MxMIndia

Category: Awards

  • D&AD introduces 16 new sub-categories for 2015 edition of world-famous Awards

    D&AD opens call for entries for Annual Professional Awards

    Entries for the 53rd D&AD Annual Professional Awards have opened with a number of new sub-category additions in response to the evolving creative landscape.

     

    New media continues to play a large role in shaping creativity and with such adiversearray of outstanding campaigns continuing to emerge in this space; D&AD has created a new jury and category for Branded Film Content & Entertainment. TV, film, online and documentaries will be recognised at next year’s awards, in addition to a sub-category for Tactical Branded Film Content & Entertainment.

     

    Meanwhile, the White Pencil–Creativity for Good award has proved a good success at the D&AD Professional Awards. Since its launch in partnership with Unilever in 2012, the White Pencil has grown from a single brief to an entire movement, whilst producing two Black Pencil winning campaign sin 2014.

     

    With its popularity increasing with each year, the category has expanded from two to five sub- categories. With the ambition to encourage more entries from big businesses, the jury now distinguishes between work for NGOs and brands across both advertising & marketing communications and design. Service Innovation is also a new addition, introduced to recognise service products that seek to build brands and businesses by doing good.

     

    Innovation was richly represented in 2014, with the three new categories introduced across digital and integrated juries producing two Black Pencil sin ‘NS/Pro Rail’ and ‘The Most Powerful Arm’. To further celebrate those pushing the boundaries of technology, innovation sub-categories have been added to Packaging Design, Product Design and Radio Advertising. Innovation in media is also recognised through there vamped Integrated & Innovative Media jury.

     

    Also, the TV & Cinema Advertising category is renamed to Film Advertising and features a new Tactical sub-category for film advertising that features are al-time, rapid reaction to breaking news.There is also a new sub-category Casting for Film Advertising introduced within Film Advertising Crafts.

     

    Also, following its successful re-addition at the 2014 Awards, there are two new sub-categories introduced with in Music Videos. Direction and Production Design for Music Videos take the number of sub-categories available for entrants to seven.

     

    Tim Lindsay, CEO of D&AD commented, “There were two stand out themes at last year’s awards: innovation and creativity for good. Across the board we saw some exceptional demonstrations of the power of creativity to push boundaries through ideas that fundamentally change peoples’ behaviors for the better.”

     

    “In 2014, we saw White Pencil winners also awarded the ultimate accolade of a Black Pencil for the first time, but we don’t want to stop there. We want to see even more inspirational and innovative ideas that raise the bar even higher. Infact, one challenge I’d like to set is to see White Pencil winning work from brands, as well as NGOs and charities. Show us just how influential creativity can be by proving how you can do well by doing good, too.”

     

    All awarded work appears in the D&AD Annual, released annually in September and is available to purchase exclusively through D&AD.

     

    Work entered in to the 2015 D&AD Awards must have been commercially released between 1 January 2014 and 28 February 2015 and been produced in genuine response to a client brief. It must not have been entered in previous years. Submissions should be made in their original language by 18 February 2014. The Awards cost from just £ 85 to enter this year.

     

  • Several creative leaders in India are increasingly vocal about missing the forest of creativity for the trees of a final tally

    Gunning for more ad awards, creativity loses plot

    By Ravi Balakrishnan

     

    A little over a decade ago, when the Abby awards were still the only show in town, the after party found Prasoon Joshi in a pensive mood. As team Ogilvy celebrated their ‘agency of the year’ win with a characteristic lack of subtlety – drums, horns, and people in black posing for interminable photoshoots – Mr Joshi, then early in his stint at Mc-Cann Erickson reasoned, “There are youngsters from many agencies who’ve won their first trophy tonight. But all of that is being forgotten in this obsession with who won most. We should celebrate the work and not the numbers.”

     

    Mr Joshi may have been among the first to voice this concern, but he’s far from the last. Several creative leaders in India are increasingly vocal about missing the forest of creativity for the trees of a final tally.

     

    Festivals like Cannes Lions have arguably made things worse, adding layers to the competition like Holding Company of the Year. WPP won for the fourth time running in 2014, which according to media reports led Interpublic to boast of its far better win to entry ratio. Closer home, Goafest officially scrapped ‘agency of the year’, ostensibly to make it more about the work and less about the numbers. It however resulted in a cottage industry where previously math-phobic creatives sliced and diced the numbers till they were left with a rank that satisfied them.

