MxMIndia

Category: ADVERTISING

  • Pulp Strategy takes youth marketing to a new level with Near Field Communication (NFC)-based engagement

    Pulp Strategy powers Yebhi.com with NFC

    By A Correspondent

     

    yebhi.com launching virtual stores L-R: Mr.Nikhil Rungta Chief Business Officer, Yebhi.com, Mr.Manmohan Agarwal, Co-Founder & CEO, Yebhi.com

    Pulp Strategy Communications has launched Near Field Communication- based engagement solutions, allowing brands to engage with consumers in an interesting and meaningful way on a real-time basis. NFC is wireless technology for smartphones and similar devices to share information via touch. With smartphone penetration at 10% in India, the stage is set for creating unique experiences and enhanced engagement campaigns for consumers.

     

    Pulp Strategy recently powered the first NFC initiative with 30 virtual stores in Delhi and Bangalore for Yebhi.com. The virtual stores were strategically placed in premium cafes and saw a lot of interest from consumers. The virtual stores allowed consumers to shop for a product of their choice with a single tap of their smart phones. It takes seconds to get the product of your choice and in all sizes and colours. Commenting on the occasion.

     

    Nikhil Rungta, Chief Business Officer, Yebhi.com said, “30 Virtual Stores is first-in-class initiative in the eCommerce category from Yebhi.com. We have used the latest NFC technology to enhance user experience, as it is quick, easy and very interactive. We feel this is our first step towards training and exciting users towards mCommerce. We feel this kind of initiative can be a true game changer in etailing as it is a hybrid of both online and offline.”

     

    Ambika Sharma

    Commenting on the new offering Ambika Sharma, MD & CEO Pulp Strategy said, “Every marketer’s dream is a consumer who looks for value but appreciates innovation. A marketer’s nightmare is the consumer easily bored, wants everything on the go, and has seen it all before. Our NFC solutions for retail and brand activation help enhance the consumer experience, spice up and prolong the engagement with the consumer.”

     

    In the realm of new technologies, Near Field Communication (NFC) has clear potential and practical uses. This short-range wireless connectivity technology makes it possible to browse, choose, review, download, connect with brands on social media and even buy with a single tap.

     

     

  • Cricket has given the master batsman everything; it's time to give something back to it, writes Anil Thakraney

    Anil Thakraney: Gavaskar’s silence is deafening

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    For many guys from my generation, Bachchan was the childhood hero. But even at a young age I was smart enough to be able to differentiate real and reel life, and therefore the movie star meant little to me. Today when I see Big B moronically sell us cookies and jewellery (don’t those ads make you cringe?), I am glad I did not make him my idol. My one and only hero was Sunil Gavaskar, and I still admire him for his cutting insights on cricket. I vividly recall Gavaskar taking on the most lethal fast bowlers of this world, wearing only his white floppy hat… that was sheer guts. More than physical strength, it needed nerves of steel. He was THE man to me.

     

    About two years ago I chased him hard for an interview for a magazine. But failed. I can think of two reasons why. Some retired cricketers now prefer to speak only in exchange for money. Or, perhaps my nasty reputation preceded me, and therefore my childhood hero thought it’s best to duck this one. If that was so, he made a terrible mistake. Being a fan for life, my knees will have trembled in his presence; Gavaskar could have had me for lunch.

     

    However, today when I watch my hero desperately play those ultra defensive shots on the IPL scandal, it breaks my heart. This could be because he has been and desires to be on the BCCI’s payroll, and he does not want to risk losing that revenue stream. Therefore in his appearances on NDTV (another paid contract), all he does is side-track important questions, or defend the organization that has ‘Controversies’ enshrined in its mission statement. This man cannot be my childhood hero, this must be an imposter. It deeply saddens me to state this.

     

    I wish India’s finest batsman ever (I rate him above Tendulkar) chooses cricket over money. And takes the bull by its horns. Gavaskar is universally respected in this country, his views will make a huge difference. The IPL mess has put the credibility of the game on the line, and we need heroes like Gavaskar to rise to the occasion. Cricket has given the master batsman everything; it’s time to give something back to it.

     

    Throw that helmet out of the TV studios, Sir. If blokes like Andy Roberts, Malcolm Marshall and Michael Holding could not intimidate you, why would you worry about a businessman called N Srinivasan? Be the hero you always were in my eyes. Take him on, and hit him out of the cricket ground.

