Work of the Week: 13/10/23

In what might be an unsurprising addition to this list, Norwich City F.C.’s powerful suicide prevention campaign is leading off this week’s compilation. Having already captured the attention of the football world, gaining over 40 million views in the process, this spot tells the story of two friends at a Norwich game. While one is visibly happier and more upbeat than the other - always ready to hug his friend, get up to cheer loudly, or lend a scarf - the film takes a shocking twist when it’s the seemingly full of life friend who passes away. All in all, it’s a heartbreaking reminder to check in on those you care about, as the signs of someone who needs help aren’t always visible on the surface. 

In a time when more and more in-person banking branches are being shut down, Nationwide reaffirmed its commitment to staying open with its biggest rebrand in 36 years. Headlined by a humorous spot from New Commercial Arts and Hungry Man director Bryan Buckley, ‘The Wire’ and ‘The Crown’ star Dominic West plays the head of ‘A.N.Y. Bank’, a man quick to revel in racking up large expense bills and who plans to increase his office space at the cost of the local branch existing. While satirical, the kernel of truth at the core makes it hit home - an effective selling point for Nationwide’s decision to not close any branches going into the future. 

In an ideal world, one might hope that the people in charge of making governmental policy decisions are well-rested and sharp of mind when they go to work. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case, as evidenced by this montage from Jordanian retail brand Sleepzone, created in partnership with Adpro Communications Group and Impact BBDO. Depicting exactly what you’d expect - people in positions of power snoozing on the job - the spot’s bold humour is a great reminder that with the right sleep products at home, work hours can be used for, well, working. 

Every year in the Netherlands, 17,000 women and 100 men get diagnosed with breast cancer… with 20-25% of them being below the age of 50. As such, Breast Care Foundation and Alexander Monro Hospital wanted to create awareness of these facts, and the importance of knowing one’s breasts and regularly getting checked. Partnering with TBWA\NEBOKO, the result was ‘The Breast Cancer Alphabet’, an animated series of 26 letters that represent different factors - from ‘D’ for ‘Dent’ to ‘I’ for ‘Inverted nipple’. Talk about a memorable way to kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month! 

Undoubtedly one of the most well-loved football teams on the planet, FC Barcelona has fans across the globe eager to don the red and blue, cheering for the likes of Pedri, Gavi, and Robert Lewandowski. In many ways this runs in the blood, which HALAL and Iconoclast director Paul Geusebroek depict literally in a spot for Patta and Nike which advertises the brands’ new capsule collection, created in partnership with the club. Featuring stunning imagery of the human heart and circulatory system, pumping fans' shared blood through blue veins and red arteries, the campaign literally speaks to the hearts of the fans, all while set to the club anthem, ‘Cant del Barça’.

From black and white to comic book panels, this spot from adam&eveDDB and DDB Paris takes viewers on an animated trip through the adventures of two Eurostar passengers. Brought to life by Riff Raff Films and The Mill Paris, the work invites viewers to imagine their own travel experience in the best, most dreamy way possible - a testament to the ways in which travel renews the human sense of creativity, and the feeling of excitement people experience when embarking on a journey to discover Europe. 

Continuing it’s ‘Did Somebody Say?’ platform, global on-demand delivery service Just Eat, McCann London and RadicalMedia director Dave Meyers took things up an octave with an over-the-top spot featuring Christina Aguilera and rising hip-hop star Latto. Operatic, dramatic, and absolutely fabulous, the two bring their respective genres together in a bespoke song, complete with lyrics that not only reflect the brand’s diverse range of offerings, but reminds viewers that it’s there to cater to your every need. Talk about a high note in food delivery advertising!

Last but certainly not least on this list, UNFPA and UNICEF worked with Wunderman Thompson Portugal to create some powerful imagery for International Day of the Girl Child. Existing as part of the organisations’ commitment to end child marriage as a whole, these print ads tell the stories of Aisha from Yemen, Dembe from Uganda, and Sonakhi from India, serving as a firm and powerful reminder of the fact that girls are given the best chance to succeed when they’re able to attend school and develop skills through programming… rather than being one of the 12 million children worldwide whose lives are interrupted far too early by this predatory practice.