. Elaborate Puzzle → Because we’re still problem solvers outside the office
5. Brass Candle Lighter → Because we need to keep the creative spark going

1. Pencil Sharpener → Because we’re constantly erasing and starting from scratch
2. Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times and Bad → Because even the most creative minds still need a little push
3. Chromatic Puzzle → Because a chromatic visual piece is therapeutic
4. Impala Skates → Because why the heck not?
5. Pantone Notebooks→ Because we need a place to scribble for on-the-go inspiration

1. Letterpress Calendar → Because we need to stay organized (or at least pretend to try)
2. Waterproof Writing Pad  → Because our best ideas come to us in the shower
3. Pin Art Board → Because we like to keep our desk looking fresh
4. Desktop Speakers → Because sometimes we need a tune to get us in the groove
5. Noise-Canceling Headphones → Because sometimes the tunes are a little too distracting
6. Creative Tee-Shirts → Because we love a good graphic tee

1. Lego Classic Creative Suitcase → Because we’re never too old to play with legos
2. Apple Juice Sticker → Because we love to spruce up our laptop with some fun stickers
3. Under Desk Foot Rest → Because we need a little TLC after a day of creating
4. LED Task Lamp → Because—let’s shed some light on the situation, shall we?

The energy inside the historic Lyric Theatre was electric as fans and supporters poured in to watch local celebrities take the stage to compete in 2019’s Dancing with the Stars of the Magic City. Friends and family snapped pre-show photos together and made glitzy posters to cheer on their favorite star. As a member of the First Light Young Partners, the junior board of First Light shelter who organizes this annual event, I couldn’t help but think back to the show’s humbler beginnings.

When Dancing with the Stars of the Magic City began in 2016, fans cheered from tables and  bleachers set up at the now-defunct Old Car Heaven as each group of dance partners performed a 90-second routine in the dance style of their choice. The Young Partners raced to count cash donations to find out which team would win the first-ever Torch People’s Choice Award. We were learning everything as we did it, and we had a blast bringing people together to support First Light.

First Light serves homeless women and children in Birmingham, and it is the only shelter in our community that is accessible to guests 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. First Light is also unusual in that they do not turn away people who are struggling with mental illness, battling addiction, or dealing with chronic neglected health issues. Even before the pandemic, there had been a troubling increase in homelessness. Last year, First Light served 213 adults and 88 children in supportive housing programs. In 2003, they served 13 children.

First Light relies on the generosity of volunteers and donors, and Dancing with the Stars was created as a way to raise financial support for the shelter’s supportive housing programs and various services for the women and children it serves every day. In the event’s first year, DWTS of the Magic City raised $36,970 for First Light, and we knew this special event would only continue to grow from there.

Now, DWTS of the Magic City has graduated to the Lyric Theatre, a venue that truly reflects the magnitude of the event. In 2019, the show raised $78,003 for First Light. Because the event has matured so much over the past five years, I knew 2020 was the perfect time to give it a makeover. Working with the talented and service-minded team at Telegraph, I saw an opportunity for us to help by donating some of our time and expertise.

Art Director Kyle DeMarco got to work on a new DWTS of the Magic City logo with art deco and old Hollywood influences that also tied in some of the shapes from the shelter’s logo. Designer Kaitlin Sparkman helped bring the new look to life in revamped sponsorship materials, new programs and fresh posters. The result is an elegant, sophisticated new look that illustrates the significance of the event. Thanks in part to our updated materials and new look, DWTS of the Magic City has already raised more money in sponsorships than we had last year before the event.

But Telegraph’s involvement doesn’t stop with the branding. Telegraph President Brian “BJ” Ellis is one of the stars who will be competing this year. BJ’s dance partner, Miah Thompson, has been teaching BJ to dance a quickstep to Rihanna’s “Pon de Replay.” The practices have been hard work for BJ, but he has enjoyed the ride so far and is ready to take the stage at the Lyric on October 8. “Dancing with the stars has been a great experience. I didn’t know what to think as I haven’t done anything like this before, but it has been fantastic to be able to give back to First Light in this way. And it’s certainly helpful that Miah has so much patience!”

