This Space Is For Sale

Client: Old Spice Agency: Wieden + Kennedy Oh, W+K. You know I...

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 18:02:43 -0400

Client: Old Spice

Agency: Wieden + Kennedy

Oh, W+K. You know I love you. I really do. But I am unimpressed with this most recent “gimmick” for Old Spice. Straight up, I don’t care for it. I find it cheap and uncreative, and it clearly thinks the same of its consumers.

Old Spice is trying to walk the line of being a lifestyle brand but I’m not really sure what that lifestyle is, exactly. I understand the strategy to appeal to Millennial dudes, but I feel that this execution somehow falls short. What exactly is the purpose of Mr. Wolfdog, except to be a goofy character in a goofy ad? He’s clearly being positioned as the new campaign spokesperson/animal. Why would you want to associate a dog with a hygiene product? It’s all just a big joke, I get it, but I don’t see any insights embedded into this new spin on Old Spice.

Maybe it’s because I’m not the target market for this spot, but all I’m getting from this is cheap laughs stemming from half baked creative insights. I imagine the brainstorm went something like this: “Let’s make a dog be the boss of the company!” “No, make him a wolf!” “…A WOLFDOG!” “Dude, you’re a genius.”

Quick, someone get a pen.

"Either it’s about the story, and you’re a really great story-teller, or the message is..."

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 13:33:53 -0500

““Either it’s about the story, and you’re a really great story-teller, or the message is just really simple. Everything else just kind of becomes wallpaper.””

- Chuck Porter, on breaking through the clutter and creating award winning work.

Genius of the day: John Jay of Wieden + Kennedy. Preach,...

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 09:52:00 -0500

Genius of the day: John Jay of Wieden + Kennedy.

Preach, brother!

Agency:(TBD) Client: Internet Explorer After this came to my...

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 09:47:59 -0500

Agency:(TBD)

Client: Internet Explorer

After this came to my attention and I sat there and watched it…I almost stood up and gave it a slow clap. Maybe it’s just the nostalgia talking, but goddamn it, IE hit the nail on the head with this spot. They’re speaking directly to me, they’re honing in onmymemories, onmychildhood and reminding me that hey - things change, and so have we.

“Child of the 90s” has also become somewhat of a popular Internet meme considering Gen Y is the first Internet-centric generation. But some of us still remember a time when Oregon Trail, light-up sneakers, and Dinky Dinos were all that mattered in life and, if you were lucky, you had the chance to dial-up on Internet Explorer and do whatever it is one did before Tumblr.

Love this spot. Love. It.

Client: Red Bull Agency: Synn Labs Six minutes of the most...

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 12:15:00 -0500

Client: Red Bull

Agency: Synn Labs

Six minutes of the most ultimate domino effect in sports history. One thing Red Bull has always done really well is own extreme sports and extreme athleticism. This is no exception - a little long but it keeps you interested the whole time. In my opinion, solid online video footage.

Although I don’t agree that Red Bull should be used as a tool for training, I think that as a lifestyle brand it has really held onto its share of what has become a very saturated market. This is a super creative, and definitely extreme, spot for a brand that seems to personify what Drake meant when he coined the term “YOLO.”

Client: Bodyform (UK) Agency: TBD It’s viral! Bodyform, a...

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 13:30:33 -0400

Client: Bodyform (UK)

Agency: TBD

It’s viral! Bodyform, a UK feminine hygiene company (ugh, I hate that term), reacts to one ignorant dude’s Facebook comment. The video, posted to the company’s Facebook page was prefaced with: “We are always grateful for input from our users, but your comment was particularly poignant. If Facebook had a ‘love’ button, we’d have clicked it. But it doesn’t. So we’ve made you a video instead.”

Hilarity ensues. Well done, Bodyform, for calling shenanigans on idiots everywhere.

Client: Lexus Agency: Team One How’s your mind?...

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 11:39:54 -0400

Client: Lexus

Agency: Team One

How’s your mind? Blown?

Great way of keeping the reader on the page while also elevating the experience. Too many AR executions don’t let the print ad live, they just take over. This is a great way of tying print with digital - both come to live simultaneously. Brilliant!

Client: Canadian Women’s Foundation Agency: DDB...

