The minimalist European McDonald's ads are getting creepy

Yes, I've seen those TBWA Paris ads that are an Art Director's wet dream. But this one from Heye Group, Munich, is more of a nightmare.

What is the message, really? That you should have fewer friends, so that you get to keep more fries? Just seeing those hands reach in like that kills my appetite anyway.

Via Creative Criminals

Degree does one of the finest tributes to veterans ever #truepatriotlove

Forget stupid Axe ads. Move over, Old Spice. This is how it's done, people.

Toronto's Ariad Communications created this heartfelt and powerful look into the lives of Canadian military veterans who were badly wounded on duty, but through pure willpower manage to train for Tough Mudder Toronto — "probably the toughest event on the planet":



The campaign isn't just feel good, it does good: The Degree team is competing to raise money for the True Patriot Love Foundation in support of Canadian veterans and their families.

Thanks to Creative Criminals for the tip.

Durex France proves that you can still make a great condom ad

You can see the gag coming (sorry) from a mile off, but it doesn't hurt this ad's effectiveness.



When condoms advertise disease or pregnancy prevention, or even consequence-free sex, they can be creatively intriguing but haven't told us anything special about the specific brand. They're indistinguishable from safer sex PSAs.

This one, directed by Charlotte Rabate for Durex France,  is different. It feels like an overpromise if taken literally. But by making us think about durability while enjoying childish hijinks, it gets the message of protection through strength across... flawlessly.

Tip via Creative Criminals

Truly shitty student creative

The user voters at Creative Criminals love it. Why?  Because there's a perception in advertising that shocking and unique demonstrations of product benefit are the cat's ass.

Look at this mess. The product, Dulcolax, helps you poo. So some Korean ad students thought it would be fun to turn a roller coaster full of innocent merrymakers into a giant turd emerging at top speed from somebody's bum.

Is that a positive brand association? No. People know what laxatives do, but they are uncomfortable talking about it — which is why the ads tend to be full of euphemism and metaphor. But the one thing you don't want your intestinal remedy to do is cause feces to fly out of your distended bum with extreme urgency (and perhaps a little screaming and flailing).

It's not even original. It's been thought up in reverse as a fake Durex ad.

Verdict: Fucked.

F'd Ad Fridays: Sucks to be a model

Is this for real? It was uploaded a couple of days ago.



The humour is pretty original, but I can't see how this is not going to offend people. Which is probably the intent, because of all the PR. But is that going to get them ahead with their target market?

Hmmm...

Via Creative Criminals