Jane Evans

The Creative Chemistry® Card Deck is here... Clearheads Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer Alex has taken what he's learnt over the past 20 years, the building blocks of storytelling and turned those lessons into a powerful set of tools that can help you find and tell your story. Storytelling is about forging connections, sparking connections and leaving a lasting impression on your audience. So whether you want to enhance your brand, engage your audience more effectively, or elevate your organisation's message, Creative Chemistry® can bring your story to life and make a lasting impression. #videoproduction #video #videography #filmmaking #filmmaker #cinematography #videographer #film #cinematographer #photography #filmproduction #behindthescenes #director #filmmakers #videomaker #production #tvcampaign #videomarketing #setlife #videoshoot #marketing #videoediting #videoedits #filming #music #camera #videos #cinema #cinematic #directorofphotography

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Transform your ideas into a fully funded deal. 🤝 suzanne alizart, Creative Business Affairs Consultant, will host an insightful masterclass tomorrow for our Autumn Cohort on our Create Growth Programme, which examines all aspects of business affairs for the creative industry.  Matching the right money to the right idea is key to success, so knowing what different types of funding mean for your concept is essential to striking the right deal.  Discover more about this session, link in the comments. #Funding #CreativeFunding #FundingSupport #GrowthProgramme #CreativeEast

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Some more brand book love sharing for you all this week, and this time it's the turn of Jacamo. About eight years ago I got handed this Brand Book. My thoughts on it now are still the same as when I first saw it, and one of those thoughts is... "Feck I wish I'd got the job to write this!" You have to understand the history of the brand to truly appreciate it. How it had gone from being pretty much a joke of a clothing brand to reinventing itself. Anyway, enjoy. If anyone wants the PDF of this or any of my other shares from my extensive tone of voice and brand book archive then feel free to ask. Design and words by LOVE. #brand #brandbook #advertising #marketing #copywriting

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Hipocrisy is the single thing, sold the most to the outside world as “Values”. This is an important reflection for entrepeneurs and professionals in the creative services industry, who are so often taken advantage of. Abuse is something we get used to. And we shouldn’t. We need to learn from those experiences so we can protect our creative spirit, our people and our organisations. #creative #marketing #business #wellbeing

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Back when I was lugging washing machines in and out of houses as a 17 year old, I never imagined I’d be where I am today: leading creative projects, building strategies, and helping brands grow But looking back, every one of those backbreaking jobs was teaching me a lesson... Humility builds character: Whether I was doing removals for Traveller Joe or cold calling with a dodgy phone script for BT, those tough jobs taught me to value every role in the chain. No job is beneath you if you’re learning from it. Grit beats talent every day: I didn’t walk into an office with a degree. In fact, I dont have any qualifications. I outworked most people because I knew the secret sauce: grit Perspective is everything: I’ve been rejected, doubted, and underestimated. I’ve had times when I thought, “Is this it? Am I stuck?” But each rejection, each setback, was setting me up for the next leap I went from carrying washing machines for pocket change to managing projects that shape brands. I wouldn’t change a thing. That grind was necessary. It made me who I am. So, here’s to the long, twisty, uphill road to success. The grind might feel endless, but it’s sharpening you for your next big move. ☝🏻

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⏳ Just 4 days left to make your voice heard! We're calling on all Black PR and comms professionals to share your experiences. Together with PRWeek UK and Opinium, our One Step Forward Two Steps Black survey aims to uncover the truth about inequities, celebrate successes and set a new standard for our industry. Back in 2020, nearly half of Black communication pros told us they’d never received an internal promotion. We want to know if things have changed. Are you being hired, recognized, and rewarded fairly? Your input is crucial to shaping meaningful recommendations for change. The survey is anonymous and takes just 6 minutes to complete. 🔗 Hit the link below to participate and help us pave the way for a more equitable future in PR and comms. 📅 Remember, the survey closes this Friday, 28th June 2024. Let's make a difference together! ✊🏾 https://lnkd.in/eM--X-Fs

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Back in 2020, nearly half of Black communication professionals reported never having received an internal promotion. That's shockingly dismaying! As a 100% BME-staffed agency, we encourage every Black PR professional to join the survey. Let's see what progress (hopefully) has been made, and most importantly, affect change!

