Clever ads from past to present from around the world, alongside brilliant wordplay, that entertain, move, anger, excite, confuse, impress, shock, amuse and most of all inspire, all of which I couldn't resist sharing.
Lap Topless
This is a stupid idea from Dutch agency, Cheil for Samsung's new curved notebook. What is the advantage of having a curved notebook? The only advantage I can see is that you get to have a naked woman in your ad without anyone thinking you're sleazy. Sex doesn't sell. The concept is ok, but in my opinion people are more interested in its features (I'm talking about the laptop's). I like the copy, I just really don't like the ad overall.
Iris Coffee
This is a visually stunning ad for Elite Coffee by Saatchi, Israel. This really is an Art Director's wet dream. Beautifully crafted and astoundingly simple, this is one of them many ads I've featured on this blog that makes me really wish I had come up with this idea (and have the Photoshop skills to pull it off). And the copy is perfectly nice and simple to round off this excellent piece of work.
Salon, Suckers!
This is an outstandingly hard-hitting ad warning against the use of tanning salons and highlighting the affect they can have. A really really simple conception and solidly executed. Yes, I agree the copy is an arse to read, and I'm not even sure it is needed, but the communication is absolutely clear and precise and it is immediately obvious what it is trying to say. Top work.
The Shining
Now is this a clever idea or an idea that's too clever? I can't decide. I get the concept. Mr Clean cleans your floors so well they're shiny and create shadows. But the toilet roll holder looks like a weightlifter, the shower head is too high up to create a shadow, and the third picture took me ages to realise it was actually supposed to be a bin.
These print ads were created by Grey Toronto and I just can't make my mind up. I think these ads need an extra bit of copy just to ensure that everyone understands the concept. An ad that requires any sort of working out for the consumer to understand it is an ad that in my opinion doesn't work. I'm leaning towards the idea that these ads are too subtle for their own good.
These print ads were created by Grey Toronto and I just can't make my mind up. I think these ads need an extra bit of copy just to ensure that everyone understands the concept. An ad that requires any sort of working out for the consumer to understand it is an ad that in my opinion doesn't work. I'm leaning towards the idea that these ads are too subtle for their own good.
Glued To Your Screens
I do love it when agencies use traditional media such as TV in a new way and this is a great example from German agency Serviceplan for UHU Glue. Very innovative yet such a simple idea. Great stuff. And I'm sure it gained a lot of social media coverage as well.
For other ad break takeovers:
Thinking Inside The Box
For other ad break takeovers:
Thinking Inside The Box
Reducing the Buzz
These ads come from BBDO Bucharest, Romania and are for the radio station Magic FM. The Romanian text translates as 'Magic FM gets rid of mosquitoes using a special frequency in the radio signal.'
However, I find this dubious. Does this actually work? But assuming it does, I think the marketing idea is fantastic. I mean whoever thought of broadcasting a frequency that kills mosquitoes is an utter genius. Along with this I think these ads are excellent, with all three executions just as good as each other. All have really outstanding copy and convey exactly what they need to. Great work.
However, I find this dubious. Does this actually work? But assuming it does, I think the marketing idea is fantastic. I mean whoever thought of broadcasting a frequency that kills mosquitoes is an utter genius. Along with this I think these ads are excellent, with all three executions just as good as each other. All have really outstanding copy and convey exactly what they need to. Great work.
XXXmas
Hm. How can we link Playboy with Christmas, Steve?
Bob...
What?
What does a Christmas tree look like when it's turned upside down?
Oh my. It does, doesn't it.
This is how I imagine the creatives went about coming up with this idea. I just wish they'd had the ability to come up with more than one idea. Just one isn't enough for a campaign. At best it's a good idea. Not an excellent one. Still pretty amusing and a good execution.
For more dirty ads:
Sex Sells If You Can Keep It Up
Bob...
What?
What does a Christmas tree look like when it's turned upside down?
Oh my. It does, doesn't it.
This is how I imagine the creatives went about coming up with this idea. I just wish they'd had the ability to come up with more than one idea. Just one isn't enough for a campaign. At best it's a good idea. Not an excellent one. Still pretty amusing and a good execution.
For more dirty ads:
Sex Sells If You Can Keep It Up
Social Net Wok
I like this campaign from Kamlok Chinese Cuisine, created by VTSC, Chicago. This restaurant is saying that it is such an old school and traditional place that it's ok to make fun of them for not being up to date with the trendy social media sites. It's a witty, simple and effective communication, and although the art direction and type choice is a little tacky, it fits perfectly within the conception. Some are much better than others but overall, you get what the restaurant is all about from these ads.