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 20:48:00 -0400

Client: Canadian Women’s Foundation

Agency: DDB Toronto

When I saw this on TV for the first time, I clapped. Because, damn it, I love a well-done pro-bono ad. This one is so simple, and it gets the point across in so many ways. We need to spend more time discussing the reality of violence against women. It’s heartbreaking to know that the statistic that 50% of girls in Canada are physically or sexually abused in their lifetime. It is astounding to accept that as the truth in my beloved Canada.

But it is. And this simple and succinct ad brings a scary reality to the surface, making you realize that this kind of thing doesn’t happen to other people in a far away country where things are different. Violence against women happens every day, in your neighbourhood, and maybe even to your friends and family.

In a recent article in Marketing Magazine, CWF vice-president remarked that “It’s an issues campaign to stir the pot and build education about the issue…The creative goal is to dispel the idea that everything is fine for women in an era of equality.”

Indeed. This spot hits the nail square on the head.

Client: Lynx Agency: BBH God I love a clever, topical ad. Lynx...

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 22:44:00 -0400

Client: Lynx

Agency: BBH

God I love a clever, topical ad. Lynx gives a nod to Prince Harry’s recent “strip pool” adventure in Las Vegas. Lynx (or Axe as it’s known in North America) totally owns the sex appeal angle for young men. I love a brand that truly speaks to their audience at every opportunity it gets - says a lot about the agency and even more about the client.

It’s no Cannes winner, but it’s good for a laugh.

For Fun “Chocolate to sustain” is the most vaguely...

Thu, 09 Aug 2012 15:59:13 -0400

For Fun

“Chocolate to sustain” is the most vaguely legitimizing reason to eat chocolate ever.

ifilikeityoulikeit: rebobine: Nike: Find Your Greatness *The...

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 12:08:15 -0400

ifilikeityoulikeit:

rebobine:

Nike: Find Your Greatness

*The opening ceremonies will be taking place at 2pmEST today

Agency: Wieden + Kennedy

Client: Dodge Agency: Wieden + Kennedy Sometimes car ads can be...

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 10:38:48 -0400

Client: Dodge

Agency: Wieden + Kennedy

Sometimes car ads can be great - this is one example of this. It doesn’t have that emotional element to it that Chrysler has been hounding, which I like. I think this does a really good job at speaking directly to its target, who I assume are 24-35 year olds, skewed heavily male, looking to either buy their first car, or buy a newer, better car.

I like that it describes car design as a creative process. I particularly love the “kick out the committees” shtick. It has an element of humour, but it’s also a little motivational for the brand. It also isn’t overtly gender-specific. It’s subtly male-oriented, but there aren’t insights in there that are particularly positioned toward heterosexual males (ie. helps you pick up chicks), which many car ads try to include. It’s simple: this is a car designed and built to rock the driver’s world.

Nothing too ground breaking, but I think it works.

Client: Oreo Agency: 360i (digital) So, Oreo seems to have taken...

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 09:33:00 -0400

Client: Oreo

Agency: 360i (digital)

So, Oreo seems to have taken a somewhat political stand. Yesterday, Oreo posted this picture on it’s Facebook page, which was met with quitethe mixed reviews. Naturally, the brand expected backlash, yet I can’t help but admire its attempt to say something important and use social media as a way of expressing the brand personality and to engage with its fans. Sure, it’s a small gesture in the grand scheme of things, but at the end of the day, Oreo is just a cookie brand. And as such, this is a pretty bold statement.

So, to all the haters threatening to never eat another Oreo ever again…good luck. Because there’s a petition to get the rainbow Oreo into production.

Now, who’s got some milk?

Agency Video: GCG Marketing Alright, everyone. Let’s...

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 11:56:00 -0400

Agency Video: GCG Marketing

Alright, everyone. Let’s dissect this shall we? First of all, I actually want to give a couple high fives to the copywriters who wrote this and the videographer/editor who shot this. It’s not awful…on the surface. I admire the bravery for releasing something like this and, one can assume, for being proud of it.

But, there are a few points of contention I have this it. They are as follows:

Is it me, or is there only white people working at this agency?
Why did they go with a fake rap, when this guy probably could have nailed an actual slam poem version of this? It was narrated hip hop…it had legs but they refused to run with them. They kind of just…sauntered. He missed all the punch points, all the syllabic emphases. Better luck next time, bro.
They did a lot of telling and not a lot of showing. I’m bored.
Am I supposed to Google them after I watch this? Because I didn’t really want to.

