Learn the awards game.
You have to target your awards entries, just like you target your ads. You’ll have more chance of winning if you research the awards events, and what each is looking for in a winner.
Trust your gut.
It’s easy to overthink a creative idea to the point that it doesn’t make sense anymore. We’ve all been there. It’s important to trust your gut reaction, and understand why you reacted that way.
Find your wins.
Sometimes it can feel like you’re not getting anywhere fast. That you’ll never get the great big idea out the door. It’s important to have some little, and fun, wins you can make happen while you’re waiting.
Don’t do too much.
The day-to-day often gets in the way of your long-term goal. You can help avoid that by breaking down those big targets into a series of smaller, more achievable tasks.
Student Tips // 1 to 5.
Here’s five tips for grads, students or juniors looking to get in to the industry or move on in their careers.
There’s not one answer.
There’s no magic bullet when it comes to concepting. In fact the opposite is true, the more tools and approaches you have at your disposal the less chance you’ll ever get stuck.
Rally Cries.
If you spend your career only working on the briefs you get then you’ll be missing out on loads of chances to make great creative. ‘Rally Cries’ are mini always-on briefs that help you keep your eyes open.
Talk about ‘creative’ more.
Creative Scoring Sessions bring the subject of ‘creative’ to the fore. Aside from being pretty good fun they’ll help you get to great more often.
Make it happen.
Everyone can have great ideas, but a lot fail to see the light of day and end up filed away in the bottom drawer. Unless you find ways to make sure they get out there into the world.
Trust me, Brainstorms are great.
Brainstorms are seen as a waste of time by a lot of creatives, something to grin and bear. They can actually be brilliant. I find them a very quick way to get loads of ways in.
Be boring.
Outsiders to the creative process can think it’s non-stop laughter and wacky, bonkers craziness. It can be, but only successfully when you start off serious.
Find clear space.
The average day for a creative is getting busier and busier. Make sure you find ways to carve out and protect clear blocks of time to think and to craft.
The most important skill.
One thing above all others will help you create the best work you can. On any and every brief. It’s not something you need to learn, it’s just something that you have to do.
Idea Killers.
It’s easy to find negatives and massacre creative ideas. If you reframe the conversation to the positive then ideas can be nurtured till they blossom. ‘Idea Killers’ help that to happen.
Present a journey.
Getting your favourite creative route picked is not something to leave to chance. If you set up your whole presentation in the right way it can help put the odds in your favour.
Discover the opportunity.
Amazing, high-budget, award-winning briefs don't turn up every week. If you want to make great creative you have to hunt for and uncover the win on every brief you work on.
Creative Kick-Off Questions.
You want creatives to leave a briefing session with the ideas already shooting out of their brains. Kick-off questions are one way you can accelerate that important initial burst.
Keep pushing. No thanks!
Too often feedback is vague and subjective. It's one of the most crucial parts of the creative process, needing to be given the respect and time it deserves from all sides.
Embrace the fear.
Once you've found a really brave creative idea you need to make sure you don't just charge forward blindly. Embrace the fear and manage the risks.
Find the fear.
A lot of people want to feel completely in control all of the time, to always know exactly what they're doing. Really you should try and create ideas that scare you.