Aspiring CDs graduate from AWARD’s Emerging Creative Directors Residential course in Sydney
Fifteen of Australia’s aspiring creative directors completed AWARD’s inaugural Emerging Creative Directors Residential course last night.
Chaired and curated by BMF creative founder, advertising legend and industry trailblazer, Warren Brown, the course is the industry’s only custom-designed residential for senior creatives looking to transition into leadership roles.
Says Brown: “I spent over 30 years bumbling around in the dark trying to figure out what to do. With all that experience I had, I thought I should tell someone about it; all the stuff no-one thinks about and understanding how many plates you’ve got spinning as a creative director.”
Co-chaired by J.Walter Thompson’s ECD Simon Langley, Rumble’s creative partner Nancy Hartley and The Monkeys’ founding partner and ECD Scott Nowell, the course also featured DDB’s CCO Ben Welsh, TBWA’s COO Adrian Paul, J.Walter Thompson’s executive planning director Angela Morris, Clerehan CEO Esther Clerehan, Special Group’s founding partner and CEO Lindsey Evans, Jungle’s MD Jason Burrows, Lion’s sales director Andrew Coates, The Monkeys’ executive planning director Fabio Buresti, WPP AUNZ’s CSO Rose Herceg, Revolver’s MD Michael Ritchie and West Eighty Second’s MP Chrissy Blackburn.
Says Brown: “I brought together all the people I trusted and valued to impart their knowledge, share their journey and wealth of experience; to provide more clarity, more direction and to expedite the group’s pathways to becoming creative directors.”
Says Tony Hale, CEO, The Communications Council: “The significant step change required to become a creative director can’t be underestimated as it requires a completely new skill set. Until now there has been little to no formal training or specific qualifications available to ensure future creative directors are match fit. AWARD School is our industry’s most respected and valued professional development programme for creatives and the calibre of those contributing to our first Emerging Creative Directors Residential is a reflection of AWARD’s pivotal role in developing our next generation of creative talent.”
Adds Brown: “Being a CD is one of the loneliest jobs in the industry. I hope the group keeps in touch and supports each other to build a stronger, better creative community because it’s what we desperately need.”
The Emerging Creative Directors Residential is proudly presented by AWARD; Australia’s longest-standing and most respected professional development program for creatives.
13 Comments
Such a pity this wasn’t around when I was at Saatchis in 2001.
DANTIE AND DAVE YIPEEW!
It’s time David and Dantie started their own agency.
They could call it ‘Dave and Dantie’ – or DADie for short.
It would have been nice to have names to go along with the faces. Especially for the (I assume) four gals. I’m sure Est took note though.
I hope the gist of the course was ‘don’t do it!’.
I’m constantly mystified why people want to give up everything they enjoy and are presumably good at (thinking of ideas, meeting interesting people, etc etc) to instead sit in meetings, be diplomatic to morons, not do ideas, and be judged by some faceless asshole overseas.
Apart from junior suit, it’s the worst job in advertising.
On the other hand, if you can fluke a few gongs or you have a nice line of patter and you are that way inclined, regional or worldwide CD is the best gig going.
You do nothing, can blame everyone else, get to pad your resume through scams then if you get sprung scamming feign shock and fire the people you ordered to do scams. You get paid heaps and are expected to spend half your time judging awards in exotic locations because your agency thinks its better for their profile for you to be seen judging than for you to actually do something.
And yes I am bitter.
I almost had such a gig a few years ago, only to be pipped at the post.
Grrr.
It’s a photo of CDs and not one of them is folding their arms and looking grumpy. Jeez guys, what on earth are you teaching them in this course?
@why?
…Too true.
Hello? I KNOW YOU
💀 💀 💀
Congratulations Warren and all those with you giving their best in the CD Graduates residential.
AWARD School has traveled a long way since its ambitious, optimistic start in March 1983. Since then it has inspired and encouraged so many who have gone on to greatness. The passion continues.
Here’s what aspiring creative directors need to know:
Being a CD is a completely different job to being a creative, creating ads.
Being a good creative is no guarantee that you’ve got what it takes to be a good CD.
Often a good CD is/was only an average creative.
They are completely different skills.
I was a good creative but a hopeless CD.
I was good at being critical, but not good at being encouraging or coaxing better work out of others. In my view, the work was either great or it was shit.
Now I’m merely a pundit, flinging shit from the sidelines.
That’s the easiest job of all, one I’m eminently qualified for, and very good at.
I agree with why, it’s a horribly unrewarding job and much worse than it used to be.
Suits will blame you if the work isn’t sold. Planners will blame you if the work is off brief. Creatives will blame you if their work isn’t good. Clients will blame you for their boss shouting at them. The MD will always eye you with suspicion.
Wonder why the majority of CD’s are over-stressed, over-worked and feel the need to do everyone elses job? There’s very little support from management and the extra $150k pa you’d otherwise earn is supposed to make up for it.
Very few leaders in this industry can fight for good work and the majority of them are not well liked.
Well Ray you always put a lot of effort into emerging talent and you know how rewarding that is so I guess we’re also the lucky ones, cheers mate, Warren.
Ah no! Get out. Get out now while you still have your sanity! 🙂