Our favorite commercial of last year was one for the very software with which we make commercials. Adobe has stepped up to the plate and proven itself a pillar of the creative realm. Debuting at the Oscars, this is a very flavorful toast to the creative industry and to future generations of creators. They made a 60-second collage video to celebrate all of those who have opened any of their apps. In the video, they paid homage to a few notable visual artists like Victoria Palov and Shepard Fairey while including over 1,000 other creatives.
Advertising
What You Can Learn from 5 of Our Favorite Videos of the Past Year
In our line of work, we watch countless hours of video, but sometimes we see one that really sticks with us. The ones we remember often have similar characteristics – they’re creative, they’re both affective and effective, and their message is crystal clear.
Making Effective Political Ads
By surveying hundreds of people, television analytics firm, Ace Metrix, evaluated political spots to determine their effectiveness. Politico tells us that Ted Cruz’s ads are the most effective among the Republicans because his ads are 5 of the highest scoring 11 — probably sounds better than saying 4 of the top 10.
Marketing Without Vision and the Death of American Apparel
We love watching Dov Charney finally get his come-uppings as the most depraved CEO ever to sexually harass his staff, but more joy comes from proof of what we’ve all been feeling for a long time: American Apparel’s advertising sucks.
Sure, the provocative photos seemed edgy, a bit, in 2003. But when you consider that Calvin Klein had already been pushing the amateur porn trope years earlier, Charney’s in-house photo spreads, often shot by the CEO himself, seem hackneyed, at best.
While the brand started with some enlightened ideas — made in America, anti sweatshop, gay friendly — it was never a true fashion house. AA followed its basic, comfy T-shirt with tacky, retro ugliness that could never be more than a fad — oversized glasses, leotards, and leg warmers.
American Apparel’s imagination void is most obvious when you consider its stagnant and stale marketing. Pictures of half clad young people in prurient poses are fine, but for more than a decade, that’s all we got.
It’s well documented that Dov Charney is a sex addicted lothario, but after losing money for four straight years and a stock trading for pennies, the real question is for AA’s board of directors: What the hell is your excuse?