Curtin University gets switched on to a new branding positioning from The Brand Agency

Curtin University launches a new brand campaign this weekend that positions Curtin as the university where the brightest minds ‘Make Tomorrow Better’.
The campaign, created by The Brand Agency, is designed to change the way Curtin is seen by its wider market, including prospective students, employers and business partners. The University is well known for innovation and has recently shortened its name (from Curtin University of Technology) to broaden its appeal.
A suite of TV commercials will spearhead the campaign, which also includes a dedicated website, Facebook page, Twitter account, online advertising and out of home. Curtin’s highly awarded undergraduate recruitment project, The Box, has also been strengthened further and continues under the separate badge of ‘Studentbox’.
The Make Tomorrow Better campaign goes to air this Sunday and is the first major work created under The Brand Agency’s ECD Garry Horner. The ads depict a different world in which everyone’s head is replaced by light bulbs, demonstrating that Curtin people have bright minds and are a little more switched on.
Director Sam Bennetts from Plaza Films shot the campaign at 15 different locations using custom-made LED light helmets that could be transformed by 3D animation in post production.
The Brand Agency’s business director, Morgen Lewis said: “We wanted to show that innovation is more than just bright ideas. It is about turning ideas into reality. Our research showed that employers like the way Curtin graduates can hit the deck running so we decided the campaign should show how Curtin’s point of difference is their people, who can achieve better results by putting their bright minds to work with industry. Make Tomorrow Better is a call to arms from Curtin for anybody who wants to make a difference by applying their bright minds to solve real problems.”
“We are very aware that in the highly competitive higher education sector, standing out from the crowd with a compelling message is critical” said Karen Carriero, Director of Marketing at Curtin University.
“We believe The Brand Agency has given us a visually appealing and distinctive ad campaign that demonstrates success, centred around our students and graduates.”
Credits:
Executive Creative Director: Garry Horner
Writers: Garry Horner, James Wills
Art Directors: Garry Horner, David Donald
Digital: Brad Cumbers, Gene Brutty, Tim Seddon, Georg Widschwendter, Carl Fraunschiel
Business Director: Morgen Lewis
Planning Director: Paul Yole
Client: Karen Carriero
Agency Producer: Ian Ford
Production Company/Producer: Plaza Films/ Edwina Speakman
Director: Sam Bennetts
Music: Richard Pike
Post production: Fin Design

40 Comments
Oh my god you must be joking! Our students are really bright so we turn their heads into light bulbs!!! A gigalitre of brasso couldn’t polish the fifty layers of lame off this steamer! Nice junket though!
Good strategy that’s executed very well.
What a load of bulbs
You get the idea in the first second but its a good insight and looks amazing so i will forgiiiiiiiiiiiiiive it. Well done PERTH!!!
Beautiful images!
Stunning, love your work!
it actually made me cringe…lol
beautifully shot though.
1.09 ‘Insight’. Do you mean the same fucking insight that you see in every bright person powerpoint presentation. And you’re in advertising?
I don’t love it, but this is good work out of what has been a pretty boring agency.
Surely people can’t be too critical as it is so beautifully done and there is an idea.
Has anyone noticed a better commercial to come out of this market over the last 6 months?
I doubt it.
The ride by high five??? Man I can see all the cool kidz with light bulb heads busting that sweet move.
1:38 Yeah “insight”. And yeah i’m in advertising.
Uni kids want to do well. Metaphor for doing well = brighter. How dumb are you?
Come on guys! Look at this in relation to the sector; it pounces all over the other WA Uni’s and is certainly a contender for all other sectors too.
Nice work Brand. I found the spot very engaging and i’m sure the target audience will too. Doesn’t look like it was done by a Perth Agency and i mean that as a compliment!
obviously some of these comments are from people who lights aren’t that bright.
Lovely idea, beautifully executed – very impressed.
Beautiful cinematography. Lame idea. 2.57 – I think the Murdoch work is still the benchmark in this category.
I agree 1.09, surely the lightbulb idea should be up in clip art heaven along with the jigsaw puzzle graphic by now.
However, it’s beautifully crafted work and that’s a rare thing to see in the majority of local output.
I’m sure it was a great junket, but if Perth creatives want to continue to assume their work is of a global standard, then appreciate you need to use the appropriate talent around that globe on occasion.
Well done Brand for raising the bar for everyone.
It’s a winner! Leaves others in the dark.
Ahhhh… the old light bulb trick….
The quality of CGI is a hands down winner. 2.57 I disagree completely. Murdoch Uni market share is decreasing, so clearly the Murdock ad campaign has not worked. If you’re going to compare, then compare apples with apples. The production work for the Curtin Uni ad is in a different league all together.
If they are not careful, the Brand are going to become known as the agency that creates beautiful-looking work from shite ideas. After a bit of success in the craft categories (see print craft at AWARD) someone internally will say ” Hey, nice work, but why are our ideas so lame?” At which point they will have to do something. My money is on them using deserved craft metal to tempt better creatives on-board. I’m sure Garry Horner is already deciding who will be sitting where at TBA 2.0
Just in case people dont get it BAM -“you can always spot the brightest minds”. And as for the read – a broken Stephen Hawkins voice box could have done it better.
Beautiful look tho. My advice – lose the voice and you might have a winner
3.38. Murdoch is the benchmark? You’re a funny man!
My teenage kids think it is cool so who am I to disagree. Standout work, well done you guys.
A great spot, well done to Brand and the client.
2.35 is right. Unlike some dim people on this blog, any Curtin student would be able to spot that this is NOT a metaphor for ideas, it’s about bright minds. Fresh approach, great production values too, big tick from me.
Haha 6.42 you obviously dont have a light bulb head-the spots dont air untill Sunday so you obviously work at Brand or how else would your teens have seen them? What are they gonna say-“um that’s really lame Mum/Dad-now can I have fifty bucks to go to the movies/buy a case of rtd’s?”
Saw the bus driving around, and wondered if there would be more. Nice spot.
Dear 2.12, the spots are on the CB blog, in case you hadn’t noticed, so anyone can see them. Love, 6.42
Nice spot!
You are doing a great job Garry.
Well done to the rest of the team too.
Dear 6.42 @ 4.49 sorry I forgot that the CB blog is second only to facebook when it comes to teenage users. forgive me…please x
Love it.
How many advertising creatives does it take to change a lightbulb? None – they don’t bother changing it.
Up until just a few hours ago Light Bulb Head was leading the race to take out top honors at the GOLDEN NAFFIES-and then this came along…
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1356695/Grammys-2011-Lady-Gaga-turns-concealed-EGG.html
9.21, whilst of course you are entitled to your opinion, i happen to disagree with you. I really like it and i’m sure the target audience wiil too.
Great spot, well done Brand!
Fixed the soundtrack for them.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xh2hb5_curtin-parody-with-a-song-that-is-right-copy-search-for-it_fun
my Pleasure!
Nice positioning statement.
Terrible idea.
Well shot.
How many marketing creatives does it take to change a lightbulb?
About 3 designer-monkey’s to turn the bulb inch by inch according to the marketers directions because they aren’t skilled enough to do it themselves but feel they need to prove their existence.
How many ideas does it take to change a brand?
Lightbulb head.
Awesome spot, nice work all round.