'Spur' - a discussion and video series about planning and beyond

This is a fantastic short video series exploring the world of 'planners' through discussions with some of the top talent in the industry.

They explore topics such as defining exactly what planning means, what skills and talents a planner needs and answering the age-old question - are planners handicapped by 'advertising' and should they move further upstream away from tactics and mediums and into the real business issues in order to truly impact a Client?

Watch the series below....

Video 1: Is planning impotent?

There is clearly a belief that planning suffers a bit from an identity crisis, tending to be self-referential and consumed by its own purpose and definition. Why is planning’s analytical lens so often turned upon itself? And why does planning often find itself validating its worth?

Redscout Presents ‘Spur’ Episode 1: Is Planning Impotent? from Redscout on Vimeo.

Video 2: Talent - what makes a good planner?

Gaining extra credit as a planner means literally DOING more today; seeing ideas through and making things happen. Planning and strategy cannot be thinking and information alone, perhaps we are best placed to articulate ideas and shepherd the process after all? Forget adding method to madness, the best planners put madness into the method...

Redscout presents Spur Episode 2: Talent. from Redscout on Vimeo.

Video 3: Are planners glorified researchers?

Whenever you ask about the history of planning you inevitably hear “the voice of the consumer.” And while the phrase has become a shorthand description of what planners do, in fact planners, the elite and the newbies alike, all feel it short-changes the actual job.

Interestingly, the insistence that “the voice of the consumer” is just a myth has resulted in a confounded description of the craft.

In the third episode of Spur they explore the differences between “planner as researcher” and “planner as something else,” whether that is creative muse, talent guru, or digital ninja.

Redscout presents Spur — Episode 3: Are planners glorified researchers? from Redscout on Vimeo.

Video 4: Is planning handicapped by advertising?

Clients are getting what they want from agencies, but are clients getting what they need from planners? What are they paying for and what are they getting? Is the value of planning limited by what advertising or communications inherently provides? To a hammer, is everything a nail?

Simple questions that cut to the core of the traditional agency model. All agree that the potential is to go further upstream and truly impact a Client’s business. And that, somehow, planning may be trapped within a potentially out-dated and self-perpetuating model.

Redscout presents Spur - Episode 4: Is planning handicapped by advertising? from Redscout on Vimeo.

This series is a must-see for budding planners and old-hands alike, it brings to the forefront some of the issues the practice is facing but also opens up to new ideas and how planning can move forward...

Enjoy!