Atticus 2023: people and technology

The contributions to Atticus 2023 show that the interface between humanity and machinery both excites and preoccupies us all, says WPP CEO, Mark Read

Atticus is an outpouring of insight, intellect and expertise from our people. These are the people who are helping brands and organisations succeed around the world; their ideas and the execution of those ideas make our industry sing. Atticus is a celebration of their voices, and of the power of original thought – which is what makes it such a valuable vehicle.

It also gives us the opportunity to pursue a very special partnership with Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London, whose graduates were challenged to bring to life this year’s artwork theme: at the interface of humanity and machinery. Congratulations to Kyndro Yang, who cleverly combined human and machine hands, collaboratively wielding pencils and other tools.

The submissions to Atticus 2023 itself fell largely into two camps: one that focused very much on people, diversity, emotions and their reaction to crises; and the other that investigated technology, data, ways of doing things and where things are headed.

Our two winners are Ogilvy’s Shelina Janmohamed who won the Adam Smith Award for her submission on how consumer equality drives business growth, and m[SCIENCE]'s Marcel Buettner and Lukas Burs who won the New Talent Award for their analysis of consumer reaction to global crises.

Both these winners demonstrate that, using data and technology, we can learn more about what makes humans behave in the way they do, and about our role as marketers and creatives in influencing that behaviour.

They also reflect the fact that technology and humanity are woven through everything we do – they are each at the heart of WPP.

Congratulations to all the winners.

Mark