Caples Awards

Caples Awarads was announced last night 13/4/ some really lovely work all announced via Zoom in these strange times but two things that never change and always remain, one, creatives will always have a drink in their hand and the two; there's even more importance in the value of the creative idea, like I said, even more so now. On a side note you might rightly question why do awards while this is going on? Well it was this year free to enter and I think it was good to bring many creatives together from all over the world via Zoom, creatives from Sydney, NZ and LA all coming together, much better I think than some gaff in London, seemed more inclusive. Anyway clients need to be brave, innovate, explore new ways of doing things. Companies regardless of size or sector need to stand-out combined with creating ideas/products/approach that is aligned with the reality of Convid19. Create work as John Hegarty mentioned at the start of the Zoom presentation that all great creative must adhere; be memorable, motivating and truthful. The work tonight I saw some real corkers. />

The Pain Creatives Constantly Feel

This is a little gem of a video by Ze Frank who dryly asks many questions about our creativity or lack of it. It's long but try to watch till the end as it's beautifully written and his observation on how creative people feel and think on a daily basis is spot-on. In parts it made me feel uncomfortable as the thinking creative side of our brains taunts us and if we don't feed this curious part of our brain, it throws its toys out of its pram and when you call on it; nothing is forthcoming. Creativity is a blessing for us but also in equal measure a curse. I wouldn't have it any other way. Just go with the flow my creative brothers and sisters.

Drinking Horror Story This Halloween

Don't let Halloween haunt you forever. Budweiser and DAVID Miami worked with real people arrested for irresponsible drinking, turning their mugshots into reminders that drink driving can easily turn into a horror show. Be warned.

Unbelievable in this day and age.

This was aired on my Facebook feed from a female colleague bemoaning in this day and age this type of work is been produced. It’s shocking really and when you work in the industry you feel quite embarrassed even when you had thankfully nothing to do it with it. As I’m in the industry I also know that ‘creative’ work and I use the term loosely here, has to go various rounds of sign off, from internal sketches and finally mock ups to present back to a team of marketing directors. SO at what stage did anyone question this headline: ”You look like you would fancy a 50 year old..’ In an industry I know from colleagues at various agencies the sly bullying and ageism is rife in our industry. This type of work just encourages that behaviour further. I also noticed today the new Campaign Faces to watch what was so refreshing was the vast majority were female, so change is happening I just hope that the change will also come when it comes to hiring mature and experienced talent. How refreshing would it be when the day comes when you have a creative team one in their 20’s and one in their 70’s in a top ad agency. - now that’s something that I would raise a drink to. Time for change let’s as creative’s not encourage work like this if we want to attract the best talent into the industry.

Blah Blah Bollocks

Thursday Thought: Filling in the blanks with a formulaic approach in writing creative briefs produces formulaic creative solutions. We need to think and dig deeper into out clients needs beyond marketing jargon. (The solution might not even be an advertising campaign). Think differently and make a real difference.

So few words but says so much

I saw this and it literally stopped me in my tracks, like all good design and creative ideas are suppose to do. (Let’s not discuss BT’s new logo redesign shall we). I do however I love this quote as it’s beautiful clear and to the point. So many people in our industry who over cook briefs and presentations, I wonder why this is? Does it make them feel by rambling it makes them smarter? Here my friends and colleagues is what you must always do; be clear, keep it simple and outline the business objective/opportunity. Simples as a meerkat once said.

IKEA Game Of Thrones

IKEA does it again. Whatever the medium, no matter what, they can make any space creative. You know too people will take selfies. So this isn’t just a display unit, this is branded viral content. Great stuff #HatTip

Ecom Mobile Utility Ideas

Here's a free scamp of ideas that really could apply to any online shopping portal, this was done for Sendo Vietnam which has some local ideas that only work in VN like TET but most of the ideas could work in most parts of the world. Shopping online is more that just a well executed UI, pick and click is vital as always but more and more shopping sites are interlinked with their social marketing or CRS programs, take for instance the idea here for Sendo, where during TET families come together, some people are alone, so during this very important gathering wants stopping Sendo as a shopping portal to bring people who have no one together. Just a thought but more and more brands will be judged not just on words but their actions. That is why each silo in companies and agencies are brought together as the thinking and experience has to be seamless and truly connected.

