MY FAVORITES

Y&R, Italy

I think this ad is so funny. It is kind of cheesy, but it actually made me laugh. It is so light-hearted I was drawn to it right away. It is in my favorites because I like how Y&R is not trying too hard. I think so much advertising is so over-analyzed that it is refreshing to see just a silly spot that gets the point across and is related, not just random.

TBWA, Barcelona, Spain

I love this ad. It is art and advertising. It is simple. It makes the point. It also reminds me of the paint ad. also done by TBWA. of the flower. Because of all these reasons this spot is also one of my favorites. It is for creating Adidas shoes. The creative direction took this to an extreme and created the shoe from paint. I would love to know how this was actually created.

DM9JaymeSyfu, Manila, Phillippines

While looking at other ads, I cam across this one. It did not let me attention go. I think this ad is so creative. It is for sunscreen. Kobe and Shaq have always been rivals, but this is a whole other way of looking at it. I think the idea is relative to today and also it grabs attention. I do not know this agency, but I liked the ad so much I couldn't resist. The agency is actually a part of DDB Worldwide, hints the name after DDB DM9. I really like the style of this ad, it reminds me of all the other independent agencies, but it still has the flavor of DDB. This is just one more ad on my list of favorites.

Ogilvy & Mather

I am not sure what exact office did this spot, but it is by far my all time favorite commercial. It was just done last year, but it will remain a favorite for a while. There is nothing simpler or funny that could be done for Reese's. It is such a great idea and is not a typical candy or food product ad. I could watch it over and over again and never get bored. There are so many ways Ogilvy can focus on the collaboration of chocolate and peanut butter, but this one tops it. This really made Ogilvy stand out in my head and I will continue to look at their work. It reminds be a lot of the crisp ads TBWA does, but in this case better.

LARGE SCALE TECHNIQUE

Saatchi & Saatchi, London, UK

I love how this ad was pulled off. It is so different from the other T-Mobile spots. Normally they use the beautiful girl to try and sell the product, but this has a collective approach. This ad applies to more people and is not as boring as the other ones. It really focuses on what technology is about sharing. I think this spot will give AT&T and Verizon a run for their money. It is not the normal boring phone company commercial and it is not about competition, like the recent AT&T and Verizon spots. I think of the commercial in a different league, like the iphone spots. It is refreshing and new, but a simple idea.

Arnold Worldwide, Boston, MA & Crispin, Porter + Bogusky Boulder,CO/Miami,FL

The Truth campaign has really broken the barrier of anti-smoking campaigns. With this spot, like many others, the actual representation of the amount of people effected by smoking really is impacting. It is unlike any other campaign. They are serious but funny at the same time. These representations really touch into the audiences' hearts and make an impact. They are just not there to scare people away from smoking, but rather to show how devastating the consequences can be on a large scale. This campaign will go on forever and really make a difference.

BBH, London, UK

This ad aired in the United Kingdom for a Visa type pay card. You just swipe it and go. I think this ad is so creative and original. The large scale water slide is amazing. I do not know how they did this technically, but it is a great large scale representation. It looks so real and applicable. This ad does remind me of the sony bravia ads because of the music and activity going on in a large city. These ads are hard to find, but when done right they have a great impact.

Y&R, Asia, Singapore

I was shocked when I saw this ad and it was not by Fallon. It is basically the same as the Sony Bravia ad with the bouncing balls. All of the ads for Sony Bravia have the same type of feel. I think this ad is almost more effective than the bouncing balls. It has more of an impact because the strings are all close together at the end, giving a better visual. I bet that Fallon and Y&R had to collaborate a little on these ads. Overall, I think this campaign was very successful and will be remembered for a long time.

Mother, London, UK

I cannot stand this ad. I get the point they are trying to make, but I do not get why they actually have to show polar bears dying. The technique of the polar bears falling is cool, but it is way too intense. The point of the ad is to show how many emissions each person gives off. I think that this ad is way overdone. There could be so many more things to use instead of polar bears to get the point across. I do not think this spot could be shown in America because of the gruesomeness. Hopefully for the next spot Mother uses a different approach.

