London International Awards judging gets underway in Las Vegas

The 24th London International Awards judging is currently underway.  Twenty two of the best creative people around the world are at the magnificent Wynn Hotel, Las Vegas to recognise and honour the best work from 78 countries. The categories of work judged in Vegas are Print, Billboard, Poster, Non-Traditional, Integrated, Television & Cinema, Web and Mobile plus The NEW Category. This year’s panels are being headed by Jeremy Craigen from DDB London, Tham Khai Meng, Worldwide Creative Director of Ogilvy & Mather and Faris Yakob of McCann Worldgroup, New York.

Asian-based creatives on the panels are Sonal Dabral of Bates141 Asia,Masako Okamura of Dentsu Inc. Tokyo, and Gavin Simpson from O&MHong Kong. From Australia is David Bowman of Saatchi & Saatchi,Sydney and expat Sarah Barclay from JWT New York. New Zealand isrepresented by Adam Kanzer from DDB Auckland.

“Advertising is used to big personalities.  It thrives and is drawn tospectacle.  So what better place to have a judging than in Vegas,”remarked Faris Yakob, Jury President of The New Category. “This hasbeen a great experience as it puts together all the smart people in oneplace.  And in doing that, it has helped me crystalize my opinions.”

In reflecting on the judging, Jeremy Craigen, Jury President of Print,Billboard, Poster, Non-Traditional echoed some of thesame sentiments, “Judging in Vegas is such a good idea as the city is aparallel of the advertising world. While advertising is about doinggood work, it is also about having fun doing it.  And Vegas is areflection of that.  As for the jury, it is wonderful to judge with asmaller panel.  Having nine jury members in the room is quite theideal.”

Tham Khai Meng, Jury President of Television/Cinema/Digital/ Web/Mobileand Integrated, is also in agreement.  “Vegas is about show businessand in much a similar way, advertising is, too.  But one of the bestthings about this judging is the jury members.  This is one of the bestjury I’ve judged with.”

This is the first year that London International Awards is bringing all the judges together to judge in Vegas.

“We are now in our 24th year.  We thought the Wynn in Vegas would beideal as it has everything on its premises to give the judges anunforgettable judging experience. This is also a prelude to what wehave planned for our 25th Anniversary,” said Barbara Levy, President ofLondon International Awards.  Whithout revealing too much, Barbaraadded, “You can expect things to be even bigger and better for our 25thAnniversary next year.”  

This year London International Awards received 13117 entries from 78 countries.

“While we have had a 27% drop in the volume, it has been a good year,considering the state of the current economic situation,” added Barbara Levy.  “Despite the lower number the quality of work is stillvery good.”