Saatchi & Saatchi launched its World Wide Website this week, in a
move that coincided with the launch by the agency of the Saatchi &
Saatchi Award for Innovation in Communication.
The site, which was created by Saatchi & Saatchi Vision and the
new-media production company, AMX Digital, is dedicated almost entirely
to the award, the first winner of which will be announced in a year’s
time and will receive a dollars 100,000 prize.
The winning entry will be for an invention that most effectively helps
improve communication and the Web-site will showcase the best entries
received throughout the year.
The only information the Website carries about the Saatchi & Saatchi
network itself is an index of its global offices.
There are no ads on the Website, however, and the Saatchi brand is not
marketed in any other way. The site is aimed as much at the public as at
communications professionals and prospective clients.
Richard Myers, the joint creative director at Saatchis in London, said:
’We want to champion the idea of communication. Saatchis is probably the
only agency brand that could do this.’
The Website showcases a number of innovations that would have qualified
for entry last year had the site been running, including a clockwork
radio for use in communities without electricity and a ’low-vision
enhancement system’ which enables blind people to see. The site can be
found at www.saatchi-saatchi.com.
Kevin Roberts, the chief executive of Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide,
announced the introduction of the award on Tuesday.
Entries will be judged by a panel which includes the former Apollo 11
astronaut, Buzz Aldrin, the former Tomorrow’s World TV presenter, James
Burke, and Rupert Murdoch’s son, Lachlan.
Roberts also revealed that the agency is to change its name, dropping
the ’Advertising’ from Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising in a bid to
reinforce its commitment to total communications.
Newsmaker, p14.
Euro RSCG Wnek Gosper is ’vandalising’ its own London Underground
escalator posters for the Peugeot 306.
At first glance, the agency’s latest work looks like a conventional car
poster. However, chewing gum has been stuck on all four of the car’s
tyres to illustrate its superior road-holding capabilities, and the
headline reads: ’It sticks to the road.’
The copy goes on to say: ’Once it’s on the road, that’s where it stays.
The Peugeot 306 with self-steering rear suspension.’
The ad was created by the copywriter, Nick Bird, and his art director
partner, Lee Smith.
Media was bought by Mediapolis, the media arm of Euro RSCG and Young &
Rubicam. Initiative Media does not start working on the account until
next spring.