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Since there seems to be a fair few new writers doing tone of voice work; I thought I'd share the love again of what is still one of my favourite freebies on tone. It was written and made available by THAT EXPLAINS THINGS LIMITED and ever since I first read it, it has become simply indispensable. In fact I'm using it today as I search for a voice for a new client. Anyway, if you've not yet read it. Enjoy. If you have read it. Enjoy again. #copywriting #toneofvoice #brand #advertising #marketing #brandvoice

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‘You can’t really measure the impact of PR’. I hear that said so often that sometimes even those of us working in the sector can be at risk of internalising that belief. Which is why it’s so uplifting when a client takes the time to write in on a Friday afternoon to say ‘the result of the press coverage [that Rostrum generated] is a 25% increase in website traffic and a 50% increase in form completions’. That’s a measurable return on investment from your PR programme.

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Need a creative director to mentor your team but can’t afford a full time role? How would a mentoring programme delivered by a Creative Director and founder with over 24 years experience and a desire to help others grow impact your team? If you would like to support your blossoming talent and offer space for supportive open conversation, creative critique and guidance in how to elevate their creative potential then this is for you. You will improve your creative output, delight your clients, demonstrate your dedication to helping your people grow and create loyalty and trust. Feel free to ask me more about this great service to elevate your creative team. This is the value add service you might have been waiting for. #creativementor #mentoring #creativetalent #fractional

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It’s complex. You set up a creative agency. And then you launch a separate creative awards programme, a few years later. That your creative agency can’t enter. Jeopardy everywhere! Agency helps run the awards. Curates the judging panel. Manages the event. Drives sponsorship. Liaises with partners. But can’t enter themselves. This is the unusual situation we have with Launch - a creative PR agency I founded in 2001, and The Creative Shootout - now the UK’s leading done in a day creative for good awards, that I also founded, back in 2015. I know some of the Launch team feel a bit robbed they can’t enter – maybe one year! But, if you step back, it’s an incredible thing for Launch to help stage, is The Creative Shootout. The agency has become a bit of a poacher turned gamekeeper. Awards organisers. Creative for good champions. Talent managers. Purposeful people. Whatever you want to call us. And is a big reason Launchers often tell me why they joined the agency in the first place. So, the relationship is unconventional. But that’s the beauty of it. Creative solutions shouldn’t fit the norm – or structures. They should look to break them, in pursuit of change. Entry to this year’s Creative Shootout awards is now OPEN, all in aid of the extraordinary charity, Epilepsy Action. Head to www.creativeshootout.com for more information on how to enter, as well as details of an epic new creative training programme on offer, run by some of the industry’s best. Society needs new ideas, especially the third sector. And The Creative Shootout supports a charity through the power and decency of the creative community, every year. It’s become big and transformative. And that’s got to be worth celebrating. Especially by the organising agency. https://lnkd.in/excQ7N8X

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From Johannesburg to Ogilvy UK: A Dream Realized in Advertising 🌍✨ Every time I exit Blackfriars station and cross the Thames, I'm struck by a surreal feeling. The cosmopolitan yet classic cityscape, with WPP's iconic Sea Containers building on the Southbank - now my workplace. It's hard to believe this is my reality. 🌉 This journey began in 2005 when, as a student visiting my sister, I stumbled upon Trafalgar Square. Awestruck, I knew then I wanted to work in this world-class city. That moment became a guiding star in my career, shaping my decisions and goals. 🌟 My path wasn't straightforward. Secondments in New York and London gave me perspective, but I realised waiting for opportunities wasn't enough. The biggest breakthrough? Understanding that no one would make this happen for me but myself. 💡 The true test came during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Amidst global uncertainty, I had to make a life-altering decision: take the leap or stay put. Despite the risks, I chose to pursue my dream, navigating the complexities of an international move during unprecedented times. 🦠🛫 I sacrificed my established career in South Africa, a comfortable lifestyle, and lucrative opportunities to start anew in the UK. These sacrifices were transformative. I found balance, psychological safety, and career comfort I hadn't known before. 🌈 Now, as an Experience Strategy Director at Ogilvy UK, I'm working with major global brands at a scale I'd only dreamed of. My South African background gives me a unique lens, teaching me open-mindedness, bravery, and to always prioritize the consumer while showing empathy for colleagues. 🚀 Key lessons: Take control of your destiny - don't wait for permission. Consistent pursuit of goals pays off, even in challenging times. Never let the good things feel old - seek wonder every day. I'm grateful for this journey and excited about each workday. While I still have ambitions, I'm not attached to them. Instead, I'm savoring this experience, letting good results come in their own time. 🙏 To anyone nurturing a similar dream: it's possible. It might take time, effort, and sacrifice, but the fulfillment is worth it. Keep pushing, stay true to yourself, and remember - you are the author of your own story. 📖 What dreams are you chasing? How has your journey shaped your professional self? I'd love to hear your stories! 💬 #CareerJourney #OgilvyUK #AdvertisingLife #DreamsComeTrue #FromJoburgToLondon #PersonalGrowth"

