February 2012
4 posts
3 tags
8 tags
Not Feeling The Love On Valentine's Day or,...
I decided to make last week’s Valentines Day a special one and spend it with my greatest love - ads.
Having not caught up with this year’s Superbowl ads, it seemed like the perfect thing to do as I sat at my Mac with my can of Soup-For-One.
First of all, what the hell was up with all the celebrity cameos? Was there some hidden competition between all the brands to use a celebrity most...
3 tags
January 2012
5 posts
12 tags
Getting Life Experience or, Watching TV Is Part Of...
My first (creative) partner was a girl in my ad school during my third year doing a Bachelor of Communications at AUT.
She was great, we did a lot of interesting work together.
There was one thing about her that I found odd.
She didn’t watch television.
Her family didn’t have one. She was raised like this. Instead of watching TV, she’d pursue hobbies like dancing, which is all...
4 tags
5 tags
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Doodling or, What I Do When My Brain's Not Looking
Some of my favourite drawings I’ve done have come from the corners of my Moleskine while I’ve been in lectures, meetings, brainstorms or on the phone.
It just goes to show the cool things you can come up with when you switch your brain off and let your subconscious take control.
I’m not saying these are fantastic, innovative thoughts, but I’ve enjoyed the results - even...
5 tags
A Taxi Ride I Won't Forget Any Time Soon
I was working late one night and the designer I stayed back with offered to drive me closer to my home so the taxi fare would be cheaper.
She dropped me off in Bangsar (roughly 10-15 mins from my home in Kota Damansara) and a friendly taxi driver offered to take me home straight after.
He took off around the back streets of Bangsar and started navigating the streets instead of taking the...
10 tags
An Awesome Night Out or, Fuck It
I’m gonna go ahead and apologise to my father right now, who reads what I write often. He’s mentioned to me once or twice about the language I use on my blog. I foresee extended use of the F word.
Katt Williams talked about a special hormone that is released into your system from time to time that physically enables you to have a good time.
It’s called ‘Fuck...
December 2011
1 post
7 tags
When Creativity Works Against You or, An Inverse...
Very recently I was having a drink with Yew Leong Tan, renown film director and vintage ad man.
He said to me after a sip from his hot chocolate that he thought that the people that did Apple’s advertising were brave.
Now, any ad person immediately thinks of key campaigns like 1984, Think Different or I’m a PC, I’m a Mac and says “No shit.”
But what Yew Leong...
November 2011
3 posts
7 tags
This Is What I Love or, The Kind Of Copy I Strive...
One particularly sad fact about advertising is you don’t come across great long copy ads very often anymore.
Sure, you see some astounding campaigns that gracefully utilise a plethora of relevant media and capture the imagination of consumers and invoke an unhealthy jealousy within industry professionals.
But what I love is the reserved delight of finishing a long copy ad because the...
7 tags
Direction or, The Type Of Creative Director I Wish...
So as I’ve previously pointed out, my happy place is my own office, with my own desk and my own door that says my own name on it and ‘Creative Director’ underneath it.
It can also just say ‘Creative Director’ without my name. I’m not picky. I have very flexible life goals.
Aside from doing great work and earning my keep in the ad industry, I’ve taken...
4 tags
“I like the creative community. I mean, as much as it drives me fucking bat shit...”
– - David Norbay, Creative Chairman/Partner, Droga5 Sydney
That’s it. He hit the nail bang on the head for me.
October 2011
4 posts
2 tags
The Admiration List Grows or, 22 More Illustrators...
Way back, tens of ones of posts ago, I blogged about 22 illustrators that I thought were kick-ass and creeped on regularly.
Now, I’ve got 22 more illustrators to add to this orgy of drawing debauchery.
1. SARA BLAKE
Sara was part of the line up for the We Can Create conference in Auckland earlier this year. I’m real gutted I missed out on that. She does amazing things with colour....
Anonymous asked: Dan you're the man! your blogs the shiz. from ye ol friend and one half of ("shots with) - the Heyes boys!!"
8 tags
Budget or, Sometimes, We Kill It For Ourselves
Recently, as is my usual experience since entering the ad industry, I learned something new.
I learned about the way clients tend to work which, in a lot of cases, could prevent a lot of problems agencies tend to have with idea approval.
It’s probably one of the most annoying aspects of dealing with clients; you’ve presented to the Marketing Managers, they’ve given their...
8 tags
Anonymous asked: Hi!, do you think that Nolita's "No Anorexia" fashion marketing campaign has been successful? If so what would be your short analysis for it?
September 2011
7 posts
8 tags
That Damned Client or, Stepping Up Your Game
It seems that there is a new reason to quit the advertising industry each week.
It could be you’re fed up that at the end of the week, there were more days than hours sleep you got.
It might be that nagging Account Executive has brought the deadline forward for the last time.
Maybe it’s the fact that if you’re not talking about advertising when with your friends, you’re...
