Tag: D&AD

Celebrating Adaptability: Highlights from Day 3 of Goafest 2024

Mumbai: A fresh wave of inspiration swept through the gathering as the curtains rose on Day 3 of Goafest 2024. From thought-provoking knowledge seminars to captivating presentations, the day unfolded with a tapestry of learnings, experiences, creativity, and innovation, embodying the vibrant essence of adaptability. In keeping with the vibrancy of the fest, the day began with a supercharged performance by Harshdeep Kaur, an Indian playback singer, presented by Spotify and powered by B4U Music.

After the captivating performance, the stage was set for a Knowledge Seminar presented by Femina, titled Indian Women Harnessing the Power Of Identity. This panel discussion, curated by Femina, aimed to deconstruct the evolving concepts of identity and narrative among Indian women. Among the esteemed panellists were Shilpa Rao, a renowned Indian Playback Singer, Alankrita Shrivastava, a Filmmaker, Tamannaah Bhatia, Actor; and Prajakta Koli, also known as MostlySane, a leading Content Creator, Actor, and Climate Activist. Guiding the conversation is Ambika Muttoo, Editor-In-Chief of Femina.

In this intensive and informative session, the panellists delved into the complexities surrounding the changing ideas of identity, portrayal and narrative, particularly as they pertained to Indian women. In this discussion about the burgeoning digital landscape, Prajakta underscored the unparalleled opportunities available today, stating, “There has never been a better time to be a pioneer in the digital space.” Highlighting India’s dominant position, she proudly proclaimed, “We are the biggest digital economy.” She also shed light on the critical role of consistency on digital platforms, underscoring its magical impact on success. Reflecting on this conversation, Ambika Muttoo said, “Cliches come from the truth,” reinforcing the timeless relevance of well-worn phrases in capturing genuine insights.

Tamannaah, known for her versatility across various industries and mediums, shared her unique approach to her career. “I didn’t confine myself to any identity. I didn’t put my thoughts and opinions in the way of myself. I want to be a medium and I find a lot of strength in that surrender,” she explained, showcasing her adaptability and open-mindedness. When Ambika inquired about the path to becoming a brand, Tamannaah offered valuable advice drawn from her extensive experience. “If you want to be a brand, you must learn to give first; this is what I have learned from all the brands that I work with,” she stated, highlighting the importance of generosity and contribution in establishing a strong, personal brand.

Through insightful discussions and personal anecdotes, they explored the multifaceted dimensions of identity, shedding light on the challenges and triumphs women face in navigating societal expectations and embracing their authentic selves. The session served as a platform for dialogue and reflection, inspiring audiences to reevaluate perceptions and celebrate the diverse narratives that shaped the identity of Indian women in today’s world.

A yet another insightful Knowledge Seminar was presented by Britannia, titled Secrets of Longevity: Adapting our lifestyles to increase our ‘Healthspan’ with Dr Marcus RannJey – Founder and CEO, Human Edge alongside moderator – Anupriya Acharya, CEO, Publicis Groupe, South Asia. Dr Marcus Ranney, a renowned longevity physician, highlighted the paradox of modern healthcare. “We’re living 19 years longer than what we were in the 1950s owing to many factors; however, even though we’re living longer, the problem with that is that we’re living sicker,” he remarked, underscoring a growing concern in public health. He also delineated the evolution of medical practice from era 1.0 to the current 3.0. “We’re moving from medicine era 1.0, to 2.0 and now we’re entering medicine 3.0 – preventive, proactive, personalised and participatory,” he explained. This new era of medicine focuses on preventing illness before it starts, actively engaging individuals in their health decisions, and tailoring treatments to individual needs.

He also spoke about the emerging field of biohacking, offering practical advice on mitigating the adverse effects of blue light exposure and promoting overall well-being. Additionally, he highlighted the importance of physical activity, suggesting that walking around 8,000 steps daily is ideal for maintaining good health. Dr Ranney’s insights provide a compelling vision for the future of healthcare, one that is preventive, proactive, personalised and participatory. This session delved into the secrets of longevity, exploring ways to adapt lifestyles for a healthier and more fulfilling ‘Healthspan.’ Attendees were treated to insights on wellness practices and lifestyle adjustments from Dr Marcus Ranney, while Anupriya Acharya guided the conversation, facilitating a dialogue on the importance of holistic health and its implications for individuals and society alike.

Following that, attendees were treated to a keynote address by WhatsApp titled Do More With Conversations, delivered by Gaurav Jeet Singh, Head of Agency Business, India, at Meta. “One billion people message with businesses every week,” he noted, illustrating the massive scale of this communication trend. Recognising the potential for more meaningful engagement, he revealed that WhatsApp is actively working to enhance the interactivity of these business exchanges.

Efforts by WhatsApp, including driving value, leads, sales and customer engagement among others aim to transform simple messages into rich, interactive experiences, fostering better customer service and more dynamic business relationships. Mr Singh also reinforced his claim with numerous anecdotes and examples from various brands. As this platform continues to evolve, such advancements are poised to significantly impact how businesses connect with their customers, enhancing both efficiency and user experience.

