83% of NDA followers have pitched for a project.

Widely debated and often condemned, pitching for creative work is still rife. In an economic climate that gives clients more power than ever, we’re seeing a steady return to speculative work to win projects.

We want to get to the bottom of it, talking to Leo Porto & Felipe Rocha (Porto Rocha), who have publicly declared their anti-pitching stance, and Toby Wilkinson (AUFI), who is privy to more studio pitch decks than most, working closely with brands to help them find the right agency partner.

We also invite the clients in — with anonymous stories from their point of view, we try to unpack who really benefits from the ambiguity of the ‘pitching’ process.

Asking questions like… Why do clients need pitches to choose partners? Do creative teams enjoy working on them? Is the condensed process devaluing creativity? Does it create inequity in the industry? How can we change that?

And, let's be honest, does everyone have a project they would throw their morals away for?

Credits —

Small print:

British Design Association resources - https://www.dba.org.uk/members-area/resources/?keyword=free+pitch

AUFI guides - https://aufi.com/insights/good-agency-relationship

Paul Woods, How to do great work without being an arsehole - https://www.amazon.com/Great-Work-Without-Being-Asshole/dp/1786273918

Mentions: No free pitches - https://nofreepitches.com/

Stories: Rita Juárez / Jenny Powell

Sponsored by Lucky Dip

luckydip.studio

Get in touch hello@thendapodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who has the best ideas – humans or robots?

The topic on everyone’s feeds. AI is snowballing faster than anyone can keep up with, with billions of dollars being invested, new models appearing everyday, and a plethora of opinions to boot.

But, how does this relate to the creative industry? Some are embracing it, others fear it, and some feel underwhelmed by it. In today’s episode, we want to understand its role in our process.

Joined by our guests Pip Bingemann (Co-founder of springboards.ai) & Jess Macintyre (Co-founder of Mac+Moore) we discuss whether it’s homogenising creativity. How it impacts those at the start of their career. Whether it adds or subtracts value from creatives. Who we’re trusting to build the models – and to what extent it’s perpetuating the worst parts of society.

A great summary conversation about AI and creativity – a good place to start if you’re unsure how it can benefit your practice. But remember, use responsibly.

Credits —

Small print:

Midjourney - https://discord.com/invite/midjourney

Runway - https://runwayml.com/

Not Content - https://www.notcontent.ai/

Monika - https://m-o-n-i-k-a.com/

Paige - https://air.inc/paige

It’s Nice That, Shades of Intelligence

https://www.itsnicethat.com/shades-of-intelligence

Marcus Byrne, 101 prompt secrets

https://marcusbyrne.gumroad.com/l/101promptsecretsbook

Mentions:

Zoe Scaman, Strategy in the era of AI

https://zoescaman.substack.com/p/strategy-in-the-era-of-ai

Orlaith Wood, Why AI is the kick up the arse copywriters need

https://www.creativereview.co.uk/ai-copywriting-reed-words/

Stories: Jack Wimmer (Monika) / Engy Elboreini (@engythedesigner)

Sponsored by Lucky Dip

luckydip.studio

Get in touch hello@thendapodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is the agency model as we know it dying out? Big office spaces, permanent teams, mandatory in-person working, rigid processes and hierarchies — all symbols of the traditional creative studios that have been pillars of the industry for decades.

But the pandemic accelerated the rise of the small agency. Those working in a nimble way, remote from anywhere in the world, with bespoke freelance teams built for each project.

So, which one is better? Together with Ayo Fagbemi (Explorers Club) & Andy Cooke (Creative Director) we discuss how the different models impact creativity, hiring talent and building a culture — and what clients are looking for; if they want to be seen with the latest ‘underdog agency’ or have the kudos of working with one of the legends.

It’s a classic David vs. Goliath story. We try to guess who will come out on top. And ask if the established agencies don’t adapt, are they destined for extinction?

Credits —

Small print:

Dan Salkey (Small World), Hub and spoke creative agencies

https://www.contagious.com/news-and-views/hub-and-spoke-creative-agencies-why-this-time-its-different

Stephanie McCarty, Here’s my beef with ad agencies

https://www.adweek.com/agencies/cmo-ad-agency-model-broken/

Comprehensive flexibility

https://hbr.org/2023/08/the-radical-promise-of-truly-flexible-work

Mentions: Collins New York Coffeehouse

Stories: Naomi Dacosta (NDC Creative) / Dylan Young (Koto)

Sponsored by Lucky Dip

luckydip.studio

Get in touch hello@thendapodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.