I hardly came across any clutter-breaking ads over the last weeks or so and hence did not publish any curated list last week, like I usually do. This week’s short list includes ad from Apple, Stella Artois and more.
Mac to school: features as benefits
The college community is a big market for Apple in the US. Every year, they run campaigns focused on the student community. While the iPhone is a common device in the US, Apple has to contend with a strong presence of Windows in the PC market. A new campaign focuses on specific features such as AirDrop and iPhone Mirroring to convey the benefit of how using a Mac can help one overcome a sticky situation in college.
No matter what you study, ace it with Mac and iPad. Count on superspeed, long battery life, and devices that work together easily — from your first class to graduation and beyond. And with Apple Intelligence, you can write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly.
All the three have a common visual grammar (even a thought-through video thumbnail) with showcasing a feature with an obvious benefit. Another one focused on accessibility highlights the Magnifier which can connect to your iPhone camera so you can zoom in on a screen or whiteboard.
DIRECTV: nothing on your roof
One can extrapolate ‘No satellite dish required’ as rooftops bereft of the familiar (at least to a certain age group) DTH antenna. A hilarious new spot from DIRECTV takes ‘nothing on your roof’ one step further with a memorable visual hook.
Agency: TBWAChiat Day
Stella Artois: perfect serve
Sometimes, celebrity advertising makes sense. While we mostly see mindless ‘holding pack and talking to camera’ kind of celebrity ads, some brand associations have an idea, even if tenuous. A new film draws a parallel between the art of serving (on the court) and Stella Artois’ pour into a chalice.
“Whether it’s perfecting a serve on the court or pouring the perfect glass, it’s the small details that create something truly memorable.
Agency: GUT Miami
Amazon: har din behtar
It’s common to see mild envy at play when one sees a neighbour’s home decor or garden. That aspect is at the centre of an ad for Amazon, which could have simply chosen to list the products shown but chose to package it in a story.
Agency: Ogilvy
OVO: do energy differently
Personification of an object to dramatise a concept is common in advertising. A new spot for an energy brand brings alive gadgets which chase a protagonist in a horror-movie style only to be ‘tamed’ as expected.
Agency: Saatchi & Saatchi
Lipton: tea changes everything
Before-after? Problem-solution? Two adversaries becoming friends over the love of a common thing? We’ve seen it all but elements of all these work well in a new platform for Lipton Iced Tea. Globally, fizzy carbonated drinks are increasingly seen as unhealthy. In that context, iced tea as catalyst for mood changer, beyond just refreshment has potential, when presented in an unlikely situation – beyond colleges & Generation Z.
Agency: adam&eveDDB
SBS Australia: We Go There (You Won’t See This On Regular TV)
Apparently, SBS is the national multilingual, multicultural and indigenous media organisation for Australians. As SBS celebrates its 50th birthday in 2025, a new campaign celebrates their history ‘of taking risks, breaking boundaries, and being willing to tread where others won’t. Aside from a TVC the campaign involves outdoor (which I liked more than the TVC).
Agency: Droga5
Which one was your favourite? Do comment in.