Although this year’s DWTS of the Magic City will look slightly different because of the pandemic, anyone can still attend the event virtually. Tickets are $25 and give you access to watch the live streamed event from the comfort and safety of your own home. All proceeds benefit the women and children who rely on First Light shelter.

The Telegraph team is thankful for the opportunity to use our talents to help the homeless women and children of Birmingham, and we can’t wait to root for BJ as he struts his stuff on the Lyric stage. To get your live stream tickets and help us cheer on BJ and the other stars and dancers, head to firstlightstars.swell.gives.

How do you tell a good story? It’s clear that our Director of Video Content Ginnard Archibald has learned the secret ingredient—and he has a shiny, new Emmy award to prove it. Ginnard’s 2019 video highlighting the grand opening of the Abbeville Fiber Sawmill in Henry County, Alabama, won Outstanding Cinematography Work at this year’s National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences live event. The video was compelling. It was emotional. It was a perfect example of good storytelling.

So, how do you tell a good story? Where do you start? What do you focus on? Our video master would argue that it begins with some hands-on experience. “I usually wait until I get there to have an emotional vibe or connection to what’s being represented in its current state, then take the history that I do know and curate it into a minute-and-a-half story,” said Ginnard, who scouted the Henry County area and sawmill the day before the shoot. He gleaned inspiration from the quaint countryside and small-town charm, which immediately drew him in.

It’s more than just the scenery that makes for a good story, though. The opening of this sawmill was the largest economic investment in the history of Henry County, and it has brought more than 100 jobs to the area. But there’s another story unfolding just beneath the surface. The mill and its workers are the American dream—a dream built from hard work and humble beginnings. “I felt like I needed to convey that story,” said Ginnard. “This sawmill means so much to the town, so I feel like sentiment needed to be injected no matter what, so that you can feel that emotion.”

The video captures the moment when a truck delivers its first lumber load to the mill. It starts out eerily slow with short clips of Abbeville’s small town, but quickly picks up speed as the truck nears the sawmill. “I really like that you can emphasize an emotion through slow motion and sound,” said Ginnard, who used 25 layers of natural sound they recorded in the area within the final video.

An important rule of thumb for Ginnard with visual storytelling is to approach a project with as little bias as possible. “A lot of times when people are filming, they have their own perspective that they think they’re supposed to bring to a piece,” said Ginnard. He wanted to capture all elements of the story, but in an organic and ethereal way. The slow motion edits and graceful panning of the countryside reel in viewers while remaining true to what is being portrayed: a town revival. The result is a tribute to those men and women of Abbeville Fiber whose craft helps build a place of refuge and rest for others.

Ginnard’s cinematography work earned him an Emmy in the “Photographer–Short Form” category during the live-streamed event in Atlanta, Georgia. But Ginnard wasn’t the only Tele team member who received kudos for their work this year. Producer/Director Cat May took home her own Emmy in the category of “Director–Non-live” for her video “The Mirage.” All in all, the members of our video team took home five Emmys in four different categories this year.

At Telegraph, we are a team of ideators, inventors and creators with a talent for telling. It’s at the core of who we are—whether we’re creating a brand from scratch, crafting scripts, designing graphics or filming stunning videos (s/o to Ginnard and Cat for their shiny new hardware!). What story are you trying to tell? We might just be able to help you out.

Everyone has been touched by the effects of COVID-19 this year, either by contracting the illness itself or experiencing its more intangible repercussions, such as unemployment, uncertainty and social isolation.

Much can be speculated about how our lives will be forever changed by this virus, which has already taken a great toll. Beyond our personal lives, the pandemic is changing our industry in potentially permanent ways. We believe that there are three key areas the design community will feel the lasting of COVID-19, for better or for worse: how brands approach their consumers and their spending, the increased importance of digital, and how remote working will change agency life as we know it.

