Category: Case Studies

In 1971, McDonald’s was a successful, rapidly expanding burger chain, but it lacked a cohesive national identity. It was seen as a convenient stop for cheap food, but not necessarily a “destination.” Enter Needham, Harper & Steers (now DDB) and their legendary campaign: “You Deserve a Break Today.” This was not just a jingle; it […]

In a global sportswear market dominated by titans like Nike and Adidas, PUMA faced a critical identity crisis in the early 2010s. The brand had drifted too far into “lifestyle,” diluting its performance credibility. In 2014, PUMA launched “Forever Faster,” a daring strategic platform designed not just as a marketing tagline, but as a corporate […]

Coca-Cola’s “Taste the Feeling” campaign, launched in January 2016, marked a pivotal shift in the beverage giant’s marketing strategy. This was more than just a new tagline – it was Coca-Cola’s first unified global campaign across all its product variants (Coca-Cola Classic, Diet Coke/Light, Coke Zero, and Coca-Cola Life). Replacing the seven-year-old “Open Happiness” slogan, […]

Volkswagen’s 2011 Super Bowl commercial “The Force” became one of the most iconic automotive ads of all time, blending nostalgia, humor, and heart to deliver a powerful brand message. The ad features a pint-sized Darth Vader attempting to wield the Force around his home, only to be astonished when he seemingly starts his dad’s Volkswagen […]

Apple’s 2018 “Welcome Home” campaign – a four-minute spot for the new HomePod speaker – represents a landmark in the brand’s advertising. Instead of a typical product demo, Apple enlisted Oscar-winning director Spike Jonze to create a surreal, cinematic story. The ad stars a tired city worker who says “Hey Siri, play me something I’d […]

Coca-Cola’s Open Happiness was a bold global brand campaign launched in January 2009. It built on the earlier “Coke Side of Life” platform and invited people worldwide to “pause and refresh themselves with a Coke, to ‘open happiness’ and enjoy life’s simple pleasures.”. The tagline Enjoy life’s simple pleasures became the campaign slogan. Designed by […]

In the early 1980s, Pepsi was locked in a fierce “cola war” with Coca-Cola, striving to capture the youth market and shake its image as the perennial runner-up. Pepsi had a history of targeting younger consumers – most famously with its 1960s “Pepsi Generation” campaign that aligned the brand with the youthful, upbeat lifestyle of […]

Campaign Background and Objectives In the early 2000s, McDonald’s – the world’s largest fast-food chain – was facing serious challenges that threatened its dominance. By late 2002, the company’s performance had faltered: it posted its first-ever quarterly loss amid slumping sales, a declining share price, and growing consumer discontent. McDonald’s was being criticized for slow […]

Always is Procter & Gamble’s flagship feminine hygiene brand. Since the 1980s it has focused on puberty education and empowering girls – reaching over 17 million girls in 65+ countries through programs on confidence and menstruation. However, by 2013 Always’s purpose (supporting girls at puberty) was not evident to Millennials, and its communications had become […]

By the 1990s, Guinness was a well-known global stout brand, but it faced new challenges: stout was seen as heavy and time-consuming to pour, especially compared to quick-pouring lagers. In fact, market research had found many consumers viewed the famous 119.5-second pour as a drawback. Andy Fennell (Guinness marketing director, 1997–2001) later recalled that the […]

Google’s “Year in Search” is an annual reflection of the top global search trends, capturing key events, cultural movements, and collective societal emotions. It started in 2010 as Google’s “Zeitgeist” report and evolved into a highly anticipated year-end campaign showcasing the world’s most popular search queries. The campaign centers around an emotive short video, produced […]

In late 2011, Metro Trains Melbourne faced a growing crisis: an alarming rise in “unsafe behaviour” incidents at train stations—running across platforms, hopping boom gates, standing too close to tracks—particularly among young people disengaged by traditional fear-based public service announcements. The challenge was clear yet daunting: how do you reach a generation that simply “tunes out” […]

Chipotle’s brand purpose has long centered on sustainable, high-quality food – a mission summarized by its mantra “Food With Integrity” and the stated goal “to cultivate a better world.” This purpose-driven vision underpinned the global Cultivate a Better World marketing campaign, launched in 2011 and evolving through films, games, events and promotions worldwide. The campaign […]

IKEA’s “The Wonderful Everyday” has been a flagship global brand campaign, built around celebrating small moments at home. Rooted in IKEA’s vision “to create a better everyday life for the many people,” it shifted focus away from one-off sales pushes and highlights how everyday experiences – cooking, sleeping, playing – are made more joyful and […]

Patagonia’s 2011 “Don’t Buy This Jacket” campaign represents one of the most counterintuitive and successful marketing strategies in modern business history. This paradoxical approach to advertising, which explicitly discouraged consumption on the biggest shopping day of the year, not only reinforced the company’s environmental values but also generated substantial business growth, with sales increasing by […]

Some advertising campaigns sell products. A few create desire. But once in a generation, one rewrites culture itself. De Beers’ legendary slogan, “A Diamond is Forever,” didn’t just spark sales—it crafted a mythology. It turned a once-optional gemstone into a global rite of passage, embedding diamonds into the fabric of love, marriage, and social aspiration. […]

Heinz, a brand known for its strong identity and timeless connection with its consumers, recently launched the “Smiles” campaign, marking a bold and playful approach to celebrate its fans’ irrational love for ketchup. Released just in time for Halloween, the ad campaign was a creative partnership between Gut New York and Heinz’s in-house agency The […]

In the fast-paced world of automotive marketing, it’s rare to find a campaign that truly shifts gears and accelerates beyond the competition. But in 2018, Toyota did just that with its groundbreaking “Start Your Impossible” campaign. This case study will take you on a journey through one of the most innovative and inspiring marketing initiatives […]

Imagine a world where creativity knows no bounds, and even the most ordinary objects can be transformed into extraordinary creations. That’s exactly what Lego set out to do with its revolutionary “Rebuild the World” campaign launched in 2019. But here’s the kicker – this wasn’t just another marketing ploy. It was a bold statement that […]