David Berkowitz Interview(s)
What motivates you to be part of the PHNX Jury, and what do you hope to bring to the judging process?
I love celebrating great work that moves people to expand their horizons and take action. The PHNX jury is a tremendous group of accomplished industry luminaries, so it's an honor to be a part of it. I hope to bring my own decades of experience working with advertisers who push boundaries of emerging media to help recognize truly breakthrough work.
PHNX has always been about celebrating creativity in all its forms. What new perspectives or disciplines do you think deserve more recognition in award shows today?
It's clear that AI is making an impact across the ad industry. What is so important is to recognize work that, even if AI helped in the process, still feels like it's by humans and for humans. We need to celebrate human creativity, even if technology is contributing to the creative process.
Which countries or regions do you think are leading the creative field right now? And which emerging markets should we look out for?
What's wonderful now is that great work can come from anywhere and everywhere. I'm excited to see more work from India, a massively growing market that has thousands of years of history telling some of the most colorful, indelible stories. And there will be more opportunities to hear from Middle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates that are aiming to exert a louder voice on the global stage.
What trends or cultural shifts do you think will define the most impactful creative work this year?
Divisiveness is on the rise globally, especially in Western, democratic societies. The most impactful creative will help us learn from each other and speak to each other in new ways. Maybe I'm naïve, but I think most people are still seeking closer connections with others -- even those who don't look and behave exactly like themselves. Creative work can help inspire such connectivity.
If you could give one piece of advice to agencies and creatives submitting their work, what would it be?
Don't hold back. The initial submission is free, so it's a great forum where you can take a chance on submitting work even if you're not sure if it will resonate. If you've got something great, put it in the mix.
Which creative minds are inspiring you the most right now?
Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl Halftime Show was a master class in the power of creativity. I've been hooked on the writing of Gabrielle Zevin, a wonderful storyteller. In a different context, I'd consider Mark Cuban one of the most creative business execs now, as he looks at new ways to solve real problems in fields like healthcare. And then there's my 11-year-old daughter; she inspires me constantly, and she helps me learn about everything from pop artists to youth lingo to trending Japanese and Korean foods that are popping up in NYC markets.
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