Year: 2016

Author: Louise Lazell

In a world where so much advertising is controlled by large corporations who can splash out lots of cash on high profile advertising campaigns to encourage you to buy their products, the ‘Citizens Advertising Takeover Service’ (CATS for short) wanted to do something different. CATS launched a Kickstarter campaign back in February 2016 to raise money to replace sixty-eight adverts in Clapham Common station with photos of cats. Not cat food, or veterinary care, just cats. Sounds ridiculous right? But they managed to get over 700 backers raising just over £23,000.

Author: Michael Grass

With the Luxury Packaging Awards set to once again dazzle at the Grosvenor House Hotel tonight in London, I’ve had luxury packaging a lot on my mind lately and thought the best way to channel this glossy stream of consciousness was to pour my thoughts into a blog. But rather than wax lyrical about the latest trends and innovations in this glamorous sector, I was inspired to ponder on a more fascinating concept: what is it that makes some packaging so iconic?

Author: Rianna Julian

Brazil has had to deal with a lot of negative press surrounding it being able to successfully deliver the Olympic and Paralympic games this year. With the Olympics now over and the Paralympics just about to commence, whatever you think about the games’ organisation overall, they do appear to have been especially successful in the area of sustainability.

Author: Cerys Traylor

The online retail bubble is far from being burst, with eCommerce being the fastest growing retail market in Europe, and us Brits projected to spend over 60 billion by the time Santa has come down the chimney this year.

Author: Lucy O’Dea

Working in the communications industry, we all acknowledge the benefits of online media and the opportunities it offers for the distribution and dissemination of information. However, it can be frustrating when all the attention turns to digital to the detriment of paper-based communication.

Author: Shireen Shurmer

Social and mainstream media were awash all weekend with shares of the video interviews with the O’Donovan brothers, the rowing duo from West Cork who clinched a silver medal, and stole the hearts, not only of their Irish supporters, but of Olympic watchers the world over.

Author: Lucy Williams

Ok, I admit it. The world of social media is incredible. It has opened up possibilities many of us could have only dreamed of, however, even this now ubiquitous method of communications does have its pitfalls.

Author: Louise Lazell

When looking at a drawing, painting or photograph, how often do you think to yourself: ‘I wonder what sort of paper they used for that?’ Not very often, I imagine. While studying for a Fine Art degree at university, it took me until my third year to actually consider how the paper I was using to draw on was impacting the final look and feel of my work.

Author: Charlotte Coombes

My last week of sixth form was swapped for a week of work experience at AD Communications. Having had a part time job already, I remember stubbornly asking ‘What more experience do I need?’, but my mum, a friend of Shireen’s, kindly asked if it was ok for me to spend a week at a PR agency. I went into the office having known zilch about PR and I can now leave knowing I’ve learnt a great deal more.

Author: Shireen Shurmer

‘Eat Well for Less’ has returned to UK TV screens, a programme which encourages British households to consider their spend on grocery shopping, break deeply rooted purchasing habits, cut food waste and reduce reliance on processed food over fresh produce cooked from scratch.

Author: Daniel Porter

“Being a good writer is 3% effort – 97% not getting distracted by the internet” – Anonymous

The quote above first came to my attention a few years ago when I was working in the book publishing industry. It was pasted into the email signature of an author whose book I was creating a marketing plan for and, though I’ve never managed to find out who said it first, I’ve always felt it had a real ring of truth about it.

Author: Michael Grass

“There’s an app for that”. It’s funny to think how one of the most popular phrases in contemporary lexicon would’ve meant zilch ten years ago. Yet, just a decade later, it’s astonishing just how much mobile applications have substantially empowered us in this digital age. Whether they’re used for matchmaking, hitching a ride, or flinging disgruntled avians at wobbly structures, it really does seem like there’s an app for everything these days. More importantly, many mobile apps effortlessly achieve something brands have been trying to do for years on end: they keep us connected.