     

    Apart from no year being complete without some controversy, protest or conspiracy theory, the numbers game is tainting large parts of the industry.

     

    Remember all the worldwide chief creative officers who’ve lashed out against scams? Creative directors in their employ will tell you, off the record of course, that the scamming happens entirely with their approval, frequently on their insistence. Truth be told, it’s hard to say no when even a laggard that gets lucky and scores bronze adds one more to the total tally. It’s resulted in a business where scams are the worst thing to happen only so long as you get caught.

     

    The judging process too is compromised as long as tallies – official or unofficial – continue to be important. Says Bobby Pawar, chief creative officer, Publicis, “Judges may be more open to acknowledging how they feel about a piece of work when voting for it doesn’t make them losers. When you have younger people on the jury who haven’t won that much, it’s hard (for them) to be charitable.” In every award jury, if some industry folk are to be believed, there are people wondering “what’s in it for me?”

     

    With the role of tallies coming into question, the Gunn Report is perceived to be the biggest villain of the piece. Started in 1999 by former Leo Burnett adman Donald Gunn, it’s currently the largest, most authoritative source of league table on ad agencies. The 2013 edition considered 46 award shows – global, regional and national. While undoubtedly a definitive source of information on the varying creative fortunes of agencies, doing well in the Report has become an unhealthy obsession.

     

    Mr Pawar says sardonically, “It’s a great idea – for Donald Gunn. Or CEOs and creative guys looking to put notches on the belt. I don’t think it’s a good idea for work. Let’s not reduce creativity to accounting because that’s what these things do.” Adds a creative chief who wishes to remain anonymous, “I know the networks love Gunn but does the report motivate me to break the mould? Is it inspirational?

     

    Or just an impotent report card?” The latter has no place in an industry that’s playing it fast and loose, finding ideas from unlikely sources, some of whom are not agencies. The Gunn Report had not responded to our questions at the time of going to print.

     

    The alternative: Let the year be remembered not for who scored the maximum but for the best work. Irrespective of where it came from or what else the agencies who created those pieces won. In spite of being the top ranked Indian shop by Gunn this year, Mr Joshi, currently president – South Asia, McCann Worldgroup continues to have a purist perspective.

     

    “The creative world is more like a garden than a wrestling ring. We shouldn’t be trying to outshine each other but to complement each other. People will say ‘here comes Prasoon again with his poetry’, but I’ve said this since I was in school. Every child is unique but the moment you ask ‘kitne number aaye?’ you make him start thinking in those terms.”

     

    However, in spite of these pious and occasionally poetic sentiments, it’s unlikely that tallies are going anywhere. Because as KV Sridhar aka Pops, chief creative officer at SapientNitro points out Gunn and accounting are unnecessarily being pilloried. For one, the report is a lot more nuanced, measuring both the width as well as depth of wins.

     

    At worst, it represents a deeper malaise: “Gone are the days when creative people were obsessed with peer recognition. Awards are now more about business development. There’s nothing wrong (in wanting to win big) since this is how advertising agencies sell themselves. It’s both for the benefit of new marketers and to tell your existing clients ‘we’ve still got it.’”

     

    The obsession with tallies is less about creative oneupmanship. Says Mr Sridhar, “It’s the obsession of people like Martin Sorrell and Maurice Levy. It’s a global diktat to every agency since this is how a brand seeking to enter the country decides on who to start talking to. Every country head is measured by creative reputation as much as bottomline. If you deliver 21 per cent instead of 23 per cent you are sacked, but if you’ve got a creative reputation with 21 per cent, you get your bonus.”

     

    And so what it comes down to is this; when the agency man’s stuck at the wrong end of the barrel, even the most virtuous will start Gunning for more awards. Don’t blame the player, blame the game.

     

    Source:The Economic Times

    Copyright © 2014, Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All Rights Reserved

    Licensed to republish

     

  • Advertising Agencies Association of India felicitates Ramesh Narayan with lifetime achievement award

    Adland Nice Man Ramesh Narayan given a fitting Salute

    Ramesh Narayan being felicitated by AAAI President Arvind Sharma. Photograph: Sakshi Kapoor/dna

     

     

    By Shobhana Nair

     

    Veteran ad and media personality Ramesh Narayan was felicitated by the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) with the Lifetime Achievement Award last evening (Thursday, July 24) at an event attended by top ad and media trade professionals.

