DUBAI LYNX ORGANISERS WITHDRAW AGENCY OF THE YEAR AWARD

FP7 IN BIG MESS & IT'S NO APRIL'S FOOL!

You may not yet realise how much the below news is Big Time news; it is bound to make mega waves in our industry... We truly hope though, this major story does bring seismic changes to the advertising field in the Middle East.

It's Big Time about time all players start abiding to a code of ethics when practicing the Art of Communication, as advertising isn't a game, nor another job... Advertising is Art, made for artists by artists... It is clearly understood that Artists are no cheaters, no imitators, no followers... What an embarrassing situation for FP7!!

However, and as the saying goes: "IF THE SHOE FITS, WEAR IT!" It's a lesson to learn for all; It has already entered history; and while the Dubai Lynx Awards have managed to save their image & reputation, FP7 Doha needs Big Time PR experts to save their ass--actually the Creative Director's ass, namely Fady Yaish--from this unprecedented crisis that could easily drag the agency down the whole! Whatever they do, whatever they say, it's KO!!

Affaire à Suivre...

1 April 2009 - BREAKING NEWS---

The organisers of the 3rd Dubai Lynx Awards announced today that they are withdrawing the Agency of the Year award from FP7 Doha and the trophy will subsequently now not be awarded this year.

Investigations after this year's award show have revealed numerous examples of work from FP7 Doha that did not meet the Dubai Lynx entry criteria and subsequently their 18 submissions and the associated seven awards have been withdrawn.

Those awards were: 1 Gold Print campaign, 1 Gold TV/Cinema campaign, 3 Silver Print campaigns, 1 Silver Outdoor campaign and 1 Bronze TV/Cinema campaign.

In addition, ten pieces, which were shortlisted in the Print and Outdoor sections, were also disqualified.

"Even before the awards night we had withdrawn a number of pieces of work from the competition but subsequently our investigation has found other pieces that were presented to the jury that infringed our requirement that all work presented must represent the client who approved it. Our rules are very clear with regards to this, and we have no hesitation in withdrawing these awards;"

"The Dubai Lynx Awards exist to celebrate and raise the creative bar of genuine work of the region. Activities like this show a disregard not only for the Awards but more importantly for the juries who work so hard judging the event. Due to the scale of withdrawals we feel it inappropriate to honour FP7 Doha as Agency of the Year and so will be withdrawing the prize. I hope that this swift action makes clear our determination to build an award with true integrity for the region."

--Philip Thomas, Dubai Lynx CEO.

"In taking such swift action the Lynx organisers have demonstrated their understanding that in order to fulfill the purpose of incentivising and rewarding creative excellence in the region, Lynx must safeguard compliance with the stated conditions of eligibility. To do otherwise would be to undermine credibility."

--Dr. Lance de Masi, IAA - UAE Chapter.

The Dubai International Advertising Festival and Lynx Awards, which took place on March 15-17 2009 are held in association with the IAA - UAE Chapter.

Jesus & the nuns in a middle of a big controversy

Silver Lynx Award in Print category for CD Fady Yaish and his agency FP7 Doha.

Where the hell such a godawful ad appear? It can't possibly have been published in any any media in the Middle East!! It would have made some big time noise, as it looks truly disrespectful and indecent [that's the least one can say...]

As a matter of fact, Dubai Lynx organisers are investigating to make sure that Samsung have approved this ad & it did have run somewhere across the region...

Hmmm! Will wait for the other shoe to drop, as this one smells really bad...

Imitation or one more suprising coincidence?

Aramex campaign designed by FP7 Qatar

CD: Fadi Yaish

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Dubai Lynx recently handed a Gold Award in the outdoor category for Aramex campaign designed by FP7 Doha.

Here at ArabAd, we were stunned to stumble across a similar concept and execution designed by DDB Brazil for a competitive brand: Fed Ex that is!

Yep, no one but Fed Ex... How surprising!!!

Fed Ex campaign designed By DDB Brazil -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The exit argument has always been "Great Minds think alike..."

Well great! & NO COMMENTS...

But a copycat ad handed a Gold Dubai Lynx Award, ain't that too much? Too bad...

See for yourself, then draw your own conclusions...

Last time, we pinpointed a copycat ad (See below: Chateau Musar, Chateau Kefraya), the feedback was puzzling...you can check it out in ArabAd March issue...In short, the reply was: yeah, so what?! Everyone copies anyone, that's life, that's how advertising works; and the best awards are loaded with copycats and the likes; you are wasting your time busting imitators, it's nothing but a normal behaviour in our industry.... I swear that was one of the replies; the second letter just claimed having never ever seen the original ad...Huuuh yeah, right! They work in advertising but never notice the ads around...So funny, we might die!

