Spotted some examples of our campaign to encourage Christmas shopping at Old Spitalfields Market round the neighbourhood. Created by the WK Side team, the posters feature some of the eclectic variety  of shop and stall owners in the market and encourage people to have a ‘merry different Christmas’.

So, what do three marketing directors, three
company directors, three creative directors, two strategic directors, one
scientist, one burlesque event organiser, one interactive designer, one pr
manager, one tai chi master, one male escort and one advertising director
talk about on a cold, dark Thursday evening? Where they get their
ideas from, of course.  From where they draw their inspiration to do
what they do. And what they think makes a good idea. The venue was the Soho Revuebar and the occasion was another Wieden + Kennedy dinner for clients, contacts and interesting characters.

Our amazingly talented host, artist and professor Andrew Shobhen
of Greyworld opened the evening by sharing a few of his favourite magic tricks.

Everyone listening intently.

One by one Andrew then introduced each guest and asked them to share what inspires them. 
We heard how a professor of mathematics from Goldsmiths seeks creative inspiration for his work from James Joyce’s Ulysses.
And how a marketing director is inspired by how sport can exude a passion and spirit in people, groups and nations that goes way beyond participation in playing sport itself. Many talked
about how in their early life they were inspired to achieve great
things by seeing someone struggle to achieve things, regardless of how
hard or how much they failed.  We heard from a scientist, who’s
currently creating a substance that can regenerate itself. Yes, true. he explained
how he is inspired by the way you can misuse technology to create something
unique. The example he used was ‘cracked glass’. He shared how by
misusing technology you can build glass which is designed to
shatter to the pitch of your own voice!

Kevin Chesters – W+K, Nicky Kinnaird – Space.NK, Mark Miodownik (the
brilliant scientist) and Ed Elworthy – Nike.

There was also much debate around the definition of a true ‘ artist’ vs
‘creative.’ Does an artist have a purer idea because their work is a personal vision and expression, as opposed to someone who is given a specific
brief to come up with an idea to help sell something? Can that idea still be ‘pure’? Or does working
for a commercial business with a specific brief put a stranglehold on
the idea?

The wine flowed, the discussion turned into a debate, then into smaller
intimate conversations and back once more to a full on round table chat
and summary from Andrew.

The main conclusion from this evening, as was very clear from the
fantastic contributions that every guest made, is that creativity is
universal – not tied to so called "creative" jobs – and if you ask the
right questions, you can get some amazing answers. And that for any idea to happen, the important thing is the personal belief and
passion you need to have to make it something really special. 

The food was beautifully prepared and served by the guys from Jamie Oliver’s ‘15 to you foundation’.


Below are a few comments from the guests who attended….

last night was a very interesting evening – and was a very innovative
way of getting to the heart of what creativity is or isn’t about – and
then I woke up this morning wondering if all the characters present at
the table were actors!!!

thanks for a v different evening….

I just wanted to say thank you for inviting me along to last night’s
excesses. It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening that provided a great
opportunity to catch up with you guys at the same time as meeting some
extremely interesting individuals.

Thanks again guys, I hope that I might be considered for an invite in the future.