Commit To An Idea and Think Fast: Droga5 Creatives' Advice for Entering Young Lions
Cannes Lions is the holy grail for many in the advertising industry, but actually taking home a coveted award is rare, especially for young creatives. That's what makes the story of Casey Clarke and Zac Nairn, the Australian duo who won gold in the Young Lions digital category in 2023, all the more inspiring.
Here, the Droga5 dream team share their hard-won lessons on what it takes to win—and how it can change everything.
What are the key ingredients to winning at Cannes?
Casey> Knowing when to commit to an idea, even if you're not 100% sure it's a winner. You’ve got to back yourself early, or you’ll be scrambling at the last minute like so many teams we saw.
Zac> Absolutely. And then you have the time to make that idea as sexy as possible in the presentation. The judges are looking at a lot of boards, so if you can’t articulate the essence of your idea quickly and compellingly, they’ll move on.
How did you approach the brainstorm—and landing the final idea?
Zac> We spent a lot of time crafting the insight and relating it back to the brief and our idea. That leads to another important point: whatever you do, make sure your idea is based on a strong insight derived from the brief. Don’t just regurgitate the brief.
Tell us about your winning idea and how you brought it to life.
Zac> Our idea was Little Learners League. The brief was about shifting perceptions of early education centres in India—and we tapped into India’s love of sport to reframe the whole conversation.
Casey> We were tossing up between a few ideas at first, but this one stood out as the most unexpected and fun way in. What really made us commit, though, was that it was grounded in real human insight. After that, it was all about nailing the presentation.
What advice would you give this year’s Young Lions?
Zac> Be ready for the intense pressure of the competition environment. It’s nothing like working on a brief at home. It’s loud, it’s intense, and you’ve got to think fast—without second-guessing yourself.
Casey> And don’t leave your setup to the last minute. We did, and it was a mess. Get your tech, boards, and everything sorted early so you’re not stressing when the clock’s ticking.
How has winning in Cannes impacted your career?
Casey> More than anything, it made us believe in ourselves a little more. We never thought we’d be able to pull off winning in Australia, let alone on a global stage—until we did. If you’re thinking about Young Lions in 2025, stop thinking and just do it. You might surprise yourself too.
What new perspectives did Cannes give you on the industry?
Zac> The energy and passion from the other countries, especially the South Americans, was just incredible. Seeing that level of national pride and support for creativity was really eye-opening. It was next level.
Casey> It’s easy to get jaded by the day-to-day, but Cannes reminds you why you fell in love with the industry in the first place. It’s the ultimate carrot for young creatives. And let’s be honest—we all need a carrot.
Finally—how did you celebrate the win?
Casey> A blur of boats, islands, villas, and way too much rosé… then a mad dash to the Friday night ceremony to get up on stage. Surreal.
Zac> Easily a career highlight. We’ve probably peaked already. But it was an amazing way to cap off what was already a life-changing experience.
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Registrations for Young Lions Australia close next Tuesday 11 March. Learn more and register here.
