How many people in advertising are starting to worry about the future of advertising? I say advertising, but what I really mean is good advertising, the kind of stuff that made students trawl the street of London for days, looking for an agency placement. If if you were lucky enough to be offered one, you worked at the agency believing that it was really possible to get good work out, because that's what people wanted.
Advertising has changed a lot since then, when I started, some 15 years ago. It was a great job. You did it, not for the money, but for the creative challenge. But people aren't interested in good creative now, it's all about churn, getting things out of the door. I'm not even sure if most account men or clients even know what a good ad is anymore, at least not until it's been verified by some sales figures three months down the line.
When I finally came to the realisation that my opportunities to be creative in the advertising work place were being eaten away I knew that it would't be long before I left the industry, which is what I did. So I moved back up north and got a job. It's not in advertising but it does use some of the same skills. The work I do now is interesting, but doesn't leave me mentally exhausted and I am away from my desk at 5pm everyday. I'm home in time to have tea with my children and still have time to enjoy some time doing something creative.
