Favorites

Over this semester, seeing ad after ad, I've realized how two sided advertising can be. There are those ads that are boring, plain, or irresponsible, and then there are the ads that are new, amazing, and can actually do good things for the world. Now, if the industry of advertising as a whole, took a step forward in doing less of the bad stuff and more of the good stuff, it could make a huge difference in the world. After all, people see about 5,000 or more ads a day, imagine if most of those ads were beautiful and promoted a great message as opposed to just annoying people. If advertising agencies could do more good work like Droga5 did with Unicef in the Tap Project, so much could be accomplished. I know this is definitely easier said than done, but having our generation learn all this information, and then sending us out to work in the industry could be the start of a new time in advertising. Here are some of my favorite ads of the semester.

Funniest -



2nd place -




Best Classic Commercial -




Most Artistic -



Most Original -




so many great ones -- these are the few that won in my book!

Definitely Irresponsible

http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2009/12/02/2009-12-02_catholic_league_slams_peta_ad_featuring_joanna_krupa_holding_crucifix_over_nude_.html

I saw this ad the other day, and it really shocked me, as I'm sure it did many other people. It really surprised me that an organization like PETA would go to this extreme. It seems like they could do so much without having to go to this. The fact that they used a cross in front of a naked model can be very offesnive to Christians who see the cross as a symbol of forgiveness, hope, and redemption. Whenever i think of PETA now, I'm going to automatically have a bad feeling towards them. Obviously this was a risk they were willing to take, but I think here the risk outweighs the benefit greatly. Catholic league president Bill Donohue calls PETA a "fraud" and says "The fact is that cats and dogs are a lot safer in pet stores than they are in the hands of PETA employees." If this ad gets a reaction like that from anyone, it is definitely irresponsible.

Small Independents

1. Taxi - Toronto, Canada

Advertising for a dating website can be a hard thing to do. Most dating advertisements are cheesy, pathetic, or just plain ignored. Taxi has gotten past this problem with this campaign. This ad is a great example of nontraditional advertising. Taxi has done a lot of great work, mostly known for their work with Viagra, that has gone outside the box, and this is another great example of that. As they did with Viagra, here they found a way around an awkward product/service, and made it less embarassing.


2. Modernista - Boston

Modernista is known for it's great work with Hummer. The great thing about the Hummer campaign, as well as this ad in particular, is Modernista has given Hummer a personality. Hummer is not just another large car, another big truck that goes through tons of mud, but Modernista has given Hummer a real manly, strong image. DDB started this idea when they gave Volkswagen a personality and changed automobile advertising. Because Modernista is a small independent agency, they are able to go out of the box in a category of advertising that can often be formulaic.

3. Ground Zero - LA

Ground Zero has aimed this ESPN advertising at the correct target market, the hard core male fan. A lot of agencies that have dealt with ESPN have taken this approach. Unfortunately, Ground Zero didn't do anything too revolutionary with this ad. It seems that ESPN advertising is just about targeting the hard core fan, and Ground Zero seems to just follow this formula.

4. David and Goliath - LA

David and Goliath is an agency that wants to break out of the ordinary and fight the big guys. This nontraditional piece really follows that idea. The great thing about this ad is it isn't at all what you would expect. It targets a new audience, and in a completely different way. This ad does not need to be flashy, or in your face, but this simple and smart ad gets the job done.

5. WongDoody - LA

This ad, is another great example of reaching the target market. People who watch this show, mostly teenage girls, watch it because of all the scandel, the hott guys, the hook ups, the drama. People who watch this show know that their parents wouldn't approve of them watching it, and that makes it so much more fun to watch. Just like the Axe commercials can be seen as innappropriate, but are great for the market, this adcan be seen as innapropriate but is perfect for the target market. I think this whole campaign is great, and WongDoody simply used quotes as the copy with an image from the show, but the idea was great.

6. Secret Weapon Marketing

Secret Weapon Marketing only has three clients at a time, meaning they have more time to concentrate on each client. The Jack in the Box ads have always seemed more annoying and dumb than humourous. These commercials remind me of the freecreditreport.com commercials, you either think it's funny or you don't. I do think the amount of time they are able to spend on this client has helped them get a wide variety of ads and storylines throughout the years.

7. Droga5 - NY

Droga5 has done a lot of interesting work, including this ad for puma. This ad simply doesn't appeal to me. I wouldn't stop flipping pages to take a closer look. However, Droga5 does take a new twist on athletic shoe advertising. While Weiden and Kennedy have done very active, energetic, and inspiring work for Nike, which is also what we see with many adidas ads, Droga5 has taken a more quiet and fashionable approach. Droga5 has made Puma seem more stylish and fashionable with the still pose, the use of the model, and just the overall atmosphere of the ad. Droga5 is consistently doing new and different types of advertising as a small independent, and this is an example of that.

"Party Cardis"

"New party cardis on sale this week at Old Navy! But are they too much fun?"


what?

Why did they have to ruin the ad completely with that last line? Usually I stare at these mannequin ads and just wonder where the hell this idea came from, but this one I actually laughed once! But then they added... "are they too much fun?" What?? What does that have to do with anything? And why would an article of clothing be too much fun? Sometimes it's best not to overthink things, and just leave things alone.

Fun Advertising

This event, sponsored by T Mobile, is such a great way of advertising. This approach is completely nontraditional, completely innovative and interactive. While this display is so fun and entertaining, T Mobile still gets their name out there. Millions of people have viewed this video on You Tube, and T Mobile's name is clearly listed as responsible for this event. I wish this happened everyday, everywhere. I want to have 5 minutes a day where everyone does this dance in unison. I think the world would be a better place. This is one of the few great ads that changes people's attitudes about advertising. Advertising here is fun and entertaining, not in your face and annoying.

