On My Radar: Paul & Jono

What the most creative advertising idea you’ve seen recently?

Paul: AeroMexico’s Inner Discounts campaign popped up in my Facebook feed a couple of days ago, I really loved that idea. The tension between the people’s prejudice, and then them wrestling with that prejudice for the price of a cheap flight I thought was brilliant all round. 

Jono: I loved the Dundee Australian tourism spot from last year. I felt genuine jealousy when I saw that, so that’s always a good gauge.

What website(s) do you use most regularly and why? 

Paul: I recently became a hundred-airre on the stock market on robinhood.com. I’m spending a lot of time on there at the moment trying to learn how the financial world works. 

Jono: shots.net for all my News, Insights and Inspiration! Reddit is probably a close second, followed by my ex-art director’s website (I’ve moved on).

What’s the most recent piece of tech that you’ve bought and why?

Paul: I recently upgraded my Pixel XL to a Pixel 2 XL, I think staying one step behind the flagship is the most sensible strategy for buying new phones. And I’m not buying another phone until every bit of ‘notch’ has disappeared from the world.

Jono: I recently bought a PSVR headset because I’m a nerd and I’ve always wanted to see if I could escape from a haunted house.

What product could you not live without?

Jono: Paul’s phone, it’s my way to make sure he’s ok -

Paul: I love my noise cancelling headphones. Blew my mind when I first tried them out. Great for the office when you need to think, and a life saver on flights. 

What’s the best film you’ve seen over the last year?

Jono: I liked the new Spiderman animation [Into the Spiderverse] way more than I’d normally be willing to admit.

Paul: Jono will lie on this question and say his favourite film wasn’t A Star Is Born, but I know he’s learnt to play the main song on his guitar. I’m not sure, last year wasn’t a stellar one for me, film-wise. I thought Three Identical Strangers was a great documentary, Bohemian Rhapsody was a fun, easy watch, too. Nice to see an Oscar nomination that's not depressing.

What film do you think everyone should have seen and why?

Jono: For those who were disenchanted with the third Shrek movie, it’s worth pushing through to Shrek 4 - Ever After. For me, it was a real high point in the series.

Paul: I think every school should show their seven-year-olds Jurassic Park as part of the curriculum.

What’s your preferred social media platform and why?

Jono: Probably Reddit if that counts. I’m still more of a lurker than a contributor, but it's where I spend most of my train commute. 

Paul: I drift around all of them to be honest, but don’t post things that often. Except on Instagram where I recently started my own little instagram project @heads_for_instagrm. It was actually an idea for a print campaign I had once, where our future selves had evolved to have square heads to fit Instagram better. Then I thought, that was an idea I’ll keep for myself as a little portrait series.

What’s your favourite TV show and why?

Jono: I’m a huge Game of Thrones fan. Not just because I look exactly like Brienne of Tarth [below].

Paul: I think Game of Thrones is everyone’s favourite TV show right? If it’s not, you’ve either not seen it, or you think it’s cool to go against the grain, and secretly know it is. 

What’s your favourite podcast?

Jono: I really like Making Sense (formerly Waking up) with Sam Harris. He has a level of calm that doesn't exist within a 10km radius of an advertising agency.

Paul: I listen a lot to The Infinite Monkey Cage, I have a man crush on Professor Brian Cox [below]. Physics and the universe are things I like to try and wrap my head around every now and again, the comedy angle means I can follow, just. 

What show/exhibition has most inspired you recently?

Jono: The Comedy Cellar is my favourite thing to do in New York. Comedians are the masters of finding everyday human insights. 

Paul: Late to the party, but saw Book of Mormon on broadway recently. Made me think that an acted out ad before a play, almost like live trailers, could be a great idea. Just drop me on the credits if you make it happen. 

What’s the most significant change you’ve witnessed in the industry since you started working in it?

Jono: Use of the word ‘bespoke’.

Paul: The explosion of social media, and then putting a logo in the first five seconds of everything in social media.

If there was one thing you could change about the advertising industry, what would it be? 

Jono: Someone said ‘speed of culture’ the other day; I’d like to never hear that again.

Paul: I think there should be an award show more like school, where everyone gets one. Awards for attendance, and a Grand Prix in trying your best. It’s a tough gig advertising.

Who or what has most influenced your career and why?

Jono: The first time I applied for Award school in Sydney (like Miami Ad School), I didn’t get in. It was my big chance to become a creative and I blew it. In the application, you had to write why you wanted to work in advertising. I drew a picture of a deer with a bulbous eye and captioned it “Because I’m a big-eyed deer hunter” (big idea hunter). When I discovered I didn't get in I was outraged. I just couldn’t understand why anyone wouldn't go for such a genius pun. It taught me:

1. Not to be a tool. 
2. If I’ve been so horribly wrong in the past it could easily happen again.  

Paul: I think a few people who have influenced me most are people I don’t want to end up like, people with ego’s about what we do, who lack empathy or those who take it way too seriously. 

Tell us one thing about yourself that most people don't know.

Jono: I’m a big-eyed deer hunter.  

Paul: Did I mention my instagram project @heads_for_instagrm?