Creative work in pharma can't win a pitch, but it can lose one. So how should clients judge work that might never run anyway?
What clients should look for in pitch creative.
Elvis was an idea.
Elvis was the ultimate concept.
The redundant blog.
Sooner or later every one gets made redundant in this business. What strategies can you employ beyond going freelance?
Some opinions on opinions.
everyone has an opinion, who do you listen to?
How to get a creative job in advertising. 1980’s vs 2020’s.
Recently I was asked if I would give some advice to a friend of a young colleague on how to get into advertising, specifically as a creative. It occurred to me that I am not sure I know how anymore, so I said the best person to talk to was our junior art director, Ellie. Then I... Continue Reading →
Marathons versus sprints.
How do you feel about the gamification of creativity? You know: All night work-a-thons. Two day hack-a-thons. "Let's have a creative sprint!" "You mean doing the work in a really short space of time?" "Yeah but if we call it a 'Sprint' we can sell it as a thing!" Maybe I've just had my share... Continue Reading →
The slightly dark art of client services.
What would be the skills 'creatives' look for in account people if we had the choice? And would a client's reply to 'what makes a great account handler?' be the same as an art director's or a copywriter's? These are just some of the important questions I pretty much never ask myself unless writing a... Continue Reading →
Searching for a Braingasm.
The odd thing about ideas, you will have noticed, is that when you see a good one you almost only have to hear the title and know. I often think about the pitch to movie execs that wouldn't have had to get too much further than 'It's called The 40 year old virgin' to know... Continue Reading →
Three things I’ve learned in advertising.
When I was starting out, my fledgling partner and I, a curly-haired chap by the name of Rob, were full of youthful gusto and a hefty helping of self confidence. (You know, two white guys). We worked many nights in my cold Shepherd's Bush flat trying to crack this concepting lark and as we improved... Continue Reading →
One hit wonders.
Because like a one hit wonder (when hits were a thing back in the seventies) a tune or a look or an idea can be thrilling and life affirming by a series of strange coincidences or aligning of the stars. A galactic anomaly that just needs to be admired and observed for its singular celestial beauty.
ollycaporn's blag 