     

    PS: Terrific idea. Hold an exhibition of posters containing the worst client feedback, and make a charity organization happy. Indian creatives need to do stuff like this. So much better than indulging in dirty scam ads.

     

    Link: http://www.boredpanda.com/sharp-suits-worst-client-comment-posters/

     

    Anil Thakraney is a senior journalist and commentator. He is also Editor-at-Large, MxMIndia. The views expressed here are his own. He can be reached via Twitter at @anilthakraney

     

  • The Cannes Lions festival is celebrating its 60th anniversary with the launch of 'Game Changer', a commemorative book and exhibition

    Piyush Pandey, others celebrate Cannes Lions’ 60 yrs of game-changing ads

    By A Correspondent

     

    The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity is set to commemorate its 60th anniversary with the launch of Game Changers, an exhibition and accompanying book that celebrate six decades of campaigns that have changed the landscape of the advertising industry forever.

     

    On display in a designated area of the Palais des Festivals, the exhibition will run alongside the Cannes Lions Festival welcoming both delegates and the general public from June 15-22. From Volkswagen’s ‘Think Small’ to the Nike Fuelband via Levi’s ‘Launderette’, it looks at the ‘firsts’ from the creative companies that have been transforming brands for 60 years. After the Festival this exhibition is set to travel to different venues around the world.

     

    The book, Game Changers: The Evolution of Advertising, published by Taschen for Cannes Lions, features more than 150 of the most outstanding campaigns to have been produced since the 1950s, and discusses the context in which they were launched. It also features eyewitness accounts from key industry players David Bailey, Lord Tim Bell, Lee Clow, Brian DiLorenzo, David Droga, Jeff Goodby, Paula Green, Bob Greenberg, Sir John Hegarty, Valdean Klump, Aaron Koblin, Piyush Pandey, Fernanda Romano, with an introduction by Arianna Huffington (of ‘Huffington Post’ fame).

     

    “There is no better way to celebrate Cannes Lions’ birthday,” says Philip Thomas, CEO of Lions Festivals, “Pulling together decades’ worth of ground-breaking campaigns reminds us why this industry is so special. Its relentless creativity, passion and its ability to innovate and reinvent shines through in Game Changers. It is both a fascinating and educational walk-through of defining industry moments and the world’s greatest creative work.”

     

    The Game Changers: The Evolution of Advertising book will be exclusively available for sale at the exhibition in Cannes before going on general release later this summer through major bookstores and online. More information is available at www.gamechangersatcannes.com.

     

    Other 60th anniversary celebrations taking place at the Festival include an exhibition of Cannes Lions memorabilia and a drinks reception hosted by the City of Cannes at the Cannes Connect Bar on Friday June 21. The 2013 edition of the International Festival of Creativity takes place in Cannes, France, from June 16-22.

     

  • The lead pair of the movie also announced the launch of a unique 'closeup with stars' augmented reality application.

    Mindshare facilitates Closeup’s ‘Yeh Jawaani…’ packs

    By A Correspondent

     

    Closeup, the toothpaste brand from Hindustan Unilever Ltd, has announced its collaboration with Dharma Production’s film ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’ by launching limited edition Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani toothpaste packs. Each pack includes a Closeup Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani friendship band autographed by Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone.

     

    Highlighting this unique collaboration, Archana Jhangiani, Partner Invention, Mindshare Fulcrum, the media agency of Hindustan Unilever Ltd, said, “We thrive in coming up with unique media opportunities that connect a brand to its target consumers’ passion points. Movies are no doubt the biggest passion in our country and we actively leverage their power to strengthen and differentiate the brand conversations. Therefore, movies for us, is a priority media platform and intrinsic to the brand’s communication strategy.”

     

    Speaking on the tie-up, Atul Sinha, Category Head – Oral Care at Hindustan Unilever Ltd, said, “We are very excited to associate with Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, the most-awaited movie of the year. Closeup has always been synonymous with ‘Freshness’ that gives you the confidence in social situations and is aimed at every person who is young at heart. This movie is a perfect fit for us since it truly embodies what our brand stands for. Our intention is to offer multiple engagement opportunities to our consumers – from the special pack with friendship bands to technology engagement. We are confident that this partnership will bring more excitement for our consumers.”

