Trends and insights from day 4 at #CannesLions.

1. 2013
cannes lions
recap
day4
8

2. Extended
AdolescenceSo, maybe it wasn’t the best choice of words, but when you’ve just sold your site for $1.1
billion, you can say whatever the hell you want. Tumblr founder David Karp did say that the
publishing of social stats was “really gross.” But it was less a “swipe,” as the Guardian put
it, and more of a reassurance to the creative community. Karp’s mission in Cannes was to
woo the creative community, pouring on the love in the hope that the ad biz starts to show
some back. No comments means no hate. But it also means no criticism, no need to fight
for what you believe in, and no means to protest that which seems wrong. Creatives rely on
rubbing up against something (especially this week) in order to generate sparks.
Is the relentless informality and positiveness of our workplace at fault. We’ve catered to the
creative work space, architect Rem Koolhaas pointed out in his talk. When he compares
today’s campuses to the linear, ordered workplaces of the Man in the Grey Flannel Suit era,
Koolhaas sees extended adolescence at work. Are today’s workers any less creative than
the buttoned-up creatives of the Mad Men era? Is our slavish love of that show not just
nostalgia for daydrinking but also a crie de coeur for a little more order? Look at Warhol’s
Factory. No special furniture, warm cedar paneling, or meetings on the floor.
1
2013
cannes lions
daily
recap

3. The velvet
underground
covers kanye
And speaking of Warhol, Lou Reed thinks that “He was an astonishing person
in every way. I hung out with the greatest artist of the 20th century. Although
we didn’t know that at the time of course.” He’s less bullish on the talent of
today: “There’s a dearth of talent today.” Except for Kanye who, “knows he’s
that good.” And so does Reed. “Man,” on seminar attendee was overheard
to say later that night, “being treated like a rockstar for so long must do
something weird to you.”
2
2013
cannes lions
daily
recap

4. Consumewith
DiscretionIt’s a good thing Lou Reed came of age when he did. The Factory of today
is more likely to be underwritten by a brand. Personal and ethical discretion
are watchwords in an era of vastly increased transparency. Consumers
are in charge—as has been said a bazillion times by now—but with that
authority comes responsibility, and it’s a dictate that artist Shepard Fairey
urges consumers to follow. “Consume with discretion,” he says.
Pete Favat of Arnold Worldwide, Fairey’s co-panelist, points out that
consumers are doing exactly that. They are, Favat, says paying attention to
how a company behaves, what the brand stands for, and how it contributes
to the greater good. “If the company is participating in a worthy cause, it
strikes a strong emotional chord with people” says Favat. “If a company is
up to no good, like back in the Fifties when they were dumping chemicals
into rivers… people find out about it right away.”
3
2013
cannes lions
daily
recap

5. Work Hard,
Play hard“The more games you play, the more motivated you are to tackle tough
challenges in real life. You become more optimistic about your skills and
abilities, and you’re more determined in the face of setbacks.” Or so says
Jane McGonigal. McGonigal, a celebrated game designer and bestselling
author, sees heavy gamers as having the tool set tailor made for corporate
success. They are not just tolerant of failure—they manage to remain
optimistic in the face of it. PHD has brought that ethic into the office by
injecting the spirt and practice of gaming into agency life. “Work,” says
PHD’s Mark Holden, “becomes play.”
4
2013
cannes lions
daily
recap