Matthew Chen named winner of AWARD School’s new commercial creativity challenge Brief 10

AWARD has today announced that Victorian Matthew Chen has been named as the winner of AWARD School’s new commercial creativity challenge, Brief 10.

A new addition to the AWARD School curriculum, Brief 10 tasked students with pushing their creative boundaries to come up with a new business venture, product, service, tech or entrepreneurial pursuit outside of the realm of advertising, which can be developed as a new business idea following the completion of the course.

Chen, who was named AWARD School National Top Student last week, emerged as the winner of the challenge ahead of nine finalists (and 208 students), as part of a Shark Tank-style competition which saw him pitch his business idea to a panel of judges including former AWARD School students who have gone on to become hugely successful business entrepreneurs.

AWARD School alumni Charlie Gearside, founder of Eucalyptus, and Nathan Lennon, co-founder of Hawkes Brewing Co, joined A Glass Of founder Paul Taylor, national joint heads of AWARD School Jack Nunn and Mandie van der Merwe, and M&C Saatchi executive creative director Avish Gordhan in hearing AWARD School students pitch their ideas for commercial creativity.

Says Nunn: “AWARD School is a course about ideas and these come in all shapes and sizes. Some of the industry’s most exciting ideas in recent years have felt less like ads and more like new products, services or ‘commercial creativity’ ventures.

“This inspired Brief 10, AWARD School’s commercial creativity challenge, which students such as Matthew smashed out of the park with a winning idea that shone through for its relevance for both children and parents in today’s digital-heavy world, immersing kids in the true magic of storytime.”

As the winner, Chen will receive a mentoring session with Charlie Gearside, one of the AWARD School alumni judging panel and founder of Eucalyptus, and will be flown to Sydney in November to attend the AWARD Awards Pencil Bar and AWARD School National Celebration as part of This Way Up: Australia’s Advertising Festival of Creativity (Nov 3-9).

Says van der Merwe: “We congratulate Matthew and all the state finalists for their incredibly original pitch ideas, which we hope to see come to fruition in coming years.

“AWARD School alumni and Brief 10 judges Nathan Lennon and Charlie Gearside were true inspirations, with booming businesses such as Hawkes Brewing Co and Eucalyptus garnering charitable acclaim, and in the Eucalyptus’ case, millions of investor dollars, all due to creative skills developed through AWARD School.”

The 2021 Commercial Creativity Brief finalists included:

Amelia Hanigan (NSW)
Edward Moult (NSW)
Elliott O’Callaghan (SA)
Jackson Best (NSW)
Jordan Ellis (WA)
Josh Pickering (NSW)
Josh Roseberg (NSW)
Katie Ridley (QLD)
Louis Fairbrother (NSW)

Interested in AWARD School and building an incredible career in creativity? Attend the free application workshop on 28 September. Learn more here.