4 tags
andyettheworldgoeson asked: I'm just a high school student, but I've been wanting to work in advertising for years. I know that I'm nowhere near where I'll be when I get out of ad school or after a few years in the industry, but I'm so afraid that I'm going down this path and that I'll end up somehow being terrible at it or I won't fit in or I'll be stuck in a small, low-impact...
4 tags
What's Inspirational About The Ad Industry or,...
At the beginning of this week, at the Monday morning WIP meeting at Lucideas, we were asked what about the ad industry inspires us.
My answer was along the lines of the potential to do great creative work that changes people’s behaviour and is a lot of fun to do.
Going around the rest of the agency, there was a variety of different answers; fun of the work, changing minds, doing good,...
11 tags
It's Largely Luck or, Sometimes Father Fate Wants...
So the other week, as I have previously pointed out, Yew Leong Tan dropped by Lucideas for a chat.
He spoke to us about his illustrious 23-year career working at Leo Burnett Malaysia for 16 of them, eventually becoming Executive Creative Director with Yasmin Ahmad. He spoke specifically about the amazing work he and Yasmin did for Petronas.
I also learned a secret to how they sold that amazing...
7 tags
Humble Advice or, Rubbing Shoulders With A...
Last week, a very friendly and humble man by the name of Yew Leong Tan came into Lucideas for a chat.
Now, given this guy’s experience, I would be almost certain that he is one of Malaysia’s more influential ad men, along with his late wife, Yasmin Ahmad.
The two of them were responsible for the famous Petronas ads.
I was told earlier this year that if Malaysia had to put up any ad...
7 tags
Approachability or, The Type Of Creative Director...
Basically, my long term goal is to one day (hopefully in roughly 12-15 years) be a Creative Director of a sweet agency.
If you were to talk to many creatives my age at once, that life goal gets really old quick.
But it’s my goal and even though the needle on my experience dial points just above ‘Fuck All’, I’ve taken to already preparing myself for the role.
This means...
9 tags
Passionate People or, Temporarily Living The Dream
The DDB Group in New Zealand was always an agency I wanted to work for. It was one of the top in the country.
How could you not want a piece of that?
It wasn’t until I was about a month out of leaving for Malaysia that my little dream was answered. I received a text message asking me to come into the Interbrand office to work on a couple of projects.
This was off the back of a very good...
August 2011
7 posts
13 tags
In-situ or, What I Learned When I Was Being A...
Last year, I spent my Easter holiday hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. A phenomenal experience. If you’re ever in New Zealand, and only do one thing that’s naturery, make it that.
The day my friend, Abby and I completed the hike, we went to steak house near our lodge. We shared a table with a boisterous couple who were going to do the hike the next day.
We got talking, and it...
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Loving Your First Idea or, A Ring After Two Days
In 1972, Elvis Presley said,
‘wise men say only fools rush in’.
Despite knowing this he couldn’t help falling in love.
Well, that’s all well and good for the romantics out there, but it’s bloody silly when I think about it.
Mind you, I think about it with a degree of hindsight. I’m reminded about the silliest thing I’ve ever done in my young love...
13 tags
“Believe in your fucking self.
Stay up all fucking night.
Work outside your...”
– - Brian Buirge and Jason Bacher, creators of Good Fucking Design Advice
Two things I love about this:
1) It’s laid out, in black and white, clear as anything, simple and straight to the point, all you need to know to do well in your creative career (not just for designers).
2) I love the...
9 tags
Adapt And Overcome or, Eliminating Crying From The...
Man, university was the best time.
I remember going to the ad school common room at AUT for the first time. It was exclusive to ad students to work and hang out, AdHut, it was called. It was a great space and the class got to know each other and made friends quickly.
There was a day in the first month of the first semester when a couple of the guys decided to revamp AdHut. They moved the tables...
3 tags
15 tags
Abolish Caution or, Why I Now Order Prawns Like A...
It was a special occasion and my family decided to go to the local steak house for dinner to celebrate the said special occasion.
I was eyeing up the seafood menu, at the king prawns, specifically. I had my first nibble of those juicy underwater dwellers at a barbecue the weekend prior and had developed a taste for them.
I ordered them with much excitement and anticipation. An eagerness for food...
July 2011
4 posts
25 tags
Portfolio Advice or, Taking The Sting Of A CD's...
My first year in the advertising industry yielded no permanent positions in any Auckland ad agencies. Obviously.
That being said, I was tremendously lucky. There was never a time where I was unemployed for more than a week.
In between the various agencies I worked at, my art director, Kishan and I would get right back to work and set out to show our book around Auckland to the Creative...
8 tags
The Writing Rules or, The Only Commandments I...
The job I hold currently at Lucideas, I took from someone else.
I say take, I mean offered. My copywriter friend, Alan, was working here before me and decided to move on. So he called me up in NZ and asked if I wanted to take over his job and three months later, I arrived in Kuala Lumpur.
