Goodby Silverstein & Partners

Lay's Made for Eachother

Lay's "Made for Eachother" campaign was designed to show how Lay's chip and dip are meant for each other. Interestingly enough, none of the spots made for the campaign include the product. Instead they portray other items falling in love and being meant for eachother. The animation is adorable and the song choice goes along with it perfectly BUT there are no chips. This one for example I am ten times more likely to believe is for light bulbs before I believe it's for potato chips. I am all for making the consumer think in ads and making them figure it out but there are literally no clues in these spots that they are about chips. These ads could have been really good had they just made their point a little more clear.

TBWA

I like this ad because of how much it stands out. Not only is it on the side of a building, but the ball is above the ad in mid air making the ad come to life. I know that if I was driving by this building it would catch my attention because of how three dimensional it is. My only criticism about the entire Pedigree campaign is the tag line "Dogs Rule". I think TBWA could have come up with something much more original and funny to go along with all of the amazing print ads and spots that were created for this campaign.

DDB Brazil

I think this ad is very clever in demonstrating how quickly things can get to where you're sending them with FedEx Express. At first you don't know what is really going on but after looking at it for a few seconds you realize that as the sender is putting the vase in, the other person is already receiving it. The fact that you don't get it right away also encourages you to sit there and figure it out so you spend more time looking at the ad and in turn remembering it. The ad also manages to look artistic, even though there is a FedEx box right in the middle. The fact that that it is a vase being sent also highlights the idea that they can transport valuable thing's just the way they were when you put them in the box.

BBDO Paris

My first reaction to this ad was ew but when I took a step back I realized that shock factor is what makes the advertising effective. It is for a serious topic, conserving energy and saving earth, so it deserves a serious ad. I think it's artistic how they have the red clothing around the cheetah so that at a quick glance you think its blood and take a second look. It demonstrates that something as simple and careless as doing half a load of laundry can have an impact as large as killing a cheetah. It is the kind of ad you wouldn't flip by in a magazine, you sit there and look at it and think about it. It definitely leaves an impression.

2010 Super Bowl Ads

I was generally unimpressed by the spots displayed during this year's Super Bowl. I didn't love or hate any of them and I think that is the problem. However, some were definitely worse than others.

Three Worst...

Audi Green Police (Venables Bell & Partners San Francisco)

While I appreciate ads that are eco conscious, this ad is just stupid. It tries too hard to be funny and in doing so mocks the idea of being eco friendly. In fact, I am more inclined to do those these things after watching this ad out of sheer protest and I don't think that is the way I should feel after watching an ad trying to promote eco friendly behavior.

Megan Fox Motorola (Anomaly New York)

I will be the first to admit that Megan Fox is gorgeous but this is a push. Motorola tried to associate themselves with the current obsession with Megan Fox, being the most googled person in 2009, but no such luck.The spot insults peoples intelligence and doesn't bring anything new to the table. It's about Megan Fox being hot and her liking the phone. I rolled my eyes at this ad which is not the reaction Motorola intended. However, as much as I disliked it the male demographic could have a very different opinion and they are the target market for the Super Bowl.

Go Daddy.com (NB Agency Los Angeles)

I have seen sexist print ads and been offended but seeing it in a spot was so much worse, you can't flip the page. Every single spot for Go Daddy.com during the super bowl was awful. I get that the larger target market during the Super Bowl game is men but this is just ridiculous. They are just so tacky and tasteless. Other agencies have been able to incorporate the sex factor, like Old Spice for example, without looking this stupid.

Three Best...

Parisian Love Google (Google Creative Lab)

This ad was my favorite ad by far and interestingly enough is the simplest. Other spots probably required half the money and half the effect. Not to mention, this ad is done by googles own small in house agency.It is charming and clever. The story it tells and the small touches like the misspelling of Louvre make it have a much larger effect than any other Super Bowl commercial I saw.

Betty White Snickers (BBDO New York)

I thought this ad was funny. It's hard not to like an ad with Betty White in it but it is a clever way of portraying the "Snicker satisfies" slogan. Not to mention, keeping the theme of football during the Super Bowl was a nice touch.

Gatorade (WPP Los Angeles)

I thought this ad was powerful and appropriate for the Super Bowl given that it was about the Super Bowl. It got me excited to continue watching the game and be a part of the game and I noticed all of the Gatorade references without feeling like that's all it was about. This spot had thought put into it which was refreshing amidst the other super bowl ads. It makes you want to win.