Archive - Thoughts on Writing

The billboard backlash

Too many advertisers have forgotten about the social contract that allows billboards to exist in the first place

Oct 7

September 2024

Truthiness isn't beauty

An extract from my new book The Road to Hell, in which I examine the case of Dove, hailed as the exemplar of purposeful marketing, but based on…

Sep 9

August 2024

Social media, social purpose and social unrest

Facing concerns that social media is fuelling social unrest, a purposeful advertising industry is keen to step up – in any way that increases its power.

Aug 9

July 2024

The story of why

An excerpt from my new book The Road to Hell, examining the case of influential purpose pioneer Simon Sinek.

Jul 9

June 2024

Notes not from Cannes

On 'post-purpose', empowered judges, devaluing creativity, alt text facepalms, diverse juries, progressive ads, Musk, and all the creativity never…

Jun 24

May 2024

Come say hell-o

An invitation to the book launch, some social proof, a prod for shares and reviews, and my venture into the lions' den of WARC.

May 24

The Road to Hell is out

Today is the official release day of my book, The Road to Hell. Here's the introduction—along with an earnest appeal for support.

May 13

April 2024

The Road to Hell: pre-orders open

My book about purpose is coming out May 13th. It would mean a lot if you could pre-order copies for yourself, friends and/or sworn enemies.

Apr 17

#84: The problem with purpose

A Q&A with author and creative writer Nick Asbury

Published on Pass It On • Apr 10

March 2024

Have purpose agencies forgotten how to do charity ads?

With commercial clients edging away from purpose, ad agencies may need to relearn how to do great charity advertising. And it's not easy.

Mar 21

February 2024

Purpose, authenticity and nepo-brands

How a billboard for Surreal got me thinking about class, snobbery, inverted snobbery and that M&S Status Quo ad (again)

Feb 8

January 2024

Why adland snobs should relax and learn to love Status Quo

It's not enough to talk a good game on doing populist, commercially effective work during a cost of living crisis. You have to look outwards, question…

Jan 25

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