     

    Commenting on the association, Apoorva Mehta, CEO- Dharma Productions said, “Closeup & Dharma Productions are two huge brands that exemplify wholesome products! We couldn’t have found a better fit than Closeup to tie up with for a film like Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. It also helps that the lead pair Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone both wear very attractive smiles! So Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and Closeup is an apt coming together of two quality brands!”

     

  • The campaign created by McCann Erickson for mouth freshener brand Rajnigandha, embarks by releasing TVC followed by digital, outdoor, and below the line (BTL) and POS medium

    McCann gets Rajnigandha to the stadium

    By A Correspondent

     

    Dharampal Satyapal (DS) Group has launched a new campaign captioned Stadium for its mouth freshener brand Rajnigandha. The new campaign will mark a giant leap in the underlying perception and motive of the brand with the new punch line “Munh Mein Rajnigandha Dil Mein Hai Duniya”. The key message of the campaign is “Success that makes a difference evokes admiration”. The campaign created by McCann Erickson, embarks by releasing TVC followed by digital, outdoor, and below the line (BTL) and POS medium.

     

    Commenting on the campaign, Rajeev Jain, Sr General Manager, Marketing, said, “Rajnigandha has always been a symbol of success, aspiration, stature and a perfect companion for the successful people for last three decades; it will now redefine the leadership aspect as well. The new punchline “Munh Mein Rajnigandha Dil Mein Hai Duniya” is a paradigm shift to a new benevolent and successful India.”

     

    While the earlier Rajnigandha campaign focused more on the success, the new Rajnigandha campaign has a more compassionate, humane approach. The campaign talks about an evolved person who is an equal contributor to the success of his fellow men. The protagonist of the commercial is shown as a successful business magnate, who not only has strong business acumen; but is also concerned for the well-being of society at large.

     

    The TVC shows with three investors presenting a blueprint to a young businessman in a field. This is followed by a well-heeled businessman with a calm and serene air around him, who steps out of a Limousine. The elder brother surveys the land and sees few kids playing cricket. The younger brother then excitedly blurts his business plan to create India’s biggest mega mall consisting of theme parks, amusement grounds and 6 multiplexes on that land. We see that the batsman hits the ball and it strikes the car. The elder brother throws back the ball to the kids and says “Yahan stadium banna chahiye”. One of the investors mutters under his breath ‘Charity ke bare main soch rahe hain’. Elder brother responds “Kal ki soch rahe hain”. He opens a pack of Rajnigandha, pops in a spoonful and replies “kabhi toh aisa khwab dekhiye, jismain hazaro khwab shamil ho”. Followed by this sequence is a newsperson making an announcement ‘GR Enterprises ke international stadium ne iss sheher ke logon main garv ki bhaavna aur sports culture ko adbhutt badaava diya hai’.

     

    Credits:

    Creative Agency: McCann Erickson

    Creative Head: Prasoon Joshi

    Account management: Rajeev Rakshit, Bhaskar Preenja, Shourabh Verma, Ayesha Mehra

    Planning: Jitendra Dabas and Srayan Ghosh

    National Creative Director: Nakul Sharma and Tirtha Ghosh

    Director (of the film): Rajesh Saathi

    Production House: Kerosene Films

     

  • After the success of its flagship programme The Property Show, NDTV is now presenting its first Property Awards to be held on June 3 in the capital

    NDTV announces first edition of Property Awards

    By A Correspondent

     

    The stage is set to honour and acknowledge excellence in Indian real estate as NDTV gets ready to confer NDTV Property Awards on June 3, 2013, presented by CERA. After the success of its flagship programme, The Property Show, NDTV has now announced its first “Property Awards”, a platform to recognize and applaud individuals and establishments who have achieved notable success in the real estate segment in the country. The Awards ceremony, to be held at the Taj Palace Hotel, New Delhi, will be attended by the Union Minister for Housing & Poverty Alleviation, Ajay Maken as Chief Guest.

     

    Vikram Chandra

    Announcing the first edition of the awards, Vikram Chandra, Group CEO, NDTV said, “The real estate sector in India has come a long way by becoming one of the fastest growing markets in the world. It is the efforts of many establishments and individuals in the sector that have marked this growth and with these awards we aim to recognise their contribution to the country. We at NDTV are proud to announce the first edition of the NDTV Property Awards, a credible and distinguished platform to recognise and honour the most resilient and the strongest real estate leaders of this year.”

