Between Super Bowl advertising and the holiday season, there sometimes seems to be an advertising wasteland. There are some advertising bright spots out there though, despite the ease with which I’m able to find deplorable sexist or ineffective ads to critique. Since the annual football advertising extravaganza, here are the four best ads of 2013 I’ve seen (so far), with a split of two TV ads and two print ads.
Best print ads of 2013 (so far)
It’s easy to be distracted by the latest viral TV ads, but print advertising is still key to reaching certain audiences.
1. Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
This series of PSAs from Moms Demand Action are simple, dramatic and clear. Which one would you choose?
“We won’t sell Kinder chocolate eggs in the interest of child safety. Why not assault weapons?”
2. Jeep for Earth Day 2013
In coordination with Earth Day this year, Jeep developed this simple but effective poster design. A symbolic green background and simple graphics display a Jeep falling off the side of the Earth drew me in. The poignant tagline ‘If there is no planet, where will you drive?’ made me pause to think.
Best TV ads of 2013 (so far)
3. New Guinness Ad Breaks the Industry Mold
This may be the first time a beer ad has hit any “best of” list I’ve ever written. (Worst of is more common…) As Business Insider observed: “Guinness distinguishes itself from its competitors by aligning its product with a brand of masculinity that has long been absent from beer advertising.”
4. The Chipotle “Scarecrow” ad
Chipotle released the Scarecrow commercial after Labor Day and it has already earned more than 6 million views on YouTube in the intervening weeks — before any paid advertising placements. The commercial reinforces the brand’s positioning and mission by presenting both a strong critique of greenwashing and factory farming, as well as a reminder that there is always another, better way to live, work and eat.
