Out of the Square (OOTS) creatives Ryan Williams, Graphic and UX/UI Designer, and Emmerson Maclean, Videographer and Editor, have been selected as Finalists in the inaugural Cairns Hatchlings competition.

As part of the prestigious annual Cairns Crocodiles, the innovative Cairns Hatchlings program is designed to elevate emerging talent across the Asia Pacific region. It provides entrants the opportunity to compete against industry peers across a range of advertising and marketing disciplines including design, audio, media, PR and video.

Responding to a brief to empower everyday people to participate in The Great Reef Census, Williams and Maclean produced a film and campaign idea to raise awareness of reef monitoring and conservation, highlighting the urgency of this need, and motivating audiences to contribute.

Working collaboratively, the colleagues from OOTS’ creative production team, brainstormed insights and strategies to address a key challenge facing one of Australia’s most famous natural wonders: that the problems of climate change, invasive species and pollution often feel too big and overwhelming for individuals to solve. To address that feeling of helplessness, they devised their approach, ‘Click to Save’. Contrasting the stunning visuals of the reef and the interface of a digital device, the campaign shows that anyone with a computer and a little bit of spare time can contribute to the fight.

This idea along with a one minute video they created, has earned them one of only two places in the Final of the Video Award.

Now the pressure’s on to pull out even more fresh ideas and really flex their creative muscles! This innovative pair will have to compete alongside a duo from national media organisation oOh!media, in a live pitch session held in Cairns on May 15^th.   

“We’re blown away to be selected as finalists,” said Ryan Williams. “This competition has been an exciting opportunity to respond to a good brief for a good cause. Thanks to the team at Out of the Square for supporting us to make it happen.”

Emmerson Maclean, added “For only being in the industry for a relatively short period of time, this is an incredible chance to workshop in front of some advertising industry heavyweights and get their feedback in Cairns.”