     

     

  • Graduates have been frantically hitting on their institute alumni for jobs bu some of the desperate ones have been going about this is an incorrect manner, rues Anil Thakraney

    Anil Thakraney: Dear fresh MBA, you’re pissing me off

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    Yes, I know it’s tough landing jobs for management school grads these days. (As also for mass communications grads, I would imagine.) The economic slowdown hasn’t ended, many companies have frozen or scaled down recruitment plans. There are too many institutes throwing up too many students, and the market isn’t able to absorb all of them. In fact, this year has been particularly horrid, even some IIM grads found it difficult to get jobs. Who would have ever thought the day will come.

     

    And so, desperate times call for desperate measures. Graduates have been frantically hitting on their institute alumni for jobs, with the hope that the ex students, now at senior positions in the corporate world, would come to their rescue. That’s a correct strategy; the date base of past students is easily available, and some business leaders, for emotional reasons, would offer fresh grads at least an interview opportunity, if not a job. So all kosher on that front.

     

    However, some of the desperate grads have been going about this is an incorrect manner. Case in point, the business management school I passed out from. (This institute shall go unnamed, I don’t wish to make their struggle harder than it already is.) A few students from this institute have been relentlessly stalking me, and to think I don’t even look pretty! Regular e-mails, requests for Linked-In connect, Twitter chase, and the worst of them all… phone calls at odd hours. Even this sort of harassment can be forgiven if, and this is the important point, these dudes bothered to do their homework before going after you.

     

    Because if they cared to do a little research, they would discover, without much effort, that I am no longer part of the corporate world, I haven’t been so for many years. I shifted to journalism nearly fifteen years ago. Which obviously means I have no job opportunities to offer these fresh MBAs. So when they pursue me, they are not just wasting their own precious time, they are messing up my mind, and getting me really agitated in the process. Of course, they can contact me if they, too, wish to be journalists, but that will only happen if they bothered to do their goddamned research in the first place.

     

    I’ll end with a strong message to all new business/communication school grads: The worst thing you can do in this trade is to approach someone without doing your homework. That really sucks. And when you do that, I am left feeling that you deserve to be jobless. Digest this very carefully. And then deal with it.

     

    PS: Ah! Brilliant, brilliant Bourneville ad, loved it! India mein bhi aisa ad karo, bhaiyya. We need to anyway kill the excessive sweetness in our advertising.

     

    Anil Thakraney is a senior journalist and commentator. He is also Editor-at-Large, MxMIndia. The views expressed here are his own. He can be reached via Twitter at @anilthakraney

     

  • The campaign created by Dentsu Marcom embarks by releasing TVC followed by digital, radio, BTL activations & POP materials.

    Dentsu Marcom gives clarion call for Pass Pass

    By A Correspondent

     

    DS Group launched a new campaign for its confectionary brand Pass Pass, the branded mouth freshener. Pass Pass leverages the opportunity of bringing people and relationships closer once again. And that became the centrepiece of its positioning: Human bonding and Closeness. It’s new. But it’s also timeless.

     

    The new campaign, with TV playing the pivotal role, creates imagery stemming from the positioning of closeness. The brand creates a world that enables these many moments in many different ways for all kinds of people, using different touch points in the ecosystem: social media, radio, real-world experiential engagement, and point of sale activities.

     

    The TVC drives home the point, through collection of visual montages shot in scenic locations, that closeness isn’t limited by age and shows both young as well as old people sharing moments of closeness.

     

    The film opens with a young woman opening the window of a car and letting the sunshine in. Next we see a young woman walking away after having opened a door. Then we are shown a man and a woman whose hands touch as they are passing by and the woman turns around and walks away smiling. After this, we see a man coming up and greeting a young lady who is holding a Pass Pass family pack seated with her friends who is very happy to see him and beams widely. We cut to a middle-aged man picking up his woman, almost suddenly, in an open field. We then see a bunch of young men and women holding hands on a terrace and grooving to music, as one of them passes on a sachet of Pass Pass.

     

    We see more people coming together and connecting like a young man teaches a much older woman how to ride a scooter, youngsters bonding over a bonfire and a guitar tune. The film ends with people from all age groups coming together and sharing moments over a dinner on a terrace lit by lamps.

