AWARD School reveals international ‘super jury’ to select winner of NYC trip to meet David Droga

CB Exclusive – The Australasian Writers and Art Directors Association (AWARD) has today announced an international ‘Super Jury’ to select the Top Student in the National AWARD School Competition, with the winner offered a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet David Droga in NYC.  

The national competition coincides with the 30th anniversary of a teenage David Droga, founder and creative chairman of renowned agency Droga5, winning Top Student at AWARD School in 1987.

To mark the occasion, AWARD School will fly the national winner to NYC to meet Droga and to compare their winning portfolios from 1987 and 2017.

Says Mike Spirkovski, AWARD chair: “AWARD has a long and proud history of nurturing and launching the careers of some of the industry’s most recognisable pioneers, including David Droga. We are delighted to celebrate the anniversary with such a fitting initiative and to present this exclusive opportunity to our AWARD School students.

“On behalf of the Committee, I would also like to extend our sincere gratitude to our Super Jury, comprising leading creatives from around the world, for offering their time and expertise.”

This year’s five state winners from Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane will have their books judged by the following AWARD School Super Judges:

Sarah Barclay, Global ECD, JWT New York (AWARD School Winner 1984)

Margaret Johnson, CCO, Goodby, Silverstein & Partners San Francisco

Linda Knight, ECD, TBWA\Chiat\Day Los Angeles (AWARD School 1992)

Nick Law, Vice Chairman & Global CCO, R/GA New York

James McGrath, Creative Chairman, Clemenger BBDO Melbourne

Ben Priest, Founder & Group CCO, adam&eveDDB London

Eric Quennoy, ECD, Wieden & Kennedy Amsterdam

Ted Royer, CCO, Droga5 New York

Kate Stanners, Chairwoman & Global CCO, Saatchi & Saatchi

Jureeporn Thaidumrong, Chairwoman/CCO, Grey Bangkok

The trip to NYC to meet David Droga has been sponsored by The Sweetshop and Clerehan Pty. Ltd.

Says Wilf Sweetland, managing partner, The Sweetshop: “This is an award jury and opportunity of epic scale. I am extremely proud to have The Sweetshop celebrate Droga’s 30th and to help facilitate such an amazing prize for the winner.”

Says Esther Clerehan, who proposed the NYC prize and has been instrumental in developing the idea: “This project has been an obsession of mine since David mentioned he still had his AWARD School book in a conversation last year in New York.

“It has fitted so neatly around the 30th anniversary of Droga’s AWARD School win and his recent elevation at Cannes with the Lion of St Mark award.”

Droga is Cannes Lions’ most awarded creative of all time, yet his 1987 AWARD School trophy is the only one he features alongside his 2017 Lion of St Mark award in his NYC office.

Incredibly, the 2017 AWARD School national winner will also be the only person in the last 30 years outside of Droga’s children to see the portfolio that landed Droga his big break at OMON.

All interstate winners will be flown to Sydney for the national announcement on Monday August 7, with the NYC trip scheduled for the week of September 25.

Full competition details, including dates, click here.