JWT’s ‘Wall of Inspiration’ brings Spikes jury presidents + students together to spark creativity

To help inspire this year’s Young Spikes Integrated contestants, 12 art and design students from Singapore are turning the competition venue into a live art installation that will unfold during the Spikes Festival of Creativity.

JWT Asia Pacific sponsors the Young Spikes Integrated Competition as part of its mandate to mentor and support young creative talent across the industry. Young Spikes pits teams of up-and-coming advertising executives under the age of 28 in a 24-hour challenge to create a live campaign for a real client. The “Wall of Inspiration” live art project will turn the Young Spikes booth into focal point during the festival, helping generate buzz around the event and inspiring the teams at work inside.

JWT invited six Spikes jury presidents to each provide a pair of students with a quote designed to inspire young creatives, along with a ‘bucket list’ of things that have inspired them during their own prestigious careers.

The students, from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts’ Design and Media Department and LASALLE College of the Arts’ Design Communication Programme, have just a few days to create a piece of art that interprets that person’s thoughts and ideas.


“It’s fun way to both give back, and pay it forward,” says Tay Guan Hin, JWT’s Southeast Asia Executive Creative Director. “The Wall of Inspiration connects industry leaders with two future generations – the young Spikes, who are currently working in advertising, and the students, many of whom will join agencies in the next few years.”

The project adds a visual layer of excitement and creativity to the Young Spikes competition venue. The Wall of Inspiration project also gives participating students critical exposure to an industry that employs many arts graduates as art directors, illustrators and junior creative directors. A number of the art and design students who took part in the live art project over the last two years say the experience either inspired or directly led to a career in advertising. Last year, one student was offered an internship on the spot.

“Spikes Asia is once again thrilled to see JWT’s ‘Wall of Inspiration’ project back for another year.  We are very committed to nurturing young talent, and we are delighted that Spikes Asia can facilitate the showcasing of new and fresh ideas in such a creative way,” said Andrea Hayes, Acting Festivals Director. It will be exciting for all our delegates to see what inspiring concepts will be developed live during the festival.”


JWT supports a number of joint-industry projects to mentor creative talent in Asia, including Young Spikes, Young Lotus and the AWARD School.

“JWT is committed to supporting and nurturing young talent in our region, and The Wall of Inspiration project fits perfectly with that goal,” adds Guan Hin.