OTHER INDEPENDENT AGENCIES

Wongdoody, Seattle, WA

This is an online game for Expedia, with an Indiana Jones theme to it. This game was released around the time of the latest Indiana Jones movie. This was a good promotional tool for Expedia and Indiana Jones. The ad works for both companies, but is for a select audience. I think with the new up and coming technologies it is important for companies to expand their advertising to new techniques. This is just the beginning of many more viral advertising to come.

Taxi, Calgary, Canada

This ad really reminds me of the Sherwin Williams ad done by McKinney. Both ads have the clear, bold copy while in a room. They both also use the message of making a new room with the products being advertised. I think both campaigns will work for each company because they are a fresh way of advertising home use stores. This spot is a little more creative with the visual aspects of the ad, but I do like the copy of the Sherwin Williams ad better.

Mother, London, UK

Mother did this campaign for Coke to make the drink recognizable in summer just as much as it is during Christmas time. I think this ad does exactly that. It is creative, like the happy factory ad by Wieden+Kennedy. I like seeing Coke going in this direction. It is new and improved instead of the normal Santa Claus Coke ads. The campaign still makes you feel good just like the others, but in a brand new way.

Modernista, Boston, MA

Recently lost client Cadillac, has had a great run with Modernista. I feel like these ads portray everything that a car ad should portray. It is sexy, sleek, fun, and down to business. I think every man and woman remember the commercials with the red Cadillac with Kate Walsh driving it. She looked like the car is what made her feel so good. The automotive industry is struggling and this campaign definitely helped Cadillac out. I think more agencies will start moving in the direction Modernista took for Cadillac.

Ground Zero, Los Angeles, CA

ESPN ads have always been my overall favorite spots for years. They always are simple and understated. The main type of print ads for ESPN usually consist of a large picture with little copy. This layout and style of the ads really make ESPN memorable. There is remembrance of many other ads in this particular ESPN spot. There are so many campaigns out there that use the same text style as in this ad and also ads that use on single picture. Something about the ESPN ads make you feel different though. They are a calm in the madness of sports.

Droga5, New York, NY

The Tap Project is the best form of viral non traditional advertising I have seen. What Droga5 did is so inventive and such a great way to create awareness of such a pressing issue. Who ever would have thought selling tap water would be a way to make an issue heard. I am speechless when it comes to this campaign. It blows my mind that people are thinking of these creative ideas everyday making the world a better place.

David&Goliath, New York, NY

I like this ad because it is real. It does not show all of the glitz and glamour and hoopla about gambling. It shows a group of middle aged women just having fun and escaping. That is what Casinos are supposed to be for: fun. Some casinos do not play to the average person, they play to the high rollers and that it what I also love about this ad, the people are average. The copy reminds me of several other independent agencys' copy; simple and large. It looks like the 72andSunny spot below and the ESPN spot above. I think no matter how similar they are they all still have the specific flavor and own unique agency. I really am drawn to the way the independent agencies do their print work.

72 and Sunny, Los Angeles, CA

This is every girls guilty pleasure, gossip girl. This ad is so simple, but it portrays every single message about the show to a tea. The text lingo as the copy, the juicy gossip going on in the background: who wouldn't want to watch this show? I was actually shocked the CW chose such an independent advertising agency, most of their shows; advertising seem to be kind of boring. This ad is perfect for the show though, and I think the CW will be using 72andSunny to promote more of the television shows in the up and coming seasons.

