Work of the Week: 21/11/25
A24 – Marty Supreme Marketing Zoom
Chosen by Laura Swinton, editor-in-chief
This supposedly ‘leaked’ Zoom call of Timmy Chalamet hectoring an awkward marketing team with his marketing ideas for upcoming A24 movie ‘Marty Supreme’ is all over the internet. It’s a funny, old-school bit of viral marketing. But it’s also an acting tour de force – and I’m not just talking about Chalamet who takes on the demented intensity of a pampered star who fancies himself a marketing genius. The assembled cast of creative directors, content strategists and junior producers capture the pain of trying to mask their incredulity and boredom with polite, bland interest with uncanny accuracy. We’ve all been there, right? It’s also sprinkled with some very funny lines and is well worth 18 minutes and 12 seconds of your attention.
Bang & Olufsen – Sound. Elevated.
Chosen by Tom Loudon, APAC/AUNZ reporter
Marking a century of sculpting sound, Bang & Olufsen has launched ‘Sound. Elevated.’, a global campaign that reaffirms its founding belief in the magic that happens when technology meets artistry. Created with The Or, the work is an immersive, cinematic journey across decades of innovation, showcasing how beautiful sound transcends genres and generations to shape our most cherished memories.
The campaign introduces a bespoke design language for the centenary, reflecting the brand's Scandinavian roots and uncompromising philosophy. More than a retrospective, it is a curated sensory experience -- using elevated set design and cinematic soundscapes-- designed to express what a century of innovation truly feels like, launching across film, cinema, and OOH to celebrate a rare legacy.
McDonald’s – I'm Ruinin' It
Chosen by Olivia Atkins, EMEA Editor
Wieden+Kennedy Sydney’s 'I’m Ruinin’ It' campaign might be the third Grinch-led campaign we’ve seen this season, but it’s easily the standout, in my humble opinion. Bringing the character down under for an Aussie summer twist keeps the Grinch's humour fresh, especially with the innovative menu tie-in that turns the Grinch’s sabotage into a genuinely enticing seasonal offer. The work cleverly subverts the Christmas playbook, leaning into the chaos of the hilariously-coined, 'Grinch Boy Summer'. The full-throttle festive launch – from green-washed OOH to a mischievous social takeover – makes the new festive menu feel like an event in its own right.
Moroccan National Tourist Office – Kingdom of Football
Chosen by Jordan Won Neufeldt, Canada reporter
When I think about Moroccan football, the first thing that comes to mind is an iconic line provided by Peter Drury at the 2022 World Cup, following the men’s team’s qualification to the round of 16. “Drink it in Casablanca, relish it Rabat, this is your night. See it from atop the Atlas Mountains, all above the Marrakech express, a night Morocco will never forget.”
While I can’t comment on the state of the country’s fandom prior to that moment, seeing the post game celebrations intercut with footage of supporters back home – a trend that’d continue up until the tournament’s semi-finals – was an inspirational experience. Even through the TV, you could feel the genuine passion and investment shared by so many, and you couldn’t help but cheer alongside them. In those moments, it was abundantly clear that in Morocco, football was beloved.
So, with Morocco hosting the African Cup of Nations in December (and co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup a little further down the line), BETC Paris’ decision to capture this zeal in a spot for the Moroccan National Tourist Office feels wholly deserved, and appropriate. Directed by Hamlet’s Ludovic Gontrand, the hero spot beautifully depicts exactly what it means for a nation to live and breathe football, complemented by some absolutely gorgeous shots of the country’s landscape and sun. (This aspect is particularly clever, given that ‘Kingdom of Football’ builds upon the organisation’s ‘Kingdom of Light’ brand platform). But broadly speaking, it’s incredible work that any fan of the beautiful game can appreciate, which simultaneously promotes the country in a new light for many. Consider me enamoured!
Actes Sud – The Girl in the Lynx’s Claws
Chosen by Zhenya Tsenzharyk, UK editor
When so many print ads opt for shouting at passers-by in an attempt to land their message in split-second increments, publishing house Actes Sud and agency Change took a novel approach to book marketing on the Paris metro. No excerpts and no blurbs were used to advertise the new addition to Stieg Larsson’s legendary Millennium saga, 'The Girl in the Lynx’s Claws'. Written by Karin Smirnoff, the next instalment was printed in full – yes, all 397 pages – for anyone and everyone to stop and read. The tagline, 'The first ad worth reading to the end', is just provocative enough and the visuals are really very lovely to look at. I like how it flips traditional print and book ads on their head and has the confidence to literally give the full story away to those who dare stop and engage.
Ricola – Herb Infused Scarf Collection
Chosen by Tara McKerr, Americas reporter
The brand best known for its cough drops has dropped something straight out of left field. This week they launched a scarf. Yep, you read that right. The yellow and green knit – adorned with Ricola typography and also tying in their sonic mnemonic – boasts throat-protecting qualities, being infused with their signature Swiss Alpine herbs. Designed in Europe from ‘premium textiles’, the scarf comes in two editions – ‘Lemon Balm + Mint’ (yellow) and ‘Peppermint’ (green). It also features a hidden pocket for lozenge storage.
.To promote the drop, Knoxville-based agency Tombras, created a launch film to tease the collection with a high-fashion hue. I can’t speak highly enough about this work. It feels like a properly creative idea; it’s brave, funny, well-executed, and ticks all of the boxes advertising often only hopes to tick.
