OUR SPACE
I’m super excited to be bringing you a Throwback Thursday. I was committed to the Funny Friday “Punk’d” thing for a while, but I am ready for something new! If you haven’t watched the videos from our Punk’d series, you should. They’re fun. Something else that’s fun– as the oldest member of our content clan– is to…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6Ek-x3vYAY Welcome one and all to another edition of Wednesdays with Will. This week, one of my co-workers, Ebonne, emailed me an Ad Age article on the new Frito-Lay marketing campaign that is geared towards millennial men. Ebonne sweetly wanted to know my thoughts on the campaign and if the transition from a family-geared marketing plan to…
What can be expressed without words, but can inspire a world? Art. Frida Kahlo de Rivera (born Magdalena Carmen Frieda Kahlo y Calderón), a Mexican painter best known for her self-portraits, used symbolism to express her own pain and sexuality. Her style was influenced by indigenous cultures of Mexico as well as by European influences,…
Well, well, well– welcome to another Wednesdays with Will. Whether it’s because we’re more diverse, politically correct or have a better way of policing those who aren’t PC (i.e. social media), today’s advertisers certainly don’t get away with offensive campaigns like they used to. What’s utterly mind-boggling about offensiveness is its subjective-ness. Yes, there are words, stereotypes and depictions that will (rightfully so) offend…
This edition of WwW focuses on three memorable recent ads! These three ads each take different paths to making a memorable impact on its audience. 1.#Firstworldproblems. Not problems Taking a catchy and relevant hash tag like #firstworldproblems and using it as a catapult for the struggles of not having clean water certainly drove this message…
Sometimes the beauty of artwork lies in what we don’t see. For instance, Vincent van Gogh’s “Starry Night” is more than an abstract city view. The piece is an impressionist painting that uses rich colors and imprecise strokes to convey emotion. It’s not something you see to understand, but something you feel. Having lived in Chicago…
Is there nothing sacred anymore? Are there no secrets? Are there no private topics that aren’t fodders for tweets, posts or commercial broadcasts? Last night while watching NBC, a pretty woman started talking about discomfort and itching. I cringed. I wondered if this was her shining moment as an actress– if this is the kind…
Advertising is consistently changing. From “can bags” to talking animals, we’ve seen advertisements come and go; yet, some seem to embed themselves in our minds forever. Tapping into Our Emotions Does the phrase, “Yo quiero Taco Bell” (“I want Taco Bell”) ring a, well, bell? Whatever happened to that cute talking Chihuahua named Gidget who…
Mixing brands and political commentary can be risky, but that’s not stopping a number of brands from using their social media accounts to support LGBT rights this week. While the Supreme Court hears both sides of California’s Proposition 8 Case regarding same-sex marriage, several brands have jumped on the buzz changing their profile pictures to…
Last week, the American Association of Advertising Agencies (4As) held its annual Transformation Conference in New Orleans. CEOs from some of the largest media agencies gathered to discuss technology, media channels and platforms that are existing, emerging and constantly redefining the industry. For those of you who missed it, we’ve complied two takeaways from the…
“Here’s to you and yours and to mine and ours. And if mine and ours ever come across to you and yours, I hope you and yours will do as much for mine and ours as mine and ours have done for you and yours!” –Irish toast Well you just might have to be Irish…
It’s Super Bowl time, and advertisers are getting ready to showcase their commercials at this year’s game. As for Doritos, this is their seventh year of the “Crash the Super Bowl” contest where filmmakers can submit a 30-second Doritos commercial. Five finalist will be considered for the two spots that will face off during the…