AD-GLIB: December 2012

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!

Monday, 24 December 2012

TV ad of the year

While sitting in our local pub enjoying a pre-Christmas drink with a few friends, I discovered just by chance as we talked about work, that Tom who I hadn't seen for ages and is a talented film editor, had gone and picked up a Gold D&AD award. On hearing this I nearly dropped my drink. Design and Art Direction awards are the Oscars of the advertising industry here and indeed overseas. And Golds are not given out lightly. In fact, there have been several years when not a single Gold has been awarded for advertising - so highly are they coveted. Having recovered from the momentary shock, I enquired inquisitively which commercial he'd edited. " 'It's a Wonderful World' for the BBC", came his response. Well, of course that explained everything. It's quite simply a wonderful commercial created by RKCR/Y&R and, of course, beautifully edited by Thomas Ioannou through Thomas Ioannou Associates.

Monday, 17 December 2012

Double-sided tape

Here's a nice press ad for one of life's most mundane products - double-sided tape from 3M. The headline reads: 'Sticky on both sides'. The ad was created by Grey Group India.

VW off-road vehicles

A hitch-hiking scarecrow is featured in this rather charming double page spread for VW off-road commercial vehicles created by Owens DDB Dublin.

Less is more

This very simple ad created by JWT Warsaw for extra efficient light bulbs from Ikea makes its point eloquently and with maximum efficiency.

Dog food for the porky pooch

Omega dog food is a premium product designed specifically for the less than dainty dog. This witty press ad created by Canvas South Africa made me smile.

Thursday, 6 December 2012

Diabetes UK

This direct mail pack designed for Diabetes UK is leagues ahead of the charity's previous effort. But then that's largely down to the fact that the fashion photographer John Mac was commissioned to take these terrific portraits. The work has been tastefully designed by Sotomayor Design. But for a charity in dire need of a high profile, it's a great shame this work isn't getting greater exposure.