Latest AGENCY LIFE articles

The Creative Solution Agencies Seek is Within

I can tell you one of the things that keeps you up at night once you’ve reached the “heights” of Chief Creative Officer is, “Where’s the next job going to come from if this one doesn’t work out?” Actually, now that I think about it that was probably my wife whispering to me as I tried to fall asleep. It’s not like there are many openings for that title at any random time given the average number of years a person stays ensconced in the position, considering they define the agency’s style and voice.

Rejuvenation or Obsolescence. The choice is yours

I’ve been thinking a lot recently about new beginnings, rejuvenation and their counterpoint obsolescence. Coupla reasons. Firstly, I’m leaving sunny England after 4 and a half years and returning to Canada. Tonnes of good in that, a few regrets. I’m also taking on a new role at a great agency. Tonnes of excitement, some trepidation. Like any “closing doors and opening windows” moment, it forces some reflection.

This reflection all came into sharp focus this week though when I was fortunate enough to attend a Master Class run by Hyper Island. Hyper Island is widely considered to be “The Harvard of Digital Creativity” and the course was fantastic. What was unique was the course location – Middlesbrough in Northern (and I mean waaayyy North) England.

Getting laid (off): Diaries of a copywriter gone rogue

I felt a bit bad for the HR woman. But just a bit. And I got over it pretty soon. When I started feeling worse for myself. Her job was like the angel of death. When she showed up at my desk and asked me to come with her, that look of pity on her face, I told her flat out no - I didn’t want to go with her. Handcuffs and chains crossed my mind. I could just refuse to go with her. I could totally chain myself to my desk and just not move. Ever.

Agency Profile : BBDO Bangkok

This year, BBDO Worldwide won Network of Year at the Cannes Lions Advertising Festival.

“Ah, we win that every year.”

Do I detect a hint of smugness in the voice of Suthisak Sucharittanonta, BBDO Bangkok’s Chairman and CCO as I glanced at the oversized Lion that represents such an honour? If there is, perhaps it’s well-deserved, as the gleaming accolade sits in the middle of a whole goldmine of national and international awards.

Email Etiquette for Creative Directors

For some reason creative directors have a habit, a bad habit, of not responding to emails. I’m not a creative director but I do run a company and I know tons of creative directors, many of them which run worldwide shops and I can vouch for them in the fact that they get many emails, too many emails, including hundreds from everything from photographers, filmmakers, producers, [...]

Think About It

(This article first appeared in the new and amazing Calgary magazine Show Off)
Why do I live in Calgary? Look outside. The sky is blue and on any given Friday afternoon, the most beautiful mountain range in the world beckons. It’s a healthy existence. Which is perhaps why people out here live on average four years [...]

You Moved Where?

You moved where??!!???
Three months ago I made a very big ‘life’ decision. I decided to move from the epicenter of Canadian advertising (i.e. Toronto), to the furthest Eastern point of North America, specifically St. John’s, Newfoundland – for work.
Come again? What in the world were you smoking when you made that decision? [...]