The Shifting Landscape of Brand Behavior

• Brands are more vocal about socio-political issues. Brands have never experienced higher visibility or greater levels of scrutiny than they are right now. The increased brand scrutiny and visibility can be contributed to brands’ rising use of social media (more content = more chances to connect with customers—good or bad), rapid news cycle, and the nature of the digital world we live in. Interestingly, brands can spark controversy by standing with a belief or movement just as easily as by doing nothing at all.
• Brands are required to be more transparent. As customers grapple with “fake news” and losing trust in the media and brands as a whole, transparency has become more crucial than ever. It’s not enough to vocalize support. Companies are made to walk the walk, and customers are holding them accountable for how brand’s statements are reflected through company policies, as well as treatment of customers and workers.
• There is a serious shift in how brands spend their money. Due to decreased revenues, many companies have had to cut ad spending, social content creation and workforce numbers. This affects where the money will be spent and what will be deemed “essential,” as well as the future needs of the industry as a whole.
• There is no better time for brands to start fresh. Now is a great time for a new approach, whether that means a new way of doing business, rebranding, developing more creative solutions, or focusing on a new area of growth. Many brands have had to step back from the public eye (restructuring their company, refocusing their strategy, or reducing ad spending) due to the pandemic. Therefore, it is the perfect time to take some space to rework their brand. And because consumer behavior has changed so much, it is also a great time to evaluate the core offerings of their brand and how they speak to consumers.

The Ever-Increasing Emphasis on Digital

• Digital environments and accessibility have never been more crucial than in a quarantined world. Because many brick and mortar stores have had to move online, a solid, easy to use website or app is paramount to surviving an increasingly digital world. Also, with information changing so frequently, consumers rely on social media and customer service access to get the most up to date knowledge (like hours of operation, new store protocols, and availability).
• App-based companies (especially delivery) are more important than ever. Food delivery services and online shopping have risen dramatically and won’t stop anytime soon. Therefore, companies that provide these services need to have apps that are usable, fast and accessible to keep up with customer demand.
• Human interaction cannot be replaced. As important as digital services have become, people crave human interaction and need to have access to real people when going through difficult times. Consumers have little or no access to in-person employees during the purchase process like they did before. Brands that have emphasized this in their messaging understand that this is an issue for their customers, and they must be creative and empathetic to meet those needs.

The Rise of Remote Work

• The importance of digital networking and business services will increase. Products and services like Zoom, Slack, Gmail, and others have become indispensable in our remote work world, and we will likely see even more digital solutions popping up in the near future.
• The rising trend of agencies without brick-and-mortar offices will continue to grow. While ditching the office space may offer a larger pool of candidates from more diverse backgrounds and allow companies to save on rent, it has the potential to hinder collaboration, communication and ease of processes (such as brainstorming or producing final materials).
• Companies are required to have greater flexibility than ever before. Dealing with different employee home situations, environments, sick leave, families with kids at home, mental health, and more necessitates extra adaptability from employers.
• COVID-19 will impact the way we interact with vendors, clients and one another, even once the virus is controlled. We may not sit as close together, have clients in the office, share equipment or structure offices the same as we did pre-pandemic.

An Approach to the Challenge of Branding

Branding is one of the most essential aspects of the advertising, marketing and public relations fields. However, for as frequently as the word “branding” is used by professionals in these industries, it is one of the most commonly misunderstood terms. Many mistakenly believe that the process of developing a brand is as simple as designing a logo and pairing it with fonts and colors. While an effective and appropriate logo is an essential piece of creating a brand, a logo alone cannot address all of a brand’s needs and completely tell the brand’s story. Branding is more than just a logo design. Branding is better than just a logo design. In fact, the process of creating a successful brand should start before the logo is ever concepted.