Spring/Summer 09

Here are two out of the seven visuals of Harvey Nichols' campaign designed by Y&R Dubai & awarded a Bronze Lynx in the Print category.

Heat Fast. Cook Fast

Coroli Corn Oil campaign designed by creative director Fady Yaish of FP7 Doha was awarded a Bronze Lynx in the Print category.

click on image to enlarge

Seafood with a Japanese Twist

TBWA\RAAD Dubai was awarded a Bronze Lynx for its ad of Beirut Eight Restaurant.

Gentlemen start your thinking

A campaign for the RTA (Road & Safety Authority) of Dubai was awarded a Bronze Lynx; this road safety awareness campaign was designed by FP7 Doha; creative director Fady Yaish.

Stories speaking loud...

A bronze Lynx award in the print category was handed to JWT Dubai for their Virgin Audio Books campaign

Wood Glue for Worst Case Scenarios

Henkel's Pattex Wood Glue campaign designed by TBWA\RAAD Middle East UAE was awarded a Bronze Lynx Award in Print category

Overcome your Fear of the Spill

Leo Burnett Dubai was awarded a Lynx Bronze in Print category for Procter & Gamble Tide campaign.

Alluring Aromas

A Print Bronze Lynx Award for Impact BBDO Beirut and Prill ad of Obegi Consumer Products

Don't Forget...

A bronze Lynx Award in the print category for 3M Post-it campaign designed by FP7 Doha

23 pages in 23 seconds

Samsung Printer campaign designed by FP7 Doha was awarded a Silver Print Lynx award; click to enlarge images

Keep your eyes on the road

GMC Acadia public awareness campaign is designed by Leo Burnett Dubai ; it was awarded a Silver Print Lynx on March 17 at the Dubai Lynx Award Ceremony.

8 out of 10 accidents....

General Motors Road Safety Campaign by Leo Burnett Dubai awarded a Lynx Silver for Chevrolet 'living room, kitchen & office' print advertisements.

Click on pix to enlarge

High Performance Industrial Tools

DeWalt ambient campaign designed by FP7 Doha won a bronze Lynx Award.

New colours to chew

A bronze Lynx award for an all colour campaign by FP7 Doha for Babol chewing gum

The King of Multi-Tools

Leatherman campaign by FP7 Dubai won a Lynx Bronze Award in outdoor category.

Dial Anywhere...

Henkel Dial Sanitizer (office, park, couch) campaign by TBWA\RAAD Middle East UAE won a Lynx Bronze in the outdoor category

With anti-blink feature

A silver Lynx in outdoor category for this Samsung (students) camera ad designed by FP7 Doha.

1 Dirham Ice-cream

This McDONALD'S 1 Dirham Ice-cream on a couch is designed by FP7 Dubai & won a Lynx Bronze in outdoor.

Splash Heinz

Dubai Lynx silver outdoor award for Heinz Ketchup ad created by FP7 Doha

ink, oil, mud

SAMSUNG Washing machine campaign by FP7 Doha Qatar won the Dubai Lynx Gold Awards in the print category.

The Egyptian hotdog, burger & pizza

The Dubai Lynx Print Grand Prix went to Leo Burnett Cairo for the Heinz Ketchup campaign: 'Egyptian Hotdog,' 'Egyptian Burger,' 'Egyptian Pizza.'

Lynx Outdoor Grand Prix

The Dubai Lynx Outdoor Grand Prix was awarded on March 17, to FP7 Dubai for the Braindrain Education programme campaign: 'Gumi Bears,' 'Poodle Balloons,' 'Anatomy.'

Click on image to enlarge

you are held liable for damages

Agency: Saatchi & Saatchi - Beirut

CD: Eli Khoury – Dan Khoueiry

AD: Shady Kaddoum

Copywriter: Nizar El Hindi

Minister Ziad Baroud (between Antonio Vincenti left and Alain Weil) receiving the Pikasso Afficheur Citoyen Award for the Lebanese Ministry of Interior road safety campaign

Flowers online

Pikasso Rooftop Award 2008 for Exotica campaign

Agency: Leo Burnett Beirut

Creative Director: Bechara Mouzannar / Chermine Assadian

Art Director: Manal Naji / Layla Naamani / Joumana Ibrahim

Copywriter: Omar Boustany / Joyce Zavzavadjian

Photographer & Illustrator: Mark Calina

Cheers & Hope tarnished

Created by creative director Ahmad Abdine Beck from Saatchi & Saatchi Beirut, the Chateau Kefraya ad was published in 2003 & won a Pikasso bronze award in 2004; whereas, the Chateau Musar ad was published early 2009 by Horizon FCB Beirut.

