23 September 2009 - 11:21am| by | 4 comments

Hush launches Young Spark campaign for DMA

Hush launches Young Spark campaign for DMAHush launches Young Spark campaign for DMA

The quest to find the most outstanding new talent in direct marketing in the UK has begun with the launch of this year’s DMA Young Spark Award.

Now in its fifth year, the award is given to the most outstanding new talent from an agency, supplier or client company across digital, direct, interactive or mobile marketing. Nominees must have worked in the industry for less than five years.
 
The award was launched in Scotland in 2005 in memory of John Young, former WWAV Rapp Collins Edinburgh managing director, who died two years ago at the age of just 38. John was recognised as one of direct marketing’s foremost practitioners and the DMA was keen to honour his achievements with an award which encourages new talent and a new generation of direct marketers.
 
During his career as a direct marketer, John ran Wunderman in Amsterdam, was Joint MD of Claydon Heeley in London and set up CHJM’s Asian operation out of Beijing, before returning to Scotland to head up WWAV Rapp Collins in Edinburgh.
 
Created by Hush, the Young Spark 2009 campaign focuses on people who will one day become the ‘top dogs’. Ian White from Hush commented: “The imagery used has been designed to cut through the clutter whilst allowing a fun and edgy tone of voice to be introduced, with recipients being challenged to show the judges that their potential Young Sparks are ‘the mutt’s nuts’. The work looks to underline the importance of developing and celebrating talent in the direct marketing industry, whilst having fun – both of which were important to John.”
 
For further information and to download an entry form, go to: www.youngsparkaward.com

Entrants will be judged by a panel of experts including Chris Arnold, founder and director of Creative Orchestra; Gary Smith, partner at Hush; Maxine Reynolds, head of direct marketing, sales and legacies at Macmillan Cancer Support; and Chris Sherlock, marketing director at Equifax. The award, together with a prize fund of £1000, will then be presented on 13 November at the DMA Scotland Ball. As well as taking on the title of ‘Young Spark’, the winner will also benefit from the help of a top industry mentor who will provide invaluable advice and support for the entire year.

Comments

Anonymous (not verified)
23 Sep 2009 - 13:52
Anonymous's picture

Edgy tone of voice? Puntastic you mean!! Stinks like a wet dog.

B. Woodhouse

23 Sep 2009 - 14:17
alan_kittle's picture
48
comments

It's all too easy to take a pop at some "fun" copy but overall I think this is a strong concept. "Young pups" are going to get rarer in cash-strapped agencies over the coming year or so and they should be rewarded and encouraged all we can to stay in the industry.

It's also not easy to come up with a new treatment for a proposition that's not really changed since its creation and I think the guys at Hush have come up with a route that's not only joined up but different from it's predecessors.

Good luck to everyone involved in the Young Spark Awards this year and I hope the panel find some cracking talent to celebrate.

Anonymous (not verified)
23 Sep 2009 - 15:51
Anonymous's picture

Anon is right.
Its a real Hush Puppy...

Anonymous (not verified)
23 Sep 2009 - 16:23
Anonymous's picture

I like this work, it's a little bit of fun and it looks like the agency thats produced it recognise that, yes it's puntastic but that's obviously intentional and part of it's charm. It certainly got my attention when it arrived on my desk.

Throw the agency a bone guys!

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