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APG News

The APG Creative Strategy Awards Shortlist is out!

We have a shortlist packed full of interesting case studies of all shapes and sizes, with an unprecedented (sorry!) range of stories of how planners are using their unique skills and perspectives to influence and shape not just the usual brilliant advertising campaigns, but to make crucial contributions to the development of some outstanding products, services and experiences. It all leaves me very optimistic that we have a bright and exciting future ahead of us.

Michael Lee - Chair of Shortlisters

View the Shortlist >

Upcoming APG Top Talk with Dr Kate Dommett: On-line Political Advertising: A 'moral panic'?

30th June 2021

In this talk Dr Kate Dommett will unpack what we know about online political advertising and dissect the claims that have so far dominated debate, including whether it works in the same way as online consumer advertising. Kate will also talk about her agenda for new academic research, to gather new data on the world of online political advertising. She is looking to the APG community for expert help and guidance and she’ll say more on the 30th.

Tickets & Information >

Getting to Better Briefs

We radically improve our chances of writing a better brief if we get a really good brief from the client. But how do we encourage that, and what are the issues from a planner’s perspective?

A couple of Planners from Australia have developed a short and engaging survey to find out more, by getting responses from strategists in the main English speaking advertising markets.

All the results will be shared with us. We think this is a really useful initiative so please take a few minutes to fill it in.

Thank you!

Sarah Newman - APG Director

Take the Survey >

'I might as well be a robot' APG Survey Results: Planning During and After the Pandemic

Thanks to the planning community we got over 300 responses to the survey. Results are here. It’s been tough for planners and there is a lot for agency management to think about and act upon. But we have a prescription for action and change, and it’s all in here.

Sarah Newman

View the Results >

Jim Carroll's Blog

The South Indies: When Over Thinkers Under Perform

Each week we will be featuring a new piece written by Jim Carroll, a long serving strategist and former UK Chairman at BBH. Click through to read more and subscribe.

Think Tank: APG Creative Strategy Case Studies & Top Talks Library for APG members

All the Top Talks will be available on Think Tank, the APG members' part of our site. Most are a video with deck. This should all be working. Let us know if you have any problems accessing it.

Start Searching >

Podcast Recommendations

Top podcast recommendations from the APG community on advertising, digital, leadership, culture and more... Take a look, have a listen and let us know what you think.

Podcast Recommendations >

Upcoming APG Top Talk with Kevin Chesters: What Brands can Learn from Studying Gangs

22nd June 2021

Gangs are incredibly successful historical entities - for good and for bad. From the Women's Institute to MS-13, from the Brownies to the Moonies, Crips or Cubs. What are the ten lessons we can all learn from studying them, and how can we apply them to our teams, clients and brands we work on? Lessons for leadership, lessons for strategy, lessons for life.

Tickets & Information >

New Event: '10 Great Ideas for Getting Started on a Creative Brief'

(SOLD OUT) 24th June 2021

Martin Beverley is CSO at adam&eveDDB. He has created an excellent new session for young planners and strategists with 1-3 years experience. Practical and inspirational, this will teach you 10 ways to a great brief, by using the power of sharing and opening up your first thoughts.

Information >

Watch the latest APG Top Talk with Ian Leslie: Why Creativity Needs Conflict

Ian Leslie is an author, speaker and strategist. He believes that insight and empathy spring from a clash of different perspectives and that we should be reaping the benefits of diverse views. (APG Members only)

Watch the video >

APG Super Models (with Jon Leach)

APG Super Models is the second series of APG Top Models. It builds on the Top Models series and introduces new and more sophisticated frameworks. If you are new to strategic models, we recommend you start with the Top Models first. (APG Members Only)

View APG Super Models here >

BLM Education Resources

This is a list of helpful literature and resources from Gen Kobayashi CSO at Engine. Gen says: 'The team at ENGINE curated these in response to BLM and to mark Juneteenth. We all took the Friday afternoon off from work to educate ourselves on Black history and the structural racism that exists in our society. We did this because the first step in combating and eradicating racism is education and greater understanding of the injustices that People of Colour have had to face for centuries'

Read the Presentation >

Content for a great CV

by: Denise Williams

Did you know that the maximum time generally taken to read a CV is 30 seconds, and in most instances is more like 7 seconds? That’s the time it takes to make a cup of coffee, or the length of a Tik Tok video.