Perth’s Curtin University gets switched on to a new brand positioning from The Brand Agency
CB Exclusive – Curtin University launches a new brand campaign this weekend that positions Curtin as the university where the brightest minds ‘Make Tomorrow Better’.
The campaign, created by The Brand Agency, Perth, is designed to change the way Curtin is seen by its wider market, including prospective students, employers and business partners. The University is well known for innovation and has recently shortened its name (from Curtin University of Technology) to broaden its appeal.
A suite of TV commercials will spearhead the campaign, which also includes a dedicated website, Facebook page, Twitter account, online advertising and out of home. Curtin’s highly awarded undergraduate recruitment project, The Box, has also been strengthened further and continues under the separate badge of ‘Studentbox’.
The Make Tomorrow Better campaign goes to air this Sunday and is the first major work created under The Brand Agency’s new ECD Garry Horner, the former ECD at Whybin\TBWA in Sydney who joined late last year. The ads depict a different world in which everyone’s head is replaced by light bulbs, demonstrating that Curtin people have bright minds and are a little more switched on.
Director Sam Bennetts from Plaza Films shot the campaign at 15 different locations using custom-made LED light helmets that could be transformed by 3D animation in post production.
The Brand Agency’s business director, Morgen Lewis said: “We wanted to show that innovation is more than just bright ideas. It is about turning ideas into reality. Our research showed that employers like the way Curtin graduates can hit the deck running so we decided the campaign should show how Curtin’s point of difference is their people, who can achieve better results by putting their bright minds to work with industry. Make Tomorrow Better is a call to arms from Curtin for anybody who wants to make a difference by applying their bright minds to solve real problems.”
“We are very aware that in the highly competitive higher education sector, standing out from the crowd with a compelling message is critical” said Karen Carriero, Director of Marketing at Curtin University.
“We believe The Brand Agency has given us a visually appealing and distinctive ad campaign that demonstrates success, centred around our students and graduates.”
Credits:
Executive Creative Director: Garry Horner
Writers: Garry Horner, James Wills
Art Directors: Garry Horner, David Donald
Digital: Brad Cumbers, Gene Brutty, Tim Seddon, Georg Widschwendter, Carl Fraunschiel
Business Director: Morgen Lewis
Planning Director: Paul Yole
Client: Karen Carriero
Agency Producer: Ian Ford
Production Company/Producer: Plaza Films/ Edwina Speakman
Director: Sam Bennetts
Music: Richard Pike
Post production: Fin Design

59 Comments
is this a joke? i cant honestly believe someone has actually gone and done the lightbulb…
No way…
60 Watt the fuck?
Nice work.
This for a forward thinking uni …surprising lack of energy for something that should have exciting future it sounds so sombre…sorry… some one should have switched the lights off much sooner.
Beautiful spot, well done.
Obvious idea but beautifully made.
Good one Gazza, nicely done.
Very Cool. Love it.
Compared to a lot of rubbish on our screens , this is a cool spot.
Pun-tastic and very creepy……but at least they have tried
Light bulbs as a metaphor for ideas may be a cliche but that is not what this spot is about – it’s about bright minds. I’m sure the kids Curtin want to attract will work that one out. Good job.
Lightbulbs? I have to admit was all prepared to hate this spot , but much to my surprise ,i really liked it. Nicely crafted and a nice twist on theme. There’s not too much good work around and I expect this will stand out, especially over West.
Lot of brand people posting here – seriously no matter how good it may look it’s based on a terrible cliche as opposed to any kind of meanigful insight. And as for that ride by high five!!!
Unlike some dim people on this blog, any Curtin student would be able to spot that this is NOT a metaphor for ideas, it’s about bright minds. Fresh approach, great production values too, big tick from me.
Nicely shot,
Nicely directed
great post
average idea
Average music…
Absolute Crap VO. (sounded like a student! with no idea)
3.5 stars
Hey Brand, Let the director get involved more. Or if you did, then get involved more.
This comment is just to boost numbers for the ‘comment-o-meter’
Totally got that bulbs are metaphor for bright minds, not ideas, so works for me.
