LINCOLN UNIVERSITY LECTURE

This Tuesday I was back at Lincoln Univeristy, where I studied for my illustration degree. I was a guest lecturer with James Grover, an illustrator I met at a networking event (we later found out we studied the same course at the same university but he graduated two year after me) and we thought it would be a great idea to share our experiences with the current students. We got invited back to do a lecture a few months later. We names our talk 'Life After University with an Illustration Degree' and spoke to over 40 students.

I started the talk with 'What do I do?" and explained my role as an Art Director, which lead through to how I got to where I am today through my story. I mentioned how important networking is and how I knew I wanted to become an Art Director from a networking event that Blueskies (a creative recruitment company) arranged. I spoke about how I managed with the isolation of freelancing as an illustrator as this was a big concern of some of the students we spoke to before our talk. I then finished my section from 'An Art Director's Perspective' (a commissioner's perpective) showing some good example of illustrators contacting me through Direct Mail and emails and why I might commission them one day. I then set a brief at the end of my presentation to do an illustration for Palmer Hargreaves's office.

James then talked about his story after university and more on a illustration career (as he works a s a full time illustrator). We then handed out a resource sheet for the students with some helpful sites for them to follow up afterwards.

It was a successful talk which developed my presentation skills and it's always nice to pass on my knowledge to help people out. If you would like to find out more or like to see the presentation contact me and I can send it to you: henry@henrybillington.com

MY AD OF THE WEEK .08

I saw this ad on creative reviews newsletter earlier this week and liked the simple thought, which really comes through in the execution. If the execution wasn't put together how it is, it would let the whole idea down. With a locked off camera and a trickery in perspective. It's worth a watch:

THE MICROWAVE CHIP

The One Minute Brief team have teamed up with Chip Shop Awards for a new challenge: The Microwave Chip. You had a minute, to advertise the new Oscar Pistorius range from Nike. 

Here is my entry below with my creative partner Leon. I'll keep you updated with what happens.

MY AD OF THE WEEK .07

I found these press ads via welovead this week and I straight away thought how beautifully art directed they are. Using the urban environment around them to promote Jim Rickey (a shoe brand) in an interesting light. These are my favourite 3 from the campaign but you can see the rest of the campaign here. They could do some lovely ambient and stunts around this creative. I've already thought of a few ways straight away.

 

MY AD OF THE WEEK .06 VALENTINE'S DAY EDITION

I thought this ad from IKEA Australia deserved my themed ad of the week, with this amusing voucher for a free cot. It will be interesting to see how many people redeem their voucher. Delivery isn't included and if it's like the UK IKEA's you'll be queuing for the car park for hours, the baby will be born by the time you get home.

If there are any other Valentine's Day ads that you're enjoying this week, share them below.

MY AD OF THE WEEK .05

Monster haven't had an TV ad since 2008, but they've just come out with this cracker. It's beautifully shot with a lovely reveal, I don't want to spoil it for you.

MY AD OF THE WEEK .04 SUPER BOWL EDITION

It's that day in the year again, the biggest budget ads in the world are created with a most ridiculous media spend too.

To be honest I don't really like American Football, it's extremely stop start and I won't be staying up all night tonight to watch it. But from an advertising perspective you can see some lovely work (well it should be with a budget like that). This year the VW work is nice, but only nice, it's not as good as the last two years that set a benchmark. Snickers carries on with 'You're not you when you're hungry' that I've enjoyed and are very amusing, they have recruited Robin Williams as a football coach for this one, thumbs up. But my ad of the week goes too....

...Doritos. I saw this ad a few weeks ago when the 5 amateur directors winners shortlisted was announced (Doritos had asked amateur directors to 'Crash the Super Bowl' with the winner being played at the Super Bowl). It isn't a new idea of getting people to crowdsource the campaign and sometimes its worked better than others. But the shortlist was great and the winner is hilarious. After you've watched it, watch it back and spot the bits you might have missed the first time.

See the other 5 finalist. Would this one be your winner?