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Five Lessons I Learnt attending Monster Judging School

I recently had the chance to be a fly on the wall at the latest Tomorrow Awards Monster Judging. It was the first time I’d attended such a thing, so, cliched as this may sound, I didn’t really know what to expect. Award show judgings are by and by large held behind closed doors, and the only way to get a sneak of what really happens inside is to be part of the jury.

Or, as the case was, to start your own.

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.

Paul the Octopus is full of mussel shit and other advertising lessons as observed from the World Cup

I watched pretty much every game of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, waking up at 7AM to get in as many of the matches as I could. Even when the ihaveanidea team was in Cannes, I made sure to not book important meetings around Brazil, Argentina, Germany and Holland matches. I cried, I screamed, I laughed. I vuvuzelaed. And today when The Netherlands went down to Spain in the Finals, after an entire month of dedicating my life to this ‘peaceful world war’ I realized that like the kids from South Park, I also had learned something today. And everything I learned I could relate to everyday life in advertising. Let the game begin…

ihaveanidea’s Extrava-Cannes-za 2010

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30th, A CAFÉ IN MONTREAL’S PLATEAU DISTRICT

Ignacio: Hey.

Brett: Hey.

Ignacio: …so?

Brett: … yeah. This is the first day I feel normal.

Ignacio: I can’t tell you how much I slept. Twelve, fourteen hour blocks.

Brett: I’m only now coming out of my house.

Ignacio: Wow.

Brett: Hear from Steph?

Ignacio: Yeah. She’s coming here later.

WAS MARIE ANTOINETTE A GUEST OF THE CANNES AD FESTIVAL?

Hilton Barbour
Marketing Provocateur
hiltonbarbour.com

I’ve often wondered if residents of Cannes exhibit the characteristics of migratory birds or Vietnam veterans with PTSD. With the week-long blow-out that is the annual advertising festival, do they rush as far from the city as possible to escape the mayhem or dig out their ear-plugs, abandon all hope of [...]

How to get off the spec merry-go-round

Imagine you want a made-to-measure suit from one of the best tailors in the business.

The catch? You don’t let the tailor take your measurements or ask you what you like or dislike. If the tailor is very lucky, he’ll guess that you wanted a double-breasted blazer in navy with gold buttons. If not, you’ll pay him 20 bucks for his time and move on to the next shop.

Howard Draft: Introducing The Gunn Report 2009

Howard Draft, Executive Chairman of Draftfcb, served as Guest Editor of the 2009 Gunn Report. The fine folks at the Gunn Report were kind enough to share some of Howard’s thoughts on the most awarded ads and campaigns of the previous year or so. Howard pulls no punches; just because an ad won enough gold to outshine Fort Knox doesn’t mean he necessarily loved it, and he doesn’t shy away from telling you so.

Black Turtlenecks & 3D Printing

Currently almost every single thing that we own has many copies. These things are cheap and designed to appeal to the greatest common denominator. To make us buy as many things as is possible, large companies turn to people in black turtlenecks. There are armies of black turtleneck, white sneaker wearing people who are all so desperately different that they are easy to recognize from a distance.

Breaking The Contract

A few decades back, Texan Claudia Alta Taylor Johnson gazed down the highway and didn’t like what she saw.

Billboards blocked her view of the plains, of the distant hills, and of her beloved wildflowers. So she complained to her husband, President Lyndon Baines Johnson, who prompted Congress to pass the Highway Beautification Act, which placed limits on the spread of posters- or billboards as they’re popularly known- and preserved the views that Lady Bird Johnson loved so well.