FCB NZ senior art director Melina Fiolitakis shortlisted in Young Guns 16 competition

Eleven young creatives originally from seven countries in the Asia Pacific region have been named finalists for the the global Young Guns 16 competition, celebrating international creative professionals age 30 or younger. 

Melina Fiolitakis, senior art director, FCB New Zealand has been named as one of the finalists.

This marks the first time live social video has been used to announce finalists for Young Guns, the industry’s only international, cross-disciplinary, portfolio-based awards competition that identifies today’s vanguard of young creatives.  Young Guns is part of  The One Club for Creativity, the world’s foremost non-profit organization recognizing creative excellence in advertising and design.

Finalists this year originally from the Asia-Pacific region are:

• Luke Chard, originally from Australia (working at Droga5, New York), Advertising
• Melina Fiolitakis, Auckland, New Zealand, Advertising, instagram.com/melholiday
• Esther Goh, Singapore, Illustration, www.esthergoh.co
• Au Chon Hin and Si Nga Ian, team from Macau, China, Graphic Design, untitledmacao.com
• Joyce N. Ho, originally from Australia (now in Brooklyn), Film & Animation, www.joycenho.com
• Jiaxi & Zhe, team originally from China (now in Brooklyn), Photography, www.jiaxiandzhe.com
• Satoshi Kohno, Tokyo, Japan, Advertising

The 82 finalists consist of creatives originally hailing from 24 countries this year, two-thirds from outside the US.  Submissions were judged by 61 top creatives from around the world, about half of whom are past Young Guns winners.  The full jury list can be viewed at http://youngguns.org/jury/.

This year’s winners will be announced at the Young Guns 16 awards ceremony and party on November 15, 2018 at the Highline Ballroom in New York.  The evening will be hosted by Gemma O’Brien (Young Guns 13 winner), acclaimed Australian artist and designer specializing in lettering, typography and illustration. Tickets are available at https://www.oneclub.org/events/-young-guns-16-ceremony-party.

Young Guns 16 winners receive a unique version of the iconic Young Guns Cube, designed exclusively for this year’s incoming class, and have their permanent profile page added to the Young Guns website.  Winners also receive a complimentary one-year membership to The One Club for Creativity, permanent membership in Young Guns network, a chance to be featured in Young Guns events and an assortment of career-boosting opportunities from Young Guns sponsors.

Says Michael O’Rourke, executive director, ADC: “Young Guns is special because it’s incredibly difficult to make the cut as finalists. Many of the best young creatives from around the world entered really strong portfolios across multiple disciplines, so it’s badge of honor to make it even this far.”

Past Young Guns include rising stars who went on to become leaders in their chosen fields, including advertising creatives Rei Inamoto (YG4) and Menno Kluin (YG6); graphic designers James Victore (YG1), Stefan Sagmeister (YG1) and Jessica Walsh (YG8); illustrators Christoph Niemann (YG2) and Deanne Cheuk (YG4); photographers Ryan McGuinness (YG2) and Jeremy Floto/Cassandra Warner (aka floto+warner, YG5); typographers Alex Trochut (YG6) and Gemma O’Brien (YG13); film and video director Mike Mills (YG1), animation artist Todd St. John (YG1) and others.

Program branding is developed each year by a past Young Gun winner.  Branding for Young Guns 16 was designed by New York-based creative studio and artist representation agency Sunday Afternoon, led by Young Guns 11 winner Juan Carlos Pagan, co-founder and executive creative director.  

Young Guns 16 and other One Club activities are made possible in part through the generous support of sponsors including BBDO, Crealev, Diageo, Facebook, Levine/Leavitt, MediaMonks, Shutterstock and Sunday Afternoon.