Award bait?

Each spring, ad agencies begin to pump out suspiciously purpose-driven campaigns in hopes of winning shiny statues at Cannes Lions and other industry awards shows. Award bait is not inherently bad, but some examples are less altruistic than others.

May 21, 2023

Should ​​Cannes juries put ‘bullshit' brand purpose out to pasture?

With all but four of last year's Grand Prix winners being purpose-themed, a debate arose around the loss of authenticity in 'made for award' campaigns.

Nov 3, 2022

Adland, take Zulu Alpha Kilo’s new film with a pinch, or a handful of salt

ZAK's annual savage satire asks: is your work targeting consumers or case studies?

Nov 15, 2021

Watch: What if normal people acted like agencies trying to win awards?

A satire by creative agency Zulu Alpha Kilo shows how real people react to the idea of setting up fake situations in order to film them and win awards.

May 20, 2021

Play with 'scam' and you might get burned

OPINION: A brief tale about the risks and rewards of creating ads not to satisfy a brief, but to win awards.

Mar 11, 2020

Thai boxing fans shocked by a husband-wife bout

Dentsu Thailand hijacked a real boxing event to make a statement about domestic violence.

Mar 10, 2020

Sure, women should wear panties that call the police in case of rape

A German lingerie brand claims its high-tech panties can "protect women against rape". (No, they can't.) In other news, it's award-bait season again.