Oasis Pub
Oasis Pub was a supporter of the England team during the 2010 World Cup. They offered special discounts to England Supporters during games, and wanted a urinal ad that communicated as much.
Salvation Army – Halifax Centre of Hope
The Salvation Army’s Halifax Centre of Hope was looking for a print ad to raise awareness about homelessness. They had asked for existing materials, but seeing the opportunity we decided to give them something original.
World’s Longest Brainstorm
Nobody brainstorms like we do. And we went for a world record to prove it.
Killam’s Surrogate Momma campaign
The challenge was to communicate the benefits of renting with Killam Properties to University students, using a limited budget. The insight was that students had no one to mother them when going off to university, and Killam could help.
Demonstrations are still King
A product demonstration is when you simply demonstrate the product in use, and the effect it has. It’s the staple of the infomercial world (cue the car getting cut in half by the handsaw) and has been around as long as advertising itself. In fact I’m pretty sure when the first two cavemen traded with each other, the seller did so by demonstrating the effectiveness of his tool (“See this rock? I’ll crush your head.”)
Spec of the Devil
I don’t know a ton about Belgium. It’s between France and Germany. And they make good beer.
It would appear, though, that I could learn a thing or two from the Belgians. Last year a group of their agencies banded together in a virtual strike.
McDonald’s Free Coffee Web Ad
This big box web ad was part of a broader Free Coffee campaign we worked on for McDonald’s. We wanted to entice the user to interact with the ad in a fun way to allow the message to get noticed.
Preparing a brand for the digital age is not unlike preparing for a gunfight in the Wild West.
There are very few rules (so those used to more civilized or traditional methods may get shot first). You’ve got to be able to shoot from the hip (what worked yesterday may not work today). Reputations count for little (anyone can pull off a dramatic win). And victories today can go a long way in determining who runs the town tomorrow. Here are a few things to consider for the fight.
Breaking into advertising’s like being the hottest girl at the dance: people will say anything to get you into bed.
It ain’t easy breaking into the biz as a junior. I’ve been asked a few times by creatives what they should look for in an agency. Here are my suggestions. I’m sure there are exceptions and additions. But asking the right questions can mean the difference between enjoying your career or contemplating life as a plumber. Good luck, young Padewans.
David on Demand obeys tweets at Cannes
Last year I went to the Cannes International Advertising Festival.
Sarah Fitzgerald and I partnered up and won the Young Lions Media competition for Canada, with a trip to the festival on the gorgeous french Riviera. It was absolutely amazing. Full of very smart advertising, lots of parties, and sunshine – all the time. If you’re in advertising, it’s where you want to be – hopefully winning awards. And I would do anything to go back.
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