The campaign is rolling out across OLV, influencer marketing, social, OOH, and a custom microsite. I’m hoping to see plenty more of the throatcare you can wear.
Teleflora – The Boy and the Bot
Chosen by Sunna Coleman, Asia reporter
A sweet ad with a good cause. Teleflora teams up with Make-A-Wish this Christmas to raise funds for kids facing critical illness. In the campaign film, we meet a young boy in hospital, accompanied by a huge, realistic-looking robot companion who makes him laugh during his stay, and comforts him during treatments. At the end, it is revealed that the robot is actually a nurse dressed up in a homemade costume, as she receives flowers and a thank you note for her dedication in caring for the boy.
The ad aims to highlight that each of us has the power to make someone's wish come true, especially this time of year when more than 4,000 children face a life-changing diagnosis.
D&AD – Creativity: Dead or Alive?
Chosen by Laura Swinton, editor-in-chief
Hand-hewn, austere and ever-so-slightly wonky. Leave it to the team at Uncommon to spot the beauty of headstone lettering. They’ve created a manifesto and accompanying film for D&AD, one that provocatively asks if creativity is dead or alive, taking a swipe at the LinkedIn doom-scrollers and doom-sayers who’d rather moan than make.
For Uncommon founder Nils Leonard, it’s our paralysing neediness and lack of belief that’s putting creativity in peril – and that gothic funerary aesthetic is the reminder we need that time is limited, so if we want to build something, we need to get up and make it. “Death is the original creative idea. Time is the most powerful brief,” he says.
Peelz – Nothing Peelz Better
Chosen by Ben Conway, Americas reporter
Sometimes you just need an ad to be a quick 30-seconds packed with gags. Party Land’s latest campaign for Peelz Citrus is just that – and it’s wildly funny. Directed by MISTER (Miche Sieg and Rose Chirillo) of Greenpoint Pictures, the film shows an increasingly erratic woman trying to find things that ‘peelz good’ – ripping up her wallpaper, her car’s sunroof and more, all in the search for something that compares to the feeling of peeling a Peelz. Obviously, the brand wants to present this as a fruitless task.
The protagonist’s performance is ludicrously melodramatic, the editing is super tight, and the idiosyncratic dialogue makes me chuckle on every re-watch (of which there have been many already). The spot ends with the woman threatening to ‘peelz’ her rather worried looking cat… need I say more?
Xbox, Football Manager & Sky Sports – Missing Managers
Chosen by Paul Monan, head of creative excellence
’Football Manager’ returned this month, two years on since the last game launched after the franchise skipped on releasing a game in 2024. And with it comes the chance for Xbox and McCann to build on the award-winning ‘Everyday Tactician’ campaign which gave one gamer the opportunity to forge a professional career as part of the back-room staff at Bromley FC.
This time the teams are focussing on the lack of female representation in management, launching 'Missing Managers' in an attempt to close the gender gap in coaching. With Sky Sports in the mix as the broadcast and digital channel partner, the campaign will invite women to to complete in-game challenges in FM26 and use that success towards qualification for professional coaching courses.
It's a great way to engage female gamers and get more people playing Football Manager on Xbox, whilst addressing a worthy social issue in football. Good stuff all round.
YETI – Don’t Get Them A YETI
Chosen by Zara Naseer, EMEA reporter
The first work from YETI and Wieden+Kennedy Portland has come out swinging, with a rugged film directed by Love Song’s Daniel Wolfe and Jess Kohl, and voiced over by Oscar- and Grammy-winner Ryan Bingham. Kicking off with a YETI Tundra Cooler flying off the back of a truck, the protagonist envisions the domino of disasters that await the owner: bites and burns, eyebrows that are still growing back, sand in places sand should never be. The thing is – all those worst-case scenarios are pretty bad-ass. The message? ‘Don’t Get Them a YETI’. Unless you really love them.
BARK – Merry Chaos
Chosen by Abi Lightfoot, Americas reporter
An ad that made me smile this week came from the global dog brand, BARK. On its website, the brand proudly states, “BARK is the world’s most dog-centric company’, therefore perhaps it’s not a surprise that dogs were front, centre, and behind the camera of its Christmas campaign this year.
Created in partnership with creative agency Tombras, the spot, aptly titled ‘Merry Chaos’ sees a dog take on the role of director and cinematographer. With a go-pro strapped to its back, chaos unfurls. The tree topples, Christmas dinner’s stolen and toys litter the floor – chaos for some, but for a dog lover, it’s just another Monday. It’s 30 seconds of furry festive fun from the perspective of man’s best friend, what’s not to love?
itsu – Christmas Is a Tough Time… for itsu
Chosen by Alex Reeves, managing editor, EMEA
This is something of an “and finally…” story for the Brits – a bit of cheap and cheerful festive silliness that riffs on a part of UK internet culture that might not translate. Explaining The Wealdstone Raider to an international audience here isn’t likely to convince anyone of why this strategic social Christmas campaign makes sense, but we’re all familiar with the kind of charity ad it’s gently satirising. And to me, the idea that we should feel sorry for a brand whose sales of quick Asian lunches drops by 15% over the festive season, is pretty funny. It’s doing some business for itsu too. With almost 70,000 likes on the Reel at the time of writing (some of them my real-life non-adlander friends), this is most certainly not advertising for advertising people. I want some. Give it me.
