The Thinkboxes Winner - May/June 2010
This summer's World Cup provided Nike with the opportunity to show that every four years the world's best footballers have the chance to achieve legendary status and write their own future by giving the performance of their lives on the ultimate stage. In its three-minute Write the Future TV spot, top footballers play out their potential World Cup experiences in epic fashion. John Smith's Diner commercial was runner-up; third place went to Hovis' Miss Chief. You can watch all these great ads, and find out who made them, right here.
Previous Winners
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John Lewis' epic and emotional television ad, created by Adam & Eve, charts a woman's life from infancy until she becomes a grandmother by depicting all the key events in which the retailer has played a part. The academy judges were lavish in their praise for this lovely ad and voted it the Thinkboxes winner for March/April. Peter Holmes of Telefonica, said: 'John Lewis nails the brand's longevity, simplicity and tone of voice brilliantly.' Gerry Farrell at Leith called it "effortless", and described director Dougal Wilson as "peerless", someone "who turns everything he touches into gold." Match.com's excellent Accidental Duet, which explores that "just found each other" moment, was runner up; whilst third place went to Department for Transport Road Safety's Named Riders. You can watch all these great ads, and find out who made them, right here. -
A single narrative in three parts, revealed over consecutive ad breaks within Channel 4's property show Relocation, Relocation? Yes, it's the "Kitchen Squad"; IKEA's makeover team, seen here surprising someone by ripping out their old kitchen and installing a new one. These quirky and entertaining ads evidently struck a chord with the Thinkbox Creative Academy, who voted it the Thinkboxes winner from ads broadcast in January and February.' Visa's excellent 'Football Evolution', charting a fan's journey to the World Cup, was runner-up; whilst third place went to dairy brand Cravendale, whose latest humorous execution, 'Time Fridge' managed to make Cleopatra's wishes come true by filling her bath with lots of lovely milk. You can watch all these great ads, and find out who made them, right here. -
The brief to ad agency WCRS was to make people fall in love with the brand again, which certainly seems to have been the case amongst Thinkbox's Creative Academy of ad industry experts, who voted Weetabix's Steeplechase as the Thinkboxes winner for November/December 2009. This comedy epic emerged triumphant from an impressive shortlist. Second place went to Barnardo's Turn around, which uses a striking "palindromic" structure to illustrate the point that vicious cycles can be reversed. Third place went to John Lewis's The Feeling which reminds us of our childlike delight in receiving presents. You can watch all these great ads, and find out who made them, right here.
The Thinkboxes
The thinkboxes are the first awards to celebrate the UK's world-beating TV ad creativity, in all its forms, at regular way-points throughout the year. Created in association with Haymarket Brand Media (Campaign, Marketing and Brand Republic), these bi-monthly awards are judged by the Thinkbox Creative Academy; made up of over 300 advertising luminaries with Craig Inglis, Marketing Director of John Lewis and Nick Gill, Executive Director of BBH as joint Academy Presidents.
Associated content
VW and its ad agency DDB celebrated an anniversary last year: 40 years together. It's a unique relationship, not just for its longevity but also for its consistency. Whether it's Paula Hamilton throwing her jewels down the drain; a Jack Russell singing "I'm a man", or Gene Kelly doing a bit of break dancing in the rain, we've all got our favourites. So here's a "Just VW" gallery for you, to pique the memory and cast a spotlight on just a few compelling and effective TV ads from an extraordinary canon of work. Congratulations to both VW and DDB and thanks for all the great telly.