Day 3 of Goafest 2024 also witnessed the WARC masterclass on The Anatomy of Effectiveness presented by Sujeet Kulkarni, apprising the attendees on the incorporation of effectiveness in work and life. He began by asking the audience about their idea of effectiveness, after which, he defined it as having two components: “Advertising that delivers on its objectives, and advertising that delivers commercial returns,” – the latter point being especially important today. As the global authority on marketing effectiveness, WARC has designed five building blocks of effectiveness. The first block is investing for growth, the second is balancing one’s spending, the third planning for reach, the fourth, is being creative, and the fifth building block is planning for recognition.

Thereafter, the attendees witnessed an enriching masterclass by WhatsApp on Meta Creative Shop x WhatsApp: Getting Creative with Conversations, presented by Varun Goswami. He emphasised how quality and creative content could create a greater impact in helping brands grow. With over 600 million users, WhatsApp undeniably offers significant potential for brands. He discussed the platform’s exciting creative and branding opportunities, focusing on multidimensional storytelling that extends beyond messaging. He highlighted several tools that WhatsApp and Meta use, such as the AI companion, personalised content, advertisements, reels, feeds, stories, and more. Varun also discussed the importance of making the user experience fun, interactive, and meaningful, ensuring that it feels more human and encourages users to return.

D&AD CEO Jo Jackson delivered a masterclass on Unpacking Brand Iconicity focusing on creating iconic brands and highlighting the rigorous standards of the D&AD awards, which attract 30,000 global entries. She emphasised D&AD’s commitment to nurturing talent through initiatives like D&AD New Blood and D&AD Shift, supporting creatives from underrepresented backgrounds. Jackson noted that 72% of 270 Shifters are now employed in creative roles, underscoring the “Win One, Teach One” mentorship ethos.

Jackson introduced ‘ownable iconicity’, where brands are identified solely through visual elements, demonstrated with a half-image activity featuring brands like McDonald’s and Oreo. Citing the Be Distinctive report, she stressed that only 15% of brand assets are truly distinctive. In 2025, $4.7 trillion will be spent on marketing, with 85% funding non-distinctive brand assets. The jury emphasised clarity in messaging for brand recognition, noting, “Iconicity is the key. To engage the audience, Jackson used QR codes to reveal the essence of brands like Lego and IKEA in three words, highlighting the importance of a brand’s essence in establishing its iconic status.

May 31, 2024
Adaptability in Action: Day 2 highlights from Goafest 2024

Mumbai: The second half of Day 2 had yet another Knowledge Seminar in store, presented by Rajasthan Patrika, titled A Story Of Adaptability: From the Silver Screen to the Mobile Screen with Zeenat Aman, Indian Film Actress and Moderator, RJ Anmol. The audience was treated to an insightful journey through the evolution of storytelling in the digital age, as Aman shared her experiences of transitioning from the silver screen to the mobile screen. Anmol posed a question to Zeenat Aman, recalling a time when no one was willing to play Dev Anand’s sister. He asked how she adapted from playing Janice to playing Rupa. Zeenat responded by emphasising the importance of believing in what you do and giving it your all.

Zeenat also reflected on her transition from the silver screen to social media. She started her social media journey a year ago, valuing her privacy after being thrust into the limelight during her heyday. “I was quite overwhelmed by the response I received on social media; it was unexpected!” she said. Notably, she achieved an engagement rate of 16.6% last year, surpassing Jennifer Aniston and Kareena Kapoor Khan. Zeenat also stressed the importance of honesty and being forthcoming. She spoke about the relevance of sharing thoughts and experiences that resonate with the times, noting that people appreciate listening to genuine stories. The session offered invaluable insights into the art of adaptability in the ever-changing entertainment landscape.

Following the Fireside Chat, the next Knowledge Seminar was presented by News 18 Network, titled Marketing Adaptability: Blending Traditional And New-Age Marketing For Brand Success, featuring a distinguished panel of industry specialists. Among the esteemed speakers were Chandan Mukherjee, Director & Executive Vice President at Nestle; Shubhranshu Singh, Chief Marketing Officer of Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles; Sukhleen Aneja, Chief Executive Officer of The Good Glamm Group; Sandeep Karwa, Vice President, Monetization at Flipkart; and Zairus Master, Chief Business Officer at Honasa Consumer Ltd. Conducting the discussion was Delshad Irani, Editor of Storyboard 18.

Zairus, through this conversation, addressed the prevalent issue of emerging brands being overly fixated on short-term goals, long-term goals and the apparent divide, stressing the importance of balancing short-term and long-term objectives. He emphasised the overarching goal of building brands and the necessity of acting swiftly to achieve business growth. “There is only one objective and action which is to create business,” he affirmed. Thereafter, Chandan underscored the importance of fundamental principles, such as understanding consumers and the brand and utilising various integrations to achieve objectives. He noted the evolving nature of brands in today’s dynamic landscape, highlighting their ability to redefine and stretch boundaries. Chandan also touched upon the rapid digital penetration and technological advancements, urging against drawing distinctions between traditional and modern approaches. Sukhleen, while addressing the audience said, “Fundamentally, if we have to grow, we have to keep adapting and manage the pace of change, while keeping our humility in check.”

