Inspiration Sunday: Happy Halloween, Mrs. Jensen

I've watched this approximately 47 times in the last month, and I still love this commercial.



Thank you, BBDO.

Inspiration Sunday — FCUK Man/Woman

It's Sunday, and we could all use some inspiration before we go back to work or school or whatever it is we do on the days when having a Bloody Mary with brunch is frowned upon.


I think it's the strong voice and the vague strangeness, but there's something I find really charming about this campaign for French Connection UK. I could probably ruin it by over-thinking the gender politics of it all, but I won't. I will just appreciate the French absurdism of it all. 

They also did these odd/cool tv spots for the campaign, which you can view on Ads of the World (where I spotted these).


Advertising Agency: Fallon, London, UK
Art Directors / Copywriters: Selena Mckenzie, Toby Moore
Photographer: Leila Naaman
Typographers: Philip Bosher, Monica Pirovana

It's Sunday, and we could all use some inspiration before we go back to work or school or whatever it is we do on the days when having a Bloody Mary with brunch is frowned upon.

Apologies for being a slacker in the posting department — I'm still adjusting to back-to-school. Anyway, my favorite ad this week is... this Levi's billboard from Sagmeister Inc. (Their site is a little seizure inducing, but their design work is amazing.)



Also, if you haven't, definitely check out Stefan Sagmeister's Ted talks. This one about taking a year long sabbatical every seven years is fantastic.

Inspiration Sunday — Go ride a bike.

It's Sunday, and we could all use some inspiration before we go back to work or school or whatever it is we do on the days when having a Bloody Mary with brunch is frowned upon.

I don't ride a bike, but I dig the message and the clever phrasing. 

Stencil by Peter Drew of Adelaide, Australia
Photo by Carlton Reid
Originally posted on The Audiophiles (Enough said) and spotted on Daniel Pink's blog.

Inspiration Sunday — Cheeky lines for Van Gogh Blue vodka

It's Sunday, and we could all use some inspiration before we go back to work or school or whatever it is we do on the days when having a Bloody Mary with brunch is frowned upon.

I love a great headline—and even more so if it makes me smirk—so I had to share this new campaign for Van Gogh Blue vodka by Engauge in Columbus, Ohio. It's playful, cheeky, and speaks to women without patronizing us. Love it. Wish I wrote it.

I first noticed this ad while flipping through a friend's copy of Chicago magazine. (I live in Austin, but Chicago is on my short list of post-grad-school destinations).

I really like how it's saucy without being vulgar.

When I searched online to find out who did the campaign, I found a New York Times article about it and an ad I like even more than the first.

Seriously, I may have to buy this vodka just to support the ads. 

Inspiration Sunday — Hand-Carved Billboard in San Francisco

It's Sunday, and we could all use some inspiration before we go back to work or school or whatever it is we do on the days when having a Bloody Mary with brunch is frowned upon.

Back from more summer travels — this time a week San Francisco for work. I didn't see this billboard while I was there, but I wish I had. Spending ten days hand carving a billboard is a cool way to both get some attention and make a point.

Once carved, I don't think you can really tell it's done by hand, which is too bad. But I think the point is that folks walking and driving through this busy intersection saw it being worked on for ten days, and I'm sure there was some local news coverage and general buzz around it. It's not as cool as the Green Works Reverse Graffiti Project (also done in San Francisco), but it's still nice.

There's also a video via Ads of the World.

Advertising Agency: Juniper Park, USA
Partners, Executive Creative Directors: Terry Drummond, Alan Madill, Barry Quinn
Creative Director / Art Director: Hylton Mann
Creative Director / Copywriter: Andy Linardatos
Print Producer: Mark Prole
Props: Prop Art
Time lapse: Chad Richard
Illustrator: Gary Bullock

Inspiration Sunday: Elegant storytelling via Google search

It's Sunday, and we could all use some inspiration before we go back to work or school or whatever it is we do on the days when having a Bloody Mary with brunch is frowned upon.

One of my favorite Super Bowl ads last year was Google's elegant, simple "Parisian Love". The most recent installment, "New Baby," is just as lovely. I love how this ad tells a clear and touching story with no voice over, no actors, and no fancy camera work. Enjoy!





Agency: Johannes Leonardo

Executive Creative Director: Jan Jacobs, Leo Premutico
Art Director: John Ortved, Emmie Nostitz, Ferdinando Verderi
Copywriter: John Ortved, Emmie Nostitz, Ferdinando Verderi
Agency Producer: Matthew Mattingly
Editorial Company: Lost Planet
Editor: Bruce Herrman
Music: Fall on Your Sword

Inspiration Sunday: Canada Edition

It's Sunday, and we could all use some inspiration before we go back to work or school or whatever it is we do on the days when having a Bloody Mary with brunch is frowned upon.

I just got back from a fun but exhausting jaunt to Niagara Falls for a wedding. I'm pretty zonked, so this will be short. But, in honor of my visit to Canada, here are some fun ads for the very strange sounding Canadian Cheese Rolling Festival.

Advertising Agency: TAXI Vancouver, Canada
Creative Director: Jordan Doucette
Art Director: Dan Bache
Copywriter: Will Seccombe
Photographer: Hans Sipma
Photoshop: Steve Pinter

Inspiration Sunday: TDA Advertising & Design for FirstBank

It's Sunday, and we could all use some inspiration before we go back to work or school or whatever it is we do on the days when having a Bloody Mary with brunch is frowned upon.

I wish there were one of these in every airport. But, alas, only travelers at Denver International Airport will benefit from TDA Advertising & Design’s rotating ad for FirstBank.

It’s part of their “We're here to help” campaign, and I love its simple humor almost as much as I love it when kids sleep on flights.  

Found at Creativity-Online.

Agency: TDA Advertising & Design

Client: FirstBank

Creative Director: Jonathan Schoenberg

Creative Director: Thomas Dooley

Art Director: Neal Desai

Copywriter: Jeremy Seibold

Copywriter: Joe Nafziger

Inspiration Sunday: Mad Men

It's Sunday, and we could all use some inspiration before we go back to work or school or whatever it is we do on the days when having a Bloody Mary with brunch is frowned upon.

Who needs inspiring campaigns with the Mad Men premiere tonight? That was all the inspiration I needed. Let's go out and make some good ads.

I'm still digesting the episode, but I loved the quick pace, the intersection of journalism and advertising, and Peggy's new swagger (I'm positive it has something to do with getting rid of those bangs).

What did everyone think of the Peggy and Pete's stunt?

And, just in case you did need some real world ad inspiration, the Mad Men site has some great interactive stuff. Love the interview quiz. (And got copywriter—yeah!)

Inspiration Sunday: McGarrah Jessee for Shiner Beers

It's Sunday, and we could all use some inspiration before we go back to work or school or whatever it is we do on the days when having a Bloody Mary with brunch is frowned upon.

These have probably been lauded on countless other blogs and in the annuals, but they're just so damn good that I want to take another look at McGarrah Jessee's work for Shiner Beers.

These are just two of many awesome ads. Check out all McGarrah Jessee's print work for Shiner Beers at their website.

The idea fits the brand perfectly. The copy is smart and not trying too hard, and it makes me feel all proud to have Shiner as my home state beer. (Is it weird that one of my early ad memories is a Shiner commercial with a cute old lady talking about the little brewery from Shiner, Texas?)

Enjoy your week. Do good work.