Newcastle creative agency Out of the Square (OOTS) is proud to announce that two of its team members have been selected as finalists in the inaugural Cairns Hatchlings creative competition.

Ryan Williams, Graphic and UX/UI Designer, and Emmerson Maclean, Videographer and Editor, were named as one of just two finalist teams in the Video Award category of the national event.

Cairns Hatchlings is part of the annual Cairns Crocodiles initiative and was developed to spotlight emerging creative talent from across the Asia Pacific. The program invites entrants to respond to a live brief and compete against peers across a variety of disciplines including design, audio, media, PR and video.

Williams and Maclean developed a compelling concept and video in response to a brief focused on The Great Reef Census, an initiative designed to involve the public in monitoring and protecting the Great Barrier Reef. Their campaign, titled Click to Save, encourages individuals to participate in reef conservation using everyday digital tools.

To overcome the challenge of people feeling powerless in the face of large-scale environmental issues, they crafted a creative approach that contrasts the beauty of the reef with the simplicity of contributing online. The campaign delivers a clear message: anyone with a computer and a few spare moments can help protect one of Australia’s most iconic natural wonders.

Their entry secured them one of only two finalist spots for the Video Award, alongside a team from national media organisation oOh!media. The finalists will now face off in a live pitch session in Cairns on 15 May.

“We’re blown away to be selected as finalists,” said Ryan Williams. “This competition has been an exciting opportunity to respond to a good brief for a good cause. Thanks to the team at Out of the Square for supporting us to make it happen.”

Emmerson Maclean added, “For only being in the industry for a relatively short period of time, this is an incredible chance to workshop in front of some advertising industry heavyweights and get their feedback in Cairns.”

The Cairns Hatchlings competition provides a national platform for up-and-coming creatives to showcase their talent while supporting causes that make a difference. OOTS’ finalist placing reflects both the agency’s depth of talent and commitment to creative excellence with impact.

IMAGE | (L-R) Emmerson Maclean and Ryan Williams, Out of the Square Media.