Congratulations to Indie Amsterdam, formerly known as S-W-H, who won two Cannes Lions just a couple of weeks after their rebirth into the new agency.
The Bronze gongs were secured on the strength of work for Sensoor (Interactive Film) and Domino’s Pizza (Radio).
Click on the links to see the work:
Sensoor: Bronze for Interactive Film
Domino’s Pizza: Bronze for Radio Campaign
Posted on Tuesday, June 30th, 2009
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Where were you when you heard that Michael Jackson was dead?
Me, I had my toes curled in the Cannes sands, at the Shots party. This was Thursday evening of the Cannes Lions week. Noone believed it, until Paul Kemp-Robertson from Contagious got on his iPhone and checked the BBC website.
Back...
Sad moment. A lot of disbelief. Was it a ghoulish PR stunt to sell more concert tickets? Would it win a Cannes PR Lion in 2010? A cynical lot, ad types.
Next evening and things are a little more festive, a little more MJ-celebratory. Especially in the Gutter Bar at 3am where one Brit sported the best t-shirt of the night.
Åsk Dabitch from Adland couldn’t help but point out the glory of an ‘88 Bad tour.
Serendipitous packing or did he know something in advance? We’ll never know.
... and front
Posted on Tuesday, June 30th, 2009
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Truly inspiring in so many ways. Neuroanatomist Jill Bolte Taylor explains what it was like when she experienced a stroke. Part of the TED ‘Ideas Worth Spreading’ series.
Posted on Wednesday, June 17th, 2009
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Michael Jansen and Bas Korsten, co-founders of Selmore, have opened new commercial creativity agency, Nothing, from a cardboard office.
Michael Jansen and Bas Korsten, highly awarded ex-DDB Executive Creative Directors and co-founders of Selmore, have officially started Nothing this week.
Nothing (www.nothingamsterdam.com) is an Amsterdam-based, independent entrepreneurial agency that delivers innovation and commercial creativity for local and international clients out of a cardboard box. Literally. The Nothing office, built entirely of cardboard, was designed by internationally recognized designers Alrik Koudenburg (concept & art-direction) and Joost van Bleiswijk (design & production) following van Bleiswijk’s ‘No Screw, No Glue’ technique.
Michael Jansen said:
“Nothing is about the power of ideas, about how a single idea can transform nothing into something. Using a cheap throw-away material to build a unique and memorable work space, seemed a good way to materialize this thought.
”
Nothing’s goal is simple: turn consumers into brand advocates by any means to hand. This approach sees Jansen and Korsten creating meaningful brand experiences ranging from product innovation and store design, to employee training programmes and, yes, even TV campaigns.
Bas Korsten said:
“Technological innovation is developing at an amazing pace and so is the role of social persuasion, due to the wildfire growth of online social networks and blogs. At the same time traditional mass communication is being met with increased cynicism. This means that brand advocates are quickly becoming a brand’s most valuable asset”.
Alongside Nothing is ‘Nothing Ventured’, the company’s in-house business concepts development arm. Nothing Ventured sees the likes of architects, industrial- and 3D- designers and online specialists come together to make their ideas happen. Current projects include an experiential measurement product, a web-based travel platform, an international webshop for young fashion designers and even a new sport, with all the accompanying commercial opportunities. These initiatives can be brought to market both as stand-alone ventures or to directly benefit clients.
Australia-born Jansen (50) and Korsten (37) are one of the most successful creative teams in Europe, winning amongst others, the Eurobest Grand Prix and 11 Cannes Lions. They met in 1997 and became Executive Creative Directors (Board members) at DDB Amsterdam. They helped take the agency to ‘Agency of The Year’ status in 1999, 2001 and 2003 with pan-European clients including Volkswagen. In 2005 they co-founded Selmore with three partners and quickly gained a formidable list of clients including Unilever, Skoda Automobiles, Bavaria Brewery and Coca-Cola.
Posted on Saturday, June 13th, 2009
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Leading Dutch ad agency S-W-H announces its re-launch today as newly-focused independent creative agency, Indie. The re-brand comes after 11 years, during which time S-W-H has proven itself to be one of the most respected, award-winning and successful agencies in Amsterdam.
Indie (www.indie-amsterdam.com) is launched at a high point in S-W-H’s history, which was named Agency of The Year in the Netherlands in 2008, recognising S-W-H’s creative talent and progressive campaigns.
The name Indie points to an independent status and an independent attitude towards creative concepts, one which embraces change, new opportunities, creative talent and the power of ideas. By looking at the fundamentals of clients’ needs, Indie’s intention is to create brand platforms focusing on creative and effective solutions without being restricted to any media channel.