In this informative session, the panel delved into the fusion of traditional and new-age marketing strategies for brand success. With a focus on adaptability in an ever-evolving market landscape, the speakers shared their insights on blending time-tested marketing approaches with innovative techniques to stay ahead of the curve. From leveraging digital platforms to harnessing the power of storytelling, the session provided attendees with actionable strategies to navigate the complexities of modern marketing and drive meaningful impact for their brands.

It was then time to rock and roll with Advertising Rocks!; presented by Mastiii and powered by MIQ. Advertising Rocks is a one-of-a-kind musical contest that provides a platform for numerous members of the advertising, media and marketing fraternity to showcase their talents and rock the stage. Stealing the show in first place in the Solo – Indian and Solo – International category were Nishant Patil from Logicserve Digital Pvt. Ltd., and Bodhisattwa Banerjee from VML India, respectively.

The second half of Day 2 of Goafest 2024 began with an informative masterclass by Flipkart Ads, on the topic Flipkart IRIS: Winning the e-commerce game with deep analytics. Khushagra introduced the “new hero and friend in the market” – Flipkart IRIS (Insights and Research Intelligence System). His colleague Saksham continued the masterclass, stating that Flipkart IRIS essentially elaborates the marketing funnel, and can process petabytes of data weekly. One of its salient features is its homepage, which gives an overview of a brand’s performance, vis-à-vis leaders as well as competitors. This masterclass left the attendees with constructive insights into achieving success in the e-commerce market today with the help of Flipkart IRIS.

Following this, a masterclass by Spotify, presented by Shraddha Shetty, provided attendees with invaluable knowledge on Unlocking Spotify: Innovation Beyond Audio, revealing that Spotify is more than just an audio platform. She highlighted its highly engaging and immersive environment, making it ideal for brand advertising. Shraddha emphasised the importance of compelling storytelling, especially given the short attention spans of audiences. She concluded by stressing the future of Spotify as a blend of sound and sight, encouraging brands to focus on imagination, human-like communication, and contextual relevance.

The day concluded with a D&AD masterclass where Paul Drake, introduced ‘Win One, Teach One’ at the Trend Immersion Workshop, which emphasised on nurturing new talent in the creative industry through initiatives like D&AD New Blood and D&AD Shift. Notably, 270 Shifters have completed the program, with 72% now employed in creative roles across sectors. Drake explored trends like ‘Pay It Forward’, ‘Open Source Casting’, and ‘Ownable Iconicity’, highlighting the ‘Awe Economy’ and extreme responses as key drivers. He quoted Arthur Schopenhauer on stress innovative thinking and discussed distinguishing between trends and fads, showcasing examples like Pokemon Go and Fortnite. Participants engaged in interactive activities and viewed videos like Pharrell Williams’ ‘Cash In Cash Out’ to learn about trend applications. The workshop emphasised humour, awe, and authenticity while prioritising the product. Overall, it emphasised innovative thinking and strategic foresight in navigating trends within the creative industry.

May 31, 2024
L&K Saatchi & Saatchi appoints Balakrishna Gajelli as executive creative director

Mumbai: L&K Saatchi & Saatchi, part of Publicis Groupe India, has appointed Balakrishna Gajelli as its executive creative director. He will be based in the agency’s Mumbai office and report to L&K Saatchi & Saatchi’s CCO Kartik Smetacek.

With over 17 years of experience encompassing art, design, branding & creative direction in advertising, Gajelli has crafted creative communications for renowned brands such as P&G, VISA, Bumble, Johnson’s Baby, Pillsbury, Amul, Tata Salt, Tata Indicom, Idea Mobile, ITC Foods, Crompton, and many others.

His outstanding contributions and wide-ranging expertise in the advertising and marketing field earned him a place among top 5 creative directors globally in The Big Won report for 2016. Additionally, he has been recognized as the #1 Hottest Creative in India by the Campaign Brief Asia Creative Ranking. Previously, Bala has worked with FCB Ulka, BBDO India and Leo Burnett India.

Commenting on his appointment, Smetaceki said, “This will be the second time I’m working with Bala. He’s a solid thinker, a talented designer and a trustworthy individual. In recent years, he’s also gained a lot of experience with non-traditional work, working on some on India’s most awarded campaigns. It’s fantastic to have him be part of our team.”

Gajelli added, “I have great respect for L&K Saatchi & Saatchi’s creative, authentic, and brand centric approach so I am thrilled to be part of this organisation. It’s great to work with Kartik again, and the agency’s vibrant culture and uplifting environment are plus points. I’m enthusiastic about becoming a valued member of this team and family, contributing to an exhilarating new phase for L&K Saatchi & Saatchi, and nurturing my professional development. I eagerly anticipate leveraging the insights gained from my previous stints and experiences to craft meaningful and innovative advertising and marketing solutions for our clients.”

