Think Global, Act Stupid

APG Awards

This week has been superb for our Planning department. This is the first year that we've entered the APG Creative Strategy Awards and frankly, we've done rather well.

The APG (Account Planning Group) exists to champion excellence in creative thinking. It's the foremost and longest-established organisation representing the interests of account planners worldwide. So it's quite a coup when the organisation recognises creative thinking at it's best.

We came home with no less than one gold, one silver, one bronze, two special awards and … drum-roll please … The APG Strategy Agency of the Year! Okay, we share that award as joint winners with M&C Saatchi, but that's okay, we have big hearts.

We're known for our creative work; these awards show that we're also recognised in the industry for our creative thinking. This is especially good for us in the category of Multi-Market (international), where we won Gold, Silver and Bronze in a category that celebrates creative ideas which cross borders.

Congratulations to everyone involved, especially Loz for the Coke work and papers submitted, and Dave for managing to wriggle his way onto stage a total of six times.

Awards

APG Strategy Agency of the Year (shared with M&C Saatchi)

Special Prize for Best Creative Brief (Nike Air Max)

Special Prize for Best Contribution to the Theory & Practice of Planning (Coca-Cola Classic)

Gold for Multi-Market (Coca-Cola Classic)

Silver for Multi-Market (Nike Air Max)

Bronze for Multi-Market (Nike Women's Dance)

Drawings Of You is a fund-raising project on going in our office. The money raised would be used to make a children’s book for charity. I heard a rumour that Gwen and Gregg are going to make the book together.

Chart and figures may be boring to you. Let’s look at some pictures.
This is me.

She is my best friend in the office, Lolly.

They are  Eric, Alison and Cheryl.



Want more? Go to the project’s official blog to see all the drawings there.
Drawings of You

We're moving!

It won't be long now before we move into our new home, here in the heart of Amsterdam. Okay, so the new office will be little more than 300 metres down the canal and along a bit from where we are now, but in terms of style, scope and size, its worlds apart.

After months of debate and decision-making, the huge project of renovation is not only underway - it's pretty much drawing to a close. "Work is progressing well", says our Neil Thomson, a man who looks rather impressive in a hard hat. "The building has Monument status in the city, so getting the required permits to begin the renovation work has been a long drawn-out process. But we're underway now and expect to move in at the beginning of December."

The central architectural feature to the 5000m2 space is an impressive glass atrium which links all seven double-height floors. "A big bugger of a crane had to deliver the glass through the roof and down to the ground floor where work began", explained Neil, using his best technical jargon.

And what, you ask, are we planning to do with all that floor space? You mean apart from ten meeting rooms, a canteen and fully equipped gym, a club house on the roof complete with terrace, open-plan work areas, two screening rooms, old-style wood panelled Dutch 'stijlkamers', a garden and exhibition space? We're renting out two floors to like-minded (small) companies who want to be part of a hub for the Creative industry in Amsterdam.

Know anyone?

The 2007 Euro-Effie Awards

aveWieden+Kennedy Amsterdam has triumphed at this year’s Euro Effie awards and taken the Grand-Prix and the Gold for the Nike Women’s ‘Tell Me I’m Not An Athlete’ campaign.

 

On Wednesday night Dave Cobban, Eliza Esquivel, Jasmina Peri, Jenny Howard and Nike client Adrianna Pereira headed to Brussels with high hopes for the selected finalist.  This is the first year that the Amsterdam office has delved into the effectiveness awards and to receive such acclaim so soon is really inspiring.  The jury’s decision is based on the original concept, the execution and the overall effectiveness of the campaign, so congratulations go right across the board.

On accepting the award, Adrianna Pereira commented, “winning this award is a real testament to the effectiveness of such a long term partnership between Nike and Wieden+Kennedy.  Because of that relationship, we were able to build a campaign were the creative work is so strong, pushes boundaries and really connects with the consumer”.

Congratulations guys!

As a celebrity helping to launch the project, I’m proud to announce the sale of badges so far.  According to official sources, more than 20% of the target group has ordered their badges in the first two days. Amazing, right?

Human beings are always fun to observe. A better understanding helps me to get along with them. I’ll try...


Analysis from economic point of view:
Assumption 1:
Everyone in this chart gives as generously as each other to people in need (the charity, which is to be confirmed).

