Heinz and Absolut Go Back the 80s for Pasta Alla Vodka Sauce Launch

Like many legendary dishes, the origins of penne alla vodka (a staple of Italian-American cuisine) are heavily disputed. Chef Luigi Franzese, who worked at Orsini Restaurant in New York, is reported to have invented the sauce in the 70s. Other food historians believe it was conceived later in the 80s by James Doty, a Columbia…

Captain Morgan Is Flipping the Script on Responsible Drinking PSAs

In mid-March, Guinness suggested St. Patrick’s Day revelers drink less. Well, for transparency, it actually suggested they try its nonalcoholic beer Guinness 0.0 instead. Now, Captain Morgan–also owned by drinks behemoth Diageo–has launched its largest-ever responsible drinking campaign, with help from Vice-owned agency Virtue. The spiced rum brand has enlisted singer, songwriter and rapper Bree…

Kumail Nanjiani Pops Into Real Dirty Scenes to Tell People They’re ‘Gonna Need More Tide’

Actor Kumail Nanjiani inserts himself into a series of moments where people are dealing with serious messes to remind them, with his signature dry wit, that they’re “gonna need more Tide.” The campaign for the detergent brand’s new Tide Power Pods finds Nanjiani in a series of scenes where people are in the process of…

Axe and Lil Baby’s Foray Into Fine Fragrances Passes Gen Z’s Smell Test

The partnership between Axe and Lil Baby already had the sweet smell of success, given the rapper’s open affection toward the brand prior to his stratospheric rise. But the duo’s latest campaign–by way of The Martin Agency–drives that point home as they find creative ways to introduce Gen Z to the world of fine fragrances….

Amazon Prime Facilitates Self-Discovery Through Shopping in Olivia Wilde-Directed Short

Taking notes from the artists and creatives of yesteryear can ignite the unique thinkers of the next generation. Channeling the sense of joy that can come from identifying with trailblazers of the past, Amazon has teamed with W+K London for the “It’s on Prime” campaign. This launch is accompanied by a video directed by Olivia…

Autodesk Is the Everywhere Software You Don’t Know—Until Now

The Oscars are full of grandiose accolades, fawning, excessive adulation and platitudes. When those involve someone behind the scenes, viewers often tune out, as the insider flattery falls flat. A new campaign helps poke fun at this ritual with film stars and award-winning filmmakers singing the praises of an entertainment industry icon who has had…

Robert Downey Jr. Takes On New Heroic Role as Cybercrime Fighter for Aura

As technology continues to advance, so does the prevalence of cybercrime. Per the AARP, American families lost almost $7 billion to cybercrime in 2021 alone. Online security provider Aura wants to do its part to fight cybercrime, but to do so it needs a strong team. Luckily, there is one person willing to stand alongside…

Bumble Shows Black Women Love in Affectionate Campaign

For one of the shortest months of the year, February is one of the busiest: the Super Bowl, the Grammy Awards, NBA All-Star Weekend, Valentine’s Day and, of course, Black History Month, jockeying for the public’s time and attention. Brands and the media are often so busy courting so many different factions at once that…

How KFC Canada Quickly Reclaimed the Chicken Narrative During McDonald’s Chicken Big Mac Debut

After months of teasing the launch, it’s official: Starting Tuesday and for a limited time only, Canadian McDonald’s fans can enjoy the Big Mac with chicken patties instead of beef. Yet, judging from the follow-up social media exchanges with fellow fast food brand KFC, that doesn’t mean that there is no beef to be had….

Mercedes-Benz Ad Wants Women to Feel They’re Among Many Game Changers, Not the Exception

Women have made endless scientific discoveries, won athletic competitions, created groundbreaking works of art and more. Yet, gender discrimination remains a major hurdle for many, making International Women’s Day just as vital in 2023 as it was in its founding year, 1911. With the need for more rapid change at its heart, Mercedes-Benz has teamed…

Kraft Dinner Apologizes for ‘Fork Up’ in Spoon-Friendly Campaign

It’s impossible to say what circa-1000 B.C. genius invented the handy spoon, but there is no denying that they did a major service to humanity. Here’s to them, whoever they were. Their impact has been nothing short of legendary. It is in acknowledgment of the mighty spoon that Kraft Dinner (KD) has launched a new…

TIAA’s Rhythmic Ad Urges Black Americans to Take Steps Toward Retiring Confidently  

Retirement equity fund TIAA and The Martin Agency are taking bold steps–literally–to address the massive financial disparity plaguing Black Americans pondering retirement. The financial services firm and its AOR have launched “Stepping Further,” the latest initiative in its #RetireInequality campaign, to draw attention to a sobering stat: 54% of Black Americans currently do not have…

Corteiz and Nike’s Air Max 95 Ad Breaks Every Marketing Rule

Nike’s Air Max 95 drop with London-founded label Corteiz has been one of the most anticipated launches of 2023 among streetwear fans. But on March 2, the pair dropped an ad depicting a world where the launch was canceled. The 3.5-minute film, directed by Walid Labri through production company Division out of Paris, opens with…

Equality Illuminates Amnesty International’s Stunning Campaign ‘The Best Religion Is Love’

To restrict marriage equality is to deny a fundamental civil right for LGBTQ+ communities. Yet same-sex unions continue to face resistance from conservative governments worldwide, making it a regular topic of discussion for activists across the globe. With Peru’s bill in favor of same-sex marriage set to be debated again in congress, Amnesty International has…

Demons From Diablo IV Take Over a French Cathedral

Blizzard Entertainment’s Diablo IV will send players to hell to battle Lilith, the queen of hatred. A campaign from creative agency 72andSunny and their experiential production partner Wildlife is capturing the scale of the video game’s cosmic conflict by covering a deconsecrated gothic cathedral in France with artwork from Baroque-style painter Adam Miller. “The Cathedral…

Smartwater Wants You to Take Things to the Next Level With New Product Launch

Once you level up, be it in relationships, career, the gym or otherwise, it’s near impossible to go back to the way things were. Tapping into new horizons can be a little scary, but it’s always worth the extra push to discover what we’re truly capable of. Leading with the feeling of confidence that comes…

Unwrapping Durex and Diesel’s Unexpected Collaboration

Diesel earned its brand provocateur status through decades of surprising stunts and taboo-busting ads, and its latest collaboration with Durex shows it’s not stopping now. The Renzo Rosso-founded fashion house rose to fame in the ’90s for creative like “Kissing Sailors,” which showed two men locking lips, and billboards that depicted the Virgin Mary wearing…

How Chili’s and Mischief Landed Brian McKnight as a Singing Waiter in First TV Campaign in 3 Years

One wonders what happens to the music stars of the past. While some become judges for music reality television, others hit the state fair touring circuit, and some just fade away. In Brian McKnight’s case, the R&B crooner has taken a gig with Chili’s Grill & Bar as a singing server. In a campaign from…

Embracing Adventure Means Embracing Yourself in Campaign From Go RVing Canada

With a major portion of the U.S. workforce now remote and the digital nomad lifestyle on the rise, the very concept of a 40-hour workweek is changing on a fundamental level. Tapping into this new flexibility by pursuing travel and adventure might have its hardships, but it’s also helped some people develop a better work-life…

Espolòn Tequila Scares Up a Creepy Cross-Promo With Paramount’s Scream VI

If seeing Ghostface in all his bloody glory on the big screen isn’t terrifying enough, how about having drinks with the brazen serial killer? Espol?n tequila, in weaving its brand into the upcoming release of Scream VI, has crafted a creepy cocktail that will be served at several movie theater chains around the country. Dubbed…