     

    Arvind Sharma

    Making his opening remarks, AAAI President Arvind Sharma said, “Everybody says do good to others but Ramesh is one guy who actually follows it. He practises it and has been doing it for over a quarter of a century. That’s why he has many admirers in the industry. He has made so much of a difference to the industry.”

     

    Mr Narayan started his career in the media in 1982 and established his agency Canco with no experience in advertising and without a client in hand. However, soon there were clients who came on despite having the bigger agencies empanelled and Canco had on its roster among the biggest advertisers in the country. Mr Narayan wound down his agency in 2006 even as there were some serious overtures for an acquisition.

     

    He has been active in all trade associations and instrumental in the organizing of the Ad Asia conventions in the country.

     

    Accepting the award from the AAAI, Mr Narayan thanked his friends and peers who had flown from all across the country on the occasion. He also remembered his father, the late CA Narayan, who had made the maximum impact on him.

     

    Said Nagesh G Alai, Group Chairman, FCBUlka: “Ramesh has been a long-time advertising veteran who believed in some ethical way of doing business. However, since the ethics were moving out of the business, he decided to move away rather than falling prey to it. Even after retirement, he has been quite active in terms of engagement with the industry like awards, recognition of young achievers so on and so forth.  He truly deserves the award because of his continuing engagement and professional approach to it. At a personal level, he is a good human being. I have known him for 25 years. He truly deserves it.”

     

    Summing up the sentiment of the fraternity, Ashish Bhasin, Chairman & CEO South Asia Dentsu Aegis Network, and Honorary Secretary, AAAI added: “A lot of credit for the work on policies and the strength of the AAAI goes to Ramesh. If one person deserves the Lifetime Achievement Award, it is him.”

     

    Some more comments and reactions to the felicitation of Mr Narayan:

    Sam Balsara, Chairman & Managing Director of Madison World: I think it’s a very well-deserved award for Ramesh. It is really creditable that even after so many years of him closing down his agency, he is still involved with the industry and continues to contribute substantially for the overall well being of the industry which I think is very creditable.

     

     

    Srinivasan K Swamy, Chairman and Managing Director, RK Swamy Hansa group: I nominated Ramesh Narayan for the AAAI Lifetime achievement award. The committee found him fit to honour him. I have known him for many decades and we have worked together for many years. It was thanks to Ramesh Narayan that we got the IBF and AAAI agreement signed. He is a very nice, humane, hospitable, caring and friendly guy. I have not come across any industry colleague who is as humane as him.

     

    Pradeep Guha, Managing Director, 9X Media: Truly anything that happens in this industry and certainly in the last 15 years, I can say Ramesh has had a role to play. The only thing is he is just too shy. He doesn’t take credit for anything. He’s the hidden hand in everything that happens in the industry and he continues to do so. Without him, our industry would have been a lot poorer. We are really blessed to have a person like him in our industry.

     

    K V Sridhar, Chief Creative Officer, SapientNitro: Ramesh Narayan is a wonderful human being. You can’t find a human being who is better than him in advertising. He has done such selfless service to the industry through AAAI and now with IAA. He is one of those industry veterans who has stood for the industry and represented the industry across many forums in the world. He has held the image of the industry and took that forward everywhere. That’s the reason why he deserves it. There are very few industry spokespersons as people look into their own business, agenda and people. But he has nothing.

     

    Bharat Patel, ISA Member and Independent Director, Birla Sun Life Asset Management: Ramesh Narayan has been the backbone of the Indian advertising especially for the associations like AAAI and IAA. I have not seen anyone like that who has supported advertising in India like this. These are people who have been successful in advertising but there has been no Ramesh Narayan who really got the advertising community together and achieved so much.

     

    Shekhar Swamy, Group CEO, R K Swamy Hansa: Ramesh Narayan is a great guy who has done many things for the industry and he deserves the award for the amount of time that he has put. He has worked selflessly into the promotion of the industry. We are here to celebrate with him. Congratulations to Ramesh!

     

     

    Partho Dasgupta, CEO, BARC: Ramesh is one of the greatest guys that I’ve met. I am here to wish him for the rest of his life. At the peak of his career, he renounced everything. How many people can do that? It is an amazing thing to do. So many people aspire to do so but will not be able to achieve it.