Before a brand seeks to have a logo designed, they should take into consideration the ancient Greek aphorism, “Know thyself.” All successful brands are aware of and deeply believe in their own, unique identity. They can confidently define their purpose, intended audience and value proposition. Successful brands know why they exist, whom they exist for, and what makes them better than their competition. One name for this prenatal process of defining a brand’s identity and purpose is ideation.

Campesino Rum is one of the many clients that Telegraph assisted in the ideation phase of creating their brand. Central to Campesino’s identity as a brand is the question, “What is Rum?” Campesino believes that rum is more than just a liquor produced from fermented sugar cane; rum should be an experience rooted in history, adventure, craftsmanship and culture. Because Campesino believes that rum is more than just a beverage, their identity as a brand must set them apart from competitors in their industry. That is why we approached Campesino’s brand with a thoughtful, detail-oriented approach that reflects the individuality and authenticity of Campesino’s conviction. For example, all of the photos we use in Campesino’s website or social media are less stylized and more organic; they focus on real moments that imply exploration and adventure in the Panamanian jungle.

Campesino’s unique identity is also conveyed through their website design. Instead of being bombarded with a product, users visiting Campesino’s website will be met with a highly engaging, interactive digital experience. With features like an “animal spirits” personality test and specialty drink recipes, visitors are visually transported into the very jungles that inspired the brand. This commitment to creating a unique, organic experience is how Campesino Rum successfully defined itself during the ideation phase of brand creation. While the ideation phase is extremely important for the success and longevity of a brand, no brand can come to life without the creation phase.

When most individuals hear the term “branding,” they are specifically thinking of the creation phase: a small part of the larger task that is branding. The creation phase involves the designing of the logo, website, physical collateral pieces, social media and all other visual assets that a brand may need. In the creation of these assets, the purpose and identity that were defined during the ideation phase are made visual.

Designing the logo is the central visual challenge involved in the creation phase of the branding process. The logo should function as a symbol for the brand and its message; it is effectively “the face” of a brand. However, it is important to remember that a logo cannot possibly meet all of a brand’s needs alone. In a way, a logo functions as an empty vessel. That is to say, it cannot generate meaning that was not defined during the ideation phase, and it also cannot function correctly unless it acts consistently with the identity and purpose of the brand. The identity and purpose of a brand must permeate all of the brand’s visuals, not just the logo. A great example of this branding consistency can be seen in another one of our clients, Born Ready.

Born Ready is an initiative from the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education focused on raising awareness of the importance of early brain development and the empowerment of parents to play an active role in their child’s life. Their logo is a symbolic wordmark with tri-fold meaning: It symbolizes the parent-child relationship, smiling children, and a parent holding their child. However, even if a viewer could not immediately recognize all three of those abstract meanings, they would unmistakably sense that the logo is friendly, warm, affirming and welcoming. The fact that these affirming qualities are immediately recognizable to viewers proves that the logo is congruent with the brand messaging, which supports parents by reminding them that they were “born ready” for the admirable responsibility of parenthood.

The encouragement that Born Ready seeks to provide parents is incorporated in elements beyond the logo. Born Ready’s content is paired with whimsical face icons that mimic various expressions of a child; hand-drawn markings in vibrant, pastel colors; and photos that show parents and caregivers interacting with children in meaningful ways. All of these elements of the brand further the precedent that was defined in the ideation phase and made visual with the creation of the logo. The fact that Born Ready’s logo and content match the defined mission and purpose of the brand reveals that Born Ready is a brand prepared for success. However, even brands that have been successful in the ideation and creation phases of branding know that one more phase exists for brands that desire longevity—an intimate, authentic connection with their audience.