SOCIAL

Saatchi & Saatchi, New York, USA

I chose this ad as an ad for irresponsibility. If you cannot read the orange, it says his son's education. This ad is for dental floss. So my thinking of this ad is that a person is supposed to remove the bad plaque from their teeth. I did not know his sons education was bad plaque. This spot is creative, but why be so stupid with the copy. There are a million more things that can a light hearted and easy to use, rather than this one. Some people may think it is funny, and it is. But, it is very irresponsible. I would not want my parents to jeopardize my education for a new sports car. I think the mere fact a person is trying to chose between education and a car is stupid. No wonder some parents cannot parent their kids, messages like this are being distributed for the world to see. Someone should have caught this irresponsible tone to the ad before it was published. This ad would be really good, if they chose a new copy.

Spot JWT, Athens, Greece

This ad is also irresponsible. The copy on the right side reads: "The Caribbean alcohol test! Breath towards bird. If bird starts singing, you are in a good mood. If bird passes out, no more Carib for you! Carib!! The No1 fun beer of the Caribbean:)". What a stupid test. I can just see a group of people seeing this ad and really wanting to see if it works. Way to promote good morals, let's see how drunk you can get and see if a bird notices. I am not sure of the brains behind this ad. It is funny, but the problem is some people might actually listen to the ad and because of that it makes it irresponsible. It is also ironic that in the bottom right corner, as small as it can be, it states "drink responsibly". Talk about a conflicting message. There could be many more creative ads for this beer, it sounds like it is a vacation beer of the Caribbean. Many themes can come from that thought. I just hope they are not as stupid as this one.

TBWA\GERMANY, GERMANY, Berlin

I chose this ad as irresponsible. I normally love the Absolut ads, but this one is not as creative. There have been so many amazing Absolut ads, that it is hard to think this is all they could think of. I think this ad is promoting the lifestyle of Absolut, but is it really the right life style they should be portraying? Everyone loves to party, but there are many pluses, other than getting lucky, about it. I think that they should have not been so blatant about the message. They are specifically stating a message that is irresponsible. Some people may think that way and it works for them, but some people will take it completely the wrong way. I think this is just one bad apple in the bunch and overall Absolut ads are very ingenious.

DDB Stockholm, Sweden

I chose this ad as a good product. It is for the new VW that is eco friendly. This is just one of many parts to the ad. Another part of this campaign is the iphone application You can see how much CO2 a person emits and then compare it to how much CO2 a VW emits. You can actually go to the jazz calculator website and see the equivalent CO2 emissions in jazz music. This campaign is original and gets the attention of users and buyers. I think that it is a great way for people to quantify their contributions to the environment. It also creates awareness.

JWT, Mumbai, India

This is also a good product. Horlicks is a milk powder that promotes sleep. This ad states "watch your little ones grow". I think that this product does promote the growth of children and makes sure they are getting the rest they need. However, you can only find the product in India, UK, and Jamaica. I think this product is interesting. Because the product itself simply promotes good, I think any ad dealing with the product will be good natured. This ad is also simple and gets the point across. The product is a little iffy but with good advertising it can really seal the deal of a good product for the consumer.

Ogilvy, United Kingdom

Obviously this ad promotes a good product. Dove wants its users to feel real and beautiful. I think that it is a message that needs to be shown to women everyday. With the media creating such an unreal image to live up to, I think it is important one product lets you be yourself. The campaign just makes you feel good. It is done tastefully, so not one person if offended during the process. It is very valuable to instill good values in young girls and older women. With this campaign, it is easy to see it is okay to be you. That is the best message anyone can promote.

22Squared, Tampa, Florida

This ad is for a good service. It is for the Partnership for a drug free America. Normally these ads are cheesy and do not work. I think this ad is simple, to the point, but still makes you think. The ad first catches your attention because the ad is a pill bottle. For people who might abuse prescriptions, it will catch their attention. Then they will read the message. The more exposure to the people about an issue the better it is perceived. Because this ad is not in your face I think it is easy to read and put everywhere. It is not scary and copy is thoughtful and impacting. My personal opinion is that if an ad is sincere and visually appealing, it will have a great impact on its' audience. This ad does just this.

