The Advertising For Good Focus

In this collection of interviews and features we speak to the people behind the world's best 'goodvertising' and those trying to make the space a little fairer for everyone.

Insight

The merits of mixing it up

There’s been a lot of chat about diversity in the advertising industry in recent years, but how much progress has been made and what still needs to be done? Kate Hollowood investigates.

Talent

Citizen Campaign - how Jim Moriarty reminds brands to be their best

With the current impulse for companies large and small to step up and attempt to improve the world we live in, Jamie Madge investigates how 72andSunny’s Director of Brand Citizenship makes sure that brand sincerity isn’t BS.

Talent

A change is as good as the rest

With 20 years’ experience persuading people to donate blood, vote, get fit and drive sober, 23red is now in demand by commercial brands. Co-founders Jane Asscher and Sean Kinmont tells shots about work that makes a difference and why ‘goodwashing’ simply won’t, well, wash any more...

Talent

On Reflection: Martin Stirling relives The Most Shocking Second A Day

The Partizan director looks back on his mould-breaking charity spot for Save the Children.

Craft

How CALM took over an ad break to for mental health awareness

Kicking off our Advertising For Good month-long focus, we look back at TV channel Dave's innovative campaign for CALM, encouraging men to reach out to friends who they feel may be suffering from mental health issues.

Insight

How to... be truly charitable

As an industry of storytellers, there is more value in giving our time and resource than donating cash to good causes, argues Gary Szabo, CEO, Smoke & Mirrors.

Insight

Aftershock: where next for charity advertising?

As we continue this month's exploration of Advertising for Good, Tim Cumming looks at how charity advertising has had to evolve. With the desensitising nature of social media and one of the three traditional tenets of charity work - shock - now less impactful, can the remaining two - empathy and fear - help raise the awareness and donations necessary?

Patagonia's new feature doc helps shine a light on 'the arrogance of Man'

Why CSR is not a trend but a new way of doing business

For purpose or profit? The ethical debate behind brand activism

Insight

How to... start a Brown Riot

Gradual progress on diversity is good but it’s time to accelerate the change, says Sydney ECD and Brown Riot podcast creator/host, Ant Melder.

Insight

British identity without Brexit: are brands kidding themselves?

Brands have always been quick to align themselves with ideals, evoking purpose through creativity. But with Brexit, are brands treading on eggshells and lacking conviction so that what they’re saying - just like the politicians - isn’t much of anything at all?

Insight

Navigating brands with a moral compass

Kim Ragan, Creative Director at Colenso BBDO, argues that the brands that wear their ethics on their sleeve are the brands that will prevail and asks; what's more important, the message or the money?

The 'Not TV' Focus

While reports of TVC’s death might be greatly exaggerated, there’s no denying that social and other ad spaces are jostling for supremacy. This focus explores exciting not-TV work, from experiential and OOH to the exciting world of ‘extended reality’, where AR, VR and mixed reality reside.

The Nostalgia Focus

Fings ain’t what they used to be... but do we wish they were? Are the complexities of modern, bot-driven life behind increased yearnings for yesteryear’s vinyl, dumb phones and vintage styles? Last year, we tackled the Future Focus; this year, we’re exploring the past and asking if advertising is driving or mirroring the revival of retro.

The Animation Focus

AI-driven tools, deepfakes, real-time 3D game engines and improvements in kinetic typography – a whole bunch of new technologies have been impacting the art of animation. Yet there’s a lot of love for simple stop-motion and old-school 2D drawings. This month, shots speaks to masters in the medium about trends in toonworld.

The Sustainability Focus

It’s the burning question – with humanity facing an existential threat more potent than war, famine or disease, how can an industry full of world-class communicators talk about the climate crisis? shots discusses low-carbon film production, greenwashing and the paradox of consumerism vs planetary survival.