News

Clems dominates MADC Awards shortlist

September 15, 2011 1:00

by Robin Hicks

Clemenger BBDO Melbourne is looking like it will dominate the Melbourne Advertising & Design Awards this year, with more than double the number of finalists than the second most shortlisted agency.

Clems has 35 finalists while Grey Melbourne has the second highest tally with 17.

However, Clems’ dominance is no match from that showed by GPY&R Melbourne last year, which had 38 finalists compared with Clems’ 17. But the Patts did not enter this year claiming it did not have the budget.

DDB, AJF, Leo Burnett, JWT and BMF also look like winning metal, as well as the troubled Publicis Mojo.

The digital category was equally imbalanced, with Aegis Media’s Visual Jazz dominating the shortlist with 12 finalists. Bliss Media, DTDesign and Native Digital all had the next most number of finalists – with just two.

The design category was led by ERD, with seven finalists. Also looking likely to pick up metal were Truly Deeply with six finalists, Canyon, Elmwood, Davidson Branding, Cornwell and Square Circle Triangle.

Chairman of the judges, ECD of M&C Saatchi Sydney Ben Welsh, commented: “The best work was amongst the best work you’d see anywhere in the world and in most categories the standard of entries was pretty high – there were few embarrassing moments of what the fuck were they thinking.”

He added: “The jurors were a pleasure to work with, in fact it was the friendliest judging I’ve ever been involved in. Perhaps the good spirit led to a spirit of generosity, but if you see gold on October 14, you can be sure you’re earned it.”

MADC Awards finalists 2011