In the Harry Potter books, why we 'muggles' don’t see all the weird magical stuff happening around us is explained in one simple line. ‘Muggles see what they want to see.’ A similar myopia seems to pervade consumer advertising and Healthcare advertising. Maybe I'm being sensitive. Apparently, there were actually two whole categories at Cannes... Continue Reading →
The Artificially Intelligent guide to the new Agency model.
Over the last few months we've heard a lot of exciting news about agencies and clients reinventing the 'advertising agency model'. Not the whole agency, obviously, just the interesting part with all the tattooed beardy men and purple haired women. Because you see, Creative departments simply weren't working before. What? you hadn't noticed? That's why... Continue Reading →
Pharma? Everything’s looking Rose
What you can guarantee is that everyone has an opinion about the Lions awards, but what nobody can say about this year's batch is that it doesn't represent what we do every day. It's just that maybe we don't all do award winning work every day. Most of us strive and get really really close,... Continue Reading →
The three ways to do Cannes.
1. As a Creative client. It was a few years ago now and it was my first visit to Cannes, and I swore I would never do it that way again. I had always been the senior guy who wasn't quite senior enough to go but was senior enough to hold the fort while the... Continue Reading →
You take the high-brow I’ll take the low.
Before Easter I took a trip to the US and Canada to visit our agencies in my new capacity as Le Grand Fromage Creative de la CDM. My 'talk to the troops', or as our CEO Kyle Barich described it, my 'Stump' speech was a way of introducing myself to those who had no idea... Continue Reading →
Why you must learn to hate your own ideas.
Of course most people like their own ideas, sometimes none more so than creative people themselves. I'm sure the person who came up with the term ideation was delighted with it. But what a lot of people, and by that I mean the idea-toting non-creative wing of adland, may struggle with (only because it takes... Continue Reading →
Christmas comes to Pharmaland.
Think about it. They call it the greatest story ever told. Actually it's the greatest healthcare ad campaign that ever ran. It's text book marketing. Firstly, you have a blockbuster product that can solve all ills. Then you have 12 KOLs ready to advocate. You have a wonderfully written idetail, (previously in hard back.) You... Continue Reading →
Starting out as a creative? Get Creative.
When I started out, after a period traveling around the USA with a backpack, I decided to give this lark a proper go. I found myself a writer out of Watford Copywriting school to partner with (I was very much an art director then) and Rob and I started to get a book together. We... Continue Reading →
The LIA awards get Healthy.
Back in May I received one of those emails you cannot ignore. "Dear Olly, we would like you to be a judge in the inaugural Health and Wellness category at the LIA (London International) awards in Las Vegas in October." Hotels and flights paid for. Hmm, let me think for a moment. To be honest,... Continue Reading →
Turning judgemental.
It's been an interesting year for judging awards shows, from my perspective. Two down, one to go. Last November I joined a small band of creatives and clients in judging the PM Society awards. As you may know, these awards guarantee a winner in all categories. Some people find that against the principle of an... Continue Reading →