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When you see this ad how does it make you feel?! ❣ ⬇ Last week I was out at The Pickle Factory, a very fun, vibey and intimate club in East London and this poster made me stop in my tracks. But for all the wrong reasons. Here’s some context: > The ad was in the toilets of the club, a great place for clear messaging around safety and helping to drive a clear message home - it’s light in there for starters, there were some queues so plenty of dwell time and the posters were very visible on the walls and on the back of the cubicles > The sentiment is an important one, the rise in drink spiking over the last few years is scarily big with 10% of women and 5% of men said they had been spiked - safety is a very important issue that nightlife operators and audiences are facing - it 100% needs to be addressed > There is a huge trend in audiences wanting to feel safer and more secure when out and at festivals, not simply because of increased cases but because since Covid audience's habits, particularly amongst Gen Z, have changed. We are seeing more demand for people wanting clarity on safe spaces and how operators are supporting this. BUT, and it’s a big but, this ad is all wrong in my eyes 👁 ❌ Here’s why: > For starters both the copy and the image does not make its viewer feel safer, quite the contrary, it brings about a sense of fear about what could happen to you out there in the dark club space > The ownership for keeping safe is ALL on the victim whether female, male or non-binary. Is this the same flyer or a variation also in the men’s toilets? Even if it is why is the message directed at the victim not the perpetrator? > Fear marketing doesn’t work and it is irresponsible. We know that if you invoke a sense of fear through your message and comms, audiences switch off, they avoid it and it can cause way more harm than good, particularly to a person’s mental health. We have a responsibility not to scare our audiences out of the clubs spaces altogether. So how about we take the ownership away from the victims and redirect to the perpetrators, sending a clear message of education and facts around the impact violence has on people with support on how to tackle this if they are having thoughts to act in a violent way? And rather than making people feel scared in these nighttime spaces, communicate how you are keeping them safe and what to do if they do feel unsafe. Ask Angela being a great initiative we have all seen across pubs and clubs. Shifting the message, the call to action and the receiver of this important issue surely is a better route to really resonate with your audience and help drive a message of change. I’d love to know your thoughts on this. #fearmarketing #ad #culturalresonace

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a little bit of this and that for a basic design leadership infographic. here’s a mini breakdown of what i’ve learnt this year. 01: the word strategy irritated me so much before i went back to vega this year. something that i’ve discovered is to focus on how bold i’ll be within the context of the design leadership in my own business. i always thought i was a bold thinker, but have my thoughts turned into actions? before i can start helping my clients with their strategies, i need to make sure the strategy of my business is super bold + super guy guy. maybe i’m not the one to write strategies for people either? maybe my discovery of what a bold strategy can influence the rest of this creative endeavour of mine? 02: i've learned that empathy compliments clarity. when i take the time to understand my users' perspectives, defining problems + finding solutions becomes more enjoyable. clarity has also helped me manage my current client relationships. a prime example is that i now get to brief myself for most of my work because some of my clients don’t know what they need, or how design/photography can help them. this also branches into the hidden value of design but we’ll chat about this another time. 03: embracing my little lamp of ambition has also kept me open to new opportunities + continuous learning. while this year has taught me many valuable lessons, a common thread throughout all of my academic + business work is my soft spot for people and human connection. anyway, chat soon 👋🏼 guy guy 🍌

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Here's a handy reminder of what's expected of a Creative Director. My A to Z guide is not comprehensive; I cover more details when coaching people, but this is a good start. ⚡ ⚡ ⚡ ⚡ ⚡ ⚡ ⚡ ⚡ ⚡ ⚡ ⚡ My 'HOW TO BE A CREATIVE DIRECTOR WITHOUT SUCKING AT IT' Coaching Course starts on June 26 - there are 2 spots left. Sign up before the end of June 17 for a 10% discount. Message me or comment for more details. #creativedirector #creativecoach #advertising