4:44 is on the money, except for the music part. Its great to see an ad like this without a damn Jonanna Newsom/folk rubbish song on it. Made it feel like a movie and will appeal to students cause it is unexpected and different. I say good on Brand for backing it.
Shame they have used the very obvious metaphor of a bulb for people with ideas… Good music and direction
Nice ad, don’t actually mind the music.
Light bulbs for bright minds is still the same as an idea in my book. Done so many times!
Would have been nicer without the VO…but I guess that’s not how it was written?
There’s nothing else around that looks like this so it’s refreshing. Great music and it’s been done really well.
I like how they got that anying women from the Boost Juice Ad to do the VO.
done
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5SYSs_Ta9c
Love it. All you people whinging should grow up and look at this compared to the other ads going around. This one makes you feel something, it’s visually engaging and by the end of it you’re interested enough to pursue further information.
Win.
ok, but the direction looks extremely derivative of other peoples’ work
12.03 that’s because a script in which bright minds/ideas are represented by people with light bulbs for heads wouldn’t make it past the bin in the corner of most teams offices. Bad visual pun and drab V.O aside, it is very well produced so hats off to the director and the post team for that.
Good spot and actually i don’t agree with 10.49, bright minds works for me. But hey, we don’t have to concur.
If you are going to use a visual metaphor in your ad, make sure it delivers on at least one level of engagement.
Like this:
http://www.coloribus.com/adsarchive/outdoor/harvey-nichols-store-balloon-10057755/
3.57…done.
You’re a fuckwit.
It may not be a totally original idea, but don’t post something that has nothing to do with anything and say done, it makes you a knob….
Boring Boring Boring. Are these guys just lazy?
Christ ,some of you guys are harsh. It goes without saying you’re brilliant, but i for one like it.
Direction – tick
Look – tick
Music – tick
VFX – tick
Idea – cross
Voice over – Fail
Great work Gazza. This spot will certainly stand out in the West, but also Nationally. Nicest looking tvc I’ve seen for a while. Well done to you and Brand Agency and to Plaza.
The essence of the idea goes back at least to 1956 and ‘Gyro’s Little Helper’, a light bulb-headed character created by Carl Barks for Disney.
He used to follow Gyro Gearloose around:
http://www.2719hyperion.com/2008/03/what-character-gyros-little-helper.html
Didn’t need a voice-over as it’s a pretty obvious idea.
Ironically, they are assume the audience is thick and needs the idea spelling out.
Better than 99% of the crap ads on TV. Well done guys, I’m sure the public will love it.
Good spot, job well done.
“hi, what do you do at Brand?”
” my job is to type positive responses on the CB blog.”
“wow, you must be busy.”
hahaha @ 52 seconds.
Looks good.
Awesome spot.
I smell a gold lion.
lion poo?
Sorry is it Brand or Bland?
12.29PM. Are you standing in a zoo?
Up until just a few hours ago Light Bulb Head was leading the race to take out top honors at the GOLDEN NAFFIES-and then this came along…
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1356695/Grammys-2011-Lady-Gaga-turns-concealed-EGG.html
So, how much was the bet to get “…switched on…” through?
Fuck that will stand out on Perth TV.
Guess that’s why Gazza is there.
Nice work. If you think this is shit – then you’re shit.
4.14pm. You are from Brand. Stand out on Perth TV!!!! You know about Perth TV but talk about Gazza being THERE. Are you in the Melbourne Brand? Stop trying to polish.
NICE ONE, SAMMY!!!!!
New ECD arrives. Lays out his creds by pulling production co favours to produce great looking spot. Assembled BB anon bloggers acknowledge craft but lambast lack of originality and idea. And so it goes on.
I hope these is some matching print for this.
Could look AMAZING.
I know it will stand out in Perth but it would be a good chance at an integrated lion too.
This is a gold lion.
100%.
100% not a chance
I meant 100% certain chance
Soundtrack fixed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtWVMw7GYzw
oops. looks like warner music got to it. The song is man with the lightbulb head. great 1980s track. here’s the video again:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xh2hb5_curtin-parody-with-a-song-that-is-right-copy-search-for-it_fun