Successful brands know when it is time for a change. One of our clients, Vesta Industrial Contractors, illustrates this crucial principle of brand adaptation. Founded in 1993 as Sunbelt Industrial Company, the brand prides itself on the reliability, thoroughness and thoughtfulness that it brings to the industrial insulation market around the Southeast. While Sunbelt’s business practices embodied all of the characteristics that were essential to their identity as a brand, they needed a visual identity that was congruent with their excellence and would resonate with their contemporary audience. In 2019, Sunbelt became Vesta Industrial Contractors and was given a new name, logo and identity system. The new name and identity system not only embrace modernity, but better represent the true, original values of the brand. The warm, muted colors represented the brand’s commitment to the craft of industrial insulation, and the grey colors and sturdy typefaces imply Vesta’s unparalleled reliability. When Sunbelt became Vesta, they were not selling out or turning their backs on tradition; they were actually re-engaging with their original purpose as a brand. With this change, Vesta exemplified that oftentimes change is inevitable and necessary, even for the most established brands.

Like our clients Campesino Rum, Born Ready and Vesta Industrial Contractors, all successful brands must recognize that the task of branding is complex and requires a great deal of thoughtfulness. Although the process of branding is a high-maintenance and constantly evolving task, we believe that having a deep awareness of the problem at hand is the first step to solving it. Knowing and practicing the phases of ideation, creation and adaptation are the first steps to creating authentic and enduring excellence for your brand.

This past November, a lucky few of us at Telegraph had the unique opportunity to sit down with Coach Pat Dye and discuss the 30th Anniversary of the Iron Bowl coming to Auburn. But this was not just another day on the job; it was truly a dream come true for me, Kenslie McGuire and Seth Baird, all Auburn alumni and lifelong Auburn fans.

We were like kids in a candy shop—or maybe more like kids rolling Toomer’s Corner—as we walked into the Auburn locker room just days before the Iron Bowl for an exclusive interview with the Auburn legend. Coach Dye, joined by Auburn Athletic Director Allen Greene and former Auburn linebacker Craig Ogletree, shared his incredible stories and insight into that first home Iron Bowl in 1989 and everything it has meant to Auburn.

I grew up in the Pat Dye era of Auburn football and attended that 1989 Iron Bowl when I was 11 years old. I even held onto that iconic ticket from the game for all these years and asked Coach Dye to sign it for me after our interview. Hearing him recount not only every detail of that day and game in 1989, but also everything that went into moving the game from Birmingham to Auburn, was an experience I’ll never forget. He talked about so many memories from that day that echoed my own memories.

He talked about the Tiger Walk being so big that players, for the first time ever, had to walk single file down Donahue on their way into the stadium. He talked about the cloud of blue from the fans’ paper shakers rising up into the orange sky and how he would never forget that sight. He talked about the pass to Alexander Wright on the fifth play of the game and about how many rushing yards Stacy Danley had, as if the game had just been played the day before. As he told these stories, it was so apparent how intense his love for Auburn was and that Auburn had meant as much to him as he had meant to Auburn. Even more touching for me was how apparent his love was for all of his former players as he talked about them, and seeing through his interactions with Craig Ogletree how that love and respect was mutual from his players.

He made a point to mention the first time he read the Auburn Creed and how it resonated with him so deeply, saying “…it was right down the line with what I believed in. How you treat your fellow man. How hard you have to work.” He then said the line that most resonated with him from the creed was having “a spirit that is not afraid,” and that if you are afraid, you won’t ever get anything done. I think that sums up Coach Dye extremely well. He never backed down from any challenge or adversity and tackled everything head on. It was more important to him to teach his players the values that resonated with him in the Auburn Creed, and how to be great human beings, than it was to just teach them how to be great football players.

Kenslie McGuire recalls that after graduating from Auburn University, she made it one of her bucket list items to return to Auburn for a work project.

“As you can imagine, I was thrilled to hear we’d be interviewing Coach Pat Dye for the 30th anniversary of the first Iron Bowl played in Jordan Hare. My mom attended that ’89 Iron Bowl and bought a sweatshirt that I ended up wearing all through my college days. Such an iconic game!

Coach Dye is a true Auburn man. He treated coaching as a serious responsibility and developed a father/son-like relationship with so many of his players. Seeing him and Craig Ogletree interact was the sweetest thing. You can tell they had so many fond memories together that led to their lasting respect so many years later.

