Thinkbox
Caitlin Ryan was previously ECD of Cheil London when she came to speak with us. She choose three that are admirable examples of how to really connect with consumers in a digital age. In this film, she tells us how her chosen ads connect to humans by touching people hearts and encourage people to share those expressions.
A few words about Caitlin
Caitlin moved to the UK in 1993 for what was supposed to be a 2 year stint.
She joined Proximity (BHWG) and in 2005 became the Executive Creative Director. Under her Creative Directorship the agency has won more national and international awards than any other direct agency in the UK. She is regularly listed as one of the top 3 Direct Creative Directors in Campaign, because of her ‘passion for the work’. She puts every bit of the agency’s creative success down to the very talented and dedicated team she is lucky enough to have around her.
Caitlin judges regularly and in 2012 represented UK at Cannes on the Direct Jury, was Chair of Direct for Campaign Bigs and spokesperson for the industry.
She sits on the Proximity Worldwide Creative Board, the DMA Awards Committee and is a member of WACL through which she is hoping to help more women stay and thrive in the UK creative industries. She is also joint owner of two of London’s most popular and awarded cafés; Lantana in Fitzrovia and Salvation Jane in Shoreditch.
She was also Former Group Executive Creative Director at Karmarama.
Caitlin’s choices:
British Airways 'Face'
It took a cast of thousands to produce British Airway's 'face' campaign in 1989.
The ad was produced by Saatchi & Saatchi with filming taking place in Utah. It took sweeping landscape scenes, scores of extras and fitted them to an opera inspired soundtrack.
Actors move in formation to create a face image before a British accented voice over reveals that every year the airline brings 24 million people together.
A recent Channel 4 show ranked the ad 62 in its '100 Greatest TV Ads' list.
- Agency Saatchi & Saatchi
- Creative Graham Fink
- Director Hugh Hudson
John Lewis 'Always a Woman'
John Lewis' much loved 'Never Knowingly Undersold' campaign was launched to much acclaim in 2010 and was followed by a series of ads that aimed to tug at the nation's heart strings.
'Always a woman' was the first TV ad in the series and followed a young child through to adulthood emphasising the quality of service offered by the brand.
The campaign was produced by Adam & Eve and cast nine actresses to play the lead role throughout the course of the ad. Running for six weeks, it proceeded several other ads with similar emotional themes.
- Agency Adam & Eve
- Creative Ben Tollett / Emer Stamp
- Production Company Blink
- Director Dougal Wilson
Teacher Training Association 'Talking Heads'
Featuring Joanna Lumley, Terence Conran and Tony Blair, this spot from the Teacher Training Association names favourite teachers and reminds viewers: "No one forgets a good teacher."
Famous faces line up to name check a teacher they feel helped them get to where they are today.
The brief handed to agency Delaney Fletcher Bozell, was to 'elevate the status of teaching as a profession'. Drawing attention to the important role teachers play in shaping our future generation is a simple but powerful message.
- Agency Delaney Fletcher Bozell
- Creative Richard Warren/ Tim Peckitt
- Producer Co The Paul Weiland Film Company
- Director Mike Stephenson
