Embrace the obvious, obviously.

A few years ago I was drafted in to JWT Dussledorf (with my freelance writer hat on) to help them with a new campaign for Mazda they were devising. I would fly out early on a Monday and come back on a Friday night along with an assortment of similarly weary execs. It was an... Continue Reading →

The non-creative creative.

My chum and MD Phil Bartlett recently sent an all staffer round that I thought would be great as a guest spot on this humble blog. Plus, it's been a busy couple of weeks and this plugs a gap nicely. Enjoy! As a “non-creative”, how do I approach the gnarly subject of judging someone else’s... Continue Reading →

The show jumping car.

I admit it, I have a big problem with Pharma creative research. Or rather... I have a big problem with the creative research that I have been involved in thus far, within Pharmaland. Maybe there are some forward thinking outfits out there that are breaking all the rules, I dunno. But assuming I can wallow... Continue Reading →

What the hell happened to pitches?

Based on a (several) true story. "So we'd like you to pitch for our global business!" said the Multi-National, Multi-Million-Pound Advertising Client in to her mobile phone. "That's great news we'd be delighted to," replied the rather over excited MD, silently fist-punching the air. 'Wait till I tell the guys that we made the pitch... Continue Reading →

The problem with creative revolutions.

Why should creative be the preserve of creatives? Anyone can have an idea? Ideas don't care who has them! Collaboration is the new way of working, don't be so traditional. Sound familiar? Frankly, if your agency isn't having a creative revolution you're really not hanging with the cool kids. But if you are, let's assume... Continue Reading →

Pharmatainment

In last week's campaign magazine there was spread devoted to the future of TV advertising. Possibly the most successful and certainly the most talented British commercials director of our era, one Daniel Kleinman, asserted that the main object of advertising was to 'entertain'. Well, he is a director. It struck me how much my opinion... Continue Reading →

Cecil the cyber Lion.

So, whatever you think about Cecil's tragic and untimely demise, one thing is for sure, so-called 'hunters' might now think twice about loading up the old crossbow and rifle and heading off to needlessly slaughter our finest and most magnificent species for their own amusement. Lord knows something needed to be done to stop the... Continue Reading →

The less you know, the better.

The easiest way to break rules is to not know the rules in the first place. How many times have you looked at a brief and thought you've known exactly what was needed, from the moment you read it? I don't mean the precise idea, but the approach. You use those short cuts, those familiar... Continue Reading →

A typical day in pharmaland (part 2)

The trouble with satire is that it can be a rather blunt tool. So I think it is worth writing a short postscript to what has been a rather successful edition, if judged by visitors alone, of my last blog. (thanks for visiting) It just shows that controversial works. Some people thought it rather harsh,... Continue Reading →

Just a typical day in Pharmaland

I don't know about you but the reason I come in to work every day in my Healthcare agency of choice is mostly to help small Mexican villages improve their language skills. It can be monotonous but it also can be more rewarding than it looks. When I see their little faces light up with... Continue Reading →

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