Creative Q&A: Iris Singapore's Subha Naidu

How did you get into advertising?

My dad graced me with the benefits of hard work by employing me at the family petrol station. My duties included cleaning the toilets. On one occasion someone had carved their name into the toilet wall, then filled the carving with their own poo. That was reason enough to go into advertising. It was a very long name.

What was your first ever ad?

A headline ad for the petrol station. It read ‘No cigarettes or cash on premises.’ It was the start of my love for hand-drawn type.

What was your first ever job?

My first job in advertising was at JDA. John Davis Advertising in Perth. John Davis passed away soon after I started.

What was your worst job ever?

I think the quality of the toilets in the agency is a pretty good indicator of one’s experience at that place. So Caltex Koondoola would definitely be the worst. Although my time at Batey was not too far off. I remember the Mojo Melbourne toilets used to leak urine into the kitchen.

What does it take to impress you?

Effort is the key thing I suppose. Being with Iris has been one of the few times in my career where I’ve been fortunate enough to be surrounded by people that really enjoy what they do. And it clearly shows in the effort that is put into the work. It inspires me to work harder, but more importantly, as a group we enjoy working together. It’s the difference between simply carving your name into a toilet wall, or going the extra mile to turn that carving into a masterpiece.

Where do you go to be inspired?

Anywhere, everywhere. It might be our art director Vinnie telling me he can’t wait to see me in the pool so he can find out how long my hair is (weird). Or one of our copywriters asking where her adam’s apple is. Our agency, the people, the past, home and friends. Inspiration comes from living life, because it’s those real life experiences that give us the chance to create ideas that get real emotions. Ideas that make a real difference to people. That, as well as being in the toilet.

If you can spend one day with a celebrity or historical figure, who would it be? Why?

Colin Firth. When he won the Oscar for The King's Speech, he left his speech, ironically, in the toilet.

What is your guilty pleasure?

On the rare occasion, I’ve taken a walk to the Fullerton hotel and used the toilets there. Incredible. Frosted glass doors. Plenty of leg room. Three-ply toilet paper, folded in a precise triangle. A sticker over the fold. Tremendous.

If you have to come back as an animal, what would you be? Why?

I'd be a bird I guess. They look like they are having a good time.

What is the last book you read?

Chinaman by Shehan Karunatilaka. Incredible writer, incredible book about a pretty average sport.

What is the first thing you do when you wake up?

Go to the toilet.

Worst haircut you’ve ever had?

My Snoop Dogg phase when I had the corn rows. Or the giant afro. So many memories, all of them bad.

Describe your typical day.

Concepting in the morning, a couple of meetings, a cup of tea with people from work (because a lot can be settled over a cup of tea), concepting in the evening. I then continue my re-creation of the Sistine Chapel ceiling on the roof of my living room at home, except I exchange the religious figures for basketball players from the ’89 Perth Wildcats. I then play a five hour raga on the sitar in a loin cloth on the roof before retiring to sleep (getting tired now actually).

Can you suggest a question for our next Q&A candidate?

What’s the best agency toilet that you’ve experienced? How did this relate to your experience at that agency?

If you can travel back in time and meet yourself when you were in college, would you warn/ encourage him/ her about working in an ad agency? What would you say? (Question provided by McCann Worldgroup Philippines’ Budjette Tan)

I would tell myself that this experience in advertising would be far better than I could ever possibly imagine. I would say absolutely go for it, don’t be timid and find great people that I’d enjoy working with. And go for an agency with a great culture that love working together to create amazing work that makes a real difference, not necessarily just a great name agency. I’d then tell myself to keep cleaning that toilet, it'll come in handy one day.