TBWA, Athens, Greece

This ad is also for good service. I love this ad because it sticks out. The message within it is deep and it really hits you hard. The copy reads, "The human hand isn't always creative. Sometimes it destroys... The polar ice caps are melting. We can all do something to slow down global warming. It's in our hand to save the planet". For an issue so big, this ad makes it feel real and that each individual person can help to make an impact with simple actions. It is our hands that will make the future. Seeing the cause rescaled makes me think even harder about ways I can help change to have a positive impact. I think that is the most important part of this ad is it creates awareness, but it also gives you hope you personally can do something about it.

TBWA, Paris, France

I never really knew how amnesty international worked or what it was, but this ad helps clear it up. It states, "After the Olympic Games the fight for human rights must go on". It makes me feel sick to know people are treated this way over sports. I know this is a little extreme, but still. This ad subtly uses the scare technique. I do not know if TBWA meant to make it scary, but the image is chilling. This ad is by far the most successful and creating an awareness for a cause. I think a lot of people in the world do not realize how bad these issues are. Actually seeing it documented is eye opening. I am not sure if this ad really makes you think you can do much about it. However, it does a great job of making people realize the severity of the problem.

LARGE INDEPENDENTS

Weiden & Kennedy, Portland, USA

I do not really get this ad at all. It works for Old Spice, I guess. I think you do not really have to get the ad to get the message. They are talking about deodorant residue. When that part of the ad is cleared up it makes a little more sense, but it is still weird. The picture is clear and the images stick out. I would never have thought of creating a spot like this for deodorant. It is creative and funky. It works. The Old Spice campaign in general is off beat, so I think this ad fits right in.

The Richards Group, Dallas, USA

I picked this ad because it was done for SMU. I think it is a good ad. I am not sure how much we really need to have a professional agency do an ad for our basketball team. I think it will help draw people to SMU basketball, but I am not sure if it will actually increase attendance at the games. The ad itself has a very calming effect. You can read the copy fast and know what is going on in the ad. However, some people might not get it as well if they do not know anything about SMU basketball. It is a good ad.

Doner, Canada

You have to know what is going on behind the ad to actually get it. This ad is for college students buying a new vehicle. Basically, if you buy a Mazda and you are a college student, Mazda will give you 500 dollars off your purchase. I think this ad has a lot of humor. It reminds me of the beer commercials talking to the average person. When I see this ad I read it like the man on those commercials. I am not sure how well the text and border really go with Mazda cars, but it works. There is a different spin on this ad. It is not an annoying picture of a car with big, bold, yellow words saying SALE on it. I think it will draw people in to see what the deal really is, because the text at first has nothing to really do with the cars, unless you know the deal behind the ad.

Dentsu, Brazil

This campaign is called mini cars. I have always been a fan of images blown up huge, with a focus on a small part. That is basically what this ad is. It is so simple, it works. The vibrant green color stands out. The Jaguar looks like a game piece and that is what Jaguars are for some people: toys. This ad plays the aspect up. It is just there and that is one downside to the ad. There is no thing that really makes a person want to have a Jaguar. I think that is what is missing in this ad. If there was a little more, I think it would be even more successful.

Cramer Kassaelt, Chicago, USA

Who wouldn't want to have a Corona after this ad. It makes you feel calm and cool. It looks appetizing and soothing. The colors all go together well. It makes you feel cheery, but does not over do it. The lines are witty and creative. They go together well with the beach theme and the Coronas as well. This ad also makes you want to be relaxed and make you think that you will be relaxed if you have a Corona. These ads are so simple, but they make you feel good inside. There is nothing I would change or anything wrong with the ad it is simply perfect for Corona.