     

     

    Madhukar Kamath, Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, DDB Mudra: If ever there’s a person who truly deserves this award then it is Ramesh Narayan. Apart from the accomplished professional that he is which I am not qualified to talk abou, Ramesh is one of the nicest persons in the industry. We require more and more of Ramesh Narayans. A person with no agenda, clear heart,  and one who wears his heart on his sleeves. He never says no and importantly, a person who gets things done. Ramesh is an idol for me. Less talk, more action is Ramesh Narayan.

     

    Rana Barua, CEO, Contract Advertising: It’s absolutely an honour to be here. He is one of the most silent and hard working people in the industry. Though he is very silent but he goes about doing things meticulously. This is something which should have happened many years before.

     

     

    Paritosh Joshi, Principal, Provocateur Advisory: “Ramesh Narayan is somebody who has given so much for the development of the industry. He had his own agency which he exited it. He moved on after spending so many years. The profit motive was gone for him. He was not running his agency anymore but here’s a guy who genuinely believes in the development of the broader communication professions. There are very few people who do that with a genuine sense of selflessness. Hats off to him on all fronts.”

     

  • The list includes a diverse pool of creative minds from India and the globe

    Speakers for Kyoorius Designyatra, 2014 announced

    By A Correspondent

     

    Kyoorius has announced a lineup of speakers for IAA Kyoorius Digiyatra and Kyoorius Designyatra 2014. It includes a diverse pool of creative minds from India and the globe, which will engage delegates in stimulating discussions both on and off stage.

     

    IAA Kyoorius Digiyatra is an entire day event dedicated to all things digital, and will be held on 11th September. Delegates can expect to hear from the likes of: Dhairya Dand – Designer, Researcher & Artist at MIT Media Lab; Elizabeth McGuane – Content Strategist & User Experience Designer; Fernanda ‘Fefa’ Romano – Chief Creative Officer, Naked Brazil; Gaston Legorburo – Executive Director & Worldwide Chief Creative Officer, SapientNitro; Christian Etter – Founder of Etter Studio; Tim Malbon – Founding partner of Made by Many.

     

    Designyatra, which takes place from 12th to 13th of September, will offer delegates the opportunity to imbibe knowledge and insights from some of the most innovative thinkers and entrepreneurs, share their experiences and have meaningful face-to-face interactions with peers.

     

    Some of the speakers at the event include: Ajaz Ahmed – CEO and founder of AKQA; David Berman – Founder, David Berman Communications; David Law – Founder, Co-Owner, Executive Strategic Creative Director, SomeOne; David Sherwin – Fellow, Frog Design; Ivan Chermayeff – Principal, Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv; Liam Paton – Co-Founder & Music Director, Silent Studios; Michael Wolff – Founder, Michael Wolff & Company; Morihiko Hasebe – Executive Creative Director, Hakuhodo Inc.; Jonathan Ford – Founding Partner & Chief Creative Officer, Pearlfisher; Mat Heinl – Chief Executive Officer, Moving Brands; Natasha Jen – Partner, Pentagram; Nathan Prince – Co-Founder & Creative Director, Silent Studios; Simon Manchipp – Founder, Co-Owner, Executive Strategic Creative Director, SomeOne; Stalin K – Director & Managing Trustee, Video Volunteers; Todd Rovak – Managing Partner, Fahrenheit 212.

     

    Both Designyatra & Digiyatra will be moderated by Patrick Burgoyne – Editor, Creative Review.

     

    Rajesh Kejriwal

    Rajesh Kejriwal, Founder CEO, Kyoorius said, “Year after year our aim has always been to exceed our own expectations and this year too we have aimed to get the best of the best at Designyatra. Our speakers will discuss their approach to design and share their insight into ideas that are taking the world by storm in design, digital, branding, communication and more.”

     

    This year, Kyoorius Designyatra will be held from 11th to the 13th of September at Grand Hyatt, Goa and will be attended 1300 delegates. The theme is What if?, which will be explored through a variety of formats such as talks, breakout sessions, portfolio reviews and more.

     

  • The include Creative Effectiveness; Design; Film, Print, Outdoor & Radio; Media; and PR juries

    Spikes Asia announces Jury list for several categories

    By A Correspondent

     

    Spikes Asia, the International Festival of Creativity taking place in Singapore from 23-26 September, has announced the jury members that will make up the Creative Effectiveness; Design; Film, Print, Outdoor & Radio; Media; and PR juries.

