CB Asia Creative Rankings: Japan rules Asian creativity as Singapore and Thailand slip back

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CreativeRankingsHeading-1.jpgTake a look at the improved share that Japan has earned over the past three years of the Campaign Brief Asia Creative Rankings! As a country Japan has taken great strides forward, whilst Asia’s traditional bastions of creativity Singapore and Thailand have each year steadily slipped backwards over the past three years.

The “Asia’s Most Creative Countries” chart in the latest Campaign Brief Asia Creative Rankings was only introduced three years ago but each year it proves to be one of the most interesting features of the Rankings. To compile the chart we add together the totals of every agency in each country to calculate a percentage total of Asia’s performance at all the award shows.

What’s very clear from this chart is that the once lofty creative reputation of both Singapore and Thailand has been eroded and over the next few years they will both be fighting to maintain their top 3 ranking from the emerging markets of India and Mainland China.

Creative Countries.jpgThree years ago Singapore agencies accounted for 25% of all awards wonin Asia. Today that figure is around 15%. In just the past 12 monthstheir performance at awards festivals around the world has dropped ahuge 7.5% (Singapore had a total of 8294 points in last year’s CreativeRankings. This year it has dropped to 5657).

Thailand too, is being marginalised – dropping from a 27.5% share three years ago to just over 16% today.

Creative standards in Japan, India and China have improved and this iseroding into Singapore and Thailand’s share. Japan’s position isgreatly enhanced by their fantastic performances in the growingTitanium, Cyber, Integrated and New Media categories introduced toaward shows over recent years. In 2006 Japan ranked 5th overall in theregion but their awards performance over the past two years inparticular has been very strong.

India too has increased it’s position, overhauling Malaysia to maintain4th spot. Mainland China and Hong Kong also managed to substantiallyimprove their share of award wins with Hong Kong overtaking ThePhilippines in 7th position. China is now very close to challengingMalaysia for 5th position.

It’s worrying times for Malaysia with agencies there struggling toshine on the world stage and their two super star agency performersunsettled by the loss of their senior creative people. With Saatchi& Saatchi Malaysia and BBDO Proximity Malaysia looking certain todrop next year there is a void in the country, with no obvious agenciesthat can be earmarked to step into their shoes.

Full details the 161 ranked agencies, plus all the other results, are in the new edition of Campaign Brief Asia, available this week. Make sure you are a subscriber or contact the local country stockist of Campaign Brief Asia as this edition will sell out.

This year’s Creative Rankings fills a special 36 page feature in the new edition of Campaign Brief Asia. The Creative Rankings chart the performances of the 161 agencies that have won creative awards over the past two years. It also ranks the 1493 individual copywriters and art directors that have won awards over the past two years.