Tuesday, March 4, 2008

The Lowe Law

Two weeks at Lowe has gone by and like always there are times we are overly busy and times we have a spare minute to post, so we seize it. It's very interesting here, we like the agency, there is great talent here and the client list promises good fun. We've been doing lots of writing on John Lewis and exciting brand work on Saab.

One thing we cannot miss out on sharing with every young (and old) creative out there is this sheet of paper which greeted us here on the first day. It told us straight what Ed Morris, the Creative Director of Lowe London expects from a junior team. We like this approach - it's inspiring. More placements should start with a manifesto.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

That sounds so up it's own arse it's a freakin' joke. Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't the guy run a creative department that half it's employees left and now sits with empty offices?

It's this type of thing that I hate most about advertising. It's only a bloody job. Yeah it's great fun, I love writing ads. But I would give my left arm to fart around with a camera or shop all day.

"Have better things in your life than this". That would be my manifesto.

Anonymous said...

I wouldn't mind this list if the guy who wrote it was actually true to his word. Which he never was.

Anonymous said...

Not every CD/ECD tells you what he wants from you. It's usually left to you to work out.

Different CD's want different things.

Some like to see all your ideas, all the routes. Some like to see one route, 3 ads. Some CD's would hate you for going around their PA. Some love it for you to drop in rather than wait for set times.

As a placement team you need to know what you have to do to get a job. You don't always have time to figure things out.

I think Ed Morris is being very clear what he expects from you and how to conduct yourself.

I think it's great.

It's better than letting you come in, do your two weeks and disappear again.

Anonymous said...

It's kind of great. It's kind of scary. Wouldn't some of those things get you fired? And would he come to your rescue (you, having only been there a day or so.)

Or am I just scared? Maybe that's why no-one knows how brilliant I am yet. Is it about balls? I thought it was about being brilliant.

Ooh, I'm so confused. Not necessarily a bad place to be.

So where next for you two?

Unknown said...

attitude.

Anonymous said...

I heard a rumor he hates placement/junior teams, think that proves it.

Wal, are you following the rules?

Anonymous said...

It's half twattery and half what you need to hear I guess.

Anonymous said...

If you are a new employee at Mr Li’s Sweatshop Emporium you should do this.

Show me a finished Chelsea replica kit every 60 seconds (1 working hour) without fail.

Make your presence felt. Out of sight out of mind. Out of mind, out of job, out of job, out of food, well you know the rest.

Fuck the system. No one in the factory should come between you and your future. Walk straight in. It doesn’t matter how fast you can stitch, if I don’t get to see how fast you are.

Work on designs that haven’t been given to you yet. I can always sell them on and make a profit. Run your own show, don’t wait for someone to walk in and “take care of you”. Respect the trafficking department, but remember they work for you, you don’t work for them. Ask them for the passports you want and tell me if you don’t get them.

Don’t show me a pair of Nike trainers unless you like them or think there good. That’s how I find out if your good. Your not here to solve a problem, you’re here to be exploited.

If you don’t feel you can demonstrate your capabilities with the work we have, do it another way. Show me how you can sell drugs on to the neighbouring villages and make me rich.

Don’t join in the fun. There isn’t any. You’re not here to make a load of friends and get to know the local care workers. You’re a in poverty, remember that. And if your are any good you should be trying to make a quick exit on the next boat or flight out of here.

If you put the effort (sweat) into the work, I’ll put the effort into selling it for huge margins to my relatives in the west. But it only works one way, it’s got to start with you.

Be confident, have faith in yourselves, work hard. Look after your work and the work will look after you. A job at Mr Li’s Sweatshop Emporium is a moment in time.
Seize it.


….or you and
your family will starve.

Anonymous said...

OK, no one's pointed it out yet, so I will.

There's a typo in paragraph 7.

"That's how I find out if your good."

Oops.

Still, I kind of enjoy the straightforward, "know-it-all" tone of this piece. (Granted, I work in America and know nothing of the London advertising scene, so I have no idea if he lives up to any of this or not.)

I also like that it's all copy. Something so rare these days. But then he's got specific ideas he's trying to get across, doesn't he? Typos notwithstanding of course. :-) Just nice to see copy that's longer than a tagline for a change.

Cheers and good luck, guys.

Anonymous said...

I give you two about another week.

Anonymous said...

I think it's fantastic. A real kick up the arse. Fair play to Ed. He's made his expectations clear. The rest is on you.

Anonymous said...

At least it's something to work from, you know where you stand!

I wouldn't give them the benefit of the doubt that it's a typo Wade, just a simple lack of or mis-use of grammar.

Rachel said...

Lol, i wonder what he'd have done if you said 'you know, long copy never gets read...'