Check out the real talents in business today

When we hear of some earth-shattering campaign that has broken, we get to hear the agency behind it first. Then, perhaps the creative honcho who's the big name in that agency. The part that's left blank are the creative team that was actually behind the idea. (In most cases at least.)

Adage has done a fab job of putting up a list of creative hotshots who actually worked on some of the best campaigns you see around the world today.

Have a look here.

Posted by Murali.

India gets its chance to host its first Portfolio Night

Ogilvy Mumbai will host the first edition of Portfolio Night in Mumbai. The event is scheduled to be held on May 20. For the uninitiated, Portfolio Night gives young Copywriters and Art Directors an opportunity to showcase their work to some of the best Creative Directors in the industry. You can get to know about the tickets here.

Posted by Murali.

The most impactful smoking ad you would see

Mr. Albert Whittamore, passed away in Dover, England. He was 85. And the reason for his death - smoking. It was his idea that his hearse would carry this message, serving you as a reminder to quit the habit immediately.

Courtesy: Times of India.

Posted by Murali.

Upper cut-off phenomenon

The selection criteria for job application changing. Some people have finally realized that academic excellence doesn’t automatically translate into a high performing employee.

‘With more and more companies turning to people with multi-tasking capabilities, students preferring specialisation are driven to disillusionment.

“We are indeed waiting for the market to improve. But what is more disturbing now is the ‘upper cut-off’ insisted by certain companies, saying that those who score 80 per cent and above marks need not apply,” said Aman Jain, a student of B.Tech. electronics and communications at Sri Bhagwan Mahaveer Jain College of Engineering, Bangalore.

That means, the companies have started rejecting the cream of students who excel in studies, on the ground that they will not suit a multi-tasking milieu.’

-the hindu .

ha ha ha the revenge of the average scoring student.

Posted by Monica.

While most agencies create ads, some are going beyond to create something unique

Are you in an agency, that still swears by the 30-sec spot? Then you should take a look at what these guys are up to. For your information, they are just mainline agencies like yours. But have moved beyond conventional advertising. They create Apps, Games, Web Browsers and much more. Isn't that fab?

Read what Rupal Parekh has to say about this in Adage.

Posted by Murali.

The 10 best ideas showcased at one go

Adage has listed the 10 best ideas that changed the marketing world. They were ideas that had balls. Sadly, in today's times we miss such big ideas, and if there are any, the temerity to hold on to it is sadly missing. So, see the big ones here. And get inspired.

Posted by Murali.

Now, agencies can protect their ideas in a pitch

Since we're in a venerable profession that gives ideas for free during pitches, one wonders what happens to them, if you don't win the pitch. The client has all the freedom in the world to use it. No, says the latest missive from the Agency Association in the US. They have brought out a proposal to protect the intellectual rights of agencies during pitches. Great start, I'd say. Will it come to India soon? I don't have an answer.

Read in detail here.

Posted by Murali.

Will the iPad save the publishing industry?

The publishing industry is in a state of despair. Among many other solutions that are being tried out to resuscitate the industry, there is one product that could perhaps be a god-send. The iPad. If you remember, the old Macintosh was the birthing ground for desktop publishing, decades back. So, it is more than just a coincidence that Apple is here once again, with a product that can rekindle (pun unintended) the publishing business.

Read the article here.

Posted by Murali.

Isn't Diesel stupid?

Diesel's latest campaign in the US says: Be stupid. Is it their way of saying 'be crazy' or 'be wild' or perhaps 'be screwed up in your heads'? Dunno for sure. But to finger a Siberian tiger or get squashed by an elephant is not something that appeals to the generation they are talking to. Here are some pics from the campaign, anyway.

Posted by Murali.

The ineffectiveness of digital advertising

It's sad but true. For all the prowess that it promises, internet advertising hasn't really taken off. That's the truth. The reason for this has been attributed to many things. Digital Analytics expert Philip W Sawyer blames creative. And the sheer failure from the digital professionals' part to understand the medium.

Read his argument here.

Posted by Murali.

Remembering Suresh Mullick

Kudos to Ogilvy for putting up a nice e-book on Suresh Mullick, the man behind the anthem 'Mile Sur Mera Tumhara' and many other stellar campaigns of the '70s and '80s. For those who don't know about him, this e-book is a great place to start. He was Piyush's only boss and as Mani Aiyer says, the creative soul of Ogilvy in those days.

Go here to read the e-book. It's surely worth your time.

Posted by Murali.

Alfa Romeo in a shopping trolley

Nice piece of ambient work from Duval Guillaume, Brussels for the automobile brand, Alfa Romeo. It was a campaign that showcased the price reduction of the car - which meant it fitted your pocket, in this case, your shopping trolley quite easily.

Posted by Murali.

The top public service ads of the decade

Campaign Brief magazine has put down a list of top ads (films) which straddled the public service / charity space. These ads, according to the mag not only appealed to the jury but also were great success stories for the causes they represented.

Go have a dekko here.

Posted by Murali.

Top Buzzwords for Social Media

Since most of us are into some form of social media, this article on Adage is worth a read. The author has put down top 20 buzzwords that best encapsulate our daily travels (or should it be travails?) into the social media landscape.

Here we go.

Posted by Murali.

Dave Trott, speaking to Vinny Warren

Even if you haven’t a clue who they are, read the interview. Here.

Posted by Niru.

The people have tweeted!

A testimonial ad with actual peoplespeak. See here.

Posted by Niru.

Save your logo

Not from meddling clients, but from extinction. Many companies that have modeled their logos after powerful, evocative animal symbols, are realizing that those species are probably not going to be around! Some of the more altruistic ones are trying to save these signature creatures. Read the full story here.

Posted by Niru.

A tad too desperate attempt at selling themselves

Barcelona creative shop Iskiam Jara sent this Direct Mailer to prospective clients. It was their way of doing a new-biz pitch. As you would have guessed it's the creatives' blood in those test tubes (not real, yet bizzare). The lengths agencies go to to sell themselves, has hit an all-time high. Or, more appropriately, all-time low?

Courtesy: Copyranter.

Posted by Murali.

The dumbest passwords on Twitter

Now, since everyone is on Twitter, here's something to chew on. Twitter has compiled 370 passwords which according to them is absolutely dumb. So, before you get your account with them (if you haven't already, that is), then you need to go through this list.

Courtesy: Gawker.com.

Posted by Murali.

Unemployed brothers from Batesville, Indiana get $1million for their Frito Lay spot which will be aired at Super Bowl

Anyone can now make a spot. Get it aired at Super Bowl. And make tons of money. Ask the now famous brothers from Batesville, Indiana.

Go read how even you can do it.

Posted by Murali.