Lloyds Bank, Coca Cola Tacos and more: top creative ads of the week
Every week I attempt to curate a list of smart creative ideas including ads, brand identity and more. This week, a charming spot from Lloyds Bank, outdoor for Coca Cola Tacos and more.
Lloyds Bank: Daddy daughter
Advertising is magic when it brings together business strategy, an insight into human behaviour and creativity. Aside from a new brand identity, Lloyds Bank in the UK has launched a new ad which showcases the benefit of a ‘freeze card’ feature in a charming new spot. It would be a spoiler if I revealed anything more. I bet you will have a smile on your face when you finish watching this ad.
Agency: adam&eveDDB
Titan Eye Plus: Eye Test Menu
I have always been skeptical about creative ideas which feel like ‘made for awards’. They are usually about one odd installation somewhere which gets talked about in trade portals and ad agency circles. And later go on to win some awards. The business relevance and impact would largely go unexplained. Of course, sometimes such activities go viral and help the brand become famous or brighten the halo around the brand.
In that context, this idea for Titan Eye Plus feels just right. It taps into a real-world problem ties it back to the business line and offers a creative solution which can build good will for the brand. We are all familiar with the eye test chart – the imagery is also embedded in our minds. Titan Eye Plus converted food menus – usually printed or stuck on to walls at dhabas and restaurants on highways – to match the eye test chart design. This got truck drivers to strain their eyes to read such menus thus highlighting the need for eye check- up and prescription glasses. Titan Eye Plus set up professionals for such check ups and had the glasses shipped to drivers.
Agency: Ogilvy
ManiLife: fancy nuts
Creativity makes a difference. Words make a difference. Here’s ample proof: ‘peanut butter like no other’ is not really a real product differentiation. But the way it is presented as something fancy makes all the difference when it comes to being noticed (the first task of any ad), liked and remembered.
Agency: Sprowt
Currys: IRL
E-commerce is a reality. They take away business from traditional brick & mortar shops. But consumers prefer the convenience of the former. A new spot from Currys – the UK retail brand uses humour to drive home the benefits of shopping in a physical outlet. The quirks of consumers used to digital ways (swiping left) and pressing for ‘next day delivery’ are hilarious.
Agency: AMV BBDO
Coca Cola: Tacos
Among my positive memories of ad agency days is witnessing the birth of a creative idea between the copy & art team with total blurring of lines. Of course, a majority of print and outdoor ads have the conventional headline & visual approach. Sometimes one can’t figure out if it’s a ‘copy-led’ ad or the idea came from a design or art perspective. Here’s a brilliant representation of that. Also, aside from theme campaigns, cola and other fizzy drinks have linked themselves to food, to drive consumption. Ages ago, ‘Food, friends & Thums Up’ was done in India. So strategically this makes sense. I guess being an iconic brand gives them the courage to go subtle with branding.
Agency: Uncommon
WWF: A Prescription for Nature
The post-COVID world has seen a renewed focus on mental health and tackling work-related stress. A new campaign for WWF & Parkrun, featuring ITV This Morning’s Dr Sara Kayat in the UK takes the creative route of a ‘prescription’ literally. Notice the word play that helps you connect the dots in your mind and brings a smile.
Agency: Uncommon Creative Studio
Colgate: daily grind
It is worth commending any effort that brings an air of freshness in jaded, formulaic advertising for ‘boring’ categories like toothpastes. Of course there has to be relevance – it cannot be just something bizarre for the sake of being different. Colgate India’s has done some clutter-breaking work in the category recently. Here’s their latest with ingredients such as humour, exaggeration of a common behaviour and a link back to the product benefit.
Agency: Ogilvy
NHL: Gen Z
I don’t follow NHL and hence could not identify or relate to any of the sports stars shown in this ad. But could relate to the perceptions around GEN Z and how they’d react to such. Can imagine how this approach could also work for IPL in India.
Agency: Highdive
Morphie: family drama
Spoofing TV soap operas (even if they operate on stereotypes) is good fun. In India, what is commonly referred to as saas-bahu serials is often parodied. A makeup brand has great short filsm focusing on their products while weaving them into the ‘plot’ of a typical TV soap.
Agency: Design Army
Crayons: selling OOH
Each medium has its own characteristics. In the past, print medium was referred to as the ‘lean forward’ medium since it holds the attention of a reader in close proximity while reading a newspaper or magazine. Print was useful in many ways: great for announcements, long reads, information, engagement through great copywriting & imager and so on. TV was for audiovisual impact – the cinema screen equivalent at home.
Outdoor is a fleeting medium – we have a few seconds to read, observe and understand what’s being conveyed. In that context, it makes sense for an ad agency to sell the benefits of outdoor medium – pitting digital ads as the ‘enemy’. And now take a loot these set of ads selling the merits of advertising on outdoor.
Agency: Crayons. Reminded me of this old case study – where the power of outdoor was demonstrated to marketing heads who are decision makers when it comes to brand investments.
While I share interesting creative work here, why should I miss an opportunity to plug my own blog posts? Here is a relevant read: ‘best practices in outdoor advertising.
iPhone 16 Pro: Hollywood in your pocket
Lovely summation: ‘Hollywood in your pocket’ (remember ‘1000 songs in your pocket’ for iPod?). The thing with the visual effects depicted here: the real audience will be professional film makers. The attempt would be to get them to replace traditional cameras or at least use the iPhone more for professional output. But regular folks too will be attracted at the ‘possibility’ though everyday usage will be nowhere near like this. Pretty similar to ‘Shot on iPhone’.
Agency: TBWAMedia Arts Lab
Which one was your favourite? Do comment in.