The Jupiter Drawing Room needs you to cause a Ripple

By Darren Gilbert

What is The Ripple Effect and what does it aim to achieve?

Originally started by Jupiter founding partner Ross Chowles, The Ripple Effect is an empowerment initiative that was designed to recruit young creatives from creative schools and colleges and give them the opportunity to kick-start their career working in an agency environment for one year.

Initially, we focused on recruiting these emerging creatives from only advertising and design schools, but this year, we're casting the net wider, and also approaching animation, film, and photography schools.

Why does the industry need The Ripple Effect? What is so important about this initiative?

The goal is to give young creatives the opportunity to develop their skills and kick off their careers using The Jupiter Drawing Room's resources and creative thinking. It's an opportunity for them to grow their portfolios and gain agency experience so that they can find employment within the advertising, or creative industry.

It's a symbiotic relationship. Jupiter creatives and creative directors get to work and play with a new generation of creative thinkers, while these emerging creatives get to build a great portfolio and experience exactly how an agency works.

Applications for it is different this year. Can you please explain how it works?

This year, we are inviting all applicants to send us their CV's and portfolios, which we will shortlist. The shortlisted candidates will be invited to a 'speed-dating' style interview process with all the Jupiter creative directors. From here, the team of CD's will select the five top students for the job.

The industry is ever-evolving, and right now “makers” are extremely sought after. “Maker” are the new breed of creatives. They are multidisciplinary, combining different skill sets. The aim is to give them opportunities to make, and do - to have them work on projects that excite us, and them. They earn valuable industry experience and mentorship, while we get to have a young, energetic creative force within the agency.

Who should apply for The Ripple Effect?

We're looking for newly graduated multi-disciplinary creatives who are self-motivated, self-actualising, and who love making new and exciting things. In reality, there really is no limit to who we're looking for. We want to create a team that can do it all, from coding to directing, to writing and animating.

If you're young, creative, and driven, then you should apply.

Is there anything else prospective applicants need to know?

This is meant to be a mutually beneficial way to create and make things that excite the team and our agency. We want the people we choose to flex their and our creative capabilities, and challenge the agency and themselves to create interesting things.

Submissions for The Ripple Effect close on Friday, 4 November.

For more information, visit thejupiterdrawingroom.com or email rippleeffect@jupiterct.co.za. Alternatively, connect with them on Facebook or on Twitter using the #JupiterNeedsYou hashtag.