Managing Partner, Mark Aink says:
“First instincts can sometimes lead businesses to seek what they know and try to maintain stability despite changes occurring within their industry. It’s time for businesses, ours included, to realise that things aren’t changing but they’ve already changed. The changes that we have made over the years within S-W-H are manifested in the roots of Indie.”
Creative Director and Founding Partner of S-W-H, Lode Schaeffer, says:
“S-W-H was established in 1997. It doesn’t sound that long ago but, since then, we’ve seen exponential changes in the world around us, especially in the rise of new media. YouTube, camera-phones, TV on-demand, blogs, MP3, even Google didn’t exist back then, and now they are an everyday part of our lives. It’s a no-brainer that change has also occurred within our agency. Indie takes on board all of those changes and embraces them. We’re looking ahead to the not-yet-known.”
At the heart of Indie lies a belief in the power of independent thinking, of a collaborative hub approach which is driven by ideas. This mindset sees crucial functions and skills remaining in-house while a dynamic cast of external partnerships, with creative thought leaders in various disciplines, complete teams on a project-by-project basis.
Changes within the agency are already evident, with the appointment of three new partners – Anneke Schogt (Head of Account Services & Operations), Marcel Frensch (Creative Director) and Rogier Mahieu (Creative Director). The five-strong partnership is further supported with the arrival of Tim O’Kennedy, former MD at Weiden+Kennedy Amsterdam, as non-executive director.
Non-Executive Director, Tim O’Kennedy, adds:
“Let’s be clear – this is more than a name change or a new logo. The birth of Indie is in direct response to where we see the industry going. We’re getting ahead of the curve, leading the call for change in the way agencies partner with clients and conduct business. It’s a genuinely new day for a great agency.”
Indie’s new brand identity was created by The Stone Twins.
Comprising a core team of 42 individuals, Indie works on local and regional business for the likes of Nike, Domino’s Pizza, Belastingdienst, Bolletje, Eiffel, Leaf International (Truly), Sensoor, Simyo, Sportlife, Unive, and Wereld Hypotheek.
Check out the news on Brand Republic and Adformatie.
Posted on Friday, June 12th, 2009
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Impressive stuff. The TED talks do it again.
Posted on Friday, June 12th, 2009
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Why does this appeal to me so very much?
Posted on Tuesday, June 9th, 2009
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Grey Amsterdam has won the brief to launch new Sanoma Uitgevers title,
Pink Ribbon Magazine.
Pink Ribbon Magazine is the agency’s first charity client.
The launch campaign, which airs end of September and includes TV, radio and print work, intends to draw attention to breast cancer in an authentic, human, positive and optimistic way. 
Pink Ribbon Magazine is the magazine titled associated with the Pink Ribbon foundation, a worldwide concern which raises awareness for breast cancer, its prevention, early diagnosis and care.
Marlies Swart, Marketing Manager, Pink Ribbon Magazine, says:
“Breast cancer, and the battle against it, is something that unites all women, no matter who they are. Not only are all women potential sufferers, almost every woman knows somebody that has had, or is currently dealing with, breast cancer. In that sense, buying Pink Ribbon Magazine is a sign of solidarity. Grey Amsterdam gets that and we’re excited to be working with them.”
Posted on Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009
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At FinchFactor we’ve moved four flights up, to be exact.
Okay, so we don’t have a canal view - yet - but we are actually on a canal. The Herengracht.
FinchFactor has moved to the 4th floor of the beautiful Spaces building, Herengracht 124-128.
For those who don’t know, Spaces is a magnificent business environment which houses some of the most creatively focused smaller companies in Amsterdam. Like who? Nothing, Wave studios, Pink & Poodle, and City Savvy, to name a few. 
With a huge light atrium, lounge areas, meeting rooms, cafe and even shared hot-desking work spaces for the freelancers amongst us, there’s plenty of scope for a company to connect, flex its muscles, do business and grow.
Swing by for a coffee - the FinchFactor door is open. 
Posted on Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009
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Need some presentation skills training? Do your clients lack chutzpah in media interviews? Are you working with a management team who don’t know what it means to truly lead? You could do a lot worse than calling in bubworks. 
Carissa Bub trained as a psychologist, a news reporter and a master practitioner of NLP before setting up her coaching, training and consultancy business.
I’ve used her to great effect with creative industry clients, who have appreciated her professionalism, expertise and deep insight. She definitely knows her stuff, with a long list of A-list clients to prove it.
Bubworks also draws on a team of associates in order to work in 10 languages in as many countries.
Posted on Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009
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