Can great ads come out of difficult times?
With recession and an ongoing pandemic, we are living in fearful times. But, argues our advertising correspondent Ben Kay, these pressures may just result in some outstanding creative work
How Abba and Beyoncé can help you write
Creative inspiration can come from many sources: sometimes it’s best to look far outside your field for new methods of working, writes CR’s ad correspondent Ben Kay
Ben Kay on life, the universe, and advertising
Our ad correspondent Ben Kay finds himself applying the theories of the Big Bang and Big Bounce to advertising and wonders if we’re about to embark on a period of major change
On the creative benefits of boundaries
We’re living in a time of extreme restriction, which is affecting our lives in all ways, including how we work and create. But while this might appear a negative, here our ad correspondent Ben Kay explains the positive benefits that boundaries can bring
Ben Kay on why context matters
With so many options for where your ad might sit today, it can be hard to predict the context of how the audience will see it. But, as Ben Kay points out, this info can be vital for how you make it
The big questions for advertising and creativity during and after coronavirus
The Covid-19 pandemic is throwing up an awful lot of questions for creatives. It may seem difficult to find the answers, but as Ben Kay points out in this column, maybe acknowledging all the questions is a good start in these difficult times
On the power of the advertising double whammy
Advertising often focuses on one of two things: a specific message about a product, or a wider piece of long-term branding. But, says Ben Kay, the holy grail comes when you can achieve both in one campaign
A rough set of rules for great advertising
All creative pursuits benefit from guidelines for best practice, if only so they can be broken. Here our advertising correspondent Ben Kay turns to his LinkedIn companions to help construct some for marketing
Predictions for a new decade: Ben Kay
To mark the start of the 2020s, we’ve asked a selection of our regular writers and columnists to offer up some predictions of what lies ahead for the creative industries. Here, our advertising correspondent Ben Kay hopes for a creative renaissance in marketing
Ben Kay on why you should start your own agency
Our advertising correspondent, Ben Kay, has recently launched his own agency, Invincible Unicorn. Here, he takes us through his experiences so far, both positive and negative
Remembering Paul Silburn
Paul Silburn, renowned copywriter and veteran of agencies including BBH, Leo Burnett, TBWA, and Saatchi & Saatchi, passed away last week. Here, colleague and friend Ben Kay reflects on his life and his work
Is democracy always good for creativity?
It has become fashionable for agencies and studios to offer everyone a chance to share their views on projects – but does this make for better creative work? Our advertising correspondent Ben Kay is skeptical