Spikes Asia 2014 fosters up and coming talent through Young Spikes and student competitions

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-1.jpgSpikes Asia is once again offering young professionals and students the opportunity to make their mark within the industry.

Entrants from across the region will compete in the Young Spikes Integrated competition, sponsored by JWT, Young Spikes Media competition and, launching this year, the Young Spikes Digital Competition, while students throughout Asia Pacific can kick-start their careers in the Student Creative Award for Print, sponsored by Y&R.

The Young Spikes Integrated Competition, sponsored by JWT

Challenging participants from advertising and communication organisations to create an integrated campaign in response to a brief set by a charity or non-profit organisation, the Young Spikes Integrated competition brings teams of two in front of a panel of experts to present their campaigns.

Says Lo Sheung Yan, chairman of the JWT Asia Pacific and Worldwide Creative Councils: “We are excited to continue our partnership with Spikes for this competition, which aims to cultivate young talent in the region. JWT celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, and the pioneering spirit of the Young Spikes contestants, who will go on to play a key role in shaping the future of the ad industry, is perfectly in line with our own history and heritage.”

The Young Spikes Media Competition

Teams of two media specialists will compete in the Young Spikes Media competition to develop an innovative media strategy in just 48 hours. Participants aged 28 years and under, from media agencies or media owners, will respond to a brief presented by a charity or non-profit organisation. The name, objectives, strategies and target audience will be released to the competitors on Tuesday 23 September.

*New* The Young Spikes Digital Competition

Launching in 2014, with a focus on integrated social media campaigns, the Young Spikes Digital competition requires entrants to use social media as a platform to solve a client problem in a creative way. In pairs, competitors must present their creative insight, solutions and explanations of how the technology can solve the communication problem.

The Young Spikes Competitions will each be judged by their own juries with the winners being announced and presented with their trophies at the awards ceremony taking place on 26 September in Singapore. Each winner will receive a complimentary delegate pass to the 2015 festival.

The Student Creative Award for Print, sponsored by Y&R

Students participating in this year’s Student Creative Award for Print faced a brief from The Sovereign Art Foundation, a charity based in Hong Kong and relaunching in Singapore. The challenge, to create a print ad which will direct viewers to the website for further information, allows students to showcase and gain recognition for their talent as well as a chance to win a pass to Spikes Asia 2014.

Says Matthew Godfrey,  president of Y&R Asia: “We are excited to embark on this partnership and sponsor the Young Spikes competition, discovering the region’s young talent. It’s been a great few years for Y&R’s own young talent initiatives in Asia, with Young Lions wins for Australia and China at Cannes plus the Chimera Challenge; our 300-strong Zed Academy programme as well as our very successful Future Sparks competition. We are pleased to be supporting the bright talents who are the future of advertising in Asia.”

Further learning opportunities are available throughout the Spikes Asia festival, taking place at Suntec in Singapore from 23-26 September, through various academies and training programmes. More information and registration details can be found online at www.spikes.asia.