How to add purpose and break taboos
Can every brand reap benefits from jumping on the purpose-led bandwagon and promoting their products as sustainable, social, or particularly zeitgeisty? Here, Maren Seitz, Senior Director of analytics solutions provider Analytic Partners, shares her thoughts on the effectiveness of purpose-driven marketing campaigns and the potential pitfalls brands need to look out for.
Candour on the Croisette: a climate protester's Cannes ban
As the world’s summers heat up, the inconvenient truth that humans seem to be hurtling towards self-destruction could be deemed taboo. Gustav Martner, Head Of Creative (Nordics) at Greenpeace, was ejected and banned from Cannes Lions 2022 for his protest against fossil fuel advertising – here he explains his mission to urge creative communicators to speak up.
Talking about talking; brands, bravado and positive male mental health messaging
While the one-time taboo of male mental health has stepped out of the shadows, Martin Jordan, Director of Innovation at Equator, argues that brands need to stay the course as men continue to walk the post-Covid tightrope of loneliness and depression.
Why we must spell out the creative differences dyslexics can make
Amelia Boyce, Senior Account Manager at INITIALS CX, says that dyslexia shouldn't be a taboo issue and, in fact, dyslexic employees should be celebrated for the potential creative edge they give a company.
Sorcery and success – tackling the taboo of menopause
What is it about female maturity that so unsettles society and the world of advertising? Carol Cooper speaks to a range of industry and professional women about the hot topic of hot flushes and other curses.
Maybe it’s time we gave Christmas a rebrand
Despite the recent Europe-wide heatwave, much of the industry is already working on festive spots. Surely it's taboo to criticise the joyful excesses of Christmas, isn't it? Not for Nick Sadeghian, Campaign Director at Ingenuity, who says this year might not be the time to empty the wallets of a world in crisis.
Telling authentic stories; the 50 families behind CALM’s The Last Photo
Discussions around suicide are never easy which is why Amy Simmons, Integrated Producer at adam&eveDDB, had to be especially sensitive when creating their recent campaign, The Last Photo. Here, she explains how inclusivity, understanding and involvement were the cornerstones of this powerful piece of work.
Canesten undresses the truth about vaginas
We hear from AnalogFolk about a new campaign for Canesten which combines myth-busting with education to radically alter the way we approach vaginal health, embracing truths and destroying taboos.
How to eat a human
In terms of taboo, chowing down on one's own species leaves a nasty taste in the mouth. The Swedish Food Federation's mockumentary, Eat A Swede, justly deserved this year's Cannes Grand Prix win (Entertainment category) for its exploration of putting homo sapiens on the menu. Here, Adrian Botan, McCann Europe CCO and ECD/producer Markus Ahlm, reveal the ingredients behind the campaign.
Break taboos... win awards?
Half of the battle, says The Moon Unit, is to attract attention, and breaking taboos can certainly do that. Whether it's admitting your product was terrible, bulldozing women's health barriers or alluding to defecating your pants, it'll get you noticed and possibly win you an award or two. But things don't always go to plan... especially if you're conjuring images of incest.
Exploring identity in the metaverse
As the metaverse expands, so do the possibilities for self-expression. Yuliana Safari, Associate Director, Marketing at R/GA, argues that, if the metaverse truly becomes a utopia of self-expression, not only will taboos be broken in this nascent reality, they will transcend to the real world, helping to create meaningful progress.
Avoiding the 'NG' factor: how do you advertise condoms in Japan?
Yousuke Ozawa, Creative Director at UltraSuperNew Tokyo, reveals that far from the perceived 'anything goes' nature of Japan, it's a country that has many taboos, advertising condoms being one of them. Here, he explains how they avoided getting their fingers caught in the potential 'no good' trap.