Joe Alexander, CCO of The Martin Agency, picks his Desert Island Ads
Desert Island Ads
When you make a list like this, you inevitably leave off so much great stuff. Apologies.
I also didn’t include radio, digital, outdoor, social, etc. I stuck to print and TV – with one exception – to keep the list from getting unruly.
Two things I would say about everything here: One, the ideas and executions are timeless. They are just as relevant today as they were when they first appeared. Two, I wish I had them in my book.
VW: Snowplow
The most perfect campaign in ad history. Maybe I love this one so much because I grew up shoveling snow.
Canal+: The Bear
A bear rug turned into a walking, talking directing ass.
Yelling at the PA – gets me every time.
Rolling Stone: Perception vs. Reality
Fallon McElligott was always amazing at creating print constructs that had endless executions.
Economist: I never read the Economist.
David Abbott’s best.
Ikea: Lamp
The music. The edit. The rain. The crazy Swede. Spike Jonze crushed this one.
GEICO: Caveman Series
The contempt the cavemen had for present day humans. Brilliant twist on the cliché.
BMW Films: The Hire
Digital content, book one, chapter one, page one. The definition of gamechanger.
California Milk Processors: Got Milk/Aaron Burr
The strategic insight here – what happens when you take milk away? – one of the greatest of all time.
Apple: Think Different print series
When ads become art.
ESPN: SportsCenter
The very first “mockumentary-style” campaign. I’ve always loved how W&K just embraced the bad acting of the athletes and anchors.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkJednDFJGA
Nike: Just Do It.
The very first time the line was used was in this spot. The humble beginnings of greatness.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCJ7G-vY4vA