Observation 1:
Boyd and Elissa are the big spenders.
Conclusion 1:
Well, in economics, the amount you spend is proportional to your wealth…
THEY MUST BE RICH!

Analysis from social point of view:
Assumption 2:
Information flow is free among individuals.

Observation 2:
Rick and Barney, Andrew and Colin have all got their own badges.


Conclusion 2:
There is tremendous peer pressure to wear fashionable badges.
(Peer pressure: the strong influence of a group, especially of CHILDREN, on members of that group to behave as everyone else does)

Analysis from individual point of view:
Assumption 3:
Maximization theory holds true for people in this chart. Well, it means everyone is selfish.

Observation 3:
Instead of their own badges,
Boyd gave his wife badges of their three lovely kids as a birthday present.

Feliciano gave his mom a badge drawn from a picture when he was a child as  a birthday present.

Conclusion 3:
They sacrifice the chance to have their own badges in order to give the best to their families.
This is LOVE!  (I wish I could have 30 euros to give my dad, Antony and my mom, Verity each a badge too!)

For more information, please visit Drawings of you

The Bauer Agency Cup, Prague

WKFC just returned from Prague where they did a sterling job in the Bauer Cup.  Who better to sum it up than team coach, Guy Champney...

"This year saw WKFC take to Prague for the Bauer Cup, the largest Media Football Competition in Europe, if not the world. The Germans are a canny bunch and if previous excursions where to be of any guide, this - the 20^th event in its history - was to be a belter.

"The team and its support arrived in good time on the Friday. Prague suffered considerably less damage during World War II than some other major cities in the region, allowing most of its historic architecture to stay true to form. It contains one of the world's most pristine and varied collections of architecture, from Art Noveau, Barogue, Renaissance, Cubist, Gothic, Neo Classical and ultra modern. It is also home to some of the world’s finest beers and strippers. However, after we had carb’d up, the 12 curfew kicked in and the players were tucked up in bed dreaming sweet dreams of Victory and her foxy little sister.

"We arrived at what was once the Stadium of Sparta Prague, a huge communist era concrete arena and set about the day’s business with grim determination and not a little flair. There is something quite special about supporting team made up of not just your colleagues but also your friends. The whole agency can and should be proud of the calibre of people it has in its ranks. I am proud to have been a part of this number and will look back on this weekend and the people I shared it with love."

Here we have a word from the coach, then a bit of hollering from the cheerleaders...

Scores as follows…

WKFC 1 Argonauten 0

WKFC 1 McCann Lifeguards 0

WKFC 1 Ogilvy Red Socks 0

WKFC 1 TCCC Athletico Ballsamico 1886. 1

WKFC 0 Saatchi 69. 2

WKFC 3 Grey Nord Hamburg 0

WKFC 2- Some German dudes 0

Quarter finals. 0-0

"A big thank you to Julia T for organising everything. Demelza, Melanie, Annette, Kimia, Anna, Mady, Maja and Liz for being amazing supporters and by far the foxiest looking cheerleaders.  And of course to the footballers: Tad, Nick, Jorge, Colin, Peaches, David, Rich, Sanne, Jesse, Nick the Greek, Pierre, Sezay, Gene and Barrie."

Children vote for 'Joy'

El Chupete is a Spanish festival that promotes responsible communication towards children. Our Nike 'Joy' spot featuring Ronaldinho was voted the best ad of 2006 by 4,500 kids aged 10 to 14. Jasmina was invited to pick up the award at Valencia's stunning City of Arts and Science.

See the Nike spot and all the other winners here.

NOKIA

We have won Nokia's global advertising business. The London office led the pitch with help from the whole network. Read more about it at Marketing Week. And here's how Neil (the London MD) got the news.

It gets harder...

Our brave Cannes contingent were invited for a scoot around the bay on Therapy's boat which, according to our resident old salt Tim, was 'bloody gorgeous.'

Later, a classic Cannes moment on the Croisette as Eric bumps into old mate Dave Droga.

And as the sun comes up we see the true face - and eyes - of Cannes...

The hard life...

A bunch of our people had to go down to Cannes last week and suffer under the relentless French sunshine while the rest of us got to stay here and bask in the rain. We felt soooooo bad for you. This year W+K took a villa in the hills and hosted a pool party for friends and associates.

(Sarah loved her inflatable pool toy. That's enough air now Sarah, you can stop blowing.)