They have done it again! TBWA\Hunt\Lascaris Johannesburg is officially the third best agency in the world, according to Creativity's Annual 2010 Report.
Published by Advertising Age's Creativity magazine, the report looks at the results from the world's seven premier creative awards shows (the ADC, AICP, Andy Awards, Cannes Lions, Clios, D&AD and One Show) to grade the most award-winning agencies, creative directors, production companies, marketers, campaigns and showcase cutting-edge design from around the world.
TBWA\Hunt\Lascaris Johannesburg also scooped first place in both the Integrated & Innovative and Out Of Home categories, beating giants like sports manufacturer Nike's Livestrong campaign, the Johnnie Walker whisky campaign, as well as the much-feted Queensland Tourism Board campaign for the "best job in the world".
"It's the highest TBWA\Hunt\Lascaris has ranked in its history and the highest any agency has ranked ever in South Africa. We competed with the finest agencies in the world said TBWA\Hunt\Lascaris Executive Creative Director Damon Stapleton. "They are major players and we came along and crashed that party."
As a network TBWA\Worldwide earned big points with The Zimbabwean and Gatorade Replay campaigns coming second and third respectively in the Campaigns All Category, which contributed to TBWA\ Worldwide taking second place in the Top Agency Network category.
John Hunt, TBWA\Worldwide Creative Director says, "TBWA\Hunt\Lascaris' achievement means a lot to the TBWA\ network and certainly contributed to its global standing in the Creativity rankings."
"An achievement like this confirms the potential that exists in South Africa. If you look at the last five years, we've had four Grand Prix at Cannes" comments Hunt.
South Africa experiences unusual challenges and problems, which ironically makes for a great creative environment," says Stapleton, "South Africa is a work in progress. It is multi-cultural and diverse, and offers opportunities that you may not get elsewhere. I think the first world is pretty buttoned down, while we are less risk averse."
He adds that, "Great ideas are not formulas and have very little to do with science. No one knows where they come from or where they go or if you've missed one. The truth is that certain ideas get made here that won't get made anywhere else. Here ideas get nurtured and held onto a little bit longer and maybe that's what's needed for ideas to survive.
"An accolade like this means more to a client than an award- it says that you can be both creative, as well as effective with your campaigns."