     

    “We feel very privileged to be able to announce these well-known industry names as being part of our juries for Spikes Asia 2014,” shared Philip Thomas, CEO, Lions Festivals. “They help set the standard for this year’s awards and we will watch with interest as they debate and decide the best of creative communications in the region.”

     

    The jury for Creative effectiveness comprises the foll: Matthew Godfrey, President – Asia, Y&R, Asia Pacific - Jury President; Charles Cadell, President, Asia Pacific, McCann Worldgroup, Asia Pacific; Natalie Pidgeon, Chief Strategy Officer, IPG Media brands, Asia Pacific; Nick Garrett, Managing Director, Colenso BBDO, New Zealand; Paul Roebuck, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore/Malaysia, Saatchi & Saatchi, Singapore; Rahul Kansal, Executive President, Bennett Coleman & Co, India; Ross Jackson, Asia Pacific Head Brand, Product, Client Marketing and Cross Border, Visa Worldwide, Asia Pacific; Wong Mei Wai, Head of Marketing, Vietnam Brewery, Vietnam.

     

    The Design Jury comprises Stefan Sagmeister, Designer, Sagmeister & Walsh, Global - Jury President; Dan Ellis, Regional Creative Director, S & SE Asia, Brand Union, Singapore; David Park, Creative Director, Maud, Australia; JJ (Jongjoo) Ha, Executive Creative Director, Cheil Worldwide, South Korea; Jon King, Executive Creative Director, Beacon/Leo Burnett Tokyo, Japan; Lana Roulhac, Design Director, Siegel+Gale, China/UK

     

    Praveen Das, Chief Creative Officer, Happy Creative Services, India;

     

    Pum Lefebure, Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer, Design Army, Thailand/USA.

     

    The Jury for Film, Print, Outdoor and Radio comprises Ted Royer, Chief Creative Officer, Droga5, Global - Jury President; Ajay Thrivikraman, Chief Creative Officer, Publicis, Singapore; Erick De Souza Rosa, Executive Creative Director, Lowe and Partner, Regional

     

    Gavin Siakimotu, Creative Director, Y&R, New Zealand; Kitti Chaiyaporn, Chief Creative Director, Choojai, Thailand; Morihiko Hasebe, Executive Creative Director, Hakuhodo, Japan; Patrick Baron, Executive Creative Director, McCann Melbourne, Australia; Raoul Panes, Chief Creative Officer, Leo Burnett Manila, The Philippines; Raymond Chin, Creative Director, Wieden & Kennedy, China; Sami Thessman, Executive Creative Director, TBWA\Worldwide, Hong Kong; Sonal Dabral, Chairman & Chief Creative Officer, DDB Mudra, India; Zenobia Pithawalla, Executive Creative Director, Ogilvy & Mather, India.

     

    The media Jury consists of Mark Patterson, CEO, Asia Pacific & Chairman, China, Asia Pacific - Jury President; Atiek Sudirman, Managing Director, UM, Indonesia; Jeffrey Seah, Chief Executive Officer, SE Asia, Starcom MediaVest Group, Singapore; Jun-Woo Park, Media Group Director, HSAD, South Korea; Mike Wilson, Chief Executive Officer, Havas Media, Australia; Roid Sin, Chief Executive Officer, OMD, Hong Kong

     

    Yesudas Sankara Pillai, Managing Director, Indian Subcontinent, Vizeum, India; and Yusuke Suzuki, General Manager, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners, Japan.

     

    The PR Jury consists of David Brain, Chief Executive Officer, APAC/MENA, Edelman, Asia Pacific - Jury President; Christina Cheang, Chairman, CMG Group, Singapore; Dilip Cherian, Founding Partner & Group Chairman, Perfect Relations, India; Hock Chuan Ong, Partner, Maverick, Indonesia; John Orme, President APAC, Porter Novelli, China; Kat Thomas, Executive Creative Director, One Green Bean, Australia; Koichiro Shima, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Creative Director, Editor in Chief, Hakuhodo Kettle, Japan; Leah Huang, Managing Director, Ogilvy PR Manila, The Philippines.

     

  • The 2014 edition of the coveted honors is officially underway post the Jury deliberated to decide upon the distinguishing Bravehearts last weekend

    India TV annouces 2nd edition of Salaam India Awards

    By A Correspondent

     

    The second edition of Salaam India Awards 2014, constituted by India TV last year, is back to felicitate the exceptional acts of bravery exemplified by the common citizens of India.