It was such a delight to meet Pat Dye and spend that afternoon with him, Craig, and A.D. Allen Greene. I knew it’d be an experience I’d never forget, but didn’t realize how special it would become seeing that we’d lose Coach so soon.”

Seth Baird said that day was his first time getting to really meet Coach Dye.

“He was super nice and friendly. For him to take the time out of his day to sit down with us was awesome. I’d heard he was not only a great coach but a great man, and I got to experience that myself. It is something I will never forget. The way he told the story of the ‘89 Iron Bowl was like it happened yesterday. He seemed to remember every detail about that day. He made you feel like you were there in the stands. I could have sat there for hours listening to him tell stories about Auburn. We are going to miss Coach Dye.”

For some context, Auburn’s record versus Alabama prior to Coach Dye was 17-27-1. Since Coach Dye came to Auburn in 1981, that record is 20-19—including a 15-10 record against Alabama in games played in Auburn and Tuscaloosa since Coach Dye moved the game away from Birmingham and truly evened the playing field. Coach Dye’s contributions to Auburn are immeasurable. In many ways he is Auburn, both in the way he lived his life and in the path he paved for Auburn athletes, coaches, students and fans to come through his accomplishments on and off the field.

Coach Patrick Fain Dye the man may be gone, but legends never die, and he will live on forever through the Auburn family and in memories like the ones we recalled and made during our interview. Thank you, Coach, for the day we spent together and for the life you gave to Auburn, defining what it means to be an Auburn man.

War Eagle, Coach!

5 Tips for Surviving Your Next Virtual Meeting

As we enter week another week of the seemingly endless COVID-19 news cycle, people around the world continue to work from home and practice social distancing to flatten the curve. Over the past few weeks, our kitchens have morphed into classrooms, our living rooms have transformed into offices, and our backyards (if we’re lucky enough to have them) have become oases of escape.

We now find ourselves viewing our coworkers, classmates and family members through the window of our computer screen. All day, we hop from meeting to classroom to another meeting, then finish up the school day and log back on for a virtual happy hour, and end the day with a FaceTime chat with our parents before bed. (You can’t dodge those calls. Your parents know you’re home because, well…where else are you going to be?)

Doing this almost every day for weeks on end has left us feeling exhausted. But why, exactly?
Quick answer: Zoom, Google Hangouts and FaceTime (Sorry Skype, you didn’t make the cut this pandemic). All of these virtual meeting spaces have mentally worn us out to the point where we don’t have the energy at the end of the day to even look at another screen.

We can’t run on fumes until the end of social distancing because we don’t even know when that is. So how do we combat this new fatigue? Let’s first understand what we are now experiencing in our virtual lives.

The Gloom Factor:

Virtual conversations are inherently going to be more face-to-face (literally), eliminating the cues from non-verbal body language we’re accustomed to. According to Jeremy Bailenson, the founding director of Stanford’s Virtual Human Interaction Lab, the majority of human interaction is interpreted through non-verbal communication. A shrug, hand movement, fidgets—these are all non-verbal cues that help us interpret the tone and mood behind someone’s words. So when the computer eliminates this, we are forced to focus all our energy on the words someone is saying and interpret them from a cropped point of view. Because our minds have to spend more time and energy trying to understand this, the natural flow and rhythm of conversation is disrupted. It’s as if you’re snapping off beat to a song you’ve heard a million times and can’t seem to get back in sync.

Another cause of our fatigue is the “gallery view” feature in some programs that allows you to see everyone on the call at once. Sometimes it’s nice to see that you’re not the only one that doesn’t have yourself together by the 9 a.m. status call. But when you’re on gallery view for an hour or so for every meeting, it can be mentally taxing without you even knowing it. Imagine walking into Best Buy and being stuck in the TV aisle where every television is playing a different movie. That’s effectively what gallery view is. You’re constantly pursuing the “gallery” to see if Johnny’s really paying attention or if Sally still has the photo of you two on her wall, all while trying to actively listen to the person speaking. And while you’re doing this, you have 10 (or however many coworkers you have) other sets of eyes looking right into the camera, which is staring right back at you. It shatters your sense of privacy and forces you to be intimate with one another. Because of the discomfort this causes for some, your body can have a “fight or flight” reaction, which can be physically draining.