For other ads against social media try:
Folkin' Social Media
For other ads against social media try:
Folkin' Social Media
A Cut Above The Rest
I thought this ad, crafted by BBDO, Tel Aviv, for Clal Insurance in Israel was painfully simple. It's very clear, very well executed and also very brave to create an ad with such simplicity. Good work.
For more Insurance ads:
Got a feel for the Ambience? Pt 2
For more Insurance ads:
Got a feel for the Ambience? Pt 2
Art Sikkens Me
I thought this was a nice concept for paint brand Sikkens from Dutch agency Van Walbeek Etcetera, Amsterdam. A great idea having the painting on the opposite wall, and it says everything it needs to. Very simple, although I'm pretty sure it's been done before. Still great ads.
Live Cautiously, Die Old
These set of ads were crafted by Y&R Lima, Peru and are raising awareness of detecting cancer early by showing the benefits of living to be old.
I'm unsure of the shipwreck execution as there is no way anyone can relate to an occurrence with such a low possibility, although I suppose it is the humour that people relate to. I really do like the other two however, particularly the beach execution.
I think it is an excellent message though and a great tone of voice in using humour for an issue as serious as the C-word, which we Brits tend to pussyfoot around. Enjoy life for as long as you possibly can. You can't argue with that.
I'm unsure of the shipwreck execution as there is no way anyone can relate to an occurrence with such a low possibility, although I suppose it is the humour that people relate to. I really do like the other two however, particularly the beach execution.
I think it is an excellent message though and a great tone of voice in using humour for an issue as serious as the C-word, which we Brits tend to pussyfoot around. Enjoy life for as long as you possibly can. You can't argue with that.
Gd Ad
This set of print ads come from Lowe Porta, Santiago and are for the Chilean TV station TVN claiming to have shorter commercial breaks. I think featuring shortened iconic logos is an excellent concept, and these ads are sweet and simple, and demonstrate their message perfectly. Once again less is more. Excellent.
You Make A Great Case
This ad is for Samsonite's new suitcase the 'Cosmolite'. Samsonite produce travel cases that are both light and durable and I thought this ad was beautifully shot and conveys their USP of 'Minimum weight, extreme solidity' really rather well. I don't know much about this ad as I only saw it as a pop-up but the art direction I think is outstanding.
Bring On The Subs
This is an absolutely stunning ad from JWT Sydney for Smirnoff featuring the Manchester United players Ji-Sung Park, Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand. The visuals, the music and styling are sensationally crafted, and I couldn't help but watch it again and again. However, as brilliant as this ad is, why Smirnoff have chosen to use footballers in this ad is beyond me. And why these footballers? And why is Ferdinand even there? He serves no purpose in this ad whatsoever. Still, all is forgiven when I watch this exceptional ad again. Beautiful stuff.
In Clubs and Behind Bars
This is an odd and slightly dark campaign from South African agency Fox P2 Cape Town for Brandhouse's Drive Dry initiative. They have gone down the route of saying that if you drink and drive, you'll end up in prison and be raped by a huge black guy.
Well this is certainly enough to prevent me from drink-driving. However, I can't see this campaign being taken seriously. I know the attempt is to make the ads sinister and shocking, and in doing so make you think twice about driving whilst drunk, but personally I find them unintentionally cringe-worthy and, to a certain degree, comical. I just don't see these print ads working.
However, the ambient advertising as part of this campaign I think is exceptional. The conception that when you drink and drive your car becomes a murder weapon is a brilliant one, and this is conveyed fantastically with the use of giant evidence bags. I can't help thinking if the cars were damaged or covered in blood then it would have more of an effect on passers by.
Still an excellent piece of ambient advertising from an otherwise average campaign.
For more Rapey ads try:
Wear Harvey Nichols and somebody will probably rape you
Well this is certainly enough to prevent me from drink-driving. However, I can't see this campaign being taken seriously. I know the attempt is to make the ads sinister and shocking, and in doing so make you think twice about driving whilst drunk, but personally I find them unintentionally cringe-worthy and, to a certain degree, comical. I just don't see these print ads working.