Large Independents

Dentsu- London

This ad, by Dentsu, is for the National Express transportation system. The thing I don't like about this ad is the use of the side by side. You often see side by sides with cleaning products, laundry detergent, etc. However, Dentsu does use side by side in a different way, in a humorous way. This ad does remind me of other airline advertising, such as the American Airlines ad that shows different signs in the airport with sentimental sentences. However, that ad is sentimental and sweet, while this one is funny but kind of mean! I understand the humor, however, I prefer the sweet ads for airlines, the bottom half of this ad could have been removed.

Weiden & Kennedy - Portland

Weiden & Kennedy has truly created art with this campaign. This campaign is one of the great campaigns they have done that have estalished them as a great agency. This ad, along with others in this campaign features beautifully written copy. It is truly inspirational. This campaign is similar to the work that Weiden & Kennedy does for Nike in the fact that it is not directly about the product. Weiden has a talent for making their ads inspirational, beautiful, and leaving the viewer with a positive feeling. Weiden does not attack you with the product, but makes it about something more, which they have done in this case with the sense of adventure in Levi's.

Bartle Bogle Hegarty - London

BBH's ad for Levi's is a classic. As opposed to the work that Weiden & Kennedy has done for Levi's, this older work by BBH does not focus on adventure or inspiration. However, this ad breaks ground. It is something completely new for it's time. This is what makes it so great. Just like when DDB put out the "Think Small" campaign, it was something never seen before, a great kind of different. This ad, was also great different, and the fact that it went out on a limb and did something risque is what makes it so great.

Richards Group - Dallas

The Richards Group takes this opportunity to make a usually boring client, more exciting and fun. They have created a sense of wonder and imagination in a fairy tale environment. This ad reminds me of the Clorox commercial where the bath tub becomes a whole different world filled with mermaids and creatures. Ads like the Clorox one as well as this one, create a world of possibilities and succeed at giving the client an appealing sense of wonder. This ad makes Michaels less about sales, prices, and picture frames, and it really is able to give Michael's a personality.

Doner - Canada

This ad, which was created to advertise a $500 off offer for college students, is great at hitting it's target audience. College students would be the ones who really appreciate this because they would really understand it. This ad would not be successful if it were aimed at a different targent audience. For example, the Axe campaign, done by many agencies - mainly BBH , is perfect for it's target audience but it is not necessarily attracting old women. This ad shows the importance of understanding your market, and I think Doner does a great job of capturing their target.

Cramer-Krasselt - Milwaukee

Cramer - Krasselt takes a new twist on speeding signs with this ad. I think this ad is extremely clever, and is able to really get someone's attention and really make them think.. maybe I am going a little too fast. I think this ad, kind of like the Truth campaign, is very effective because it lays out the facts, however harsh they might be. Sometimes people need to see a glimpse of the consequences in order to stop their actions. For example, many people seeing 1200 body bags laid out on the street in the Truth campaign commercial, might see that and realize that if they continue smoking that could be them. In the same way, this ad showing people how their medical bills would just continue to increase as their speed increases, might make them realize it isn't worth speeding, and I think Cramer-Krasselt has done a great job getting that message out there.

MDC

MDC is a holding company full of great creative agencies. They are based in Toronto, Canada, and consider themselves a partner, taking majority stakes.

1. Crispin Porter + Bogusky - Miami

Crispin Porter & Bogusky is an incredibly admired agency that has done tons and tons of great work. This ad for the Mini Cooper, succeeds in making giving the Mini Cooper a personality, much like DDB did with Volkswagen. This commercial seems to be imitating many fast car commercials as it shows the Mini Cooper zooming through many twists and turns. However, instead of a long, sleek design, it is a little funny looking car. This commercial aims at putting the Mini Cooper up there with the fast and the sleek cars, and aims to make the Mini Cooper the car that you want to speed through the twists and turns with. I think this is a really cute ad, and I think it succeeds at giving the Mini Cooper that fun and cute image.

Vitro Robertson - San Diego

This ad, for Land Rover, is very mediocre. First of all, the copy is just a cliche saying. There was nothing very creative about the copy, it is sort of just there and bleh. Also, the angle of the picture is not very flattering of the car. It is an awkard angle, it doesn't highlight any great aspects of the car, and it just isn't a great picture. The awkard picture mixed with the bland copy makes this one of those ads I would skip over, I wouldn't remember, and is just another car advertisement.
Cliff Freeman And Partners- NYC



I love this ad. This ad is fun, catchy, and simple yet brilliant. Cliff Freeman really made the cakes exciting by making them come alive... literally. The fact that the song gets stuck in your head doesnt' hurt them too much either. This ad reinforces what Baskin Robbins is partly known for - ice cream and cake. And I can bet that when people want ice cream cake they are going to easily remember this commercial. It's just so fun and cute, and this is probably one of the main reasons I'm sad to see Cliff Freeman close its doors.

Kirshenbaum Bond - NYC

Kirshenbaum Bond's ad for Wendy's is creative in a not so creative way. It defeinitely isn't like most fast food commercials. However, they go to the stereotypical white guy boy band rappers. The first time I watched this commercial, I was kind of just staring at it in shock. I had to watch the commercial a second time, and the second time I was actually laughing, I'm not going to lie. It reminds me of the v dub commercials with the awkward guy with the accent and his strange female assistant, both trying to look cool, but failing miserably. Even though this was a pretty stupid commercial, it kind of works. This is the type of ad that would get sent around from youtube because many young people are attracted to this type of humor.