The luster of Paralympics gold is waning in the minds of advertisers and agencies (not that it shined brightly among marketers in the first place), but advertising and disability continues to win big…sort of. This year, at the 10th Annual ADCOLOR Awards, which is the advertising industry’s premier event recognizing work that promotes diversity and multiculturalism, the Ad Of The Year went to “How Do You See Me.” Produced by ad agency Saatchi & Saatchi, the ad was for CoorDown, Italy’s national organization for people with Down syndrome, but the well-intentioned ad has actually generated heated conversations and negative commentary among many vocal advocates in the disability community. Continue reading
Category Archives: Commercial
A Blind Girl Shares Her Vision During The Academy Awards
Disability in advertising took center stage during one of the most-watched live events of the year, the Academy Awards. Comcast debuted a 60-second ad which focuses on 7-year-old Emily, born blind, describing what she sees in her mind when watching her favorite movie, “The Wizard of Oz.” Continue reading
One Bold Choice is Empowering
Super Bowl XLIX was a historic event for so many reasons including advertising and disability taking center stage in, what I would consider, the best ads of the evening. The title of this post comes from the hashtags of Toyota’s and Microsoft’s campaigns, and combined, share exactly what each brand’s chief marketing officer and agency creative director did when they made the decision to be inclusive. One bold choice is empowering. Continue reading
Inspiration & Insight From Hill Holliday Creative Director
Dave Banta, EVP and Group Creative Director at Hill Holliday shared some powerful insights during a phone interview about the Liberty Mutual campaign that I’ve also blogged about in the past two posts. Dave’s background spans more than 25 years in advertising at different agencies across the country, he’s been creative director on Liberty Mutual’s account for 3 ½ of his 4 ½ years at Hill Holliday. Continue reading
Liberty Mutual’s Responsibility Revolution
I believe advertising can start a revolution. After interviewing Teal Sherer and getting her take as an actor in the commercial, I was fortunate enough to interview Jennifer Anderson, Marketing Manager with Liberty Mutual, who shared more insights from the advertiser’s perspective. Continue reading
Teal Sherer Actress & Advocate
I had the privilege to interview Teal Sherer, to learn how she brings conviction, visibility and voice to both her career in acting and support of disability inclusion and awareness. Originally from Lenoir City, Tennessee, Teal is an L.A. based actor, producer, and activist for performers with disabilities. Her film, TV, online and theatre work includes the Emmy Award-Winning HBO Film Warm Springs, starring Kenneth Branagh, I’m With Stupid an NBC series developed by The Farelly Brothers and on-stage performances with, among others, Dustin Hoffman. Closer to main the theme of this blog centering on advertising and disability, in 2008 Teal starred in the highly acclaimed Liberty Mutual commercial, Election. Continue reading
Advertising, Disability and Apple
With the news of Steve Jobs passing, I among many others, and those in the advertising industry are mourning. Advertising and Apple are intertwined, in the design and branding of the storied computer giant – and in the computers that are the tools used to design the stories of brands. Continue reading
Quiet Confidence With No Bull – Redbull & Ashley Fiolek
Ashley Fiolek, a young motocross superstar who, by the way, is deaf, was recently recognised at the 2010 Courage in Sports Awards for her achievements and efforts in action sports and charitable work within the deaf community. Known in motocross circles as the Dirtbike Princess, Ashley is sponsored by, and stars in this breathtaking and, in the end, surprising ReBull commercial. Continue reading