     

    The film has a duet of a male voice over with an interlude of a female singer. The male voice over beckons us to ‘khidikiyan kholdo, darwaazon ko khula chodh do, haathon ki phire se haathon mein daalo, kisi ko gudh gudao, kisi ko gaud uthao, dosti karo, mohabbat karo, gale milo, aankh milao, kisi ko phir apna banao, taaya taayi mausa mausi sab se pyaar karo, raho hamesha pass pass’. In between this warm friendly voice over, the female singer takes off with the lyrics ‘pass pass aao, mahaul mehkao’.

     

    “The film celebrates human bonding. You don’t have to be young to enjoy moments that you are spending together. The world seems to be drifting apart with technology pulling people into lives that are largely individual. Today people are caught with themselves, their own lives, more than ever before. Increasingly, people are spending time with gadgets like laptops, cellphones and their work lives. Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp etc do bring people together but limits physical interaction. You can’t shake hands with a laptop or tickle a cellphone can you?” said Titus Upputuru, NCD, Dentsu Marcom.

     

    The campaign has a lyrical quality to it. “We have had jingle based films and we have had films led by voice over. Seldom do we have them coming together in the same communication. We have had this combination in films like Silsila where Amitabh Bachchan’s deep voice over is interspersed with Lata Mangeshkar’s Ye kahan se aagaye hum. The Pass Pass film attempts to recreate the magic of voice over and song to leave the viewers wanting more,” he said.

     

    Rajeev Jain, Sr General Manager, Marketing, DS Group said, “Pass Pass has built its equity from its ubiquity and has established itself as a brand that inspires togetherness and stands for  ‘Human bonding and Closeness’. The campaign also focuses on the message that Pass Pass has become a part of the lives of many Indians’ as their favourite branded after mint and it encourages people to come together, no matter what the age is. It also says that family is the new friend. Generation gap is now a gap too thin and is a myth in today’s world.”

     

    Each element of the campaign invokes people to come together and get close to each other.  The print and POS shows people coming together with evocative lines like ‘Haathon ka tanha tehelne na do’.

     

    Credits:

    Client: Dharampal Satyapal Ltd

    Creative Agency: Dentsu Marcom Pvt Ltd

    Account management: Sunita Prakash, Payal Dhawan

    Planning: Narayan Devanathan, Rabia Sooch

    National Creative Director: Titus Upputuru

    Creative Team: Jitendra Kaushik, Richa Sharma, Anees Aazar

    Director (of the film): Shashank Chaturvedi (Bob)

    Production House: Good Morning Films

    Music: Anandh

    Working title of film: Pass Pass - Raho Hamesha Pass Pass

    Duration: 45sec, 30sec, 20sec and 10sec

    Campaign breaks as of: May last week (27th May)

    Exposure (mediums used): Television, Digital, Radio and BTL activations & POP materials.

    Broadcast duration: 8 Weeks

     

  • Behind every great commercial is super strategy. Every week, MxMIndia will bring you the brief and the strat as given by the client and whatever else that went into creating a winning ad.

    AdStrat: Zatak: Scenting change

    Pallavi Chakravarti, Associate Creative Director, Taproot India

     

    Name of the campaign/ad: Har Attack Ka Jawab… Zatak

     

    The Brief: In a cluttered category, the task at hand was to differentiate Zatak from all the other players in the market.

     

    Research insights: Grooming is very, very important to our TG. But why is it important? Just to woo women? Or is there a need that goes beyond? A need that requires us to explore avenues other than the oft-used platform of girl-boy attraction? We learnt that the boys and young men we were targeting were extremely career-oriented and ambitious, eager to get ahead in life, despite their comparatively humble beginnings and backgrounds. Keeping this in mind, we realized that the role of a deodorant was much greater than that of a “chick magnet”. It was a confidence booster, an ally that would help them go forth and take on life.

     

    The thought process behind the creative: For every young man out there, who wants to make it big in life, there will be someone who’ll want to pull him down. Aspersions will be cast on his ambitions, his capability, and yes, even his upbringing. The films are stylized stories, where the protagonist does in a dramatic manner what the brand gives him the confidence to do – face taunts and do well in life, despite discouragement from naysayers. Basically, deliver a ‘mooh tod jawab’ thanks to Zatak confidence.