Bala’s work has won the highest honours at Cannes Lions, Cannes Lions, D&AD, One Show, LIA, WARC, New York Festival, AdFest, SpikesAsia, APAC Effies & Abbys.

January 31, 2024
ICW wraps Portfolio Evening 2023 with 96 participants over two days

Mumbai: To provide women and non-binary creatives a platform for visibility in the Indian advertising and design industry, Indian Creative Women (ICW) partnered with DDB Mudra Group and D&AD for the fourth edition of Portfolio Evening, sponsored by McDonald’s. Held on 7 December (virtual) and 8 December (Mumbai) the event saw participation from 96 women and non-binary creatives from design, UI/UX, writing, animation and other diverse backgrounds. The panel comprised of 39 jurors from creative, media and digital agencies along with marketing leaders from the industry.

The in-person event kickstarted with an inspiring opening address from D&AD CEO Jo Jackson and Rahul Mathew, DDB Mudra Group CCO Rahul Mathew. Following this, participants started engaging in brief one-on-one sessions with multiple jurors over the course of two rounds showcasing the best of their work, receiving feedback and insights from the brilliant creative minds. Pallavi emerged as the winner at Portfolio Evening, Mumbai while Nidhi Shah won the virtual Portfolio Evening. They’ve both earned themselves a chance to an all-expense paid trip to the D&AD Festival in London in March 2024.

Student art director and winner of Portfolio Evening – Mumbai, Pallavi commented, “I heard about Indian Creative Women for the first time in the first month of ad school. And just the thought of a female and non-binary centric initiative was so exciting to me that I was ready to participate when the time was right. Fast forward to a year and here we are, and it feels absolutely surreal!

Just the fact that I got to share the space with so many fellow female and non-binary creatives for the evening was a huge privilege, to see them shine and share their work. The energy was contagious!

Many of the faces of Indian Creative Women are women that I admire and look up to, so just to have the opportunity to interact with them and share our stories was definitely an experience I’ll cherish forever. Hopefully, this push by Indian Creative Women will enable me as a female creative to help give a platform to other female and non-binary creatives in the future.”

Advertising student and winner of the virtual Portfolio Evening Nidhi Shah said, “As someone who has never been in front of industry leaders, this was already a surreal chance to present my work to them! But winning it as well? I’m still pinching myself if this is real! Thank you, Indian Creative Women, for organising this and for helping foster the creative women’s community!”

December 13, 2023
4th Indian Creative Women Portfolio Evening 2023 is back!

Mumbai: To provide women and non-binary creatives a platform for visibility in the Indian advertising and design industry, Indian Creative Women (ICW) has partnered with DDB Mudra Group and D&AD for the fourth edition of Portfolio Evening, sponsored by McDonald’s.

The event aims to create a diverse creative leadership pipeline in the country and will provide an exclusive opportunity for applicants to have their portfolios reviewed by a panel of senior creative talent from the industry. Two winners will earn an all-expense paid trip to the D&AD Festival in London.

Call for portfolios is now open with the virtual event scheduled for Thursday, 7 December 2023 and the in-person event is slotted for Friday, 8 December 2023 at the Omnicom House, Mumbai. Application deadline is Monday, 4 December 2023.

Some of the eminent jurors for this year include FCB India CCO Swati Bhattacharya, Ogilvy India CCO Harshad Rajadhyaksha, Ladyfinger CCO & CEO Tista Sen, PG Aditya, CCO Talented, Clemenger BBDO senior art director Huei Yin Wong, Amazon sr creative Melbourne & New York Palak Kapadia.

With limited seats on a first-come-first-serve basis, the event is open to all creatives with an average experience of 0-6 years, including students and freelancers. Applicants who have taken a career break are also encouraged to apply.

Indian Creative Women founder Sakshi Choudhary shared her thoughts, “Despite the growing focus on DEI in the industry, there’s still not much action on ground. Indian Creative Women is committed to making the Indian ad & design industry more diverse through actionable solutions. Portfolio Evening, supported by D&AD, our local long- standing partner DDB Mudra Group, and sponsored by McDonald’s, serves as a key initiative to nurture a pipeline of strong female talent. It’s time our industry accepted the influence women bring to consumers, brands and the business of creativity.”

Speaking on the sponsorship, McDonald’s India managing director Rajeev Ranjan said, “As a proud advocate of creativity and diversity at workplace, I am immensely thrilled to witness the transformative journey that Indian Creative Women (ICW) is forging in the advertising and design landscape. At McDonald’s India, we value the pivotal role women play in improving the quality of business outcomes not only by bringing in diverse perspectives and brilliantly executing unconventional breakthrough ideas but also by leveraging and shaping consumer trends and narratives. Women today represent a significant economic force. The success of our communities in many ways depend on the success of our women associates. The ICW Portfolio Evening is a testament to the brilliance and untapped potential of female creatives across India. We are honored to support ICW in celebrating and elevating the voices of women who are the architects of tomorrow’s most compelling stories and campaigns.”

