The Idea Bounty Blog in Interviews

A big congratulation to our two winners for the TEDx Stellenbosch brief! It seemed that the choosing of the wining ideas was not easy on the TEDx team at all. All the submissions we received for this brief were incredible and very well thought out and I have to congratulate the shortlisted candidates for their amazing submissions. 

Infact there were so many awesome Ideas for themes and curators that we ended up with a very strong shortlist of 15 Ideas! After some tough deliberation the TEDx team made the call on what they felt was the best way to go - so congratulations to Jason Warner and Marchen Cordon on your win! Nicely Played guys! You can see the full list of those who submitted the Top 15 shortlisted Ideas here and we took some time out to talk to our winners and here is what they had to say: 

Jason Warner with his new Nokia N8 

First of all, congratulations on having the winning idea! What went through your mind when you got the phone call telling you you’d won? 

Well I was lucky enough to be the first Quirkstar (Disclaimer: Jason works for Quirk Education a company that belongs to the same stable of business as Idea Bounty. You can find out more here) to win a bounty - a massive privilege in its own right – which meant that instead of a phone call I got a manly handshake. 

I felt pretty thrilled to have won. I shot off my idea and didn’t give it much thought until maybe a week before the announcement, so yeah, what a great feeling. 

What made you submit an Idea? Was it the Brief, the client or the challenge in coming up with a new name?

Definitely a combination of all three: The brief was simple and clear, and didn’t require a colossal effort. TED is a great brand run by great people doing great things, and I feel their ethos lends itself quite well to crowdsourcing. 

The challenge itself was a lot of fun and my brief is something I feel quite strongly about.

How did you come up with the Idea? What were some of the inspirational tools that you made use of if any?

I used to work for the Cape Times and the Cape Argus, so have a natural interest in writing and the media in general. I now work for Quirk Education, tying in my strong affinity for digital and knowledge sharing. The brief was a combination of these loves. 

Imagine you have an unlimited budget and you can work for any client on any brief. Who would it be, what would it be, and why.

I’m a massive Adidas fan boy – everything from their design to their marketing approach (just take a look at this video announcing their new range) I love their fresh approach, and feel they have their finger on the pulse of international culture like none of their competitors. 

Finally if it was a life and death situation, and you had to have a brand logo tattooed onto your forehead. Which brand would you go with? 

The forehead? Y’ouch. If you haven’t guessed already, it would the three stripes of Adidas. 

 Marchen Cordon

First of all, congratulations on having the winning idea! What went through your mind when you got the phone call telling you you’d won? 

At first I thought it was a prank, but then I heard TEDx Stellenbosch and it started to sink in, caught totally off guard but trying to act calm. It was the first day of the Census 2011 Project, so I had a lot on my mind, so it was quite a nice surprise in the midst of all the madness.  

What made you submit an Idea? Was it the Brief, the client or the challenge in coming up with a new name?

I had become so busy and hadn’t been on the site for quite some time, I use to submit at least one idea for every brief before, so I popped in to see what I missed, and saw the TEDx brief. I had no clue who or what TEDx was, and that caught my attention, wanting to read up on TEDx, which I found interesting. So it was partly me missing the IdeaBounty setup and partly the client

You are currently working with the 2011 census in South Africa. What is the funniest or weirdest thing you have seen so far?

You get your difficult people and then you get people who are hiding something, those who is trying to hide something are either very moody or over friendly. And its for small matters, maybe a container or structure which they do not have permission for, which have nothing to do with us anyway, more then that I can’t say, it’s all confidential. 

How did you come up with the Idea? What were some of the inspirational tools that you made use of if any?

As a marketer, looking for or identifying new trends sort of comes natural, and what I’ve found, and I’m sure most marketers have also, is that we depend too much on the opinions of the international markets rather then starting our own. But when you look hard enough you’ll find that a fair enough of great ideas or concepts have African roots. But so often we lay down the foundation and then get settled instead of developing what we have and make it better. 

