This viral for Greenpeace – made by AKQA Amsterdam and The Ambassadors – hits exactly the right nerve. It not only uses a world famous and charismatic personality, the timing is also perfect, since in most countries the upcoming US elections are being closely followed. What’s more, outside the US Obama is by far the most popular candidate (for example 88% of the Dutch would like to see him become president), which makes a message about change go down very well. And although the pay-off (“Why must we look to the past, for leadership today?”) might not be great, the commercial builds up wonderfully towards a climax. Especially the movie music gives you the feeling that…uhm…Yes We Can!
Archive for October, 2008
Striking DJ portraits
Sunday, October 26th, 2008
This portrait is part of an outdoor exhibition, drawing attention to a book by Dutch photographer and art director Krijn van Noordwijk. Van Noordwijk is famous for capturing the essence of the personality of his portraits – something he probably picked up from his previous career in advertising. The book, containing 140 full colour studio portraits of DJ’s from all over the world, is a tribute to today’s musical hero’s. The outdoor exhibition, created by Bureau Pindakaas, coincides with the Amsterdam Dance Event. The ADE is the world’s biggest club festival, with over 700 DJ’s and acts performing in 40 clubs, bars, record stores and galleries.
Achtung! Oktoberfest
Sunday, October 19th, 2008
Interactive agency of the year Achtung! is throwing a housewarming party to celebrate its 3,5 year anniversary and to show their ‘neue heimat’ (meaning: their new office).
Shoptalk: Matt Jarvis leading 72andsunny
Monday, October 13th, 2008
72andsunny hired Matt Jarvis as managing director and CSO. Before, Jarvis worked at Deutsch in LA. At that time both AdAge and Adweek adwarded Deutsch as agency of the year. In his new job Jarvis will also be leading 72andsunny LA. The management expansion was necessary after the agency won both Nike+ in Europe and 2K Sports. For Nike+ the agency created this commercial. Funny to see that while the character is somewhat irritating in the beginning, it slowly grows on you. A style that is surprisingly playful for Nike standards. Especially when you compare it to the commercial W+K Amsterdam created earlier for Nike+ (with the voice-over of Edward Norton). Strategically understandable this change; with Nike+ everybody can be a winner. It wouldn’t surprise us though, if this style is only temporary. After all, research after research shows that consumers prefer to look at winners, instead of real life, dorky characters.
Advil, faster than pain
Friday, October 10th, 2008
Created by Publicis Amsterdam.
Shoptalk: Perfect Fools and de-construct in A’dam
Friday, October 3rd, 2008
The international agency Perfect Fools hired Tim O’Kennedy as non-executive director. The Swedish online agency that opened its Amsterdam office only this year, wants O’Kennedy to expand the international business. Last year O’Kennedy unexpectedly left W+K Amsterdam. Another online agency opening an Amsterdam office is London-based de-construct. It will be managed by Neil Bedwell. Bedwell in Adformatie: “Amsterdam is at the moment Europe’s most important creative hub”. The real reason though for de-construct to expand to Amsterdam is the Adidas account, on which it will work together with 180 Amsterdam. Interesting is that both W+K and 180 once started offices in Amsterdam, because of winning respectively the Nike and Adidas account.