Overall scores (out of 5):

3 stars for Hipster Nonsense
5 stars for effort
1 star for virality. A pity star.

Best lines:

“We’re experts, Never resting on our blessed expertise, you want results? You got to roll up yours sleeves.”

“Poking holes into [cliches] with wit, and a pen, and a sword if we must” (Voltaire reference?)

“Let’s plant a handshake and watch what grows.” (BOOM!)

Client:Terra Internet Agency:DDB Mexico Oh the simplicity! Dog...

Thu, 03 May 2012 10:36:12 -0400

Client:Terra Internet

Agency:DDB Mexico

Oh the simplicity! Dog poo = WiFi. Who knew you could pair these two things together? This seems like it’s more of a publicity stunt than actual campaign work, but maybe it will help alleviate some of the unfortunate poo-on-shoes situation that many of us are familiar with.

I just feel sorry for the guy who has to deal with that machine afterward…

(via AdFreak)

Client: Ray-Ban Agency: Cutwater Anyone who knows me, knows...

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 09:15:00 -0400

Client: Ray-Ban

Agency: Cutwater

Anyone who knows me, knows that if I could I would buy every style of Ray-Ban under the sun. I love this brand. It’s basically the Converse Chuck Taylors of sunglasses - they’re timeless, they’re versatile, and they’re bold. What more could you want?

That’s why I love this campaign, showing the spanning history of Ray-Ban’s legendary style, while highlighting the brand’s bold coolness. It’s still as relevant today as it was in 1950, which isn’t a feat easily performed. And I love a good period piece, so these print ads were everything I could ask for. A pleasant surprise while flipping through magazines this month.

Happy Birthday, Ray-Ban!

Client: Finnish AIDS Council Agency: McCann Helsinki Bold....

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 08:45:59 -0500

Client: Finnish AIDS Council

Agency: McCann Helsinki

Bold. There’s been a bit of online chatter about these ads, but I think they are provocative in the right way. They’re proving an old point in a new way. It’s kind of gross, but it’s realistic. Use condoms. It’s simplicity is the key element. What more is there to say?

Client: Target Canada Agency: MDC Partners (kbs+p, Veritas,...

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 12:15:28 -0500

Client: Target Canada

Agency: MDC Partners (kbs+p, Veritas, Boom!, Carat)

Dare I? Dare I comment on this? Would that be arrogant? It would, wouldn’t it? So I’ll just leave this here (photo cred: Marketing Magazine).

This is my client. This is my first billboard. And I am in love.

Client: Axe, Anarchy Agency: Brand - BBH; Digital - CP+B...

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:42:13 -0500

Client: Axe, Anarchy

Agency: Brand - BBH; Digital - CP+B Canada

This is a little old but there’s been some chatter today regarding the fact that Axe is launching a line for women. And to that I say…it’s about time! I don’t know what took Axe so long (considering it launched about 10 years ago in North America). Despite the frequent criticism of the ads being sexist and on many accounts misogynistic (which they are), women still like the brand. Whether it will have the same following as Axe for men does, time will only tell. If they play their cards right and market it the same way - that is, they do not make Axe something it’s not just because women are involved in a different way now - I think they could be on to something.

Whether we want to get into the fact that Unilever owns both Dove and Axe (competitive ideologies alert!) is up you guy…but I don’t think I have it in me to go there. Again.

Client: Honda CR-V Agency: RPA I want to hate it. I do. Because,...

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:18:00 -0500

Client: Honda CR-V

Agency: RPA

I want to hate it. I do. Because, I mean, could this be any kitschy-er? But, the truth of the matter is…I love Ferris Bueller. I mean, people “like” Ferris Bueller…I love him. I love that entire film and the sum of all its parts. I love Ferris, I love John Hughes, I love Mia Sara/Sloan Peterson (and her jacket), I love Alan Ruck/Cameron (and his social anxiety), I love the Twist and Shout scene, I love the art gallery, I love Jennifer Grey/Jeanie. I love Mr. and Mrs. Bueller. Hell, I even love Charlie Sheen’s cameo and that wretched mustache on Mr. Rooney’s face! There isn’t an ounce of that film that I am not madly in love with…and that’s why I like this spot. And that’s the only reason anyone likes this spot. Because they love Ferris.

A Honda CR-V may feel random, and the subtle comparison to Cameron’s father’s Ferrari may be a tad trite, but at the end of the day…that song…and that smirk…gets me every time.