for a laundry 'metl al telj'

The Persil snowman by DDB Beirut

CD: Claude Hatem

AD: Diana Soussa

Acc. Director: Nathalie Khoury

Photographer: Astrid Challita

For a similar concept, a possible copycat ad, click here to judge by yourself

X-Mas Colours

Under the same concept built upon Persil colour's unique selling proposition, "Give Life to your Colours," and following the previous visual of the Lebanese flag, and in continuity with worldwide Persil concept that was awarded an Epica Bronze, DDB took the opportunity of the season's greeting occasion and developed a new tactical visual highlighting the benefits of the brand in a new colourful ad featuring a Christmas tree made out of colourful towels.

CD: Claude Hatem

AD: Diana Soussa

Photographer: Astrid Challita

Account Handler: Nathalie Khoury

Agency: DDB Beirut

Year: 2008 For more Flagedelic visuals click here

Forever Love

A concept for Exotica by H&C Leo Burnett, Beirut that "shows the true meaning of love with a daring twist" on the occasion of Valentine day.

Senior Art Director: Manal Naji Art Director: Joumana Ibrahim Junior Art Director: Moudi Yafi Creative Director: Chermine Assadian Year: 2009 - Country: Lebanon

IN MEMORIAM: WORLD TRADE CENTER

Awarded the Poster Graphis Platinum Award

Ziad Alkadri, a Lebanese national based in Canada, was commissioned by the New Talent Conservatory committee to design a poster to launch the Rachmaninov Piano Concert 2007, in commemoration of the September 11 World Trade Centre tragedy. The mandate of the New Talent Conservatory is to promote talented and young musicians. The winner of the New Talent Conservatory 2007 Piano Competition was invited to play Rachmaninov for their piano concert in commemoration of the September 11 events. The poster won the Graphis Platinum Award.

Ya3ish Lobnan w Alwano

“Reviving the colours of the nation” is a campaign for Persil Color that DDB Beirut conceptualised, as Lebanon was witnessing a fresh breath on the political arena that was felt like a new beginning, specially following the reconciliation chapter of Doha and the election of a new president for Lebanon, which ended a political deadlock that lasted nearly two years. Persil campaign reflected the nation’s strong comeback with its vibrant colours and the Lebanese flag portrayed in a linen closet. Built upon Persil Colour’s unique selling proposition, “Give life to your colours,” DDB went on with that concept, which mirrors an emotional patriotic message, while it highlights the functional benefit of the brand --of newness & cleaness.

Credits Advertising Agency: DDB - Beirut Creative Director: Claude Hatem Account Manager: Nathalie Khoury Art Director: Diana Soussa Photographer: Astrid Challita

Dress Up

“Take a flower, a white flower, from Exotica. Turn it upside down, add a spoonful of glamour, a few acres of well trimmed grass, a hint of blue sky, the more fantasies you can get, the promise of a new beginning... and you’ll get the perfect flavour for your wedding....”

explained Omar Boustany to ArabAd magazine when asked to elaborate about the latest Exotica ads created this summer and seen on various media outlets across Lebaon.

Credits

Associate Creative Director: Omar Boustany Senior Art Director: Manal Naji Junior Art Directors: Layla Naamani, Joumana Ibrahim Copywriters: Amin Kurani, Joyce Zavzavadjian

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“Do you remember when Blue was the colour of the sky and Orange the colour of a tasty fruit? Unfortunately, colours have become highly explosive in Lebanon and each is a code for a political party, a flag for potential troubles. "

After the terrible events that happened in Beirut in May of this year, adds Boustany "we were deeply depressed...Then came the Doha agreement and the end of the sit-in in Beirut’s Downtown; we all hoped for a new beginning... At the agency, we all felt that we shouldn’t lose the momentum and do something immediately to trigger a positive atmosphere in our country. We thought, maybe if we marry them all, through their colours, then maybe, it will help. So, we married them according to tradition. After that, it’s very difficult to divorce!” - Omar Boustany Credits Associate Creative Director: Omar Boustany Senior Art Director: Manal Naji Copywriter: Rana Najjar Junior Art Director: Joumana Ibrahim

Flowers for your balcony

Exotica by Leo Burnett Beirut

Get your brand back

Corporate campaign by Chief Creative Officer Ramzi Barakat, for Drive Communication agency designed at the occasion of the re-branding of the agency, which went from blue to red... Here is a teaser & a reveal. This ad rolled out across print & outdoor media, as well as a TVC & specially, a blog got dedicated for Drive tactical re-branding strategy.

