Past Presidents
Graham Fink
1995 - 1996
Graham Fink has won countless awards (D&AD Pencils, Gold lions, Gold British Television arrows, Gold Campaign Press awards and Gold Campaign Poster awards, including numerous silvers. Umpteen Gold Creative Circle awards, 4 BAFTAS, Gold New York Advertising festival awards, Golden Break award,, Mobius, Epica, various others.)
His work includes the famous British Airways ‘Face’ commercial, which has been voted as one of the 100 best commercials of all time. Other awarded work comprises Land Rover, Red Rock Cider, Met’ Police, Hamlet Cigars, Dixons, TFL. Ariston and on and on...
After landing his first job straight out of art school in 1981 he worked at Butler Dennis Garland, before moving to CDP ( after dressing up as an old man ), then WCRS, Saatchi and Saatchi and GGT. In 1995 he started directing commercials and music videos at the Paul Weiland film company. Winning a Gold Award for his first ever promo.
In 1996 he became president of D&AD. 1997 Voted into D&AD’s ‘Masterclass Art Direction book’, representing the top 28 Art Directors of all time. 1999 directed a short film ( Z ) for the Millenium, commissioned by David Puttnam which was shortlisted at BAFTA. In 2001 he founded thefinktank, a conceptual production company.
His first website design was voted into the One Show in 2002. A true Renaissance man – his award winning photography has been used in many advertising campaigns including the successful London 2012 Olympic bid. He also donated an armful of his blood, which he then photographed to create the much lauded Sony Playstation poster.
In 2002 he set up what some have called Britain’s most radical art school. With monthly meetings in different places, over 2000 people are on their database.
In 2005 he became Creative Director of M&C Saatchi. The agency has since become one of the most highly awarded agencies in the UK.
Q
What, for you, makes a good idea?
One that people talk to their friends about.
Q
From where do you get your inspiration?
The carpet, a bowl of rotting cheese, a misheard word, a limping whippet, an aging wall, a dream, false perspective, wheelie bins, Indian gurus, my Chinese car mechanic...
Q
What is your favourite piece of someone else's work and why?
Cadburys Gorilla. It changed the way clients thought.
Q
What is your favourite piece of your own work and why?
It’s a toss up between the British Airways ‘FACE’ commercial and the recent Dixons posters. Approx 23 years apart. Both very different and both broke the mould at the time. A very visual piece and a long copy piece. I’m incredibly proud of both.
Q
Where did you study?
Reading Art School under John Gillard
Q
Who gave you your first break or was your first mentor?
Terry lovelock ( who wrote the famous Heineken line ) took a risk and hired me from art school.
Q
How did you first get to know or get involved with D&AD?
I knew about D&AD at college. It was The one to win. Most people never get into the book in their entire career, so I made it my goal to get a piece of work in there.
Q
Give us one pearl of wisdom.
Read the latest D&AD annual from cover to cover and then throw it in the bin.