McDonald’s India CMO Arvind R.P. said, “At McDonald’s India, we actively foster an inclusive environment, where diversity is embraced as an advantage. The power of diversity and inclusion is especially vital when it comes to fuelling creativity and innovation. In light of this, we are committed to supporting initiatives like ICW that are working to create a more inclusive and equitable advertising industry. This is a unique opportunity for talented women to learn from and make a difference in the creative industry, and we are happy to be a part of this initiative.”

DDB Mudra Group CCO Rahul Mathew shared his thoughts “We’re excited to partner ICW for yet another edition of Portfolio Evening. This is an important initiative to help the industry move forward. And to have D&AD and McDonald’s join us in this journey makes this edition of the Portfolio Evening, bigger than ever.”

November 29, 2023
Design maestro Dick Powell on reimagining design and never giving up

Mumbai: Since the last in-person Designyatra in 2019, the world has spun on its head.

The pandemic prompted a re-evaluation of not just how we work, but the kind of work we’re creating as well. With massive shifts in nearly every aspect of life, it triggered the need for new design narratives to match the flux of life. We had to reimagine how we engage and communicate with everything from brands and business to art, entertainment, and activism. Mindsets changed. And so did the tools available to us. It was time for a reset.

A reset. It’s not just about starting over; it’s about reimagining, realigning, and redrafting some of the rules. It’s about rethinking conventions, challenging norms, and creating fresh narratives. All to remain relevant.

Indiantelevision.com caught up with Dick Powell on the sidelines of the Kyoorius Design Yatra 2023.

Dick Powell, co-founder of Seymourpowell, a top-notch design company has almost 40 years of experience. Recently Powell’s team designed the inside of Virgin Galatic’s spaceship.

He is a big supporter of creative folks shaping our future, spending a decade as chairman at D&AD and serving on boards like the Design Council and Samsung’s International Design Advisory Board.

On elaborating on the topic of design being more than just aesthetics

If you ask anybody in the street, what design is, they would tell you that it’s about aesthetics, form, color, shape, and the soft, emotional aspects of things. But for me, it’s also about making things better and we all have a duty to make things better. So fundamentally, when we’re creating new products and services, our primary focus should be improving the lives of people; there’s always a customer. Design is not art; it’s not about self-expression, it’s a commercial act. The companies that we work for have to make money from what we do, better for the world, We strive for sustainability in sourcing, design for repair, and ensure recyclability and reusability whenever possible. We’re not always successful at that, let’s be honest, but as somebody else yesterday said, you try and make small changes, you try and have the influence you can and that way, gradually, step by step, you can change things.

On the ‘reset’ in your life in the context of this year’s Designyatra theme being ‘Reset’

Well, I think I’m the odd person out here when it comes to reset, because during the pandemic, my business had to keep going because we had big projects for clients that couldn’t be stopped. There was no option to drop the ball during that period, so we were all working right through that. So I never had that feeling of stopping and starting again. It was just always, we were just continuing. So I didn’t have that reset feeling. Actually, a designer is resetting every time you start something new. Whether you’re designing a spaceship or a spinal insert, you begin with a clean slate because you don’t have prior knowledge in that specific area. This continuous renewal is a vital aspect of the profession, as it ensures you never cease to learn. The moment you stop learning, you cease to truly be a designer. To remain effective, you must maintain a spirit of exploration and ongoing learning.

On some of your memorable works

I believe one of our noteworthy innovations was the world’s first cordless kettle, a concept introduced at a time when people were content with manually unplugging kettles. This seemingly simple solution addressed a potential safety hazard, as cords could inadvertently end up in sinks, posing dangers. If we had sought public opinion at that time, many might not have recognized it as a problem. It’s a product that resolved an issue most individuals hadn’t even realized they had. If I had received royalties for that idea, I’d probably be sailing on a yacht in Monaco Harbor right now. This is one of the projects that people associate with us. More recently, we gained recognition for designing the interior, seats, and overall experience for Virgin Galactic’s Spaceship. It’s a remarkable endeavor. These are the achievements that stand out for me. Although many everyday products may seem ordinary when they appear on high streets, they have been part of my mission. I recall my mother pointing out items on the high street, saying, “We did that, and we did that, and that too.” Enhancing everyday household items has always been a personal goal. The same principle applies to transportation – whether it’s designing the interior of a train or creating a motorcycle, the objective is clear: make it better than its predecessors.

On the feeling of speaking at the Designyatra and addressing the best of minds in design in India

The first thing to be absolutely clear is, I love India and have always loved it. I’ve been here quite a lot. I’ve had the privilege of visiting India on numerous occasions, and when the opportunity arose to speak here, my eagerness was unquestionable. Over the years of my visits to India, I’ve witnessed a remarkable transformation in the field of design. The creative landscape has soared to new heights in terms of creative endeavors, activities, and education. It’s truly astonishing. We consider our Indian colleagues to be on par with designers from any part of the world, be it the United States or elsewhere. India hosts industries that are exceptionally productive, and they rely on the expertise of designers and creative minds to drive this progress. It’s a transformation I’ve observed. When engaging with people here, you’re essentially conversing with like-minded individuals who share a common passion for design and creativity. It’s that straightforward.