But the one gaze you have to be most concerned about is your own. Your own webcam is also a contributing factor to your digital fatigue. One aspect is the nagging feeling you’re constantly on display during the entire meeting. You have to act attentive, put on your best face and be present at every moment. Being hyper-aware of yourself, your actions and your surroundings can be extremely stressful. You’re not only highly tuned in to what the speaker is saying, but also to what you look like, what you’re doing, what’s happening behind you, whether your child is going to pop in the room at any given moment, and on and on. Even for the most vain of people, seeing yourself speak during every conversation when you’re not used to it can throw you for a loop.

While these video conferences can wear you out both mentally and physically, there are some steps you can take to manage the stress, anxiety and fatigue before hopping on your next virtual call.

1. Do I Really Need to See You?

We may be tempted to make every conversation a virtual call so we have an excuse to see a familiar face, but it’s not always always necessary to flip on the webcam and have a quick conversation. By turning off the camera or using your cellphone, you’re eliminating all visual cues and relying solely on sound to interpret your conversations. It’s less for your brain to focus on and easier for you to manage the conversation.

2. Mirrors Are for Bathrooms

If you’ve tried making the meeting a phone call and your coworker insists on showing you their new virtual background, try turning your own camera off or hiding yourself from the gallery view. Most of our anxiety and exhaustion comes from staring at our reflections for hours on end, so why not just hide yourself all together?

Some people might think your lack of camera access means you are disconnected or unengaged in the conversation. If you’re required to show yourself, show you’re present and attentive at the beginning of the meeting, then turn your camera off. And when you want to chime in, turn your camera on while you converse, and then off again when you’re done.

3. Brady Bunch is Canceled

Yes, it makes for a fun social media post (just look at ours!), but you really don’t need to be looking at a classroom of coworkers every meeting. If you’re that curious to know what all your coworkers are doing during the meeting, you might not be very engaged in the meeting itself. In your next meeting, utilize the “speaker view” and save your energy for the person that’s talking. What they’re saying is probably more important than your other coworker’s cat walking across the screen.

4. Set the To-Do List Aside

We’re all busy people with a thousand tabs open between our internet browsers and post-it notes, but one thing that makes us so exhausted after video calls is our constant need to multitask during all of our meetings. Your brain is in five different places trying to handle everything that needs to get done. It’s mentally taxing to tune in and out of conversations, and it’s impossible to do so seamlessly. Hit snooze on all the notifications, close some tabs and keep your mind where your virtual body is.

5. Okay, Let’s Break It Up Everyone

If you find yourself constantly glued to your chair with your eyes locked on the screen, it can help to get up and take 10-minute breaks between meetings. Let yourself recharge by walking away from the desk, running to the mailbox or getting another snack before joining the next conversation. Not having a break prevents your brain from gracefully shifting gears and strains your eyes for an extended period of time, leaving you more tired than you would be after an in-person meeting.

As for your social life via Zoom, having a virtual happy hour every other day with your friends or people you haven’t talked to since college graduation can be just as exhausting as having back-to-back meetings all day. You’re spending even more time locked into your computer than you really need to be. Set aside certain times to catch up with your friends, and be aware of when you might need to pass on a virtual hangout if you’re already feeling fatigued to help you better balance your on-screen and off-screen time. Your friends will still be there.

The future is up in the air for now, but working remotely is a new norm for many of us. This change in how we communicate with friends, family members and colleagues can leave us anxious and exhausted as we navigate our everyday life, but looking out for your own sanity and personal well-being shouldn’t take a back seat. Until we can click “Leave the Meeting” one last time and meet in person again, we have to learn what’s best for us as we embrace and adapt to the changes to come.