Creative

Why Super Bowl Ads’ Lack of Emotional Creativity Is No Laughing Matter

Move over Budweiser's cute young Clydesdale. The foal that starred in the beer brand's Super Bowl ad "First Delivery" may have captured viewers' hearts with his heroic, beer-carrying exploits at the Big Game, but it was not the only one-trick pony on the night.

Círculo Creativo of the US Hispanic Market Launches Hall of Fame to Honor Industry Trailblazers

Círculo Creativo of the US Hispanic Market proudly announces the creation of its Hall of Fame, a prestigious new initiative designed to recognize and celebrate individuals and organizations that have significantly shaped the landscape of creativity and innovation within the Hispanic advertising and marketing industry. The Hall of Fame’s inaugural class includes an admired group of leaders whose contributions have left an indelible mark on the industry.

The Transformative Role of the Creative Brief in Agency Spend Management

Effective advertising demands a balance between creativity and accountability. Yet managing agency spend during the year often feels like navigating uncharted waters. Marketers must rely on estimates created in their annual scopes of work (SOWs) that are not revised to reflect the reality of changes that occur month to month. However, by leveraging a robust creative briefing process and continuous reconciliation, marketers can significantly refine their financial forecasting across the year, enhance predictability, and ensure that every dollar spent contributes to their brand's success.

Primark opens its first store in Texas with campaign from BeautifulBeast.

Primark, the iconic Dublin-based retailer, has officially opened its first store in Texas, and the excitement is palpable. With the help of BeautifulBeast, a creative agency known for its bold and impactful campaigns, Primark launched its first store in the Lone Star State with a campaign titled Primark & McAllen: The Perfect Fit.

The Comeback Jingle: Why Brands Are Reigniting Advertising’s Catchiest Tradition

Jingles, those snappy, melodic hooks that lodge themselves in your brain that come to the surface when you least expect them. As simple "Ba da ba ba ba" from a friend, and you're responding with a "I'm lovin it." Next thing you know, you're on your way to McDonald's for a Big Mac.

How Creative Consistency Can Work Magic for Brand-Building – A new study demonstrates the positive effects that steady, consistent advertising efforts can have on marketers’ ROI

Creative consistency is the unsung hero of effective branding, and recent research confirms its profound impact on advertising success. A recent System1 study conducted in the U.K. in collaboration with the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) Effectiveness Databank sheds light on the transformative power of maintaining a cohesive creative identity over time. While the study originates in the U.K., its findings resonate globally, including in the U.S., demonstrating that consistent brands significantly outperform their inconsistent counterparts in ad quality and business results.

Creative Optimization Is All About Orchestration and Relevance

Ad tech is ever-changing, a truth proven out by the short lifespan of some of its central terms. We have moved on from several integral shorthand phrases that found their way out of favor – like "online behavioral data" and "data management platform." More recently, we've seen the deprecation of platforms like Amazon Ad Server and Oracle Advertising. Meanwhile, there's another term, enduring since the early days, that now flirts with obsolescence. That phrase is "dynamic creative optimization" which is too limited to describe its real meaning, and its critical importance for the current moment.

Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation announces Scholarships at Berklee College of Music

The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation announced the first Emerging Artist Scholarship, in partnership with Berklee College of Music, toward a bachelor’s degree at the college for the 2025 fall semester. Through a series of scholarships, the institution furthers its commitment to advance the Foundation’s mission to provide educational opportunities that advance Latin music and its heritage, pledging $825,000 over the next three years for future music creators.

5 Marketing Takeaways from Bad Bunny’s Latest Record, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS

Bad Bunny has once again proven why he’s not just a music icon but a marketing mastermind. With his latest album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, he’s taken his cultural authenticity, creativity, and strategy to new heights, offering powerful lessons for marketers. From unpredictable surprise drops to building hype with strategic collaborations, every move Benito makes is a carefully crafted marketing play. Here’s how you can take inspiration from his approach to transform your brand’s strategy.  By Jossi de la Torre, BODEN Agency

Say It Your Way: McDonald’s Celebrates the Many Ways Latinos Refer to Dulce de Leche

Dulce de leche goes by many names. Whether you know it as cajeta, manjar, manjar blanco, arequipe, milk candy, fanguito, doce de leite, leche quemada or any other name, this sweet staple is a unifying flavor for Latinos, evoking memories of home, no matter where you’re from.

YO MOBILE introduces CHICHARITO as global ambassador

Yonder Media Mobile Inc., the company behind YO Mobile and the only MVNO operating on both sides of the US/Mexico border, has named Javier Hernández Balcázar, commonly known by the nickname Chicharito, as its new brand ambassador.

