Ketchup 020: 🎁 Creative Folks Gift Guide 🎁 ...+Balenciaga Saga
+ Mojo Supermarket, TBWA Paris, Engine UK, TBWA\Media Arts Lab, Broken Heart Love Affair, Koto NYC, Studio Yukiko …+More
Welcome to this month’s advertising catch-up with Ketchup, a once-a-month roundup of creative that gets me excited. If you like this type of thing, subscribe!
Heya, 👜
Last issue I asked if you wanted me to ditch the intro paragraphs. 50% of Ketchup readers voted to keep the intros they “loved them.” And another 25% voted to delete them. So I’ll meet you in the middle and keep them short. To those who love the intros, I love you.
👉 OK, here’s today’s intro: #cancelBalenciaga!
Talk about the least cheery holiday campaign ever. French fashion brand Balenciaga has properly pissed off the internet with their kid's Christmas ad, where they have two toddlers showcasing all their Balenciaga gear, including plush BDSM teddy bear backpacks.
To be honest, very cool bears for adults! For babies, not so much.
Cue internet anger. The brand immediately pulled the campaign and issued an apology on Instagram for what was perceived as over-sexualizing children. Smart, but once the internet smells a little blood, they show no mercy. Quickly, their Spring 2023 ad was called out for having displayed a copy of a 2008 SCOTUS ruling (United States v. Williams) which upholds the promotion or advertisement of child pornography as a federal crime not protected by free speech. Seriously, Balenci, why? Another apology was issued, claiming they’re going to take legal action against those responsible. Balenci, hi, it’s you, the problem is you.
Balenciaga has never been shy about controversy. It is best known for its "counter-fashion" products that are a satirical commentary on society's vapidity, like the Newscast, Ugly Sneakers, The Simpsons, and Kim Kardashian's Met Gala look. Since Demna Gvasalia took over as creative director in 2015, everything they’ve produced has been gold. Including most recently being the first brand to cut ties with Kanye West for his anti-Semitic tweets.
Luxury brands are vigilant protectors of their brand image. Nothing gets out the door without extensive review, so while Balenciaga is trying to play dumb to smooth this out, it's hard to ignore the explicit messages conveyed.
💸 Balenciaga Wages $25 Million Lawsuit Over Controversial Ad Campaign
👇⬇️ What you came here for. ⬇️👇
Fork (Ads/Drops)
Imagination Included by Broken Heart Love Affair – Gives Mr. Ferguson, an imaginary friend CPR to revive play in kids for ToysRUsCanada.
Subtract the Noise by Koto NYC – The Washington Post’s first-ever ad buy in Times Square asks readers to ignore the digital noise.
He’s Coming Home by Engine UK – For Women’s Aid, brings to light the increase in domestic abuse during big sporting events like FIFA.
1-866-OAT-LINE by Oatly – Launched their Emotional Support Hotline for Plant-Based Eaters on Thanksgiving so vegans can bat away Nana with talking points.
Museum of Wonky English by UltraSuperNew – Duolingo lets Japan immerse itself in the art of mistranslations with its Tokyo exhibit.
The Slavery Cup by Mojo Supermarket – Projected onto FIFA Headquarters in Wembley and The United Nations in New York calling out the enslavement of workers and honoring those who died building the World Cup.
OneLove Armband by TBWA Paris – Found a concept solution around FIFA’s armband ban – where European teams planned to wear rainbow-colored bands to protest against homophobia in Qatar.
Winning is Undefeated by Mischief @ No Fixed Address – For FanDuel Casino, reminds us no matter how small a win is its still a win.
Ted Lasso by TBWA\Media Arts Lab – Fictional soccer coach Ted Lasso of Apple TV+’s hit sports comedy-drama writes personalized best wishes to US soccer players in their hometowns ahead of FIFA.
Heyday Canning by Outline – A brand identity that makes beans fun again.
Spoon (Resources/News)
Studio Feixen – Independent design studio based in Switzerland that focuses on randomness.
Sarah MacKinnon – LA/Greek artist uses pencil, chalk, and chaos to bring her POV to life.
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio at the MoMa – A new exhibition launching December 8 showcasing the intricacies of bringing Guillermo’s stop-motion film to life.
Inconstant Regular by Daniel Brokstad – Created a friendly sans serif font for people with dyslexia.
The Art of Deck Making by Aisha Hakim – Updated the 2020 version.
R/GA Is Closing Its Current New York and San Francisco Office Spaces as It Continues Restructuring – New year, new office.
2010 Toy Story 3 Goes Viral – The internet is freaking out over an audio illusion of Ken doll saying 'oh Barbie' or 'oh f**k.'
Secret Menu by Studio Yukiko – For Doordash, goes behind the scenes of LA’s Asian food scene and culture. Designers will love this concept mag.
Condé Nast Sues Drake and 21 Savage – Fake VOGUE cover album drop.
Book180 by Francesca Piancone – 6-month advertising portfolio program.
🎁 Holiday Gift Guide For Creative Folks 🎁
👯 Winning Creative Partners – News Paper Club – Final collab of the year, a custom printed newspaper of all your ‘22 work. Minimum order 1.
🐶 Animal lover Art Director – Gentle Giants Pet Products – Maxamilst packaging that they’ll want to save forever.
✒️ Classic Creative Writer – Moleskine Notebook – Nothing is better than a fresh notebook.
✊ Badass designers – Iranian Women Of Graphic Design – *Free* downloadable Iranian protest posters to be framed for zoom backgrounds in support.
📊 Media team approved – Freak in the Sheets Ugly Sweater – Because you bonded over Excel puns and this is semi-HR approved.
🍴 Production & more – Cooking with Scorsese and Others: The Cookbook – A luscious journey of cinema and gastronomy. Call Me By Your Name’s peach but grilled.
🫶 Team activity – Srgn Academy – (NY/LA/LV) Customization workshop, turn those boring sneakers into something fresh for the new year.
🫡 The Boss – Branche Olive Oil – Instead of giving a nice bottle of alcohol give elevated olive oil. You’ll get extra kudos when they show it off to their friends.
One last thought:
P.S., OOO – This is the last Ketchup issue of the year and will resume on Feb 1 ‘23. Enjoy the break from emails!
& that’s the sauce.
👋
– KK