Whether or not you’re interested in marketing, these ads from 2014 are sure to impress you just as much as they did us at Verdin. We are always inspired by the advertising work produced by other agencies in our industry and we’re excited to share our picks for the top 10 best ads of 2014, including pieces from both print and broadcast media. Enjoy!
10. Tigo
This ad doesn’t need much explaining, which is the beauty of it. Here, Tigo cleverly illustrates the simplicity of using their mobile features to request roadside assistance.
9. OLED–TV
Pushing its way into the top 10, this ad obviously wasn’t so much about content as it was placement. With advertisements everywhere, this ad caught people’s attention because it appeared somewhere different. Furthermore, it highlights the differentiating feature of the OLED-TV by clearly depicting just how slim it actually is.
8. Lego
“Creativity forgives everything” is the headline for this ad campaign created by French agency Grey Paris. In our ever-increasing digital world, children have access to play video games on computers, tablets, phones and more, all of which don’t leave much to the imagination. Lego competes with these ads that remind parents about the magic of playing with Legos. By bringing the viewer into the mind of a child, even acts worthy of scolding can be forgiven for the sake of creativity.
7. Jeep
See a deer? Look again. This minimally-designed print campaign for Jeep features photos of animals that, when viewed upside-down, become a different animal. Accompanied by the headline “See whatever you want to see,” these ads perfectly convey the versatility that comes with owning a Jeep while targeting the desire commonly held by Jeep owners to see and explore the world around them.
6. Volkswagen Polo GTI
This print campaign captures the ease and speed of getting where you need to go with a Volkswagen Polo GTI, without even showing the vehicle. Late for class? Have a date waiting for you? By targeting several different demographics, these ads
show that, with a Volkswagen GTI, getting from point A to point B can be more fun than you think.
5. Penguin Group
In this playful campaign, the Penguin Group announces the arrival of their audiobook versions of classic literature. The ads show a penguin recording scenes from famous stories with a microphone boom.
Cooking never looked so thrilling as it does in this commercial for Lurpak, a Danish brand of butter. Not only is the videography stunning, but the crisp transformation of normal household food items and cooking utensils into adventures on worlds unknown is equally entertaining and unexpected.
In one of their first major attempts at targeting women, Under Armour chose a surprising star, a ballerina. The inspiring commercial highlights the story of Misty Copeland, who dances across the stage while a voice reads real rejection letters that the dancer received early on in her career. In spite of the letters, Copeland became the second African American soloist in the history of the most prestigious American ballet company at 24 years old, hence the ad’s slogan “I will what I want.”
Although it isn’t the typical commercial you would see at home on your couch, this ad utilized the ability to “ping” cell phones within a certain vicinity to create a shocking experience for viewers that felt dangerously real. Brilliantly executed, this powerful ad has a simple message: “Don’t text and drive.” Just watch – you’ll see what I mean.
We’ve heard it a million times – marketing is storytelling. Ads can be seen or heard, but the best ads are felt. This commercial from Thai Life Insurance doesn’t tell you what number to call to file a claim, in fact, it doesn’t have a call to action at all. But the emotions the ad evokes will have people connecting these positive feelings to the company itself. In less than a year, the ad is approaching 25 million views on YouTube, proof that quality advertisements can continue to thrive beyond their original paid segments.
Honorable Mention: Sainsbury’s Christmas Ad (Click for Video)
Made in partnership with the Royal British Legion, this ad was inspired by real events during World War I when British and German troops ceased fire on each other and emerged from their trenches to celebrate Christmas Eve together. Sainsbury went to great lengths to make the commercial historically accurate, while also succeeding in the promotion of their famous chocolates.
Which 2014 ad was your favorite? Was there one that we missed? Leave us a comment and let us know!