BBH, London, UK

The minimalist approach for this ad really makes a statement. It is like the VW ads done by DDB, but since there is no copy at all it makes even more of a statement. It is like a report card when you are little and you get gold stars for everything you do well. This car got a gold star because it did well. It makes you think back to younger days and the little kid inside of you that wants to drive fast. But now there is an adult side to it. It is sexy, fast, and sleek. just what a car driver wants to have. They want to show this card off, and this ad is like the report card you would show your parents. You got a gold star and you want to show the world. This ad allows the reader to take the car where ever they want. I think that is an important part of selling a car.

MDC

Vitrorobertson, San Diego, USA

The main image of this ad really makes it pop. It is for kyrocera, a technology company. After looking at the ad for a little longer it started to remind me of the TBWA/Chiat Day ads for the apple ipod. The stark image with a fun background is the main concept of both these ads. Because Kyrocera makes an mp3 player, I think this ad has already been done. This ad has been made a little more creative, but it still has a similar concept as the apple ads. To the normal eye, this ad will be successful. But if they really pay attention they will see the strong similarities which might throw people off. The spot is very visual and really helps draw the readers attention. Overall, I think the ad will reach the projected audience and help with the marketing of Kyrocera.

Kirshenbaum & Partners, New York, USA

This ad is for Moet champagne. The picture grabs your attention and is very beautiful, but there is not much about the champagne. I think that is what Kirshenbaum was trying to do with this ad. They are trying to sell the lifestyle and the image that Moet will give the buyer. They want their audience to think they can be like this if they drink Moet. I think this was a smart choice for them. There is not much to work with except the taste, which in reality most champagnes are going to taste the same. There has to be something different for the consumer to really want a certain brand. The ad is classy and portrays the message that drinking Moet will make you fabulous.

Crispin Porter + Bogusky, Miami/Boulder, USA

The new campaign for Windows is really effective. Windows really needed a step up because of how successful the Mac campaign is. The campaign is a little competitive with Mac, but it will never beat the Mac ads. I do think Crispin Porter is giving TBWA a run for there money, especially with the print ads. TBWA does not have a really good print campaign for Mac, but the commercials are amazing. I think because of this Crispin Porter will be successful in this area. The print ads are simple and get the point across: that PC's are made by every person and anyone can use them. Besides the crisp picture there is not much to the ad, but I think it helps portray the message that PCs are for the people and not just a computer. It will be interesting to see how effective the rest of the campaign is for Crispin Porter.

Cliff Freeman & Partners, New York, USA

I love how non traditional this ad is for a public service announcement. It is ironic and funny, but it also makes you think about AIDS. I like the creative approach to the service announcement. I am not sure if it as effective as the scare tactic, but at least people will actually look at this ad, and not just flip by it. It catches your attention and keeps it, but gets the message in your head fast. It will be interesting to see now that Cliff Freeman has closed if this campaign will still be carried out in a creative manor. I hope it will not change, because this ad creates awareness and looks good at the same time.

HAVAS

McKinney, Durham, USA

The approach used for this ad was very creative. There is not much you can do with a paint company. I chose this ad because it was different. It is not the most visually appealing ad and can be a little confusing. I think though once you read into the message people will like it. I think the way the ad is done, people can see that Sherwin Williams is not about paint, but more of the entire lifestyle surrounding paint. There are many ads in this campaign, dealing with different rooms in houses. A rooms' color can change the way you live. The message is powerful and informative, but it is not thrown in your face. I like the calmness of the green and the bold text. Even if the rest of the ad was not there, I think people could still get the message. Because of this, the ad is successful in my mind.

Euro RSCG, Santiago, Chile

Rat Poison. This ad is hilarious. It is not that cool looking, but the whole message is funny. It is the rats' last supper. The ad applies to its' audience and does it in a creative way. I never would have thought someone would have used one of the most famous paintings in history as an ad for rat poison. It also makes the situation of killing a rat more light hearted. The ad is not focusing on the death of the rats, but about the life they lived and the last supper they are going to have. Overall, the ad was done tastefully.