However, the ambient advertising as part of this campaign I think is exceptional. The conception that when you drink and drive your car becomes a murder weapon is a brilliant one, and this is conveyed fantastically with the use of giant evidence bags. I can't help thinking if the cars were damaged or covered in blood then it would have more of an effect on passers by.
Still an excellent piece of ambient advertising from an otherwise average campaign.
For more Rapey ads try:
Wear Harvey Nichols and somebody will probably rape you
Fine Hair
This a wonderfully simple idea from BIC by JWT Amsterdam.
It's nothing new or anything we don't already know about the brand but it's enough to keep us reminded. Exceptionally simple, and a great way to link their two completely different products.
The Dutch seem to have come up with some great and wacky ideas over the years. Not to be stereotyping or anything, but I wonder why that is...
Yet again the old saying: the greatest ideas are the simplest ideas, but of course the simplest ideas are the hardest to come up with.
Marijuana anyone?
It's nothing new or anything we don't already know about the brand but it's enough to keep us reminded. Exceptionally simple, and a great way to link their two completely different products.
The Dutch seem to have come up with some great and wacky ideas over the years. Not to be stereotyping or anything, but I wonder why that is...
Yet again the old saying: the greatest ideas are the simplest ideas, but of course the simplest ideas are the hardest to come up with.
Marijuana anyone?
Billboard Living
This is an excellent campaign for Fondation Abbé Pierre, a charity that campaigns against homelessness and poor living conditions in France, and was crafted by French agency BDDP & Fils, Paris.
The idea of the campaign is to raise awareness among both the general public and the government of the unseen, and often ignored, housing crisis in France.
To show the dire living conditions some people put up with, and the little space they have, they presented the adverts in real-size. Posters of 7m2 apartments were placed on the floor bluntly showing that thousands of people have as little space to live as a car's parking space. In addition to this, 6m2 posters were placed in bus stops, and billboards showed the space of a real-size 12m2 apartment were played in the underground.
I think these ads are excellently conceived and it really is a great campaign with a fantastic cause, but it's a shame there is no call to action whatsoever. Therefore, what does this ad accomplish? What are those who are waiting for a bus/tube/walking in the street supposed to take away from this? People will look at these for a matter of seconds, and then move on.
The idea of the campaign is to raise awareness among both the general public and the government of the unseen, and often ignored, housing crisis in France.
To show the dire living conditions some people put up with, and the little space they have, they presented the adverts in real-size. Posters of 7m2 apartments were placed on the floor bluntly showing that thousands of people have as little space to live as a car's parking space. In addition to this, 6m2 posters were placed in bus stops, and billboards showed the space of a real-size 12m2 apartment were played in the underground.
I think these ads are excellently conceived and it really is a great campaign with a fantastic cause, but it's a shame there is no call to action whatsoever. Therefore, what does this ad accomplish? What are those who are waiting for a bus/tube/walking in the street supposed to take away from this? People will look at these for a matter of seconds, and then move on.
The POWA Is In Your Hands
This an awesome social experiment by Ogilvy, Cape Town highlighting the issue of domestic violence against women in South Africa. And it does it excellently. A superb, moving and engaging idea that really does hammer home the severity of the issue, and the need for action. A great conception. Ogilvy really do know what they're doing.
The Pen Is Mightier Than The Lord
This ad was created by Grey Barcelona for Pilot's new pen Frixion Evolve.
I love the concept of 'Create, Remove, Evolve.' This little evolution-inspired ad gets the point across well. It's inspired by the idea that you have to always change and improve upon an idea before it becomes brilliant, and I think this ad conveys exactly that. Not sure on the music, though a great animation I actually enjoy watching, a rarity in ads these days.
I love the concept of 'Create, Remove, Evolve.' This little evolution-inspired ad gets the point across well. It's inspired by the idea that you have to always change and improve upon an idea before it becomes brilliant, and I think this ad conveys exactly that. Not sure on the music, though a great animation I actually enjoy watching, a rarity in ads these days.
Yeti-nother Piece of DM
Created by Cayenne, Milan for Skoda's Yeti and its Park Assist System. Great idea. DM is extremely hard to be innovative as you only usually get a size of a postcard, but these guys have achieved it. I'm not sure how many people will actually go through with it and move the car, but I just love the conception, and whoever came up with it deserves a pat on the back. Forget the lame jokes and the poor dated image, and think of the Cake ad and the Made of Meaner Stuff follow up, Skoda have turned it around, people!
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