Big salute to every creative out there who rallied to get out the vote in the run up to the election. That work is and will always be among the most important of our lives, through tough times and prosperity. We’ll start with those folks today.
This week’s selection also includes some pre-holiday happiness to ease the lingering burn of last week, and still more of our members’ work gets to the heart of life’s most relatable experiences with cinematic flair and no small degree of humor. Take a look—it made us feel better.
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How Walrus got celebs in on election issues
In a bid to win over undecided voters, Walrus and filmmaker Andrew Jarecki worked pro-bono to create a series of irreverent, Schoolhouse Rock-style spots to sway viewers with wit rather than lectures. Featuring sex robots, a snarky stork and a mock Trump as an unsteady pilot, the campaign tackles topics like healthcare and reproductive rights.
The videos were a hit, with one of them—“I’m just a pill,” about birth control—was reposted by Alicia Keys, Octavia Spencer and Kerry Washington.
Kyle O’Brien has the story over at Adweek.
Special U.S. for Cherry
To help Americans cope with election anxiety (and, well, post-election anxiety now that we’re past it) Special Group US helped cannabis brand Cherry introduce POT-US—cannabis strains crafted to help us chill out a little. Strains dubbed Dank Dough and Bernscotti hoped to take the edge off and offer a welcome respite from the election madness, launching ahead of election day at Green Fields Dispensary in Denver.
Quality Experience for Tonal
New AOR QX partnered with Tonal to launch its new “Power Progress” platform, which takes a clever jab at archaic workouts, positioning the brand as the future of fitness. In the campaign, we see eerie, black-and-white scenes from days of yore when people are stuck doing repetitive, back-breaking exercises with escalating, thriller-style tension—until one brave soul escapes to her modern Tonal system. Unforgettable work served up just in time for Black Friday.
Mother for Uber
Staggering down the street in platforms and stilettos after a night out, struggling to walk with a child and a bunch of balloons on a blustery day in the UK—these relatably uncomfortable experiences, envisioned by Mother in partnership with Somesuch and director Max Sherman, remind viewers what it’s like to desperately need an Uber.
Doe-Anderson for Maker’s Mark
Doe-Anderson serves up a smooth sampling for the booze brand ahead of the holidays. Take a sip—it’ll warm the cockles of your hardened heart.
Doe-Anderson for Georgia Aquarium
Looking back to the most recent holiday, Doe-Anderson hyped up family-friendly Halloween happenings lurking beneath the surface of a fish habitat or two.
Propac for Butterball
Another holiday season must-have here: Propac emphasizes the simplicity of serving a flawless Butterball turkey for Thanksgiving.
CONVICTS for The Island School
CONVICTS’ new documentary short, The Island School: A Coming of Age Story, highlights a Bahamian education program designed to counter the mental health and social challenges beleaguering hyper-connected youth. Released on World Mental Health Day, the film reveals how The Island School’s eco-driven, off-the-grid model builds resilience and interpersonal connections with students.
The Year in Foul Mouth Creative
It’s all about these “brand new bitches.” Foul Mouth is rightfully touting its greatest hits of the year in a slick, sexy and sharp sizzle all about its work designed to make millennial women give a shit. Badass.
The Famous Group for the NFL
Another awesome augmented reality experience from The Famous Group brought a gigantic panther to roaring life on the field at Allianz Stadium in Germany.
Oink Ink for Wheel of Fortune
Sometimes an audio spot is so good, it defies death—and that’s the case for this Halloween-themed short featuring Pat Sajak and a charmingly grisly story, which has been running for 27 years.
Something Different for Spectrum
Can’t wait for the next Jurassic Park film? Do you wish you lived in a history museum? Something Different has your back in this Smithsonian-worthy short film that’s part of Spectrum’s “Life Unlimited” campaign.
The Many for Wounded Warrior Project
For Veterans Day, The Many and Wounded Warrior Project launched Warriors On Board, an art-and-action campaign to bridge the generational gap between Gen Z and veterans. The campaign features custom-designed skateboard decks featuring artwork by veterans, a giveaway, and partnerships with figures like Ryan Sheckler.
Work from beyond the IAN Network:
- Don’t miss Orchard Creative’s delightful work for Etsy in Brittaney Kiefer’s best holiday ads roundup for Adweek.
- And Alto earned a nod in both Adweek and AdAge for its darkly comedic work about Life360’s tracking devices.
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Jess Zafarris is the author of two books, Once Upon a Word and Words from Hell, with a third forthcoming in 2025. She has contributed to three other books on topics such as social media and gaming. In the past year, she has been quoted in The New York Times and The Guardian, profiled in The Boston Globe, and interviewed on NPR and BBC World Service Radio. She speaks at conferences about writing careers and social media strategy. After 15 years in B2B and enthusiast media, she went independent to write and create content for organizations including Dictionary.com, PR Daily, Writer’s Digest, and Indie Agency News, as well as a host of communications and advertising agencies. Her podcast, Words Unravelled, has reached more than 2.5 million listeners, and her etymology videos are followed more than 100,000 word lovers.
