Look at The Opportunity in Every Problem, Not at The Problem in Every Opportunity
Posted by Joe
A few days ago, I ran a [recruitment ad] on ads2blog. To tell you the truth, my frustration with the feedback was only equaled with the wave of hilarious comments it triggered.
I expected people to criticize the ad, and they did. I expected people to criticize me, and they did. I expected people to criticize other people’s comments, and they did. I expected people to fall in the trap of counting the number of mistakes… and they did.
My frustration came as I expected at least one candidate to come back with the unexpected, but no one did. The objective behind this ad was to find “solution-oriented people”, rebellious people who can take the initiative and make a change without being asked to make that change, people who think different, “enemies of the ordinary” (courtesy of DDB).
Seeing the cup as half empty, is one more reason why this industry is going nowhere in Kuwait. Some bloggers came very close when they said “this ad is the mistake”, but the missing link was the other half of the equation: “how can I make it better”.
So here’s the bad news, I just failed to find solution-oriented people. The good news? We sure have brilliant people who can count mistakes
ads2blog.com
14 Comments, Comment or Ping
r3@v3r
Well, I think you got the wrong comments on the ad because the ad looked more like a ‘trick question” ad with a hidden agenda. That’s why no one appeared to bite into what smells like a ‘trap”
Dec 2nd, 2007
Mark
So you are placing the blame on everyone and not the fact that the ad was lame?
Dec 2nd, 2007
just me
Nice article. Too bad some people just don’t get it!
Dec 2nd, 2007
Faisal
enlighten us
Dec 3rd, 2007
Kre8tive
Joe, I think the problem that caused your “frustration” was your ad and the concept itself. You said you were looking for “solutions-oriented” people… But you are searching for graphic designers and NOT senior people who do the thinking and problem-solving, Question: does graphic designers solve problems? I think they don’t it’s the Art Directors and better yet the Creative Directors (sometimes the suits, well most of the time). IMHO, definitely you’ll end up with wacky comments because that’s what your “hilarious” ad deserves to have as a response.
Dec 3rd, 2007
adchemist
I could rather run that ad for a proof reader not for a designer, no real artist or designer gonna give his eye on the text that placed on the design, he may give more attention for his design, typography, colours or image details, definitly not on that BORING TYPE CONTENT ON THE DESIGN, that what the COPYWRITER JOB. You tottally failed on this ad Joe. Sorry… I am sure the real designer Ignore your ad because it was simply lame.
Dec 3rd, 2007
wakim
Kre8tive, If you don’t think a designer is a PROBLEM SOLVER then you’re in big trouble. Every single job in life is about solving problems. If there were no problems to solve then none of us needed to work. The designer’s main job eventually is problem solving (problem: I have a company without an identity / solution: logo design and stationary). I might agree that the ad would have been better if it targeted copywriters since it’s only copy but at least there’s somebody fighting to break through with creative ideas. (Speaking of which, JOE, you could have an unbalanced layout of the recruitment ad and then it would be more designer focused !!)
As for the rest of you guys, I really wish you’d give some constructive criticism. After all you should be PROBLEM SOLVERS?!
Dec 3rd, 2007
adchemist
WAKIM, I am not against the PROBLEM SOLVING concept behind that ad, nor I am not agaist to the designers role in “attention to the detail”. There is some thing called Intelligents and practice. And that perticular ad is like a crossword, it has nothing to do with Intelligence… you know there is something wrong in it and you wanna count them and send it you to prove that you are an intelligent!!! come on guys….
Dec 3rd, 2007
just me
I’m sorry adchemist but are you giving us another riddle? your reply is full of mistakes just like the wanted ad…maybe more? but who’s counting :)
Dec 3rd, 2007
sleepingowl
It irks me when people talk about other’s mistakes and yet cant spell if their life depended on it!
The advert may not have been great, but it got everyone talking…and discussing it. Yeah it is more “copywriter” than designer…but atleast it’s different. I’m absolutely bored of all the flying Kuwaiti’s and arabs with their mouths open in almost every other Advert.
So, thanks Joe. A refreshing change.
Dec 3rd, 2007
Long John
let me see, it seems that no one can actually answer or say that the ad sucks or that the ad is good!
At least Joe did not get CVs from accountants and lawyers and welders!
In addition to Wakim’s comment, every person in an agency should have the eye to catch anything wrong in an ad as it is a team work and not a solo job.
what kills me is that no one admits a mistake rather than throw it to another….. for example: if an ad was placed with a mistake evbery single person in any agency blames the other department for it!
last but not least, as human nature, we are all great at negative critic and never a positive one…..
Dec 3rd, 2007
Kre8tive
Wakim to the rescue :-P You know what? I think Joe’s playing with us all here… Firstly the ad was made to get 2 things, free advertisement for FCB and 2nd, to create a stir within the pool. Nice one Joe… Good luck on your hunting!
Dec 3rd, 2007
theone
Thanks Joe for the article, very enlightening. For those who are saying that the ad is not addressing designers, I would like to bring to your attention that the ad asks the applicants to send their portfolios along with their CVs. So the “graphic design” skill will be judged after reviewing each applicant’s portfolio. As for the rest of the objectives, I guess they’re covered in Joe’s article.
Dec 3rd, 2007
Moey
when did FCB become this philosophic?
Dec 7th, 2007
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