     

    Following the ‘nationwide call for nominations’, the 2014 edition of the coveted honors is officially underway post the Jury deliberated to decide upon the distinguishing Bravehearts last weekend.

     

    Rajat Sharma

    This year’s Award Jury includes India TV Chairman & Editor-in-Chief, Rajat Sharma, Former India CEC, Dr. S.Y. Quraishi, Former Army Chief Gen. Deepak Kapoor, Ace Shooter Col. (Retd.) Rajyavardhan S. Rathore and former IPS Dr. Kiran Bedi.

     

    In line with the guiding principle for the awards, the chosen honourees are those who are not intrinsically fearless but who could selflessly win over their fears to safeguard someone else’s interest while risking or even sacrificing their own lives, in the hour of need.

     

    Ritu Dhawan

    Announcing the second edition of the honors, India TV MD & CEO, Ritu Dhawan said, “We are glad that we are again getting a chance to felicitate our real heroes, who simply inspire us all by their actions demonstrating selflessness & fearlessness, also the most important traits of a news source.”

     

    “As a leader in the Hindi news genre, it is certainly a matter of both pleasure & contentment for us to felicitate those who are not only our role models but also who bring the positive balance to humanity, our society & nation” she added.

     

    The chosen bravehearts will be honored in a glittering ceremony on Sunday, 21st September at Hotel Taj, New Delhi. Salaam India Awards will be conferred across four categories including Bravery Awards, Gallantry Awards, Jyoti Singh Awards and Special Awards.

     

    Officer’s Choice has once again decided join hands with India TV as the presenting sponsor of the initiative along with Amrapali Group as the associate sponsor. Dainik Bhaskar & Pioneer Publicity are the media partners for the initiative. Showtime Events, one of India’s premier event management companies will be managing the event.

     

  • The three-day Kyoorius Digital and Design Festival took off in Goa with much enthusiasm

    Curious about Kyoorius?

     

    We were wondering how we should do this curtain-raiser. We’ve already interviewed the Kyoorius Founder and CEO Rajesh Kejriwal. We will bring you daily despatches, but although it’s all about design and creativity, what makes Kyoorius Designyatra (and the IAA Kyoorius Digiyatra) are these numbers. So if you aren’t here this year, do make it next year.

     

    A disclosure: MxMIndia is partnering Kyoorius. But you know we aren’t plugging them only because of that. We partner many other conferences and events which we don’t even cover.

  • The three-day design, digital and creativity conference ended on a high with a 1970s-style theme party coinciding with the D&AD-backed awards.

    Ivan Chermanyeff and Ajaz Ahmed were highlights of Day 3 of #KDY14

    By Abhijeet Amonkar

     

    Ajaz Ahmed

    It was the last day of an event that no one wanted to end. The three-day design, digital and creativity conference ended on a high with a 1970s-style theme party coinciding with the D&AD-backed awards.

     

    The day began with Mat Heinl, CEO, Moving Brands who was of the firm belief that for brands to be successful, they must stop separating themselves from their products and services. Brands must create behaviours, instead of artefacts, he said.

     

    The next speaker, Todd Rovak, Managing Partner, Fahrenheit 212 said that while making toys, children respond more to Batman, a human being who gets to the top through training rather than Superman, who is born perfect. As far as innovation is concerned, an idea must solve a problem for the consumer as well as the business. He believes that “In order to go big, first go small.”

     

    Next up was Morihiko Hasebe, Executive Creative Director from Hakuhodo Inc who showcased the idea of combing various sectors to create an aesthetic and useful product. His company looks ahead, and is preparing designs for as much as a decade ahead.

     

    The two highlights of the day were Ivan Chermanyeff, Principal, Chermanyeff  & Geismar & Haviv and Ajaz Ahmed, Founder, AKQA. Chermanyeff, widely regarded as the god of logos , spoke about the thoughts that went into designing his work. “I’m one of those few people who can’t sit still,” he said while talking of his formula of success. His advice to future graphic designers is “Bring an idea that stays in place for a long, long time.”

     

    Ahmed, on the other hand, who founded leading digital agency AKQA at age 21, gave said even the smallest seed of an idea can cause a great revolution of hope.