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I started coaching Creative Directors in 2019 after a piece I posted on LinkedIn had 800,000 views in one day. The post was titled - HOW TO BE A CREATIVE DIRECTOR WITHOUT SUCKING AT IT. It also received 10,000 likes and around 600 comments.  All of which were positive and supported the points I made. Oh, except one person, he believed decisions should be made by a committee and not by the Creative Director - I wonder how his career is going now? 🤔 🔴 So, who is my CD Coaching for? - Anyone currently in a CD role and those who aspire to be. 🔴 Why bother being coached? - This role is not easy and you can often find yourself unprepared or feel that you also need some direction. - The industry does a poor job of preparing people to step up to the CD position. - 2024 marks my 25th year since I first became a CD and I have held CD, ECD, and CCO roles across three continents, so I have amassed a lot of experience to share. 🔴 What will we cover? - Directing the work, not doing the work. - Leading by example, not exhaustion. - Winning the trust of staff & clients. - Being a better decision-maker. - Navigating agency processes. - Finding your leadership voice. - Being a good brief guardian. - Holding the ladder for staff. - Building a creative culture. - Having a vision & mission. - Staff motivation & morale. - Getting to better ideas. - Picking your battles. - Elevating the work. - Making it fun. - Hiring talent. - And more… “My best skill was that I was coachable. I was a sponge and aggressive to learn.” - Michael Jordan What others have said about my coaching? ✅ “Our time under Rodd's coaching felt like a career-defining experience. The more we learn about what it takes to be a good creative director, the more we become aware that experience is everything. This is where having direct access to Rodd's wealth of knowledge and experience really helped us make sense of our roles and the industry at large.” Tom & James C., Creative Director Duo, Port Elizabeth, South Africa ✅ “Rodd's CD course is decades of invaluable advice in a few incredibly valuable hours. His CD advice is deep and clear. And though he apologizes nearly every time before he swears, he still does. And it just makes the experience of learning from him that much more genuine.” Jon L., Creative Director, Pittsburgh, PA, USA ✅ “Rodd effortlessly consolidates a (highly successful) career’s worth of insights into a no-frills approach to coaching, making sessions fun and easy. Rodd listens with sincerity and stands ready and willing to give input on your specific situation in a way that is helpful and empowering. I can’t recommend Rodd as a coach enough!” Ryan P., Creative Director, San Diego, CA, USA I coach people worldwide. Time zones are not an issue. 🤘 My coaching is all one-to-one and tailored for each person. 🤘 Get in touch if you’d like to grab a spot - [email protected] #creativedirector #creativecoach #creativeleadership

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Boycotts! Does it feel to you like brands are being boycotted all the time at the moment? Whether for political reasons sparked by international conflicts or because of Me Too, Black Lives Matter, Climate Change, cultural appropriate or a myriad of other reasons, so many brands have been "cancelled" recently. In this episode, Piers and Jasmine explore who is cancelled and why and what do it if it is you! Listen here: https://lnkd.in/ezQ8N_Be #Branding #Advertising #InfluencerMarketing #digitalmarketing #marketing #economy #economics #advertisingandmarketing #strategy #sales #contentmarketing #creativity #Startups #SocialMedia

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Tonight, a brand strategist messaged me about my post from yesterday morning. Like me, she'd lost her biggest client and has been suffering through a bit of insomnia, staring into the dark and wondering if twenty years creating brand narratives still matters in today's Cthulucene corporate landscape. Now, it's the middle of the night again. Still dark out. Still sleepless in San Francisco. The foghorns still booming in the darkness, container ships full of smartphones and every other imaginable thing sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge. The foghorn and the fog are terrific reminders. Of the difference between signal and noise. Of how to navigate when you cant see. Of trust. I need a lot less sleep now that I'm older. But that's not what keeps me up. In these sleepless hours, I've returned to a novel I've been working on for 20 years. It's about a crosstown romance that builds to a scene at the Golden Gate Bridge. The protagonist brings his girlfriend there, planning to propose. But as "an endless fabric of fog streams through the guidewires," he falters, the words stuck in his throat. When he finally asks later, she says no. Sometimes our most important questions get the hardest answers. But we keep asking them anyway. Just like I keep writing this novel. Just like I keep sending applications into the void. I wonder if anything I said helped that brand strategist last night. But what do you tell someone who's staring into the same fog and seeking reassurance? That the bridge is still there, even when we can't see it? That persistence isn't just about keeping going - it's about believing in the story you're trying to tell? The city will wake soon. Soon traffic will drown out the waves. But for now, as the dawn approaches, I know that some things remain: the power of authenticity, the importance of story, the connections we forge with one another. The fog will lift. The bridge will appear. The way forward will clear. And like the surfers I'll see later today - diving into the frigid ocean to catch that next wave - I'll keep paddling out, believing in what I can't yet see. ### Hate writing? Let's talk.

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