By Elin Jarlstrom

In the beginning of the year, Marc taught us to see the opportunities in every brief we get. Something to remember for next years intake. No one will ever tell us how far it might take us. It’s up to us to grab it and make it happened. 

Go big or go home.

Yesterday night Marcella and I found ourselves presenting our idea ‘Hack Valentines’ at W+K. When we last week realised we got shortlisted for their ‘Make the world a better place’ brief, I know I speak for both of us when I say we felt not only happy, but relieved. After what Marcella wrote in her last SCAB: https://schoolcommunicationarts.com/82-uploaded-by-marcellatarable/, explaining our process leading up to deadline day, the amount of chocolate buns and sleepless nights some how paid off. 

Due to my sprint from Stansted Airport to Shoreditch (a story for another time), we were listed as the last team to present. This meant we got to see some great ideas before it was our turn, including Frazer and Teddy who represented Joel for the night.

As our case study was playing on the screen, I found myself looking back at the day we decided to go for it. To take on this brief and shoot for the moon. We talked, and talked, and talked. Then we pushed, argued, and discussed. And then finally, we created.

And because of that, here we were.

Marcella and I didn’t win a placement at W+K yesterday. Dom and Seb from last year did, for their great idea about donating money to people without clean water by buying a Virtual bath.

But as I put my hands together when the winner was announced, I realised something.

We did this brief whilst others didn’t.

We got to present our idea at one of the best agencies in the world.

We put a face to our names and we made sure to make ourselves rememberable.

So in one way, we had already won.

We went big, and got to walk in stupid.