     

    Earlier, Holly Hall, the Awards Director of the London-based D&AD spoke on the ‘What If?’ theme. The final speakers were Nathan Prince and Liam Paton from Silent Studios. They spoke about how music enhances our lives, and how in advertising, music is very important. Like most of the speakers, they said “Experiences, rather than products, make people happy.”

     

    So what was the highlight of the Kyoorius event versus various others held in the country or the region. When asked to comment on this, Rajesh Kejriwal, Founder and CEO, said that the event was a serious business. “We don’t want to people to come here for entertainment and drinks, even if it’s Goa. We want them to return inspired and be brimming with more ideas.”

     

    A senior marketer, who had been to the festival for the first time, echoed this sentiment. “I was told that you come here for the content, and I wasn’t disappointed,” she said.

     

  • There were two Black Elephants and 27 Blue Elephants present at the D&AD-governed Kyoorius Design Awards

    Ogilvy, Bombay Duck Designs win top accolades at #KDY14

     

    By Sandeep Puraname

     

    It wasn’t like any other award night. Around a thousand-odd creative and allied industry professionals were in attendance at the D&AD-backed 2014 Kyoorius Design Awards in Goa.

     

    In the signature Kyoorius style of a larger-than-life format, the audience was treated to a 1970s theme party.  A total of 680 entries were submitted across nine categories – Branding and Identity, Communication Design, Book Design, Editorial Design, Design for Space, Design for Packaging, Writing for Design, Design Craft and Design for Good. The 72 In-book winners were also nominees for Blue Elephants, and the jury awarded a total of 27 Blue Elephants and two Black Elephants. Student awards were also presented to meritorious submissions.

     

    Two Black Elephants were awarded to outstanding work that cut across categories, both in terms of concept and execution. Bombay Duck Designs was awarded a Black Elephant for Blued Book in the Design for Books category while Ogilvy & Mather was awarded a Black Elephant for :{to:) CleftToSmile, created for Operation Smile India in the Branding and Identity category.

     

    The 27 Blue Elephant winners included work by (in no specific order): Alok Nanda & Company, Trapeze, Redlion, Kulture Shop, Umbrella Design, Bombay Duck Designs, Locopopo, Eleven:43, The Architects Office, NH1 Design, Please See, Out of the Box, Lotus, Famous Innovations and Grey Worldwide, Publicis India, Creativeland Asia, TBWA India.

     

    While the awards are named Kyoorius, the entry and judging procedure is governed by D&AD, a London-based premier creative body. A mix of international and Indian jurors participated in a three-day judging session held in Pune in June 2014.

     

    Click on the Tables to view larger

     

     

     

  • Design dominated discussions on the second day of the Kyoorius weekend in Goa, although it was technically Day One of the mainstay Kyoorius Designyatra

    Follow your heart and do good: Message from Day 2 of #KDY14

    By Abhijeet Amonkar

     

    Design dominated discussions on the second day of the Kyoorius weekend in Goa, although it was technically Day One of the mainstay Kyoorius Designyatra. The theme was the same as the Digiyatra on Thursday: ‘What If’.

     

    The day began with Jonathan Ford, Founding Partner and Chief Creative Officer at Pearlfisher whose presentation centered mainly on good ideas. “The most impossible ideas are the ones that bring about the most change,” Ford said. To truly improve your brand, you need to learn to say no, and if you find yourself conflicted, you need to follow your heart.

     

    The next speakers were Simon Manchipp and David Law, both Executive Creative Officers of SomeOne. Their presentations were humorous, earning quite a few laughs from the audience. The secret to their success has been their ability to turn a brand, into a superbrand. The standout statement from their session (which was tweeted a number of times) was: “Most brands are so busy telling their stories, that they forget no one is interested!”

     

    Meanwhile, David Berman, founder of David Berman Communications, spoke about a topic close to his heart. He believes that all designers must set aside 10% of their weekly time, and devote it to design solutions for the problems that our world faces today. His main agenda was sustainability, something that will reduce the clutter in the world tremendously, in addition to making creative designs. “Don’t just do design, do good,” he said.

     

    Post lunch, Natasha Jen, Partner at the global firm Pentagram, took over on the topic “The price of Creativity”. Her real inspiration to designing things stems from Legp, and most of her designs have them incorporated in some way. Most of her projects are pro-bono, since she believes that money can never buy you happiness, and that designing should be done because you love it.  Her belief:  “Stay calm and keep hustling.”