     

    Key issues kept in mind while executing the ad: We wanted the ads to be engaging, entertaining and yet make a point. So while the idea was a relatable one, we decided to execute the ads in a quirky way. After all, nobody likes to be preached to.

     

    Client comment: “Most deodorant brands are marketed on the plank of attraction, with Zatak we seek to recognize the changing face & broad basing of the Deodorant category. Zatak seeks to be a partner of todays’ youth, who irrespective of his background has aspirations to achieve more with life and for whom; a deo is a step in his preparation for life ahead,” said Sameer Satpathy, EVP & Business Head, Marico India.

     

    Agency comment: “Your fragrance underlines who you are, how confident you are and what you’re capable of. In a world where people are waiting to pull you down, Zatak lets you make a statement and shut the naysayers up. Literally. Leading to the creative expression: Har Attack Ka Jawab… Zatak,” said Pallavi Chakravarti, Associate Creative Director, Taproot India.

     

     

  • In the advertising context, Pawar's return sends out a strong signal to the rest of the ad world: Take your chances, buggers. Keep encouraging scam ads, you will be rewarded.

    Anil Thakraney: And, Bobby Pawar is back.

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    Good for Bobby Pawar. The Ford scandal during his last job at JWT doesn’t seem to have dented his reputation one bit. He’s now been lapped up by Publicis, and life goes on as usual. Hopefully this time around, Pawar will set up tight controls within his agency to monitor ads created solely to win awards.

     

    Incidentally, right after the Ford howler, I had a drink with a few ad pals, and as it often happens, we ended up talking shop. Everyone unanimously agreed that Pawar will be back in action, very soon, at another large agency. No, this wasn’t the consensus because the man is talented (which he must be), but because we all felt this is what happens in India, somehow the powerful people manage to survive scandals. Look at politics, for example. Despite a series of scams, the tainted leaders remain untouched. And the few who do get sacked, find their way back into the power corridors in good time. India is a forgiving nation. So that explains it.

     

    The negative outcome of this situation, of course, is that it encourages rubbish behaviour. In the advertising context, Pawar’s return sends out a strong signal to the rest of the ad world: Take your chances, buggers. Keep encouraging scam ads, you will be rewarded. And if you do get caught with your pants down, chillax for a while, take the much-delayed holiday to that exotic location. Sooner or later you will find yourself back in the saddle.

     

    Before I wrap up, two quick points on Bobby Pawar: I don’t know the man at all, have never worked with him, haven’t even had the opportunity to say hello to him. So I have no personal grouse with him, it could have been any other creative director in his place. It is also quite possible that he had no knowledge of the controversial Ford ads created by his juniors, and therefore wasn’t personally responsible for them. Perhaps Pawar’s a great guy, and good luck to him on his new assignment.

     

    My only little problem: That it will be business as usual in the Indian ad world. Like nothing ever happened. Sad.

     

    ***

     

    PS: My shortlist for the next season of Bigg Boss. Feel free to add your recommendation: S Sreesanth, Gurunath Meiyappan, Pavan Bansal, Phaneesh Murthy, Chandresh (Jupiter) Jain, Ankeet Chavan, Mrs Ankeet Chavan, Ajit Chandela, Suresh Kalmadi, Niira Radia, A Raja, Sudipta Sen, Abhijit Mukherji, Vindoo Dara Singh, Kshitij Thakur, N Srinivasan, Varun Gandhi, Justice Katju.

     

    Anil Thakraney is a senior journalist and commentator. He is also Editor-at-Large, MxMIndia. The views expressed here are his own. He can be reached via Twitter at @anilthakraney

     

  • In their fourth edition, the awards will be judged by an all-client panel comprised of senior marketers and business heads from across industry segments and geographies

    Campaign India Digital Crest Awards 2013 on June 11

    By A Correspondent

     

    Campaign India’s platform to recognize excellence in digital advertising and marketing is back in a new avatar, as the Campaign India Digital Crest Awards (www.campaignindiacrest.com). In its fourth edition, the awards will be judged by an all-client panel comprised of senior marketers and business heads from across industry segments and geographies.

     

    The process of evaluating entries is currently underway, in 18 categories across web, mobile and OOH. A special category for ‘Showcase’ work has also been introduced.