Creativity, Imagination & Inspiration

When boundaries boost Creativity, Imagination & Inspiration For Oman Economic Review, a campaign that speaks for itself and echoes greatly and perfectly the kind of challenges that creative minds have often to overcome, when unleashing their juices while working in countries that have set their own boundaries. Fortune Promoseven, Oman is the agency behind this campaign initiated by the nation economic publication; it aims at generating awareness vis-`à-vis drinking and driving.

Press freedom above all

Bronze Lynx Award in Print /Public Health & Safety, Public Awareness, Fundraising & Appeals category

Title: Censor for the World Freedom of the Press

Client: Khaleej Times

Agency: Republic, Dubai UAE

Click for a larger view

Play IT Safe

Joy Pad for the Lebanese Red Cross A bronze Lynx Award in Public Health / Print category By Leo Burnett, Beirut

Dog's playground

A Silver Lynx Award for this outdoor ad for Nestlé Purina Puppy Chow; Domino Purina Dog Chow By FP7 Doha Qatar

New York film school comes to a theatre near you

The New York Film Academy (NYFA), established a new branch campus, March 1st, in the UAE capital. Joining forces with the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture & Heritage (ADACH), the Academy, which already opened its doors, aims at establishing a world-class film school, while becoming an educational center for the nascent film industry in Abu Dhabi and the region. The FRAME & CLOSE-UP hand-shaped visuals, focusing on the nascent NYFA of Abu Dhabi, are designed by TBWA\RAAD ME & UAE. The campaign managed to snatch a Silver Lynx in the Commercial Public Services Print category.

Second Hand Smoking

Silver Lynx in Public Health & Safety, Public Awareness, Fundraising & Appeals sub-category in the Print segment, for GULF PROMOACTION DDB, Dubai For more on Dubai Lynx 2008 Awards, check out ArabAd magazine April issue or log on to ArabAd Archive blog

Leave your footprints

"Leave only your footprints in the sands" By Intermarkets for National Bank of Abu Dhabi

B Kind & Rewind

A campaign from The Martin Agency, USA that tackles racism & religious discrimination, for A More Perfect Union (the AMPU) CD:Joe Alexander; AD: Mark Brye; Copywriter: Cedric Giese

IS IT?

By CD Sami Saab of Publicis Graphics Beirut, for Aoun's party, the Free Patriotic Movement.

For non Arabic readers, here is a translation: The scribbled message is a play on words, as an A (the Arabic 'A' letter as 'aleph' - in orange) was added to the second word (read from right), to remind people that a nation is a 'Union' not a 'Company' (as the word originally meant if the letter wasn't added).

What's better than two falafels?

Ad promoting authentic Middle Eastern food for Ghazale Middle Eastern Restaurant in Canada, by Cossette Communication, Toronto. CDs: Dan Vendramin & Darren Clarke AD: Ed Lea Copywriter: Mark Lewis

Keep Tryin'...

Actually, whether it is outside, or inside that box, thinking is one difficult mental activity for many....--- However, to 'keep trying' is a good advise, since -hék hék--- they have nothing to lose..

Fall of Love

Memac Ogilvy, Dubai for MBC 4 & MBC Action Copywriter: Charlie Harris Art Director: Ramzi Moutran Designer: Leonardo Borges Executive Creative Director: Till Hohmann Account director: Nabil Moutran: Account manager: Firat Atkas Client: Andrew Maskall, (Marketing Manager MBC)

EXOTI--CON

Russian Dolls for Exotica outdoor ad by Leo Burnett, Lebanon; It's the earliest reminder in Lebanon of Mother's day (March 21st). Thanks Exotica!! Could have forgotten!! But will this ad make us buy mommy's flowers from your place? I guess, it's more corporate!! as in EXOTICA too doesn't forget moms'... Russian dolls are maybe overused items in visual communication, however the treatment, concept, approach, execution, you name it, is different than all the déja-vu poupées russes... (N'est-ce pas Asfahani???--guess ur d expert & now more than ever!!! Since ur dream finally came true--OOOF, at last---& now a round of applause to AS-- ur finally part of the Idiotic Alienated Association- Q8 Chapter 0).

A BIG PLUS

By Saatchi & Saatchi Beirut for MTC touch (thanking the red cross for all its humanely possible doings).