We’re back with another charming sampling of new work from our favorite indies.
First up, experience a gentle and much-needed squeeze from a project by Klick, which makes perhaps the best possible use of AI.
Show us what you’ve got: If you’re already a member, tell us about your latest work here to be featured next week. Not a member yet? Start here.
Klick’s Heartwarming Hugs
Klick Health’s campaign is here to melt even the frostiest hearts this season, using AI magic to—at least in a visual format—reunite people with loved ones they haven’t hugged in years and especially miss during the holidays.
In what may be the most wholesome imaginable use of AI-generated imagery, photos of distant or deceased loved ones reach out to embrace the folks who miss them most. With every view on YouTube raising $1 for the Foundation for Social Connection, it’s a kind reminder that while tech can’t replace human connection, it sure can help make the holidays just a bit more magical.
P.S.: We talked to Klick CCO Rich Levy about this—and we’ll give you more of the story next week.
WorkInProgress for Domino’s and Netflix
Sometimes you just need a pizza in a hurry—like if you’re in the middle of Squid Game’s “Red Light, Green Light” sequence. That’s the premise behind this fan-friendly work promoting Domino’s “Emergency Pizza” (a free pizza you can store in your account for later after making a qualifying purchase). Trap door presumably not included.
Definitely Real for St. Jean’s Cannery & Smokehouse
Enchanting Pacific seafood, beautiful photography and seasonal vibes? Sign us up.
Fortnight Collective for Sun Valley
Fortnight Collective hits the slopes for a celebration of opening day at Sun Valley Resort. Love to see it. Happy ski season, snow bunnies!
CONVICTS for Quantas
This team is making the absolute most of its collab with Australian cinema icon Baz Luhrmann in its latest behind-the-scenes look at how they all brought the Aussie airline’s star-studded campaign to the skies and the airwaves.
Lafayette American’s Book!
Excuse me, a book?! Gimme. In case you’re in need of a little shelf awareness, this gorgeous tome celebrating Detroit—and journeys of “resilience and hope”—is a must for your coffee table.
Karsh Hagan for Denver International Airport
Meet you in Denver to hang out with Santa and sip on a festive cocktail? Already making waves in Forbes, The Denver Post, and more!
FUSE Create for Soles4Souls
Nonprofit Soles4Souls provides shoes and clothing to underprivileged kids whose opportunities may be hindered by limited access to these basic needs—improving outcomes for school attendance, jobs and more. In a campaign timed to Giving Tuesday, FUSE gets the point across with an elegant twist on a familiar tune: No shirt. No shoes. No opportunity.
Work from beyond the IAN Network:
Baldwin&: Creating a fashion line to raise awareness of colorectal cancer? Indeed. Baldwin& and new streetwear line Worldclass—launched by Brooks Bell and Sarah Beran—both survivors of late-stage colorectal cancer diagnosed in their 30s—is designed to “put guts and butts” on the mainstage. They got a nice GMA hit, too.
Nail Communications: Boston NPR affiliate WBUR Boston is nearing its 75th anniversary, and it’s keen to capture intention and attention amid the deluge of information we face every day. Nail’s sharp identity system illuminates and builds trust in the station’s commitment to reliable journalistic and storytelling practices.
Decker: Soap brand Soapply now has the “world’s longest promo code,” courtesy of Decker, in the form of its brand manifesto, which was advertised in Times Square on an animated billboard. Its moral code is its promo code. Love it.
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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.