On your mantra to succeed in life and the message you’d like to convey to the audience reading and listening to you

Reflecting on what I mentioned earlier, the core principle I’ve upheld is the relentless pursuit of improvement. Life offers the opportunity to introduce change, but for me, it must inherently result in something better. While many designers find their work as a form of self-expression, akin to artists, and it’s a valid approach, my perspective leans heavily on ensuring functionality and effectiveness. Creating a chair that appears aesthetically pleasing but lacks stability when sat upon is simply unacceptable in my view. Making things better is my mantra, and I believe that striving to enhance life is a noble guiding principle.

On your advice to the young minds

Never give up! I think because it’s actually quite hard to be successful in the creative industries. There are a lot of people competing for places in the creative industries. It’s quite easy to just think it’s impossible, but you know, if you keep going, and you keep doing great things, and you keep trying to improve yourself, you can get there. So making yourself better, I suppose as well as making the world better is important. Never stop learning.

On the other reason for you to want to accept to come to Designyatra

We touched on the topic of ‘Reset’ earlier. The entire landscape of design conferences underwent a significant transformation due to the pandemic, with most of them vanishing. These conferences used to offer a wonderful chance to travel abroad, connect with people, and engage in discussions about such issues. With this event at Designyatra, it marks the first conference I’ve participated in since the pandemic. It presents a valuable opportunity to re-engage with the global community. While we often travel to various locations, there’s something uniquely energising about bringing together a diverse group of people in a single forum.

October 28, 2023
Kyoorius’ 2nd edition of Zee MELT is scheduled for August 2016

MUMBAI: Kyoorius is all set to host Zee MELT 2016 on 26 and 27 August with a brilliant line-up of speakers and panel discussions. Its first time in Delhi, the unique festival aims to bring together advertising, digital, marketing, emerging technologies, media and PR industry to celebrate creativity. MELT is a 2-day rollercoaster event conceptualized in partnership with Zee Entertainment, Hindustan Times, GroupM, and D&AD.

This year MELT 2016 will feature some of the most influential names in the business of creativity and marketing communications. It will have sessions curated for different interests, skill sets and audiences. From advertisers, industry experts such as Ted Mellström (Art Director, Forsman & Bodenfors, Sweden) to leading marketers like Per Nilsson (Corporate Communication & Marketing Director at Semcon, Sweden) and Mark van Iterson (Global Head of Design & Concept at Heineken, Amsterdam), the top professionals, will be presenting and engaging at the anchor events of melt. Some other speakers to watch out for are Tom Betts (Chief Data Officer, Financial Times), Andrew O’Dell (CEO & Co-Founder, Pereira & O’Dell), Karrelle Dixon (Director of Emerging markets, Wieden+Kennedy ) to name a few.

MELT 2016 will consist of a range of conferences, seminars, exhibitions, showcases, workshops and networking sessions for delegates from across marketing and communication genres by industry experts, catering to all experience levels. The organizers are expecting more than 2000 creative, marketing people will convene to discuss, inspire and learn through sharing and interaction.

The stimulating line-up of speakers and the agenda for the second edition of ZEE MELT 2016, is ready to be browsed through at Readytomelt.com, a dedicated website for the festival. This website boasts of a full line up of speakers from all over the world, spanning a variety of events throughout the 2 days.

The content for MELT 2016 is divided across four key pillars i.e. Learning, Showcase and Gallery, Networking and Celebration. Each of these pillars will be driven by content partners and participating brands at MELT 2016.

Commenting on the line up, Kyoorius CEO and founder Rajesh Kejriwal said, “The aim of MELT 2016 is to spoil its attendees with choice of multiple sessions that not only excites and informs but also engages them. What sets this edition apart are the best speakers and presenters from the industry with the addition of experience zones and workshops. We want our partners and all attendees to get the most out of their time at MELT 2016.”

All delegates can sign up for individual events which can be bookmarked. Zee MELT 2016 welcomes everyone to create their own itinerary for each day in accordance to their predilection.

August 2, 2016
Kyoorius’ 2nd edition of Zee MELT is scheduled for August 2016

MUMBAI: Kyoorius is all set to host Zee MELT 2016 on 26 and 27 August with a brilliant line-up of speakers and panel discussions. Its first time in Delhi, the unique festival aims to bring together advertising, digital, marketing, emerging technologies, media and PR industry to celebrate creativity. MELT is a 2-day rollercoaster event conceptualized in partnership with Zee Entertainment, Hindustan Times, GroupM, and D&AD.

