Welcome to Ad-glib written by a geezer who's written more ads than you've had hot dinners.

If you have nothing better to do than surf the web for trivial stuff, bravo! You have just landed on a particularly trivial site that takes a serious look at the world of less than serious ephemera - otherwise known as advertising.

Some of us have been employed by this industry to sit at desks and create this stuff. Not only have we been tasked with creating it; we've also been employed to justify it by penning long, rambling copy rationales and tone of voice guidelines. And when we're done, the agency planners are wheeled in with their demographics charts and mind-numbing statistics with the purpose of anaesthetising clients into submission.

You would't believe the ends to which this industry goes to produce creative work - some of which sadly ends up as puerile junk.

But occasionally, of course, the odd gem gets through. Hurrah!

This site has been set up to take a look at the industry's highs and lows; work that'll make you smile, cry or simply switch off.

If there's an ad you'd like included in this review send it to: alexbrianpearl@yahoo.com

Enjoy!

Tuesday, 27 November 2012

Topical ad that doesn't pull any punches



In the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal, this powerful ad produced for The National Association for People Abused in Childhood is all the stronger for being topical. Full marks to Cogent Elliot, London

Saturday, 24 November 2012

A lovely little campaign with legs






This is one of the nicest print campaigns I've seen for wine in a long time. The headline: 'Good food would choose Bordeaux' is in itself a cheeky, off the wall thought that makes me smile. And in a funny way it's very French. But what makes this campaign work so well for me is the beautifully pared back and considered art direction that cleverly melds food with wine. Particularly good examples in my humble opinion are the Cheese grater, Lobster and Roast. If this campaign was produced by a Bargle Bogle Hegarty or M&C Saatchi it would no doubt win accolades from the likes of D&AD, but because it has been produced by the little known Isobel it almost certainly won't get a look-in, which is a great shame. It might fare better at Cannes though, where the French contingent may just give it it the thumbs up. I do hope so.

Sunday, 18 November 2012

Australia Post



At a time when the postage system and the art of letter writing are being eroded by the internet, this emotive and brilliantly executed print campaign by M&C Saatchi, Melbourne may just convince a few old fuddy-duddies like me to sit down with pen and paper.


Sunday, 11 November 2012

The new Christmas TV commercial for John Lewis


The latest TV commercial for John Lewis featuring a snowman and his under-dressed snowlady is an absolute winner. Totally charming and original, it's bound to work for the department store and win its agency Adam & Eve a few gongs.

Saturday, 10 November 2012

Captivating charm from Brazil


How do you make the repair of everyday items a totally emotional experience on par with a scene straight out of the pages of Charlotte Bronte? Simple, you humanize a broken teapot - turning the body of the pot into Heathcliff and the spout into Cathy. This ad for Bic Bond by the agency Borghi/Lowe in Brazil is utterly charming and captivating. Here is a lovely example of a beautiful idea beautifully executed. And the neat line: Whatever life breaks up says it all. Full marks.

Friday, 9 November 2012

A powerful environmental message


This poster created by another Brazilian agency - Que is strikingly eye-catching. The headline reads simply: 'Is it what you expect to find in the sea? Neither do the fishes.' It's only when we see pollution in this very direct way, affecting us as well as the fish, that the message begins to resonate. It would, of course, make an even more powerful piece of direct mail.