Poor Marketing By Tiffany's

I saw this on my feed and it struck me as to why this object made me feel sad? It made me sad for the world we live in where 500,000 kids in the UK leave home for school without a breakfast or where 4.5 million kids are living below the poverty line in the UK, terrible statistics in the modern age. So what has that got to do with a silver can? For many people it's a daily struggle just to put food on the table, and I remember a stat when the country goes into a recession the biggest selling items are cans of beer and baked beans. This silver can reminded me of a baked bean can but this one is priced at 945 pounds. When I was an art student, a 20p can of beans went a long way, beans on toast, the next day, jacket potato and beans, it was and sure still is the stable diet for many students and working class families up and down the country. So for many this everyday object is an object of existing rather than seen as an object of luxury. People need to be reminded that even if they have wealth there's a lot of people who haven't and showing some form of empathy and compassion is required not rubbing their faces in it by wearing stuff like this. Peace and goodwill to you all, especially this time of year

Creativity DeConstructed

Constructvism and disequilibrium I discovered this and I really thought it was gold and worth sharring in gaining undertsanding when it comes to the creative process or the journey we as creatives we have to go through. I agree withthe post in to get the best work you have to go as I call it; the 'dark zone' where there's confusion and unease. And if you look at the theory of learning in Constructvism, it's about experiences of what we have gone through that makes us who we are and how we decode things. I love this graph that shows the process and the feelings we feel duriing the creative process. Disequilibrim should be embraced no matter how uncomfortable it makes us feel.

Creative Director Is More Than Just A Title

A student recently asked; 'what's it like to be a Creative Director?" While watching this it dawned on me; with looming deadlines hanging over you, this is seriously what it is like to be a Creative Director -fighting for a proper brief, getting that idea, fighting for it, selling it, fighting for it, delivering it. Once done. Repeat.

But what other factors contribute to the stress? Why tight timelimes? Sometimes it is a quick turn around, its the nature of the business, but some stressful timings and working conditions are self-inflicted by many agency folk. We all know the industry is transforming, with start-ups, consultants and agencies reinventing their offerings.It's now not unusual for pure digital agencies to be the 'lead agency' and to do TV spots and across the way, good old PR agencies creating digital experiences with all of them saying that they can create 'micro-moment' rich content in a day. No wonder there's confusion within the departments and even more confusing for our clients. One such client who has become a good friend over the years spoke to me recently with eyes rolling about another offering from her agency of record. She said something quite interesting in the next breath by saying; 'I nod and I always refer to the Creative Director, if you take away all the jargon it will always come back to the idea'. 'No idea no offering' and key factor is can that agency deliever that idea within the agreed timeframe? Is it going to make a difference within my sector in either brand equity or a strong KPI that has been agreed? All basic stuff nut gets missed time and time again. So why the rolling surf bearing down the neck of the Creative Director from the student who asked the original question? I thought about his question long and hard and it's quite simple really, most companies 'faff' and what I mean by that statement is we have too many people talking and not actually doing what they are been paid to do. I remember many moons ago, AMV London had a website that showcased all their work as a simple sketch on a post-it note. You got the purity and genius of the ideas, where all the other agencies at the time where into Flash sites as it looked 'cool' yes a bastard to load but hey; 'they'll love it' was the shout from the new business directors. Experienced CD's have a knack to cut-through quickly, most are as sharp as a razor in thinking and clarity, and there lies the problem, while all departments have been faffing beforehand many turn their attention in cretaing ideas as it deflects what they should be doing but when it comes to the crunch most come up short,so before you try to catch a wave focus on what you get paid to do then maybe the whole process could be less of a kick bollock scramble and the surf deadlines bearing down your/our neck wouldn't be common practise. Just maybe we could service our clients better, just a thought. Have great creative productive week, surfs up!

11:11:11

This was posted over the weekend, just stunning work, beautiful idea that has real class. #HatTip

Insta Depressed

I saw this idea from WWF, called #TooLatergram caught my eye and I thought it was clever way to draw attention we are doing to the World we live in from crystal clear seas, to Alice In Wonderland Coral reefs and snow-topped glaciers covered in snowdrop coloured flowers. Through the lens of travel bloggers they truly look awe inspiring the locations just look like a place we all want to go. There lies the problem, as earth’s natural wonders have disappeared because of people. In this social activation WWF tries to engage millennials to take environmental action. They invited famous travel Instagramers to post images of international beauty spots as if they were paying them a visit. But thousands of followers who gushed over the pics discovered there was a bleak story behind the post. The sites had already been ruined and bloggers responded by posting a picture of the current situation at the same place. #TooLatergram well one thing it did for me is depressed me on what we have done, I clicked on the link at the end and as it was in French, didn't give me the option for English version and the site was pretty slick in interface, but that's it just information on the places and a newsletter sign-up, surely we should be doing something more? Pre-perpared letters to Govs? Protest? Not sure but it just felt a bit design and idea over end output. I go back to feeling miserable after watching this.

Human Drone Snowboarder

With the help of Samsung and YouTube star Jesse Wellens of the channel PrankvsPrank, Neistat takes flight over a small Finnish ski village wait for it...by a drone. Yes a drone that can actually pull and if needed lift a person off the ground. Good watchable content. While watching it got me thinking, this kit could one day be used in 'search and rescue'. I love tech when we start experimenting.

