These are the current issues of Fast Company and Strategy + Business. Now, either it's a slow newsmonth in business-wonk land or creativity is an important issue right now. And, well it is, HBR are always writing about the importance of creativity. Getting access to the right sort of creativity at the right time is clearly a huge issue for businesses everywhere.
Yet here in adland we seem determined to prove we're not a creative business at all. The IPA particularly seems determined to turn advertising into a regulated, predictable profession like any other. The IPA effectiveness awards plough on, but to what effect who knows? It seems that if anyone still needs to be convinced of the value of advertising then a few more awards aren't going to do it. And for everyone else, why are we still flogging this horse?
The one bit that it's worth paying agencies for - unpredictable, lateral ideas - seems to be the bit that the industry plays down in its ceaseless quest to be as 'accountable' as other industry supplier.
Oh, I dunno. I had a bit of a head of steam when I started this post, but now I'm not quite sure what point I'm making.
I guess it's this.
Business is crying out for creativity, for business partners who are different and interesting. Not like them. And the last 10 years of advertising industry thinking seems to have been about proving that we are just like them. We're just another big business. This seems counter-productive and short-sighted to me.
Does that make more sense?
When I joined the ad biz ten years ago, I thought it was the only place in the corporate world where I could survive. I thought it was a creative circus. Now, I know what a joke that notion was.
You are correct. The ad biz is big biz and its inhabitants are largely automatons concerned with keeping their bloated salaries intact at all costs. Taking a creative risk has no place in this type of staid environment.
Which is not to say there is no hope. There is hope. It exists on the fringe, as always. Blogs, for instance, provide some hope for what ails us. Of course, most agencies and marketers are ignoring blogs (and bloggers) completely at this point, but that will change.
Posted by: David Burn | November 30, 2004 at 12:32 AM
Speaking of which here's something from Fortune magazine about the value of a Fine Arts degree versus an MBA.
http://www.fortune.com/fortune/photoessay/0,18467,831820-3,00.html
Posted by: russell davies | December 13, 2004 at 02:18 PM
Hi Russell! I love your site. Intriguing. Interesting. Entertaining.
How are you and the family, anyhow??
Take care.
Posted by: Denise Colby | January 05, 2005 at 09:06 PM
hello Denise!
it's been a long time. Glad you like the site. We're good. How are you? I'll send you an email.
Posted by: russell | January 06, 2005 at 04:45 PM