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The president and creative director of Kate Spade, Andy Spade, 40, began his entrepreneurial career while still at Arizona State University when he cofounded an ad agency. He moved to New York to work as a copywriter at Bozell, Jacobs, Kenyon & Eckhardt and spent 11 years as a creative director, doing time at Kirshenbaum Bond & Partners, Saatchi & Saatchi and TBWA\Chiat\Day. Spade, whose slight build and goofy smile recall his brother, actor David, helped launch the Spade accessories line nine years ago with wife Kate. He now leads its 10-person in-house creative team. -Interviewed by Mae Anderson
Q: Who had the biggest influence on your career?
A: Tom McElligott. He brought writing back to advertising. He put words and pictures on a collision course-without words, the pictures made no sense; without pictures, the words made no sense.
Q: How does fashion advertising differ from what you did previously?
A: It's more visceral. There's no logic to it. Fashion oftentimes isn't about a product benefit, it's about a point of view, a specific sense of style. It can be about a sense of humor people identify with.
Q: Does that make it easier or harder to do your job?
A:...