Free Loeries seminar from leading international creatives

Loeries judging week begins with a free seminar on 30 June 2008, sponsored by the SABC, open to everyone in the communications industry including agencies and marketers. The three international jury chairmen - global leading designer Vince Frost, and Peter Bidenko and Erik Vervroegen, two of the most awarded creatives in the world - will talk on their work, influences and state of the industry.

10 Jun 2008

Mike Schalit, chief creative officer at BBDO and South Africa's highest ranking creative director for 10 consecutive years, will open the seminar, which will take place at the Hacklebrook Estate in Craighall Park, Johannesburg.

Frost, creative director and CEO of Frost Design, plays an active role in the world design community, lecturing at colleges and conferences. He was Pentagram London's youngest associate director in the '90s. He has received many awards, including D&AD Yellow Pencils, Golds from the New York Society of Publication Designers and Gongs from the New York and Tokyo Art directors' Clubs.

Frost's work was the subject of a major retrospective: Frost*bite: Graphic Ideas by Vince Frost at the Sydney Opera House Exhibition Hall in January 2006.

Vervroegen was crowned best Belgian creative for several consecutive years; thereafter he was the highest ranked creative in South Africa. In January 2002, he became executive creative director at TBWA\Paris. He has been voted four years running Best Creative director in France. TBWA\Paris has been voted Agency of the Year four years in a row at Cannes during his tenure there.

Bidenko, creative director at Tequila\Australia, is one of the most experienced and awarded direct marketing creative directors in Australia today. He has won the WON Report's most awarded worldwide campaign, two out of the last three years, ADMA Grand Prix twice in the last five years, 10 Cannes Lions, the Diamond Echo, Best in Show at AsiaDM among many others. He is the head of judges for Asia for the Caples awards in New York and has been chairman of judges at ADMA, as well as judging the Cannes Lions.

The seminar will run from 7.30am to 12.30pm on 30 June 2008. Breakfast will be served. To book seats, contact Thandi Dowery at or tel +27 (0)11 326 0304.

Judges announced

The experiential non-broadcast and live events judging panel for the 2008 awards was also announced last week:

Spero Patricios, MD, Launch Factory, Assisting Chairman
Peter Blond, creative director, Omage
Moray MacLennan, creative director, Blue Moon
Thabo Marera, director, Velocity Films
Thandi Davids, MD, Grey South Africa
John McDermott, Manager, Gearhouse
Thami Nyandeni, MD, Black Magic
Themba Mbelu, creative director, Don't forget George
Lauren Pybus, creative director, Launch Factory
Neil Clarence, creative director, Actuate
Roger Smythe, creative director, Masters & Savant
Nick Warren, creative director, VWV
Lwazi Moletsane, development executive, Ochre Media
Jonathan Beggs, creative director, Ogilvy

The Loeries' judging will take place in Johannesburg at Vega, The Brand Communications School, from 30 June until 4 July. The finalists will be announced on 7 July, and the winners will receive their awards at the Festival Weekend, which will take place in Margate on the South Coast from Friday 25 to Monday 28 July.

For more information, go to www.theloerieawards.co.za.