John Ayling & Associates has been appointed to handle the media
planning and buying for Millennium Products, an initiative launched by
the Design Council to identify innovative and forward-thinking products
for the 21st century.
The work for the project, believed to be backed by as much as pounds 4
million in the two years leading up to 2000, has been written by Tony
Brignull and art directed by Cathy Heng through the creative
consultancy, White Door. Aylings won the media task without a pitch.
The creative work takes the form of a call for submissions from
designers and inventors from all walks of life, and acts as a branding
campaign for the concept. Press work will break nationally this
weekend.
Millennium Products was launched in September by Tony Blair, and aims to
find the ’2,000 most exciting products in Britain’. There will be four
selection rounds reviewed by a panel of 50 which includes John Hegarty,
creative director of Bartle Bogle Hegarty, Simon Bullimore, managing
director of Mars, Stephen Hawking and Germaine Greer.
Selected products will feature the Millennium Products marque and will
be showcased in regional and international exhibitions and at the
Greenwich Millennium Experience.
The Design Council chairman, John Sorrell, believes that abroad, the UK
is more famous for its castles, cricket and countryside than for its
products. It is hoped that the fruits of Millennium Products will alter
that perspective.