     

    Suresh Ramakrishnan, Publisher, Haymarket Media India Private Limited, said, “Like in previous editions, the awards have received excellent response from specialist digital agencies, ad and media agencies, clients and other stakeholders in the digital ecosystem. Work on over a 100 brands is in contention this year, across 18 categories. The handpicked jury is currently evaluating entries, with emphasis being on results delivered against stated marketing and business objectives.”

     

    Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on June 11, at Hard Rock Cafe, Mumbai.

     

  • The Innovation Lions, introduced as a new entry category this year, will honour the technology and innovation which lead to the creative idea being possible.

    India not shining in innovations @ Cannes Lions

    By A Correspondent

     

    The land of ‘jugaad’ scored a blank at the inaugural innovative lions category at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

    The organisers announced the Innovation Lions shortlist ahead of the 2013 Festival which kicks off in just under two weeks’ time. The Innovation Lions, introduced as a new entry category this year, will honour the technology and innovation which lead to the creative idea being possible. A total of 270 entries from 40 countries have been received in the category’s launch year. The jury, led by jury president David Droga, Founder, Creative Chairman, Droga5, have viewed all of the entries and voted to arrive at a shortlist of 25 entries which have come from a wide breadth of countries.

     

    TITLE PRODUCT/DESCRIPTION ENTRANT COMPANY  COUNTRY
    Necomimi Bio sensor technology / communication tool Dentsu Japan
    Two Screens Are Better Than One New type of phone Yota Devices Russia
    Ingress Massive multiplayer location based game Niantic Labs At Google USA
    Vision Shift System New video experience system Dentsu Japan
    Motley – Telling Stories At The Speed Of Culture Social media publishing tool Digital Arts Network Denmark
    Cinder Software technology The Barbarian Group USA
    PZU Drive Connected car ecosystem K2 Poland
    Engen Fireblanket Fireblanket calendar Draftfcb Cape Town South Africa
    Adidas Window Shopping We put shopping into window shopping TBWA\Helsinki Finland
    tshirtOS Wearable, sharable, programmable, 100% cotton status update MediaMonks The Netherlands
    Google Street View Hyperlapse Labs experiment Teehan + Lax Canada
    Virtual Makeup Mirror Kinect technology mirror ID\ Brazil
    The Feed Visual news feed R/GA London United Kingdom
    Sky Rec Hashtag that works like a record button AgênciaClick Isobar Brazil
    Guide Dots Mobile app for the blind Y&R Singapore Singapore
    Natalia Project Global assault alarm system for human rights defenders at risk powered by social media RBK Communication Sweden
    Small World Machines Vending machine with live streaming Leo Burnett Sydney Australia
    Terra VIP Terra VIP glasses invention DDB Brasil Brazil
    Thunderclap Thunderclap – social media technology DE-DE USA
    Chrome Web Lab Interactive website connected to a museum experience Google Creative Lab United Kingdom
    Radio Ambulance Ambulance location notification system Maruri Grey Ecuador
    A Boy And His Atom: The World’s Smallest Movie Stop-motion animation made with atoms Ogilvy New York USA
    Nike+ Kinect Training Fitness title for Xbox 360 AKQA United Kingdom
    Karta Mastercard Display Nowe technologie Getin Noble Bank Poland
    Tech Ball Sports technology SapientNitro United Kingdom

     

    Entrants who have been shortlisted will now present to the jury in Cannes who will then discuss which entries are worthy of taking home the first Innovation Grand Prix and Innovation Lions. For the first time in the Festival’s history, delegates will be invited into the jury room to watch the live presentations which will take place across June 15 and 16 in the Palais des Festivals, Cannes. The winners will be announced and honoured on stage at the second of the Festival’s awards ceremonies on June 18 which will be followed by the official Opening Gala.

     

    Commenting on the judging so far, David Droga said, “New category, new expectations, same excitement. I can’t wait to see it literally come to life at Cannes.”

     

    Cannes Lions is the most prestigious international advertising and communications event in the world, accepting entries into sixteen categories and awarding sought after Lions to the greatest creative work, ideas and technologies. Taking place from June 16 to 22, the festival will also feature over 100 pieces of inspiring content given by exceptional speakers as well as offering unbeatable learning and networking opportunities. More information can be found online at www.canneslions.com.