This have been one of the many burning questions in my head for a while, so this brief just helped me express that specific idea or thought, hopefully it can get people to thinking and have more respect for their surroundings and what it has and can inspire, irrespective of where they find them self in the world  

Imagine you have an unlimited budget and you can work for any client on any brief. Who would it be, what would it be, and why?

I must say Capitec Bank. My reason being, Capitec Bank is one of the fastest growing brands locally, and they have immense potential. The advantage they have over other banks, is the fact that they started so late, they were founded in 2001, which in banking industry terms, is relatively new, but have given them the foundation to build a quality brand. Technology and banking systems were better developed in 2001 then the time all the leading banks of today were started, this gave them a better platform to build on. I say watch that space over the next few years

Finally if it was a life and death situation, and you had to have a brand logo tattooed onto your forehead. Which brand would you go with? 

Coca Cola obviously, best brand ever, I don’t believe Coke as a brand will ever die out

Its not often that we have more than one winner of a Bounty and even more rare to have brief where the intention is to pick three winning Ideas. But thats exactly what has happened with our brief from Mainstay who have just awarded three Bountys off the back of their drinks creation brief. The quality of submissions we received was phenomenal which meant sorting through them was quite a task. So those of you who make it into the Top 15 list well done, it was no small feat!. You can view the Top 15 list here. So without any more waffling I would like to congratulate Dylan Laubscher, Leann Doyle and Lindy Hartzenberg on their win, really nicely done guys! 

A big congratulation must also go out to the creatives who produced the Top 15 shortlisted Ideas. You have all managed to pick up either a Silver or Bonze Award. Check out our Mainstay Runners up list for more on these Awards here. We also have an great little interview with our winners below. Congratulations again guys! 

Dylan Laubscher

I have to begin with asking you exactly what was going through your head when I called you with the news... 

It was a God Send ! 

So how did you stumble across Idea Bounty and what made you decided to submit and Idea or did the Mainstay brief spark a fire in you that you couldn't ignore?

I have been involved with Idea Bounty for awhile now, I almost submit to every brief ! 

We assume that you have no problem with Crowdsourcing, (since you submitted and idea) what do you think it will take before the idea of mass collaboration will become standard thought for big brands? 

I think it will take a few more excellent results from these briefs to win industry awards maybe? but in saying that I think Above-the-line Agencies as a large Creative machine are under threat, real no-holds-barred-creativity comes from the kind of freedom that Idea Bounty allows people to deliver. And I think Clients worldwide want that honesty & excellent un fluffed “process” mumbo jumbo product at the end of the day. I say mumbo Jumbo because everyone says their way is the best way , most of these ways work some better than other … but its not the process that matters it’s the deliverable … the Idea.

So you obviously have some creative brains resign on those shoulders but what do you do for a day job? 

I work at a great if not the best International Retail Marketing agency in the world called Barrows , we innovate in our industry and deliver on the best IP in the business

Any plans for the Bounty you just picked up? 

Well I just had a need that came up for the money, when you called, the need was answered that’s why I called it a God Send 

What was your process for tackling the brief and what do you think gave you the advantage? 

I asked myself what would attract every sense from the consumer , so I filled in the blanks for that and it worked well! 

How long did you spend on your idea? Was it a long process of thinking or was it  just one of those light bulb moments? 

It happened to be a light bulb moment this time but depending on the brief there have been some that require more research and strategy based thinking.

If you had to tattoo a brand name or logo onto yourself which brand would you choose and why? 

I think a tattoo is quite a serious commitment! I have one and embarrassingly its skew. If I had to get another one  I would choose a truth, so some beautiful Typography something from the bible like “It is for freedom that Christ set us free”

Leann Doyle

I have to begin with asking you exactly what was going through your head when I called you with the news...  

It definitely made my day!  That the deadline had passed was in the back of my mind, but, while I was hopeful, I sort of forgot all about it.  I was elated that my idea resonated enough to be chosen. I couldn’t stop smiling all morning!

So how did you stumble across Idea Bounty and what made you decided to submit and idea or did the Mainstay brief spark a fire in you that you couldn't ignore?

I had read an article about Crowdsourcing awhile ago and Idea Bounty was one of the venues mentioned.  I signed up for it, but it wasn’t until the Mainstay brief was posted that I was compelled to submit something.  The Mainstay brief piqued my interest – where I live, restaurants and bars have a definite focus on locally-sourced ingredients served up in ways that marry the traditional and the creative.  You could say that the brief really hit home.  

We assume that you have no problem with Crowdsourcing, (since you submitted and idea) what do you think it will take before the idea of mass collaboration will become standard thought for big brands? 

I think, in part, that big brands need to recognise that there is a talent pool available to them that stretches well beyond their office walls.  Very much an untapped resource.  I also think that collaboration is something that we are moving toward – we see it in music, craft beer, sneaker design. There’s a heightened sense of accomplishment when a purpose brings together creative minds with different perspectives.

So you obviously have some creative brains resign on those shoulders but what do you do for a day job? 

I’m an Executive Assistant at a local college.  When I’m not doing that, I like to make stuff – drawing, cooking, writing and the like.

Any plans for the Bounty you just picked up?  

I’ll have to celebrate, of course!  And probably buy something for the house.

What was your process for tackling the brief and what do you think gave you the advantage? 

Well, first I researched what was available locally and came up with the dragonfruit soda idea – it seems everyone is making their own sodas now from all sorts of ingredients, and the bright pink colour of a dragonfruit soda seemed like something that would draw interest.  The paper straws are something that I’ve had my eye on for a while, and I’m a sucker for vintage-type porcelain-topped bottles.  Throughout the process, I kept the cost in mind.  I don’t know about having an advantage, I just tried to match a concept with what was needed, and what I thought would work, with an eye to keeping things a bit local. 

How long did you spend on your idea? Was it a long process of thinking or was it just one of those light bulb moments? 

Definitely a light bulb moment.  Once I got the soda squared away, the rest of the components fell in place.

Lindy Hartzenberg

I have to begin with asking you exactly what was going through your head when I called you with the news... 

At first I was trying to figure out what was going on (I wasn’t paying much attention when I answered the phone – being Friday afternoon and all that goes with it!) I was extremely surprised that Mainstay had gone through all those ideas so soon. When I finally clicked that I won, I was shocked but also extremely happy. What better news than this on a Friday afternoon! 

So how did you stumble across Idea Bounty and what made you decide to submit an idea or did the Mainstay brief spark a fire in you that you couldn't ignore?

A friend of mine told me about this great Crowdsourcing site, and I just couldn’t resist having a look. The Mainstay brief seemed like a fun brief to do, since a little “research” could be done. The brief was published on Idea Bounty soon after Mainstay decided to start advertising on television again, and I couldn’t get the jingle out of my head! If you can’t beat them join them! 

We assume that you have no problem with Crowdsourcing, (since you submitted and idea) what do you think it will take before the idea of mass collaboration will become standard thought for big brands?

Companies need to realise that the consumers out there know the brands better than any advertising company ever could. Any campaign needs to “speak” to the consumer, and who better to do the talking than someone who understands? There are great ideas out there, and it would be a shame for those ideas to go to waste. 

So you obviously have some creative brains resign on those shoulders but what do you do for a day job? 

I am a Change Consultant. What is a change consultant you ask? Hahaha – I play a central role in helping changes succeed by maintaining the focus and rigour required to support the people side of change. It also has a creative side.

Any plans for the Bounty you just picked up?

Oh Loads! I want to help my house helps’ son to do a computer literacy course. In today’s world you’re at a disadvantage if you do not have these skills, so I hope this will empower him. 

What was your process for tackling the brief and what do you think gave you the advantage?

Read and fully understand the requirement of the client. Then bring in your own thought process to support the need of the client. 

If you had to tattoo a brand name or logo onto yourself which brand would you choose and why?

Hahahahaha, I would tattoo “Disaronno” across my forehead and then rent myself out as a human billboard for them. Perhaps it will give me the advantage of winning the Disaronno brief…