     

    Next up was Kayonaaz Kalyanwala from Video Volunteers which creates a low-cost medium for people to voice and uncover stories, and make the common people take notice.

     

    The Designyatra ended with a bang, literally. Karsh Kale performing along with Abhijit Jejurikar and the kids from Dharavi Rocks. They were given a standing ovation at the end of their rousing performance, and it was a fitting and energetic end to the day. Famous last words from Kale: “It’s very easy to become static if you aren’t curious.”

     

  • The Adclub has brought about interesting changes not only in terms of the categories and awards but also the venue

    Stage set for Adclub’s Emvies awards

    By A Correspondent

     

    Adclub’s EMVIES awards, will be presented at a glittering ceremony on Wednesday, 17th September, 2014 at 6.30 pm at the Palladium Hotel, Lower Parel, Mumbai.

     

    While it is the 14th year of the EMVIES awards it happens to be the 60th year of The Advertising Club. The Adclub has brought about interesting changes not only in terms of the categories and awards but also the venue.

     

    A unique feature about this year’s EMVIES is that an EMVIES trophy would be presented for every winning entry to both the agency and the client.

     

    This year the Adclub received 650 entries across various categories. The judging sessions were conducted at both Mumbai and Delhi. As many as 105 judges from the media fraternity graced the Round 1 judging sessions while 34 top notch clients judged the Round 2 judging sessions that takes the shape of case study presentations spread across three days at the WE SCHOOL. Thus Adclub had a jury panel of 140 judges judging the EMVIES entries. Out of the total of 650 entries 132 were shortlisted.

     

    EMVIES has always attracted an audience in excess of 1000 more importantly it has a fine blend of top notch professionals from the Media, Marketing, Advertising, Research and the communication world.

     

    An exciting feature about the EMVIES awards is the Band Baja Award which is Adclub’s own way of promoting musical talent from the media fraternity. This is a popular segment of the show in existence since the past four years.

     

  • Ajit Varghese's "unfinished agenda" of being numero uno at Emvies was accomplished by Kartik Sharma & team

    Maxus wins big at Emvies 2014

     

    By A Correspondent

     

    In September 2013, when it was announced that Ajit Varghese was promoted to an Asia-Pacific role at Maxus, we asked him whether there was any unfinished item on the agenda. Knowing how fiercely competitive he is, although always gracious in praise for his competitors, we were digging for an answer he gave us. “May be winning at Emvies is an unfinished agenda,” he said with a smile.

     

    Maxus, given Mr Varghese’s spirited leadership over the years and with Kartik Sharma at the helm ever since he moved to Singapore, has ensured the Maxus flag flies high.

     

    At the 14th edition of the Emvies on Wednesday night, soon after an all-new logo of the Advertising Club was unveiled by recently re-elected President, Pratap Bose, Maxus was the clear winner. Ahead of runner-up by a good 55 points.

     

    But the icing on the cake was that not only was Maxus the Best Media Agency of the Year, it also won the Grand Emvie along with client Tata Global Beverages for the Power of 49 campaign. In fact Tata Global Beverages shared the Best Media Client of the Year with Hindustan Unilever for its seven big wins for the Power of 49!

     

    “We have accomplished a lot over the last seven years,”  Mr Varghese told MxMIndia. Unable to attend the ceremony as he was in Shanghai, the Maxus South Asia Managing Director said: “Emvies was a summit that was left unconquered. Although we came close and gave a tough fight but you know there is less room for No 2 and No 3 in life. We wanted our clients to feel the No 1 status of their work getting showcased as “the best”.

     

    And what’s his sentiment now that the Summit is scaled? “What a feeling to get it all! Agency of the Year, Client of the Year and the Grand Emvies!!!  I truly believe that today every Maxusite who is and has been part of this journey feels he or she is a winner! That’s makes us proud. Cheers to Kartik and team to continue the Maxus Creativity, Passion and Entrepreneurial spirit. A new journey has begun with a bang!”

     

    Among other notables, Samyak Chakrabarty of DDB Mudramax bagged the Gold in Young Emvie of the Year with the Silvers shared by Alka Bhavnani of Mindshare and Vikesh Jain of Maxus.

     

    As for the rest of the story, the tables below tell it all.

     

     

    Photograph: Facebook post by Gaurav Hirey, GroupM Chief Talent Officer South Asia