Adweek is running a “special advertising section” tribute to Goodby Silverstein & Partners on the agency’s 25th anniversary.
One of the segments includes a piece by Lee Clow. Here’s a slice of what he says:
Most people know and admire the famous “Got milk?” campaign. Funny, smart, strategically brilliant. But I still remember the Mill Valley Film Festival, a documentary-style conversation with Mill Valley residents from the butcher to the auto mechanic about art and film. And the “Chevys Fresh Mex hand-made today” commercials, long before homemade commercials on YouTube. And the beautiful black & white Norwegian Cruise Lines campaign. I remember being personally offended when a new marketing person unceremoniously took the account away and went on to do very ugly, very ordinary advertising.
I like that—being offended by Norwegian’s “ugly, very ordinary advertising.” Advertising runs in public spaces, thus the people who make it have a responsibility to the public. Fail to meet that responsibility and you’re not advertising, you’re polluting.
