In Ukraine, We as Creatives Now Have One Assignment: Defend Our Land and Stop the War

Editor’s note: As part of our coverage of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Adweek has been reaching out to creative professionals who remain in the country. Serhii Malyk, creative director for Kyiv-based creative agency Angry, sent us the following dispatch. On the night of Feb. 24, Inna [Polshina, co-founder and creative services director of Angry] and…

The Cost of Progress Beyond Performance

As this series comes to a close, the desire to be aspirational–inspirational, even–rings hollow. For many, Black History Month is little more than an opportunity to misappropriate and exploit Black culture for financial or reputational benefit–often both. It’s a performative gesture for people, companies and institutions who otherwise ignore Black people, and our cries for…

Our Agency Took a Month Off. Yours Can, Too

Now that we’re nearing two years since the onset of Covid-19, and all of the challenges and changed realities that have come with it, it’s time we get real … about those realities. Like others, we’ve tried new things to keep our team connected, improve work-life balance, support mental health, help caregivers, build community and…

NFTs Will Become the Ultimate Marker of Belonging

Nonfungible tokens (NFTs) are all the rage these days and, of course, marketers are wasting no time jumping into the pool to cash in on what might be the next big thing. If ever there is something on the tips of tongues within the popular cultural zeitgeist, it will find itself top of mind for…

Understanding Black Skepticism of DEI

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts have been on a long road to get to where we currently are, with various DEI professionals sitting at the leadership table of some of the industry’s biggest agencies, orgs, startups and companies. So, it might sound strange to hear that many Black employees and those same DEI leaders…

‘Through Our Work, Every Voice Will Be Heard’

Amid the surge in anti-Asian hate crimes last year, I did not immediately speak out. Even though my own family had been targeted in the past by similar attacks, even though I’ve lived through tremendous amounts of racism in my personal and professional life–I had no place talking about it. At least that’s what I…

We Need to Disrupt the Media Supply Chain

Last spring, the media and marketing world experienced a tipping point of sorts around the topic of supporting minority-owned and diverse-targeted media. There were high-profile pledges being publicized from marketers and agencies on an almost daily basis during the upfront season. However, it’s been thought-provoking to see the conversation cool off, especially in the current…

ASA Innocent Ban Reminds Us That Plastic Is Less Than Fantastic

Drinks brand Innocent is making impressive progress when it comes to sustainability, but there’s still a long way to go before we can see the positive environmental impact. “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle,” is arguably one of the most successful advertising slogans ever created. Teachers, neighborhood busybodies and unimaginative politicians have been rolling out this mnemonic for…

3 Big 2022 Predictions for Retail—No, Stores Aren’t Going Anywhere

After two years of accelerated ecommerce adoption, it’s safe to say that the retail consumer experience (CX) will continue to evolve at a blistering pace in 2022. But how will 2022 differ from the previous two years? In a word: complexity. At the height of the pandemic, when stores were closed and vaccines weren’t yet…

To Really See Success, the Metaverse Needs to Mirror Reality Without Its Inconveniences

Welcome to the newest buzzword flooding your feeds and tantalizing the industry, creating a sense of intrigue and raising a multitude of questions all at the same time. Say hello to the metaverse. Many of us are turning to articles and experts for help in understanding this new virtual reality, but one question pops out…

Coinbase’s Super Bowl Ad Certainly Drove Interest. But for Who?

It doesn’t happen during every Super Bowl, but every few years an iconic commercial airs that will be remembered long after the winning team becomes a historical footnote. I believe this will be the year that crypto goes mainstream. But once the buzz dies down, what will these brands have to show for their investments?…

Your Black Employees Are Leaving—Here’s How to Keep Them

For years, brands have co-opted Black culture in a performative effort to appeal to a population who previously ignored or didn’t find their products relatable. From the recent over-utilization of “pushin P” to apparel brands adopting Megan Thee Stallion’s “Hot Girl Summer,” digital blackface has become ever apparent as brands rush to post culturally relevant…

Brands Must Rise to the Challenge of Our Latest Industrial Revolution

We are at the beginning of the defining revolution of our time: The Fourth Industrial Revolution, also known as Industry 4.0, was first marked in 2015 by a team of scientists in Germany. Whether you know the terminology or not, the effects of Industry 4.0 are all around us–artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, cloud computing,…

What Marketers Can Learn From the New Space Race

Many would assume that the new space race–as extravagant, complex and dangerous as it is–has nothing to teach us about how to be better at marketing. But it does. It’s precisely that extravagance, complexity and danger that has given rise to important lessons in how to innovate safely and inexpensively, whilst avoiding the bloated, bureaucratic…

Does the Super Bowl Ad Blitz Still Make Sense?

You just spent $7 million on a 30-second Super Bowl ad… and it flopped. Sure, the Big Game winners get their share of fanfare; this year it was the Coinbase QR code spot, which offered a limited time promotion of $15 in free Bitcoin to new users, along with a $3 million giveaway. But the…

3 Takeaways From Last Weekend’s Livestream Concerts

Every year, the advertising and branded-content landscape surrounding the Super Bowl is a feeding frenzy to attract consumers attention. Brands in this year’s big game reportedly spent $7 million for a 30-second spot, making the price of an ad on Super Bowl 56 the most expensive game to advertise on to date. Across all advertising…

What Jim Morrison Can Teach Brands About Business Success

“Differentiate or die” is a common business mantra–or as the irrepressible Coco Chanel once said, “In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different.” However, that world-famous marketing guru Jim Morrison of The Doors also once sang: “No one remembers your name when you’re strange.” This view isn’t something that we often hear about…

A Crash Course in Brand Authenticity When Supporting the Black Community 

Despite the number of brands scrambling to learn about Black Americans and how to be supportive during the height of the George Floyd protests in 2020, there are a significant number of Black consumers who believe they are misrepresented or not represented at all in brand advertisements. When it comes to advertising, Black American consumers…

Why Brands and Agencies Can’t Afford to Ignore NFTs

Few new technologies have generated as much buzz in recent years as nonfungible tokens, or NFTs. As with social networks, virtual reality and cryptocurrency when they first hit the scene, the excitement surrounding these unique digital assets has led many to question whether they will live up to the hype. But NFTs are not a…

Last Night Brought Fun Back to Super Bowl Ads

Getting a Super Bowl brief is one of those opportunities you dream about as a creative. Nailing it can change the trajectory of your career. Then, about five minutes after getting briefed, reality sets in. Your palms start to sweat. Your brain draws a blank. And the faster you realize what’s riding on it, the…