Yesterday, we reported on Target’s OBIE-winning image-only outdoor. Today, we show another OBIE winner. This time the win is about context
About David Burn
David Burn is the co-founder, editor, and publisher of Adpulp.com. David joined the ad agency business in 1997 as a copywriter and then worked for seven agencies in five states prior to launching Bonehook in 2010. Today, David is a writer, brand strategist, and leader of creative teams in Austin, TX.
I’d never heard of Bailey Lauerman before, so I checked out their website. Terrific stuff – and not just in award-friendly categories like fast food or athletic shoes.
Makes you wonder how many other exceptional but unheralded agencies are out there. If you read the trades – ADWEEK and Creativity in particular – you’d think there are only about a half-dozen agencies or so worth celebrating. Their coverage has become so lazy and their focus so narrow that they miss out on some wonderful work being done on the margins.
I think with the right combination of steroids and pitching, many major league first basemen could clear that fence.
Great commentary, Carl! I totally agree that looking only at the mainstream ad press is limiting, at best. Same goes for the award annuals. It’s all one exclusive club. Not being much of a joiner myself, I’m always concerned with what’s happening on the fringes.
As far as Bailey goes, they’ve had some wonderful mainstream press attention. Most notably, they graced the cover of Adweek a few years ago. They’ve also been selected by Creativity as an agency to watch.
I have a couple friends and former associates who work in the agency’s Omaha office.
David, I stand corrected. I wasn’t aware that Bailey Lauerman has attracted so much coverage. Maybe I should start paying more attention what’s going on in the margins myself.
I missed the write up in Creativity because I cancelled my subscription to that particular magazine some time ago – precisely because of their blatant favoritism towards a handful of agencies.
Which is precisely what I find so refreshing about your site and a number of other ad blogs. You cast a wider net. Free of the bias and backscratching rampant in the trade publications, you celebrate good work regardless of the source.
After all, as wonderful as it is, one can only read about, say, Weiden’s “Grrr” commercial so many times. Let’s honor it, by all means, but let’s not be blinded to what else is out there.
(Don’t get me started on all these award shows. . . )
Thanks for your support, Carl.
There are 10,000 agencies in the U.S., give or take. The trades cover about 100 of them. Maybe 200. That leaves a lot of people–and the work they do–in the margins. As editor of this media vehicle (and consistent basher of dominant paradigms), I’m only too happy to dig in these unmined areas.
Bailey Lauerman is one of those unsung hereos in the ad agency biz that is doing creative work in an environment that doesn’t come to mind so readily for creativity. Agreed, their work across many disciplines has garnered them with awards national to local. I wish shops like this were in the limelgiht I hope to see this unheralded shop featured in Communication Arts within two years.
Do we really need to know what Alex Bogusky had for breakfast this morning?
insert Welcome Back Kotter theme
Jayyyyyyyyyy! Welcome back long lost ad brother.
And what did Alex have this a.m.? Is he eating raw foods like Woody? Does he throw back bacon and eggs? Or maybe it’s tofu and carrot juice? Somebody, tell us.