Only One In The Room Collective announces Destroy This Brief shortlist
Following the initial round of judging by a global jury of advertising and marketing luminaries, the Destroy This Brief shortlist has been selected. The next round of judging will include a live presentation session, after which the final winner (or winners) will be announced.
Launched in 2022 to tackle the industry’s prevalent diversity and inclusion challenges, the initiative has seen entries from agencies, production companies, colleges and universities all over Australia, and beyond. The brief specifically asked participants to find ways to open the industry up to, and attract, diverse talent.
The shortlisted ideas are:
- – Another Dave Another Dollar – Jessica Thompson
- – Extending Adland – Team Special Group
- – Mad Things – Anneliese Sullivan and Melle Branson
- – Parental Ad-visors – Leila Cranswick and David Roberts
- – Refugee Pencil – Carl Robertson and Blake Arthur
- – White Dad Adoption Drive – Rees Steel
The live presentation session with the global jury, which includes Cindy Gallop, Sunita Gloster, Greg Hahn, Terry Savage, Faycal Ben Abdellaziz, and Jonathan Mildenhall will take place week commencing 20th February.
Says Avish Gordhan, co-founder of Only One In The Room, chief creative officer of Dentsu Creative and jury chair: “We gave our global jury a very difficult task in culling some outstanding finalists down to this shortlist. But we’re so excited about the outcome, and to be here at the pointy end of the process. I want to reiterate our heartfelt thanks once more, to everyone who gave their time and creativity to this process. Thank you for caring enough to help us make a lasting and meaningful difference. And to the shortlisted entrants: congratulations…now go and prepare yourselves for some curly questions from Cindy Gallop!”
For more information, go to www.onlyoneintheroom.co/dtb-shortlist
17 Comments
If the successful idea does attract a more diverse group of creatives, send them to Western SydneyAd School, we are based in Parramatta, and the cost for the course is not restrictive. There are no entry criteria, and we have internships available.
We are here for the same thing.
“Only 16% of people in Australian advertising have a culturally diverse background. In most rooms, they’re the ‘only one’. It’s a trend we want to end.”
If you want to stand for something, don’t throw it away for awards or publicity because those who are culturally diverse now see the same thing they’ve seen time and time again in this industry, that it is “reserved for a certain few”. It’s a pity because your website and instagram profile such strong people of colour within the industry.
We literally just showed the only one in the room to some juniors to tell them that there are people in the industry that are fighting for representation. Guess you’re not doing that anymore? Another initiative using the word diversity to pay lip service.
Am I missing something?
How is this initiative now not fighting for representation?
It’s what the whole thing is about no?
If the finalists for this are all white then what are we actually achieving here? Who was this supposed to help?
Not sure how many of the finalists are what they consider culturally diverse. Defeats the purpose really.
Agreed but not sure if all the finalists are white, a majority seem to be at least white passing. Wonder what the culturally diverse members of the jury will think
Don’t think it defeats the purpose at all.
Doesn’t change the intent, doesn’t change the message.
Ironic that an initiative calling for all voices to be heard is getting told that only some people’s voices count
You don’t go to a Black Lives Matter rally and shout All Lives Matter. This initiative was meant to give people who are normally not heard/marginalised a chance to be heard.
A totally inaccurate comparison given the underlying ideology behind that phrase.
My take on it was that it was supposed to raise awareness and get a message out and talked about, to educate people about the issue so that they are more likely to take action to address it.
Maybe the organisers can clarify, but imo, nothing about that shortlist is going to stop that from happening.
Awareness of a problem that is quite obvious doesn’t shift anything @disagree
I think this all started from a good place but landed in the exact problem they are trying to solve.
@everyone I wouldn’t make assumptions based on people’s surnames.
As the organisers of Destroy This Brief, and the founders of Only One In The Room, we wanted to clarify a few things.
There are many initiatives that celebrate the diverse talent we have in our businesses. Only One In The Room has been involved in creating some of these initiatives. But Destroy This Brief is not that.
Destroy This Brief was created to empower our industry (which is predominantly made up of white people) to provide creative, tangible, feasible and effective ways to address the lack of diversity in our industry.
This initiative is not about expecting people of colour to find solutions to solve the diversity challenge. It’s also not about celebrating or showcasing diverse talent. It’s about taking responsibility as an industry to come up with ideas that attract diverse talent into our businesses. And that can come from anywhere and from anyone … even white people.
There are many voices in this chat who seem extremely passionate about solving the issue. And, perhaps, you don’t believe our solution is a good one. For you, we have only one request, help us. Reach out to us via our website and share your thoughts. We don’t claim to have all the answers. And we’re very open to hearing the solutions you have in mind.
Too right!
Whole lot of assumption going on here
I think it’s good.
Did you read the comment from The Only One In The Room? They would love to hear your constructive solutions. Get stuck in with positive ideas to make our industry better. Sniping from the sidelines doesn’t achieve anything.