Parkinson's NSW Mannequin Challenge

When a problem becomes the solution

This is just amazing - now here are two inspiring young ladies, they are engineering graduates from the Islamic University of Gaza and they have defied all stereotypes with their design of an affordable new building block made from the rubble of war, and they're about to scale operations for mass production. Subverting a crippling Israeli blockade that makes importing construction materials a demeaning, expensive, and time-consuming process, Majd Mashharawi and Rawan Abddllaht overcame a litany of obstacles to develop their green bricks. Their goal is to help Gaza residents rebuild their homes after three wars in 10 years have left thousands of buildings in ruins. Brilliant beating men at their own game.

Lights, Action, Lights

Latest IKEA from Mother - very simple idea, beautifully shot, location looks like Thamesmead (Seems to be of a director's shooting mecca for edgy urban landscapes) the cast and the music makes the spot complete. If you're wondering who's the track by it's Patrick Watson -Lighthouse - proper old school TV spot that stands out in a dire landscape of TV spots

Simple Planning

I'm sure you have seen this visual as it's been around for a while, but it just popped up again on my social feed. I looked at it again and laughed as I always do and then as I thought of it even more, I felt like crying. How can some people be so so stupid? With all their education and degrees in marketing etc how could they not see this? Really even without a bloody degree how could you miss it? Well I think this sums up alot on what's happening at the moment in the industry, trying to be a smart arse and then missing the point completely many blinkered by research data and insights and all the voodoo that goes with it. Just pause and think and look at everything in pure simple terms. They might have degrees coming out of their ears but one degree in this instance that's missing is a degree in common sense.

Creativity and Boredom

Reading on the subject of creativity on how it comes about? And why some appear to have it more than others? It's 4am in the morning, my mind was curious and wandering, I wasn't tired more bored which funny enough got me thinking and I then came across this, how spooky. Creativity Have you ever found that it is often when you’re bored, doodling away absentmindedly perhaps, when some of your most perceptive insights arrive, bubbling up unbidden from the depths of your subconscious? Boredom has long been regarded as a prelude to creativity. Consider Friedrich Nietzsche, no less, who wrote that great artists ‘require a lot of boredom if their work is to succeed. For thinkers and all sensitive spirits, boredom is that disagreeable ‘windless calm’ of the soul that precedes a happy voyage and cheerful winds. They have to bear it and must wait for its effect on them’. Indeed, Manfred Kets de Vries has argued that boredom has played a crucial role in many great artistic and scientific breakthroughs For instance, Decartes allegedly ‘discovered’ the notions of x and y while idling in bed watching a fly on the ceiling, while Einstein reportedly achieved the initial pivotal insight into the nature of relativity while boredly daydreaming.

Such anecdotes have been corroborated by recent research. For instance, in experimental studies, it has been found that people induced into a state of boredom perform far better on creativity tests (e.g., thinking of novel uses for plastic cups), compared to participants who are either elated, relaxed or distress. One explanation is that boredom allows attention to wander, and the mind to free-associate, thus facilitating creativity. Indeed, from a neurophysiological perspective, boredom may activate the default mode network, which is thought to play a key role in creativity (e.g., stimulus independent thought)

This is just a piece from an article originally appeared at Psychology Today Tim Lomas, Ph.D., is a lecturer in positive psychology at the University of East London, where he is also the co-program leader for the Masters of Science in Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology.

Marketing Ideas and spooky job titles

Funny thing I noticed recently, and it's this; our industry is now changing not by the year or week it's changing by the day,a quick search today this is what came up; Snapchat glasses, BMW built a power plant from old electric-car batteries, Microsoft puts AI to work in Office 365 I could go on and in that new roles are created and others evolve; for instant job titles; 'digital creative directors' are now becoming 'heads of digital transformation' others too like 'design directors' with a tap of a key command are now; 'product innovation directors'. So what's happening? I think as an industry we are in a state of flux. Don't panic, I've seen 4 major changes so far in my career, we're just in another transition. Many companies trying to find their niche on what to do? What do they stand for? Or as the old school would say; what's our USP? No different of old but now the lines are now blurred for instance we now have cross-over from PR, media into agency land and vice versa, marketing directors becoming an agency planner. It's now not unusual for even creatives going client side working for the likes of Uber and Facebook. I personally think it's great with all this cross over as it shows that companies are in search of the ideas but many muddy the water, they complicate things. As always it's the idea that counts not the title or where you work, that's super exciting for me, is an idea or ideas that truly transform a business which sets them apart either agency or client side. Enjoy the ride. Here's an image I love which made me laugh, when someone asked me when I was working in Australia 'what's the difference between a front end and and a back end developer? I shared this from my image bank. Thankfully these roles never changed.