Interview with the 2020 Jury Chairs

British Arrows announces the 2020 Jury Chairs

We’re delighted to announce Hollie Walker, Creative Director at Wieden+Kennedy, as Chair of the British Arrows Jury, and Matthew Fone, owner of Riff Raff, as the Chair of the British Arrows Craft Jury.

Having both been involved in the British creative industry and the British Arrows for many years, both are very excited and humbled by their appointment as Jury Chairs. Hollie is honoured to be part of The British Arrows as they are highly respected by everyone in the industry, set a benchmark for the year and allow for a scan of the horizon, with Matthew adding “you feel very proud that your peers think you have something to say and you can add to an event you love attending every year.”

With so much creative talent in the British advertising industry, what are they looking for when picking 2020’s winners?

“Brave, insightful work from brands you wouldn’t expect,” says Hollie. “When a provocative idea and beautiful execution come together – that’s when the magic happens. It doesn't matter if it's smart, serious or silly, just as long as it moves you and makes you feel something in some way.”

For Matthew, “it’s when you get a great creative idea – and usually they’re the simplest but they are the hardest to come up with! Then coupling that with something that is so well-crafted, and something you’ve never seen before and it makes a real impact.”

As former winners of British Arrows, the 2020 Jury Chairs know the inspiring effect the awards have on those whose work it recognises. Matthew points out, “for me, it’s not just about winning the awards themselves, it’s about how this facilitates other things. A lot of people come to my company because they know what we have done, and they have seen that through the awards.”

For Hollie, being recognised with a British Arrow is a licence to be bold. “It encourages you to keep on being brave, to take a risk, to keep on pushing the idea, and to go with the less expected choice of director. When you get reassurance and recognition from the industry that this was the right decision then it gives you the confidence to do it again next time.”

The British Arrow 2020 awards will be held at Grosvenor House in London on 31 March 2020.

Entry for the awards will open on Monday 21st October 2019 at 10am.