Six Asia-Pacific CDs contribute to ihaveanidea book CD:YO for fledgling creative directors

Six top creative directors from the Asia-Pacific region have been featured amongst their global peers in a project launched by international advertising industry community ihaveanidea and Blurb Inc.

Asian-based Graham Kelly, executive creative director of OgilvyOne India, Victor Ng, executive creative director of DDB China, Tay Guan Hin, regional executive creative director of JWT Asia and Noel Yeo, digital creative director of BBH Asia Pacific have all contributed stories to Creative Director: Year Zero, or CD:Y0, a self-published book featuring a collection of thoughts from 25 seasoned creative directors from around the world, each reflecting on what it was like to first become a creative director, and offering advice to others who have or may soon find themselves in that position.

Andy Blood (far left), partner and group executive creative director of TBWA\Whybin\Tequila, Auckland and Paul Catmur (near left), managing partner of Barnes, Catmur & Friends, Auckland, are also in there, but interestingly no Australian CDs made a contribution.

“We reached out to many our creative director friends from all over the globe and asked them to help create a ‘textbook’ of sorts for creatives about to make that leap,” said Brett McKenzie, chief writer SBN2 of ihaveanidea. “We were very fortunate to be able to tap into our large following in Asia and beyond, and the six CDs were more than happy to be involved. ihaveanidea has a global presence, and we are proud to reflect that whenever we can!”

“We thought that CD:Y0 was a fascinating idea for a book, since it’s a story that’s not often told,” says Ignacio Oreamuno, president and founder of ihaveanidea, when asked about the project. “And like so many of ihaveanidea’s other ventures, we felt the best way to make it a reality was to do it ourselves. Luckily we have had Blurb, a global leader in self-publishing, guiding and supporting us along the way. Without them, who knows, we’d probably be still trying to convince a traditional publisher that CD:Y0 was a great idea.”

CD:Y0 features both world famous legends as well as CDs with less familiar names. Some of the creative directors featured in the book include:

•    Steve Hayden, vice-chairman, chief creative officer, Ogilvy & Mather

•    Ted Royer, partner & executive creative director, Droga5

•    José Mollá, co-founder, chief creative officer, La Comunidad

•    Rob Schwartz, chief creative officer, TBWA\Chiat\Day Los Angeles

CLICK HERE to order CD:Y0, including a full list of CDs and ordering info.