I was clearing Alan’s desk and making it my own when I came across a little gem Blu-Tacked to the...
12 tags
WatchThe Jack Daniel’s Virtual World Tour.
I was one of the copywriters for this project when I was back in New Zealand last year. Easily the most fun I’ve had while in advertising to date. Working hard and laughing hard. JWT Auckland is a great agency to be a part of. A few of them have very cool Tumblr accounts: Pete Ogden, Executive Creative Director
Sam Schrey, Interactive Art...
5 tags
Thinking Ahead or, How Luck Saved Me From Failure...
The taxi drivers of Kuala Lumpur are something else.
They’re sneaky individuals who will try anything to squeeze money out of you. Especially if you show the physical symptoms of a tourist.
They leave the meter running as you flick through the notes in your wallet so they can snag that extra 10 sen from you, they barter the fare with you while a sign that reads ‘HAGGLING IS...
June 2011
3 posts
9 tags
Evolving or, ZOMG We're Just Like Pokemon!
When I was a kid not too long ago, I feel in love with a game called Pokemon. Many of you may have as well.
God, I loved that game. I was obsessed. What was not to love? Collecting lots of little monsters, battling, leveling up, evolving. Even 20-odd versions later, the game is still cool.
I remember the twang of excitement I’d get when my Pokemon reached a certain level and...
10 tags
Reserve or, Looking At Your Child With...
Iz Mady is the name of one of the most talented designers I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. He is the Head of Design and Art Direction at Lucideas.
He is a mark of true passion for the work. He gets good art direction and design and pushes until it looks like a piece of creative so sexy you want to buy it a drink.
Yet, I’ve never, in the time I’ve worked here, seen...
7 tags
“Find good references. Then beat them.”
– Iz Mady, the Head of Design at Lucideas said this once to the art director and designer I work with. Although this was meant for design at the time, it does work for practically anything.
I guess it’s the reason a lot of us go trawling through the award annuals for inspiration. Which is all...
May 2011
7 posts
bonnie-cate asked: Thank you so much for your answer!
I have already started looking up the books on Amazon! :)
I have already started looking up the books on Amazon! :)
6 tags
bonnie-cate asked: I am a Marketing Major, but in a Business Administration school.
There are not a lot of Marketing Classes geared toward the creative side at my school.
Do you have any suggestions for me to gain experience in the field before I jump head first into an internship?
There are not a lot of Marketing Classes geared toward the creative side at my school.
Do you have any suggestions for me to gain experience in the field before I jump head first into an internship?
aryjoecreatives asked: Heya,
I've lost my shadow ...
Would you please follow me ? :P
I've lost my shadow ...
Would you please follow me ? :P
8 tags
The Gospel According To Dan or, Twenty-Two Tips...
Over time, younger ad kids coming out of university have talked to me about getting an internship. Some have asked for tips and other times I’m thrown my two cents at them like a passerby to a man in the street juggling hackie sacks.
Either which way, during my time studying and working I’ve picked up a few tips and walkthroughs that I think can be very helpful to the clueless...
8 tags
Failure or, The Most Important Advice After 'Don't...
I was recently asked to give some advice to an ad student.
Now, I’ve been asked for advice before, as I’m sure you all have, but in the capacity as a close friend, older brother, casual know-it-all or person mistaken for a 40 year-old who’s passing his prime and full of life wisdom.
Not usually as a professional ad person.
I was more than happy to do it. If it’s one...
4 tags
one-hit-wonder asked: Well hey,
That was actually amazingly helpful. And really what I needed to hear.
Thank you very much.
That was actually amazingly helpful. And really what I needed to hear.
Thank you very much.
7 tags
one-hit-wonder asked: I was wondering if you had any advice for a someone studying advertising in school?
April 2011
11 posts
9 tags
7 tags
Being Heard or, How To Order The Best Roti Canai.
Last weekend, while we were on a shoot, the Art Director, the Designer and I went for lunch in Gasing.
I was told we were going to the best mamak (Muslim Indian) restaurant in town. Apparently people came from all over to eat here.
And sure enough, the place we went to was bustling. The tables were packed with locals and tourists alike. Green shirted waiters maneuvered swiftly and seamlessly...
2 tags
Turtorials for Photoshop
Under your illustration of Alice in Wonderland you asked if anyone knew of a good tutorial website so here’s one that I really like: http://www.youthedesigner.com/
If you go back to older pages you’ll find some really interesting/helpful photoshop tutorials, etc.
Hope that helps!
4 tags
14 tags
Judge An Ad School By Its Ads or, Getting Schooled...
Is that an eagle wearing a trencher? Christ…
My agency, Lucideas recently did some work for a new client, a local advertising school which had some God-awful stuff trying to cram 27 messages into one print ad.
My Creative Director, Zac Labang said that this was one of those blatant opportunities to do something cool and award-winning. I suppose you can’t ask for much better when the...