The shortlist for The Drum Chip Shop Awards 2018 is now live, and it is clear that this year's entrants have embraced pure, unadulterated creativity with no limits.
Over the past few weeks, judges battered through entries grasping with current issues and individuals including Harvey Weinstein, Meghan Markle, the Salisbury poisoning and, not surprisingly, Donald Trump.
Judges were particularly impressed by entries in the Best Use of Ambient category.
"Some categories make it easy to do better work, whereas others have floundered a bit," said freelance creative and Chip Shop alumni, John Jessup. "The strengths now, where they were in outdoor a few years ago, are in modern mediums like ambient, stunts and crazier categories, which allow people a little bit more creative freedom and get more lateral thinking."
The finalists for Best Use of Ambient are: AML Group for Empty Homes Agency; Dragos Giol for Amnesty International; Dragos Giol For Yoga London; Ash Kinsella and Steph Brown for Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust; Freelance for Shell; Kitty For Dulcolax; Much Amazing Creative for Specsavers; School of Communication Arts 2.0 - Ben and Helena for Fly on the Wall; Stefan Apswoude for Amnesty and Stein IAS For Asahi.
Leo Burnett, creative director, Daniel Evans was particularly surprised with the Best Ad Without a Visual category.
"In a time when platforms like Facebook, Instagram and YouTube prioritise the visual it was fantastic to see so many entries flexing their copywriting skills. A picture can say a thousand words, but the right line can say it more succinctly and with more relevance. A passion for witty writing not only win a few awards but inform a lifetime of creativity."
The finalists in the category include: AML Group for Quorn; Born Social for Russian Standard; Ellis King and Max Gibson for Wilko; Marks Design for Mini ; Matthew Wyatt for Sky Sports and White Rabbit Budapest for Kinsale Awards.
A full list of the finalists can be viewed here. The awards ceremony will take place at the Electric Brixton, London on June 13. You can purchase tickets online now.
These award are sponsored by One Minute Briefs.