This year MELT 2016 will feature some of the most influential names in the business of creativity and marketing communications. It will have sessions curated for different interests, skill sets and audiences. From advertisers, industry experts such as Ted Mellström (Art Director, Forsman & Bodenfors, Sweden) to leading marketers like Per Nilsson (Corporate Communication & Marketing Director at Semcon, Sweden) and Mark van Iterson (Global Head of Design & Concept at Heineken, Amsterdam), the top professionals, will be presenting and engaging at the anchor events of melt. Some other speakers to watch out for are Tom Betts (Chief Data Officer, Financial Times), Andrew O’Dell (CEO & Co-Founder, Pereira & O’Dell), Karrelle Dixon (Director of Emerging markets, Wieden+Kennedy ) to name a few.

MELT 2016 will consist of a range of conferences, seminars, exhibitions, showcases, workshops and networking sessions for delegates from across marketing and communication genres by industry experts, catering to all experience levels. The organizers are expecting more than 2000 creative, marketing people will convene to discuss, inspire and learn through sharing and interaction.

The stimulating line-up of speakers and the agenda for the second edition of ZEE MELT 2016, is ready to be browsed through at Readytomelt.com, a dedicated website for the festival. This website boasts of a full line up of speakers from all over the world, spanning a variety of events throughout the 2 days.

The content for MELT 2016 is divided across four key pillars i.e. Learning, Showcase and Gallery, Networking and Celebration. Each of these pillars will be driven by content partners and participating brands at MELT 2016.

Commenting on the line up, Kyoorius CEO and founder Rajesh Kejriwal said, “The aim of MELT 2016 is to spoil its attendees with choice of multiple sessions that not only excites and informs but also engages them. What sets this edition apart are the best speakers and presenters from the industry with the addition of experience zones and workshops. We want our partners and all attendees to get the most out of their time at MELT 2016.”

All delegates can sign up for individual events which can be bookmarked. Zee MELT 2016 welcomes everyone to create their own itinerary for each day in accordance to their predilection.

August 2, 2016
Kyoorius allows open jury for Kyoorius Creative Awards

MUMBAI: After two successful years, The Kyoorius Advertising and Digital Awards, which has been rebranded to Kyoorius Creative Awards in association with D&AD starting this year, has received a total of 1863 entries across the advertising, digital and media categories.

Figures shared by the company show that there is a jump of over 31 per cent from last year’s total of 1419 entries, while the number of participating agencies and corporates jumped 28 percent to 323 this year.

Moreover, organising body Kyoorius, the not for profit initiative by Transasia Fine Papers, has introduced Media Awards as part of the creative awards to highlight the innovation done across media in the country.

“I must compliment the Kyoorius team for keeping the media judging criteria in the similar space as the creatives, which makes the three criterias very sharp and clear,” said Media Jury member and Vizeum India MD Shripad Kulkarni, when attending one of the jury sessions which spanned between 4 to 7 May 2016. Jury members are expected to review, discuss and select the best of the best over the four-day jury session post which the organisers have also made arrangements for an open jury for the whole industry to come, review and discuss the entries.

While the growing number of participants and the inclusion of media as part of the creative award is a welcome move by the organising body, several within the jury feel that it will take a while for the industry to understand what the criteria for entering the awards is.

“Because it is the first year, I think the criteria has not been well understood by the participants. This entire space of creative media awards is very distinct, and therefore participants will need time to differentiate from the other awards they are used to entering. Rather than volume, it needs innovation and sharp focus. I guess next year we will see a dramatic shift in the type of entries,” Kulkarni added.

When asked if it made the job of the jury harder, Kulkarni added, “It definitely made it more tedious, but that is fine as all we had to do was to put more effort into understanding the entries.”

CEO Stephen Li who is also part of the media jury, candidly stated that he expected the quality to be higher. “There have been two or three interesting campaigns in the media jury entries we have seen so far, but there has been nothing that has jumped out and wowed us.” His word of caution for those who attempt to submit work on sensitive issues like women’s right, poverty and other social causes is to work harder on them and do the due justice to the subject. “As much as such topics pose one with opportunities, there is also a responsibility to do more compelling work,” Li pointed out.

The Kyoorius Creative Awards show will be held on 3 June, 2016 at The Dome (SVP Stadium), NSCI in Mumbai. The awards will be presented by Colors, powered by Hindustan Times and includes ABP News, Rishtey, Happy Finish & Kinetic as main partners.
The full list of Media, Advertising and Digital jury are as follows:

Apart from Media Awards:

Jury Foreman: Mike Florence, Head of Planning, PHD Media

Steven Kalifowitz, Senior Manager, Brand Strategy, Twitter, APAC

Kartik Sharma, Managing Director, Maxus

Stephen Li, CEO, OMD

Swati Bhattacharya, CCO, FCB Ulka

Pat Law, Founder, Goodstuphx

Shripad Kulkarni, Managing Director, India, Vizeum (A Dentsu Aegis Network Company)

Digital Awards:

Jury Foreman: Ralph Barnett, National Creative Director, SapientNitro

Corey Cruz, Head of Creatives, Digitas LBi

Gary Steele, Executive Creative Director, TBWA

Karl Gomes, Chief Fanatic, Fanatics

Shormistha Mukherjee, Co-Founder & Director, Flying Cursor Interactive

Gauri Joshi, Unit Creative Director (Digital), Lowe Lintas

Debashish Ghosh, CEO Zee Digital and Director at India Web Portal

Advertising Awards:

