The One Club for Creativity has completed a regional tour across Asia-Pacific, part of what it describes as an expanded investment in the region as the One Asia Creative Awards enters its sixth year.
The tour was led by Chief Awards Officer Adam Izen and APAC Director of Growth & Partnerships Season Zhou Jiayao. It began in May with Izen’s participation at GoaFest in partnership with The ABBYs, before continuing in July with stops in Seoul, Tokyo, Shanghai, Bangkok, and Singapore.
Izen and Zhou met with creative leaders representing agencies, brands, production companies, media organizations, and industry partners throughout the tour. Conversations focused on the creative landscape across APAC, emerging technologies including AI, talent development, education, and international collaboration.
Regional stops
In Seoul, the tour was organized in partnership with BrandBrief, whose editor-in-chief SooKyung Kim helped coordinate meetings and accompanied the team throughout the city. Izen and Zhou met with leaders from HSAD, Planit, TBWA\Korea, Daehong, Cheil, SM C&C, and Musinsa. The visit concluded with community dinners for Korea’s independent agency leaders and women creative executives.
In Tokyo, discussions with Suntory, Dentsu, AOI Pro., TBWA\HAKUHODO, CyberAgent, UltraSuperNew, and PUSH Japan covered creativity, craft, AI, education, and Japanese brands. UltraSuperNew, in partnership with Black Cat White Cat, hosted a dinner bringing together creative leaders from across the city. Izen and Zhou also had dinner with representatives from the production community, including Black Cat White Cat, NION. Nakama, TYO Inc., Pyramid, GEEK GARAGE, Dentsu Creative Pictures, and Taiyo.
In Shanghai, the tour shifted toward knowledge sharing through presentations and discussions with teams from Publicis, BlueFocus, Havas Creative China, SG Group, Tianyukong, and SHAI Awards. The visit concluded with a community dinner hosted by Heckler.
In Bangkok, meetings with CJ WORX, JONGLUCKDEE, Sour Bangkok, and Yell Advertising covered Thailand’s independent creative community. The team joined members of the Thai Advertising Association for a lunch hosted by Ad Addict magazine, and the visit ended with a community celebration hosted by Yell Advertising.
The tour concluded in Singapore, where conversations with Ogilvy, Publicis, TSLA, We Are Social, McCann Singapore, GOVT VCCP, Omnicom, LePub, and The LEGO Agency centered on creative leadership, education, and pathways for emerging talent.
Takeaways
According to The One Club, common themes emerged across markets despite varying structures and priorities, including interest in AI and new technologies, demand for education and international connection, investment in young creative talent, and a desire for more opportunities for collaboration across the region.
The One Club said it will continue to invest in initiatives connecting APAC and the global creative community, including its cross-cultural jury exchange program, which brings jurors from Europe and the Americas to judge the One Asia Creative Awards before also judging The One Show in the same year.
“Some of the world’s most exciting creative work is coming out of APAC, and this tour only reinforced that belief,” said Adam Izen, Chief Awards Officer, The One Club for Creativity.
“Everywhere we went, creatives were eager to share ideas, build relationships, and shape the future of our industry. That spirit of openness is exactly why we’re committed to investing even more deeply in the region.”
“Our goal is not only to recognize great work, but to create more opportunities for creatives across the region to connect, collaborate, and share their voices,” said Season Zhou Jiayao, APAC Director of Growth & Partnerships, The One Club for Creativity.
“The conversations we started during this journey will continue to shape how The One Club serves and supports the APAC creative community.”
The One Club’s engagement in APAC will continue this fall with appearances at DigiCon in Manila and One Asia Creative Awards judging in Kuala Lumpur.
The 2026 One Asia Creative Awards is currently accepting entries, with a final deadline of September 18, 2026.
