Spikes Asia 2013: Creative inspiration guide

Asia-Pacific’s most prestigious advertising festival returns to Singapore this year with a compelling three-day lineup of seminars, forums, and of course, awards presentations. A collaboration between Cannes Lions and Haymarket that is now in its fifth year, the Spikes Asia Festival of Creativity 2013 will take place at the Suntec International Convention and Exhibition Centre from 15 to 17 September.

In addition to the awards, the festival will be packed with top-level seminars and forums. Delegates will hear from speakers such as John Mescall, ECD of McCann Worldgroup Australia; Tham Khai Meng, worldwide chief creative officer and worldwide creative council chairman at Ogilvy & Mather (who is also jury president for the Film, Print, Outdoor, Radio and Integrated categories); Rei Inamoto, chief creative officer and vice-president of AKQA; and Adam Ferrier, global head of behavioural science and founding partner of Naked Communications, among numerous others.

A total of 10 forums will explore topics around three themes that are central to the industry: creative talent management, consumer insights and understanding people, and creativity in social media. Among the companies participating are Draftfcb, eYeka, iris, BBDO, Omnicom Group and Isobar. 

This year’s festival includes four academies for young industry professionals: the Young Creatives Academy (sponsored by Cheil Worldwide); the Young Marketers Academy (mentored by Joe Talcott, formerly chief creative for NewsLab, and sponsored by Dentsu); the Young Media Academy (led by outgoing CEO of ZenithOptimedia Phil Talbot); and the Young Account Executive Academy (led by John Wright, a lecturer at the University of Technology Sydney, and sponsored by McCann Worldgroup).

The festival will, of course, offer ample opportunity for networking. On the second evening (16 September), delegates are invited to drinks with five top Singapore agencies, including Bates CHI & Partners, JWT, Lowe, McCann Worldgroup and VivaKi. Notably, Bates CHI & Partners has taken the initiative to provide transport between venues in the form of an open-top double-decker party bus, in association with client Smirnoff.

Don't forget to download The Spikes Asia 2013 app for complete festival information and all of Campaign Asia-Pacific's coverage, including party photos.