Should ad award schemes acknowledge ethics?
And if they do, how should this be measured? This is a surprisingly complex question, as our ad correspondent Ben Kay explains below, but not one that should necessarily be ignored
Is AI coming for clients?
Could the future client be artificial? Our advertising correspondent Ben Kay ponders an unexpected new dimension offered by AI
Can we prove creativity is effective?
All creatives are searching for a way to demonstrate that their work has a concrete business value. But does such a measurement really exist?
What adland can learn from 50 Cent
Stepping outside your cultural comfort zones can be a boon to your creativity says our ad correspondent Ben Kay, who has found himself surprisingly inspired by the teachings of the In da Club rapper
How to write a great advertising slogan
Here, our advertising correspondent breaks down the methodology for creating a great slogan, by examining some of the iconic endlines of the past. But is there really a formula for brilliant creative work?
Working at warp speed
Rapid change is now a standard, and trying to keep up with the latest developments – for both yourself and your clients – can be dizzying. But creatives shouldn’t despair, says our ad correspondent Ben Kay
What would David Abbott do?
David Abbott may have retired from advertising in 1998, but fresh from producing a new podcast series about the legendary adman, Ben Kay explains why his work is as relevant today as it ever was
Why ad agencies need to up their game on the climate crisis
Well-intentioned ads featuring scenes of disaster are not enough to change people’s minds. The industry needs to do a better job on climate change, says Ben Kay
Will Netflix spark a rebirth in great ads?
Netflix has recently announced that it will offer a lower-priced subscription featuring advertising. Here, Ben Kay explores what opportunities it might offer the ad industry
The return of Cannes Lions
Next week marks the first Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity since 2019. Our ad correspondent, Ben Kay, ponders what might be different this time around
Why hasn’t digital technology led to better ads?
The access to information, ideas and inspiration that advertising creatives have today is mind-boggling. Yet it hasn’t necessarily made ads better. Ben Kay examines the reasons why
How damaging is the advertising pitch process?
While many ad industry practices have evolved over the years, the pitching process remains a long hours, high stakes exercise. Here, Ben Kay examines the insidious effect it has on agencies, from burnout to ageism