Thoughts on creativity, Pharma and whatnot
Try to fully understand the reason you lost a pitch, even with a detailed client explanation, and you enter a murky pond of misplaced diplomacy, political machinations, regrets and confusion. In the end, you never really know anything other than you came a close second. Nevertheless, the question about what creative work you went with,... Continue Reading →
The other day, in my comments section, I was accused of being a 'print Creative Director'. I say accused because the contributor was pretty frank about the obsolescence attached to such a label. (I'm assuming he meant the print part.) To be honest I didn't take the comment that seriously, partly because I was busy... Continue Reading →
Okay, let's get the obvious reasons out the way. Yes it's because creative work builds client business. Yes it's because agencies want to have good work on their reels and to win awards and, in turn, win more business. Yes, even for professional pride and job satisfaction. But there is a less obvious reason. But... Continue Reading →
And a Happy New Year to you dear reader, thanks for returning. Recently I have had some furrow-browed chats with old creative chums from the consumer world, who have been curious as to what it's like across the channel in Pharmaland. Might it be a good career move? Much of it is the same as... Continue Reading →
Target markets really are a pain in the arse. You would think that you could just come out and tell people the facts about your product, drug or treatment and they would weigh up the benefits and then make a decision based on the facts presented. No flim or flam, no marketing baloney. No manipulation.... Continue Reading →
I was once approached to work on a tobacco account. I was freelancing at the time and thinking about getting a 'proper job' but my opinion about Tobacco and the adman's position of guilt free advocacy had changed by then from the one I entered in to the business with. Some people believe, rather like... Continue Reading →
While the world squabbles over the relative merits or otherwise of the John lewis Monty the penguin ad (16 million views) and a certain WW1 footballing (10 million views) spot I thought I'd divert your gaze to Pharmaland's big Christmas campaigns for a quick overview. And I must say this year's crop are laying on... Continue Reading →
This has stood out from my first day in pharmaland as a big difference between health and consumer. The worry that the marketing of a new drug might imply the HCP has been doing it wrong up to now and the (ad) concept might offend their sense of professional pride. And why do we worry... Continue Reading →
Here's a scary thought. Coke isn't actually the real thing. It's not even happiness. And how about this: People are loving lots of things, only one of them is MacDonalds. You can travel yourself interesting with Thomson holidays or even Thomas Cook. And you could probably find a supermarket where you're thinking every little helps... Continue Reading →
In 1991 in the town of New Berlin in upstate New York, Bill Thomas, then a young doctor of just 31, who had previously really only spent time in A&E, took over as medical director of Chase memorial nursing home. When he arrived he was dismayed with the reality of life there, despair oozed from... Continue Reading →
