The top 5 creative campaigns you need to know about right now

In this week's Top 5: travel ads from the horse's mouth, a car-loving cat and some tipsy fast food orders. Check out the latest Ad Age events and award programs 5. Apple: A Day in the Life of an Average Person's data Agency: TBWA\Media Arts Lab Apple’s advertising has been superlative this year so far; for the third week running, one of its campaigns is among our top picks. This one, starring Nick Mohammed, aka Nate Shelley from “Ted Lasso,” takes an amusing long-form dive into Apple’s iPhone privacy features as we follow him about his day. It's also a double whammy for Apple, pushing Apple TV+ as it plugs iPhone. 4. Lexus: At Home in an NX Agency: The&Partnership Japan Some charming storytelling and an adorable cat transform a straightforward car ad into something more watchable in this Lexus spot from Japan. Our fluffy protagonist makes its home in a Lexus NX with its comfy heated seats and the owner, who after at first turfing the creature out, comes to love it—even though it turns out he’s a dog guy. It’s a simple idea, but nicely done, with direction by Bruce St. Clair of Great Guns, who coaxes a winning performance out of his feline star. 3. Visit Lexington: The World's First Travel Review by Horses Agency: Cornett We’ve admired Cornett’s work for Lexington, Kentucky's tourism office for some time. A previous campaign put GoPros on horses and made them videographers, but this latest stunt goes one further; the agency tapped a psychic medium to communicate with horses in the Lexington area about why they love living there—then translated the animals’ thoughts into ads. The barn cat also got a chance to share her views. Ad Age Creativity Bookmark our section covering the best in brand creativity every day Read more here 2. Alzheimer Forschung: The Glitch Agency: BBDO Germany This striking and thought-provoking PSA uses camera and editing techniques to suggest that the disease is a glitch in the brain, combining “data moshing” effects with a first-person POV to compellingly place the viewer in the shoes of the protagonist—an older woman who is suffering the effects of Alzheimer’s. The agency and director worked with a neurologist to create a design interpretation of the brainwaves of people living with the disease. It’s a smart way to appeal to younger viewers, who are well-versed in effects like data moshing from the likes of TikTok and Instagram. 1. McDonald's: We Speak Late Night Agency: DDB Group Aotearoa This outdoor campaign from McDonald’s New Zealand, with headlines that sound like inebriated people ordering food, is a somewhat edgy move for the brand, given that it’s joking about alcohol consumption. But it’s great fun, and super-engaging, as decoding the copy is half the fun. The idea is to re-establish McDonald’s as the destination of choice after a night on the town; we also loved the dedication (read: a session at the pub then going for a McDonald’s) that the agency put into researching the idea. Sign up for Ad Age newsletters From influencer marketing to agencies, get the latest news and analysis delivered to your inbox Click here

The top 5 creative campaigns you need to know about right now

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