Advertising Is Being Lost in Translation

On the surface, Sofia Coppola's Lost in Translation is about two foreigners navigating a place where they don't speak the language. However, the real message is that even when people share the same words, the real meaning can still be lost as it is translated into different personal contexts.

ANA unveils winner son 2024 Multicultural Excellence Awards

The Association of National Advertisers (ANA) announced the recipients of its esteemed ANA Multicultural Excellence Awards, which featured 17 award categories, including the Best in Show honor.

National Healthcare Marketing’s “Purpose-led Campaign of the Year/Gold Award” goes to  d expósito & Partners

In a win reflecting strong reception and successful results among the broader audience in today’s America, and competing with specialized global, national and regional ad agencies, d expósito & Partners walked away with a coveted and unexpected English-language honor, the “Purpose-led Campaign of the Year/Gold Award,” at this year’s Healthcare Marketing/Impact Awards, co-sponsored by Ad Age.

Can Marketers Keep up With Changes in Ad Creative? [PODCAST]

The halcyon days of writing ad copy for a 30- or 60-second spot to run on network and cable tv are just a dim memory. To get their message out these days, markets have to make sure their message aligns with multiple platforms, including traditional media, streaming channels, and social media

“Embracing Purpose Beyond Politics: A New Opportunity for Brands in a Divided America.”

As the dust settles on one of the most divisive elections in recent memory, brands have a rare opportunity to refocus on their purpose. Beyond the bitter politics and polarized discourse, there’s a deep desire among consumers for connection and unity. This presents a pivotal moment for brands: they can now help bridge divides, uplift communities, and inspire optimism. But this requires brands to step boldly into their purpose-driven messaging—while avoiding the political pitfalls that can alienate their audience.  By Luis Miguel Messianu. Founder, President-Chief Creative Officer- MEL

Why Trump’s Victory Shows Hollywood’s Star Power Just Isn’t Enough Anymore. The Subtle How

I’m not a political analyst, and this isn’t a post to stir up debates over policy or undermine anyone’s feelings about the election results. But as someone deeply interested in how audiences connect and who holds influence, I can’t ignore the subtle yet significant shift this election highlighted. Trump’s win showed us something crucial: traditional celebrity endorsements might be losing their grip, especially when weighed against the power of relatable, community-driven influencers.  By Emmanuel Paa Kwesi Owusu - Digital Business Transformation | Head of Digital, Citi FM & Channel One TV | Brand Strategy | Akora | Consumer Behaviour |

Cultural Insight: The Missing Link in Marketing Strategy

Why do some marketing campaigns fail to resonate? The answer may lie in a critical oversight; culture. Marketers and agencies often underestimate the power of culture in shaping consumer behavior. According to Sasu, to gain profit and satisfy the target market, the culture must be understood (Sasu, 2005). Marketers often study demographics, economic conditions, and product features, overlooking the deeper aspects of cultural identities. To customize a message to different groups of people, the marketing strategy must recognize the psychographics and behaviors of those target audiences. Failing to do so can result in campaigns that fail to connect or, worse, offend different cultures. What works for one group might be inappropriate or offensive to another. Even though the ramifications of neglecting cultural marketing are prevalent, marketers still overlook it because of complexity, short term goals, and costs. This essay will explore the implications that are involved in cultural marketing.  By Gabrielle Christina - Florida State University - Hispanic Marketing Communication

Differences between code switching and Spanglish, and implications for advertising to Hispanics

Code switching and Spanglish are two linguistic phenomena that occur within the Hispanic community, but they differ in their nature and implications. A new identity is followed by a new Spanish and English dialect. As Hispanics undergo increased acculturation in the U.S., their language usage tends to become more hybrid in everyday contexts. This involves the occasional insertion of English words into Spanish discourse, a phenomenon known as code-switching, and the development of Spanglish, a hybrid language combining elements of both Spanish and English (Korzenny et al., 2017; Levine, 2023). Both involve the dynamic interplay between Spanish and English, but they differ in their nature and implications. A new identity and way of speaking will become increasingly prevalent and acknowledged as part of Hispanics' experience in the US. This essay will delve into the distinctions between code-switching and Spanglish, drawing on additional readings, personal experiences, and insights from interviews with diverse Hispanic consumers. Furthermore, an exploration of the implications of these linguistic practices for advertising to the Hispanic demographic will be undertaken.  By Katherinne Peralta / Florida State University

Team Global vs Team Local

• A few days back I elaborated on a service we provide in the ad biz called “transcreation”.
• When simply translating an ad campaign is not enough or not advisable.
• Sometimes the need presents itself to culturally localize a campaign because it was created with strategic insights &/or creative premises &/or executional decisions that might sound foreign or be misconstrued by a certain target audience.  By Gonzalo López Martí - Creative Directo