Arnold Worldwide, Boston, USA

This is ad is perfect with the new President in office. It makes everything that is going on in politics a little more funny. The social aspect of this ad is talking about being social and drinking. I think this type of ad is directly for a mid 20s crowd, with the bold type and the black and white. It really catches the eyes and is more geared towards men. I think this ad will be very successful for what the ad is trying to convey.

PUBLICIS GROUPE

Fallon Worldwide, Minneapolis, USA

The above print ad was done for Equinox gyms. It is creative and makes sense, but it is overdone. I think they relied on the use of models more than actually creating a worthy ad. The point of the ad is to show that working out is like plastic surgery which will then lead to a happy ending. It is not a typical gym ad, so that helps it. Also, it has a feel of a high fashion ad, for Chanel or Versace. The models usually look in place in those ads and they make sense. In this spot they look awkward. The message is contradictory. Equinox is wanting to tell people to work out instead of plastic surgery, but this ad is promoting plastic surgery. There is not a strong difference in the tone of the ad between a gym or a plastic surgery institute. The ad works for a gym, but is better suited for plastic surgery. In these times though, it will grab the attention of people who want plastic surgery, but cannot afford it. I think that is a smart move.

Leo Burnett, New Delhi, India

Crisp, clear, and to the point. This ad gets the job done tastefully. It is for the opening of a new McDonald's. It grabs your attention because of the stark coloring. Also, it shows the face of McDonald's, Ronald McDonald. People can quickly make the association between the two. I also like this ad because it is not just a hamburger on a billboard with big bold fonts, talking about the new deal. If I were driving by or looking at it in a magazine, I could get the message right away. Some people may not get it at first, but with the simple copy in the upper right corner, they will. I like that you do not have to spend too much time working to figure the ad out. I also think it applies to the entire audience because the message is for the opening of a new restaurant, not about the food it offers. It clearly states the message.

Publicis Dialog Spain, Madrid, Spain

I did not get the ad at all. But then I found out that there is a band called Public Enemy. Therefor, they are playing on words about the whisky. This ad has a lot of potential. I think they tried to pull the simplistic ad off, but did not put enough information. The main message of the ad is completely off. Unless you really know your music, I do not think most people will get it. And if people do not get the play on words, then the ad is even more boring. I guess this ad is a collaboration for Rolling Stone and the whisky. I am not really sure. The ad is foggy, but if it was made a little clearer, it would be a lot more successful.

The Kaplan Thaler Group, New York, USA

I was shocked when I could not find any better print ads for Kaplan Thaler. I think this spot is just okay. i think it is boring and a little safe. The ad does apply to its audience and the ad itself is done well. I am just not sure how creative it is. It is appealing to the eye, but in a magazine I do not think it would make me stop and actually look at the ad. However, this ad could be designed for that use. People could simply flip by it and get the idea. There is no hidden message or text that needs to be read to get it. Doing an ad for Trojan can be hard to do, especially with all of the rules in America towards advertising; I think that is why this ad was done safely. Overall, it is just there to me: nothing super special.

Team One, USA

This spot is subtle but creative. At first I did not see the car pulling the ship. I was just thinking it was a shadow behind the car. I would have never thought of this idea. I love how minimal the picture is, but how much it says at the same time. Car advertising is either done really well, or really bad and cheesy. This campaign for Lexus reminds me of the minimalist approach DDB used for VW. There is no need for flashy advertising, when the car speaks for itself. I think that is how Team One approached this ad: to the point.

Saatchi & Saatchi, Sydney, Australia

At first this ad looks depressing. The entire picture is monochrome and the kids' faces are not very expressive. However, this ad is for a camera that can be used underwater. So now the picture makes a little more sense. I guess it is supposed to be an underwater classroom. Even though the ad is sort of boring, I think that is what makes the ad stick out. If it was not for the monochrome and almost mug shot looking faces, it would be even more boring. I do not know if it was intentional or not, but It really complete the ad. I would never have associated a group of children underwater with a camera. I think it all works well, but the message of the ad should have been made more clear