MAD STARS Day 1: Work that impressed the judges + the AI powers that will shape industry’s future
MAD STARS opened its doors on August 23 to one of the world’s fastest-growing advertising festivals, at BEXCO, in Busan, South Korea beginning three days of inspiring conference sessions, exhibitions, and opening ceremony & opening gala, under the theme, AIM: Aim Marketing Success with AI.
Two highlights of Day 1 were the inspiring and informative, Conversation with Executive Jury, where MAD STARS’ four executive jurors took a full audience behind the scenes of the judging rooms, and The Era of AI-Driven Marketing Creativity, presented by Aeri Park, chief executive officer of HSAD in the Republic of Korea at the forefront of high-efficiency communication innovation, leading one of the most innovative digital companies.
Leading the Conversation with the Executive Jury, session moderator, Sangsoo Chong, vice chairperson of the MAD STARS Organising Committee, asked two questions. The first was to choose one keyword that epitomised what the juries were looking for. For Matt MacDonald, chief creative officer, BBDO New York, it was originality. For Suzana Apelbaum, head of creative and innovation, at Google, it was humanity. For Emma de la Fosse, chief creative officer, Edelman UK, it was cultural insight. For Gabriel Lora, VP of Strategy & Innovation de FCB Newlink, it was strategic thinking.
The jurors were then asked to choose the work that impressed them the most. My Japan Railway (by Dentsu Inc. Tokyo for JR Group), AI President (by IMPACT BBDO Dubai and Addition New York for AnNahar Newspaper), What The Fast! (by Leo Burnett Group Thailand for Kungsri First Choice), Fit My Feet (by McCann Gurugram for Buckaroo footwear) and Hidden in Plain Sight (by Leo Burnett Malaysia for Heineken), received this acclaim.
Aeri Park enthralled her audience by taking them into the new world the industry has only begun to understand, a world in which AI is a tool, an ally, and a driver of business success through marketing creativity. Park’s impressive expertise revealed not only deep clues into the powers of AI but also actionable insights.
The sessions continue to explore AI’s ever-developing role in the industry today as well as topics that guide and inspire the future. Some of these are Suzana Apelbaum’s AI + Creativity; AI…Save My Idea by Park Wannasiri, CCO, VML Thailand; the thought-provoking AI Can’t Get Angry, You Can by Pooja Manek, founding member and creative of Talented Agency, Don’t Bring the Donuts and Other Tips on how to Rise the Ranks as a Woman in Advertising by Jordan Doucette, CCO, Dentsu Creative Canada; and 20 Lessons Learned in 20 years of Advertising by Douglas Soares Menezes, ECD, Ogilvy.
Tomorrow’s highlight, the much-anticipated keynote session, How Artificial Intelligence and Creativity Can Fuel Innovation, by Fernando Machado, operating partner, Garnett Station Partners and the famed CMO who led Burger King to glory, will conclude the Conference section of MAD STARS 2024. It will be followed by the Welcome Reception and Awards Show, where the MAD STARS 2024 trophies and Grands Prix of the Year will be awarded, and the After Party at The Bay 101.
Find the full MAD STARS Conference schedule here.
The MAD STARS Awards are presented as Gold, Silver, and Bronze trophies as well as Crystal certificates, plus Grand Prix of the Year. Special Awards include Holding Company of the Year, Network of the Year, Agency of the Year, Advertiser of the Year, and Production Company of the Year. The goal of these awards is to encourage the global advertising industry while encouraging world peace and the improvement of the quality of human life.
The MAD STARS Exhibition will run throughout the festival, an opportunity for Festival delegates to view some of the best creative the world has to offer right now, as well as visiting the Networking Lounge and Promotion Booth.