Enriching Sri Lanka’s young ad minds the Kennedy way

A worker holds nutmegs at the Bio Foods factory. Pic by J. Weerasekera

“Making it hotter”, the first in a series of creative workshops scheduled as a run up to the annual advertising awards, Chillies 2008, was held recently as a joint initiative of the 4A’s (Accredited Association of Advertising Agencies) and the IAA (International Advertising Association).

Organisers said the workshop served as a spring board to raise the bar of creative excellence amongst Sri Lanka’s upcoming, young ad minds. It was conducted by Trevor Kennedy, Executive Creative Director, Leo Burnett Solutions Inc. A creative leader of repute, Kennedy has worked for the world’s best agencies; Lowe Howard Spink, AMV BBDO, Scholz. and won at the world’s best ad shows - Cannes, Clio, D&AD.

Kennedy’s interactive session was composed of a very focused repertoire of topics ranging from how to compete at a Global Award Ceremony, self evaluating the 7plus rating, identifying opportunities to utilize insight and ideas that are unique to our culture, resource utilization, exploiting print and radio categories as well as critical analysis of award winning creative material.
The audience consisted of a cross-section of young creative minds representing almost all of Sri Lanka’s leading advertising agencies, organisers said.