Jury Foreman: Mr. R. Balki, Group Chairman, Mullen Lowe Lintas Group

Agnello Dias, Co-Founder, Taproot

Nima Namchu, Chief Creative Officer, Havas Worldwide

Tista Sen, National Creative Director, J. Walter Thompson

Ajay Gahlaut, Executive Creative Director, Ogilvy

Scott McClelland, Executive Creative Director Asia-Pacific, Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH)

Daniel Comar, Regional Executive Creative Director, Geometry Global

Scott Dungate, Creative Director, Wieden+Kennedy (W&K)

Marco Bezerra, Executive Creative Director, J. Walter Thompsons Dubai

May 6, 2016
Kyoorius allows open jury for Kyoorius Creative Awards

MUMBAI: After two successful years, The Kyoorius Advertising and Digital Awards, which has been rebranded to Kyoorius Creative Awards in association with D&AD starting this year, has received a total of 1863 entries across the advertising, digital and media categories.

Figures shared by the company show that there is a jump of over 31 per cent from last year’s total of 1419 entries, while the number of participating agencies and corporates jumped 28 percent to 323 this year.

Moreover, organising body Kyoorius, the not for profit initiative by Transasia Fine Papers, has introduced Media Awards as part of the creative awards to highlight the innovation done across media in the country.

“I must compliment the Kyoorius team for keeping the media judging criteria in the similar space as the creatives, which makes the three criterias very sharp and clear,” said Media Jury member and Vizeum India MD Shripad Kulkarni, when attending one of the jury sessions which spanned between 4 to 7 May 2016. Jury members are expected to review, discuss and select the best of the best over the four-day jury session post which the organisers have also made arrangements for an open jury for the whole industry to come, review and discuss the entries.

While the growing number of participants and the inclusion of media as part of the creative award is a welcome move by the organising body, several within the jury feel that it will take a while for the industry to understand what the criteria for entering the awards is.

“Because it is the first year, I think the criteria has not been well understood by the participants. This entire space of creative media awards is very distinct, and therefore participants will need time to differentiate from the other awards they are used to entering. Rather than volume, it needs innovation and sharp focus. I guess next year we will see a dramatic shift in the type of entries,” Kulkarni added.

When asked if it made the job of the jury harder, Kulkarni added, “It definitely made it more tedious, but that is fine as all we had to do was to put more effort into understanding the entries.”

CEO Stephen Li who is also part of the media jury, candidly stated that he expected the quality to be higher. “There have been two or three interesting campaigns in the media jury entries we have seen so far, but there has been nothing that has jumped out and wowed us.” His word of caution for those who attempt to submit work on sensitive issues like women’s right, poverty and other social causes is to work harder on them and do the due justice to the subject. “As much as such topics pose one with opportunities, there is also a responsibility to do more compelling work,” Li pointed out.

The Kyoorius Creative Awards show will be held on 3 June, 2016 at The Dome (SVP Stadium), NSCI in Mumbai. The awards will be presented by Colors, powered by Hindustan Times and includes ABP News, Rishtey, Happy Finish & Kinetic as main partners.
The full list of Media, Advertising and Digital jury are as follows:

Apart from Media Awards:

Jury Foreman: Mike Florence, Head of Planning, PHD Media

Steven Kalifowitz, Senior Manager, Brand Strategy, Twitter, APAC

Kartik Sharma, Managing Director, Maxus

Stephen Li, CEO, OMD

Swati Bhattacharya, CCO, FCB Ulka

Pat Law, Founder, Goodstuphx

Shripad Kulkarni, Managing Director, India, Vizeum (A Dentsu Aegis Network Company)

Digital Awards:

Jury Foreman: Ralph Barnett, National Creative Director, SapientNitro

Corey Cruz, Head of Creatives, Digitas LBi

Gary Steele, Executive Creative Director, TBWA

Karl Gomes, Chief Fanatic, Fanatics

Shormistha Mukherjee, Co-Founder & Director, Flying Cursor Interactive

Gauri Joshi, Unit Creative Director (Digital), Lowe Lintas

Debashish Ghosh, CEO Zee Digital and Director at India Web Portal

Advertising Awards:

Jury Foreman: Mr. R. Balki, Group Chairman, Mullen Lowe Lintas Group

Agnello Dias, Co-Founder, Taproot

Nima Namchu, Chief Creative Officer, Havas Worldwide

Tista Sen, National Creative Director, J. Walter Thompson

Ajay Gahlaut, Executive Creative Director, Ogilvy

Scott McClelland, Executive Creative Director Asia-Pacific, Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH)

Daniel Comar, Regional Executive Creative Director, Geometry Global

Scott Dungate, Creative Director, Wieden+Kennedy (W&K)

Marco Bezerra, Executive Creative Director, J. Walter Thompsons Dubai

May 6, 2016