W+K London

June 28, 2015

pride of lions

News

The 2015 Cannes Festival of Creativity finished up yesterday. Here's a round-up of results as they relate to us at Wieden+Kennedy.

W+K Portland was runner up Independent Agency of the Year and W+K London came third in this category.

The full rundown for London is as follows:

Cyber Lions – Honda – The Other Side; Storytelling Gold

Cyber Lions – Honda – The Other Side; Use of Music/Sound Design Silver

Cyber Lions – Honda – The Other Side; Interactive Video Gold

Film Craft – Lurpak – Freestyle; Use of Original Music Shortlist

Film Lions – Honda – The Other Side; Film – Personal Screens Gold

Film Lions – Lurpak – Freestyle; Film – Savoury Foods Shortlist

Film Lions – Finish – Dishes; Film – Household Goods, Home Appliances, Furnishings Silver

Honda – The Other Side; Titanium/Integrated Shortlist

Film Craft – Honda – The Other Side; Direction Gold

Film Craft – Honda – The Other Side; Sound Design Gold

Lurpak – Freestyle; Sound Design Shortlist

Film Craft – Lurpak – Freestyle; Cinematography Bronze

Film Craft – Lurpak – Freestyle; Direction Bronze

Film Craft – Lurpak – Freestyle; Editing Silver

Media Lions – UKTV – The Most Ridiculously Honest Social Media Campaign Ever; Digital & Social – Use of Social Platform Shortlist

Total awards at Cannes for the eight offices in the W+K network were: one grand prix, nine gold, 9 silver, 19 bronze and 41 shortlisted.

June 26, 2015

W+K does Cannes: women, maybe-murderers and golden halos

Culture

Read on for a Friday update from W+Ker Andy on his latest educational adventures in Cannes:

Today I saw Colleen, one of of our global ECDs, take part in a panel discussion around the subject of 'gender diversity' and what it's like to be a woman in advertising. Hearing them speak it seemed that, luckily, we appear to be an industry that is actually pretty good in this area comparatively, even though we all need to do more to level the playing field. Whilst some of the panel talked about certain issues that they've faced along the way, on the whole things seemed pretty positive. Now, as I am a man, clearly this is not something I have faced and so maybe I am not best qualified to comment, but equally I am thankful for working in an agency where I think gender quality isn't really an issue, and one that is actively trying to make sure it isn't one. What I do know is that when I go to our head of department meetings, I am the only man in the room. That must be a good sign.

I also went a to talk given by the three women (see what I did there?) behind the 'podcast phenomenon' Serial. It was brilliant. I was left in awe of the creative thinking, skill and vision behind something that is, in their own words, '10 hours of journalism about the American justice system.' They spoke about the difficulty of real-time production and wanting to make it feel real in every way, which is why they left in all the bits around presenter Sarah Koenig's uncertainty about what was happening and how she felt day to day.

When it comes to the art of 'storytelling,' their POV was clear: 'we should not be running away from details and moments in stories that reflect the way life is actually led. Don't mimc it, or create it in the way you think it should be told. Telling stories in a real way is artistry and what makes it emotionally meaningful.' I think this might be one of the best things I've heard all week, and it reminded me of how we often say to prospective clients in new business meetings that at W+K, we don't really do the 'advertising bullshit thing,' but that we always look for human, brand and product truths and then try to articulate them in new, creative and engaging ways. Try.

Then to wrap up the week of talks, I saw the 'Cannes debate' with Martin Sorrell and Al Gore. Martin was as smooth as you would expect any £50M+-a-year CEO to be. Al was as smooth as you would expect any ex– Vice President, friend of Steve Jobs and Google and Apple board member to be.

In fact, they were so smooth, so powerful and so rich they actually glowed gold on stage. A true wonder to behold: