The Shark Awards have announced the winner of this year’s Young Shark competition. The competition, which is open to creatives under the age of 26, was won by Shauna Irani, a copywriter from Ogilvy India who beat off the competition with her direct mailer idea ‘The Real Test of 2020’. The brief addressed the topic now affecting the entire planet: Covid-19.
The young creatives were tasked with creating a campaign for the global creative industry of writers, art directors, photographers, animators, composers, editors and designers encouraging them to be brave and show their great work despite current challenges and the fact that many award shows around the world have been called off – but not the Sharks.
In setting the brief, the Sharks team were looking for an appropriate way in which to call on the industry to keep creativity alive during the pandemic. Shauna’s idea is a direct mailer invitation which resembles a Covid-19 testing kit, with information leaflets tucked inside the vials. Creatives everywhere are urged to step up to the real test of 2020: The Sharks.
The Young Shark Award was judged by Vishal Dheiman, head of innovation at BBDO New York, who said that from the many great ideas they received, Irani’s stood out. “It was imaginative and straight to the point,” Dheiman said. “I’d love to see this in production and receive the kit myself. Congratulations Shauna!” Dheiman added.
Irani was also a finalist at the Cannes Young Lions 2018 and the Young Spikes India 2019.
The entry deadline for advertising, digital and design is Tuesday, September 1.
Thursday, December 31 is the close-off for short film and music video.
