Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Agency Culture, Attitude & Aptitude, Creativity, Innovation, Insight, Technology
A long time ago, when I first moved to Shanghai, I wrote a post about how I felt China practiced what I called practical creativity.
Now while their has been significant improvement in the attitude towards innovation over the past 7 years – especially in terms of using technology to make life more convenient – the ‘functional’ element of creativity still exists.
Recently I saw another example of this.
Except it’s older than the stuff I used in my original post.
And it’s not true … more a story that grew into legend.
But that aside, it reinforces my point that there seems to be a major difference between the attitude of commercial creativity in the West and the commercial creativity in the East and both could do with taking a bit from each other.
Funny eh?
And while the true story behind the development of the ‘space pen’ is quite different to what is stated in this article [it was more a product of marketing than conquering the universe] the issue it raises is what adland seems to value in creativity.
Would ‘using a pencil’ be seen as successful in industry awards?
Probably not.
Even in Effies, I question if anyone would bestow anything on it other than ridicule.
But the pen might … with the right case study video attached, detailing the struggle to reinvent writing or some other headline worthy statement.
And that bothers me because commercial creativity will always start with the mind and if we ignore that in favor of the eyes and our egos, then we will be walking even further away from developing the ideas that I know we are capable of making that can fundamentally impact culture and commerce.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s great to try and push what is possible … but when you’re over-engineering a solution for no other reason than trying to win an award, then you should get fists in the face rather than applause.
Maybe Andy was right.
Years ago he told me the reason why judges at awards often favour scam is because it satisfies their ego to be associated with ‘ideas’ that allegedly push what is possible … even if it’s not real or effective.
Which is why most of the ‘innovation’ ideas that are awarded in advertising shows never gets to see the light of day.
Remember Peggy?
I rest my case.
Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Attitude & Aptitude, Communication Strategy, Crap Marketing Ideas From History!, Culture, Customer Service, Marketing Fail, Technology
American companies – like every other country in the World – love automated telephone systems.
To actually get to speak to a real human, is harder than earning a PHD in astrophysics.
But what makes me laugh is how they try so so hard to make it sound like you’re talking to a real person when it’s painfully obvious you’re not.
However, in America, it has reached new heights.
I was organizing Direct TV and was having to repeat my answer to every question asked by the ‘automated human’ because it doesn’t understand British accents when – finally – it accepted my answer.
Imagine my surprise when immediately after, I heard the sound effect of a person typing.
Seriously, it was trying to suggest they were literally inputing my answer into their system.
If that wasn’t mental enough, the sound they used sounded awfully like a typewriter from the 1920’s.
Apart from the fact that a supposed high-tech company shouldn’t feel embarrassed about not using real people, if they really believe genuine human interaction is more desirable for customers than a computer, then HIRE SOME FUCKING HUMANS.
Another example where a consultancy has come in to improve efficiency and ignored reality.
Filed under: Attitude & Aptitude, Communication Strategy, Corporate Evil, Crap Marketing Ideas From History!, Marketing Fail
Back in March I wrote that APAC Insider Magazine had nominated Cynic for an Australian award, despite us ceasing to be a legal entity in 2010.
Well, today I got an email telling me ‘we were still in the running’ and they would be sending details for the award decision and ceremony.
Of course it’s all a load of bollocks, but imagine if you were a small company and thought you were honestly up for an award, you’d probably do whatever they asked because when you’re starting out, you’re continually looking for anything that reaffirms your decision to go it alone.
As I’ve written before, starting your own company is one of the best things you can ever do, but the journey – especially at the beginning – is incredibly fragile and this sort of thing has the potential to bring it all down.
Of course, there’s an argument it could also lift some people up … but if you win an award from a magazine who wants to nominate a company that died 7 years ago, you have to ask if the ‘award’ is something you really want to be associated with.
So, given these fuckers are exploiting the insecurity of small businesses, I’ve decided to give them a taste of their own medicine.
Sure, I’m going to continue going along with their ‘award’ – mainly because I’m genuinely interested to see how far their con goes on – but I’m going to do something else.
I can’t go into specifics right now, but let’s just say APAC Insider Magazine have received an email announcing their nomination for the International Magazine Publishers ‘Promotion of the Year’ and we’re going to see how they like a taste of their own medicine.
#PaybackIsGlorious
Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Attitude & Aptitude, Communication Strategy, Crap Campaigns In History, Creativity, Culture, Perspective, Wieden+Kennedy
So yesterday – on Linkedin – I found this posted on my feed …
Now putting aside the fact I no longer work at Wieden, the fact is that part of the reason WK is so special is because it doesn’t have an abundance of people who have – or want to have – an MBA.
Wieden is born from a desire to use creativity to do it’s fighting.
That ranks higher than absolutely everything and anything else.
Now I should point out that I am not suggesting someone with an MBA isn’t creative, however that qualification does mean you have a greater focus on business than creativity and that ultimately flies in the face of Wieden’s beliefs.
Of course WK are savvy at business and Mr W is most definitely a business guy.
However unlike many in the ‘commerce World’, they want to grow through creative excellence not ‘optimization’.
Which is why I found this ad so weird.
Has Willamette had a lot of Wieden people there before?
Or had a lot of interest from them?
Or is the reason they are offering such a huge financial incentive means they want them because it will benefit them as much as the student?
Even though a recent decision at WKSH means there are some people who – in my opinion – could do with some basic lessons in how to successfully build a business – the reality is this ad shows how little Willamette know, rather than how much.
When you move countries, you miss a bunch of stuff from home.
I wrote about this a while back – but having moved to LA, I have discovered something I miss that I never even considered before.
This:
Yep, it’s the letter u.
For some reason, America seem to have some sort of vendetta towards it and have tried to commit ‘alphabetical genocide’ to wipe it out forever.
Honor
Labor
Savior
Of course I never write it like that [just like I will always spell doughnut, d-o-u-g-h-n-u-t and I will always use an ‘s’, not a ‘z’], but every single time I have used the English way of writing a ‘u’ word with the ‘u’, I get a note saying ‘you know in America we spell it without the u’.
Yes America, I do know that and while I am incredibly grateful for the hospitality and generosity you have shown towards me and my family, I will never spell a word without a ‘u’, I will never a high-five and I most certainly will never call football, soccer.
What’s weird is I was never this much of a dick in China. OK, I was – but not about this sort of thing – which has taught me that nothing makes you more British than living in a country that claims to speak English. I dread to think how I’ll react when Otis starts adopting more Americanisms … or as Andy said, more Californiaisms, which – even US citizens say – is the lowest of the low.