As a Creative, it never fails to amaze me who you end up working with or who you work for.
Opportunites to work with talented people is all part of a day’s work. Working with talent is great fun, not only for the work they produce but the fact that you can put money on talented people never being boring. Creative people will always talk about other creative styles they are loving. So, I would like to put up my list of some of the talent that I am loving and pass on some of the fun that happens in the creative process.
Now this guy has way too much talent.
I have just found this illustrator called Ken Taylor from ‘down under’ and I’m glad that I have.
Internationally he has designed artwork for bands such Queens of the Stone Age, Metallica, Pearl Jam, Nine Inch Nails, Kings of Leon, Bob Dylan & The Rolling Stones. Ken has won the Desktop Create Award for Best illustration in both 2007 & 2009 and was a Guest Speaker at the 2009 AGIDEAS design conference and the 2011 Semi – Permanent Creative Conference in both Melbourne and Perth. Ken continues to work with bands both locally and internationally and is represented by Drawing Book.
Ken can be found at www.kentaylor.com.au and I suggest that you check out his work.
My best mate Krusher is not only a good bloke but a very good designer and artist. Here are a few albums he designed, followed by a clip from a TV programme made about him.
Krusher has moved from London and can now be found at either his country seat which is a bit posh (see below) or if you are looking for an album cover to be designed, at www.krusher.co.uk
Krush and Storm at Krusher's
Kilogramme is a busy animation studio based in Manchester’s Northern Quarter,
producing a wide range of design-led multimedia animation which ranges from internet
banners through to complete episodes of children’s TV series and most things in between! www.kilogramme.co.uk
This illustrator rocks, David Vicente
Love this guy’s work and when you check him out, he’s one of the coolest looking illustrators out there.
I caught up with an old writer mucker of mine, Si Anderson (a huge talent) and I asked him a few questions on what makes him such a top writer.
Can you remember the first time you thought, “I want to write?”
Yes. An interview at BDH (now TBWA/Manchester) back in the mid 80s. For some bizarre reason, despite Stockport College, where I studied, being highly-rated, they neglected to tell me that there were two disciplines: Copywriting and Art Direction. I thought you just ‘did ads’. So after having my book completely annihilated by the CD, with the wonderful Neil Lancaster *respect* looking on rolling his eyes, he asked “Are you a Copywriter or an Art Director?”. Before I could answer, he said that I couldn’t draw so I’d best be a Copywriter. I took his advice and the rest as they say, is purgatory.
You have been a copywriter for a while. What gives you the ability to constantly come up with strong concepts?
Good question this. There are mornings when you wake up, hungover, not exactly motivated and physically feel like today is a write-off before you even start. But the brain likes a challenge. I rely on what I call ‘Twisty Head’. It’s a condition I think the best creatives have. It’s the ability to look at something from a different viewpoint and to appeal to the consumer in a new way. In the early days, I felt the the pressure to always come up with something amazing. That pressure though is counter-productive. Just relax and, if you’re a good creative, it will come. It works for me.
What makes a good advertising writer?
The key to a good writer, for me, is the ability to identify with, and act like, your target market. If you can understand them, do your homework and experience their lives a little, you’ll get insights that will inspire you – triggers that your competitors won’t have and, therefore, you’ll come up with something original. I’m a big fan of good planners. I’ve worked with some excellent ones in my time and they can do lots of the legwork, inspire you and enable you to mine rich seams. The abilty to work quickly these days is incredibly important. Too important, if you ask me. You might get eight weeks on a brief in London, but not up here. Oh no. Every hour is precious. Time is money and there’s not a lot of money about. So if you’re quick, and good, you’ll do well.
What is the best work you have done?
Whichever had the biggest effect on consumers, sent them into a zombie trance and had them slathering and beating on plate glass shopfront windows. As I’m never party to this sort of information. I’d probably go for the Ronseal Filler TV ad or Holland’s Pies ‘High on Gravy’ Poster.
Which writer in your opinion is outstanding?
I don’t go in for that sort of fanboy behaviour, and I could ‘Trott’ out the usual names, I do, however, have a very soft spot for Phil Kerry. http://www.bedlamtv.com One of the driest and funniest guys I know. I actually have his Linked In recommendation of me on the back of my business cards. He gets more business than me from that. He wrote scripts for the Two Ronnies, don’t you know? Not the four candles one, though. He’s not that good.
Now that you write across so many media platforms, does this affect how you write for different channels?
Yes. You not only have to consider the channels and platforms, overlay that with each client’s individual brand personality and you basically become schizophrenic.
If there is one single line of advice you could give to young writers who fancy their chances at advertising writing what would it be?
Work for nothing to get experience – I did for 11 months. Be enthusiastic. Listen. Spell and punctuate correctly. Embrace all media. Proofread. Never burn your bridges. Don’t be cocky. Work hard. Explore all the possibilities from every angle. ‘Get’ digital. Do not make knob jokes, unless they’re purely verbal. Proofread again. Never be afraid to question. Write like the consumers you are targeting talk. Never accept a bum brief. Have a laugh. Oh, just one? Okay. Erm, don’t waffle.
Si can be found at www.simonand.com
Thanks for the kind words