The Cannes Young Lions competition searches for the best young talent in media, marketing and creative industries to represent Australia at the 2018 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
This year, teams from Bohemia, PHD, DDB, Blue449, Cummins&Partners and more have been revealed by APN Outdoor, official Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity representative in Australia, as the finalists for the 2018 Young Lions competition.
AdNews caught up with finalist Rosie Stone, a copywriter at indie agency Loud, to talk Cannes Lions, being a junior in the industry, and what the competition means to her.
Time in current role/time at the company?
Copywriter, around a year and a half.
How long have you been in the industry?
Five years as a creative, but I’ve been in the industry for about eight years.
What does being a Young Lions finalist mean to you?
It’s a fantastic opportunity and I feel really fortunate to have been given it. Young Lions gives you the chance to have a bit of fun and flex your creative muscles with fairly minimal constraints.
What are you most excited about seeing/doing at Cannes Lions?
I’m really excited to see the work and I’m actually pretty excited for our next 24-hour brief. The sleeplessness part of the experience isn’t super, but it’s an interesting way to give your brain a bit of a poke and see what’s creeping around in there.
What role do you think Cannes Lions plays in the industry?
I think Cannes plays an important role in pushing us all to go one further. Sometimes advertising can be a little soul-crushing, but the work you see at award shows like Cannes reminds you why you got into the industry in the first place.
What’s the best thing about the industry you work in?
Being paid to come up with ideas for a living. Sure, not everyone will like them and the ones you love might never see the light of day, but the fact I have a job that pays me to think creatively and bring those thoughts to life is pretty wonderful.
And the biggest challenge?
Getting brands to think like consumers. We need to make work that people want to be a part of.
Whose job have you set your sights on in the future?
ECD or Dog Psychic. Preferably some sort of hybrid role of the two.
My favourite advert is (and why):
Nike – Find Your Greatness: Jogger. It is simple and beautiful.
Tell us one thing people at work don’t know about you?
They probably know too much.
In five years' time I'll be:
Sitting at my desk, still doing what I love, while eating a biscuit.
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