And I did it...MYYYYYY WAAAAYYYYYYY

Independence says a lot about an advertising company's character, especially in this economy.  One torpedo and you are sunk...sorry Titanic...there is no Carpathia to pick up your survivors, they just have to freeze in the North Atlantic.  These companies take their confidence to a new level and some of them generate some of the most original and creative ads to date that can deem them "unsinkable."

Dentsu

If you had to choose one company to be the Titan of Asian advertising it would have to be Dentsu...this Japanese company controls the country's market not to mention has a 20% stake in Publicis, the holding company!  Talk about advertising mafia!  Still, they present great, timeless ads.  This one from the Tokyo headquarters has actually become a tourist attraction that plays a tune if you drive the proper speed.  Now I don't want to say that this backs the stereotype of Eastern genius but....

Wieden+Kennedy

This company is crazy awesome.  It still blows my mind that they started with one campaign and now have built an empire around this one company: Nike.  This is really interesting too because it seems that traditional Nike commercials are their base, still the company has great ads.  I am a big fan of the GO FORTH campaign from the Portland headquarters.  I like how it incorporates the user and uses TV and digital media as a quest...all for Jeans.  They seem totally unrelated but I can really appreciate the campaign.

Bartle Bogle Hegarty

BBH is famous for tasteless AXE ads, known fact.  However, despite this negative image they seem to have created of women I do like this campaign for their London headquarters for Audi.  Still male-dominate with the creative aspect (the fact that it is a toy truck) I really like how the ads fits numerous groups of people and inspires people to purchase the car.  Also, it transcends the age gap, which I think is very important.

Richards Group

Oh Richards Group, I stare at your colossal building everyday wishing I was working there instead of at the mall across the street, sigh.  My favorite ads from this company are easily those that are part of the Chic-fil-a campaign that is driven by cows, so odd, so obvious, yet so unique.  This fast food company is altogether amazing in the idea that they close their offices on Sunday, have no value meal, and are still constantly the top seller of a quick bite.  I love the cows, I wish they would stay around forever...but maybe get some grammar lessons...

Doner

How did I remember this company for my exam? Doner=Detroit=Doner party.  Sad but true that Detroit is dying with the outsourcing of automobile jobs.  Still, although they may be "UPS-ing" the city's business elsewhere, Doner has this great campaign focusing on cardboard.  This ad is from the Detroit office and is for the UPS store, mind you...not like the Martin Agency and UPS itself.

Cramer-Krasselt

This company is known for their creative work with Target.  This ad is for Edward Jones and I like it because it is a lot like the time magazine ads.  It shows that an insurance ad can also be interesting, however I do not think that this is too original of an idea, it looks a bit like Allstate to me, still it is intriguing and makes me think more about the company.  This ad is from the Chicago office.

Just a Charity Case

Pro bono advertising is on the rise.  And, to be honest, is necessary for growth in the industry of both service and advertising.  In my opinion some of the best advertising has come from charity work.  Take Droga5's campaign with UNICEF encouraging people to drink tap water...this literally changed people and an entire continent.  This entire program was spread through advertising.  A movement that I am personally closely affiliated with is I Am Second.  This organization is responsible for getting people to talk about their faith, not necessarily in an evangelistic manner, but merely for communication.  In order to spread the word they created the webpage and advertise in all forms of outdoor media from billboards to bus stops, because of this advertising it is now a nationwide movement after only 10 months of operation.  Advertising truly affects the mass population of the world.

MDC...most definitely creative

This holding company is smaller than some agencies, yet some of the most creative agencies belong to this company, interesting?  I think so.

Crispin Porter + Bogusky

This company is the place to be, if you aren't here you seem to be hated by all the rest.  The work here that Alex Bogusky is producing is crazy, which seems to reflect his personality.  I like this ad because it is a little different from their usual off-the-wall tactics.  From the Miami office, this reflects more of a Bernbach-esque old style type of ad, or even as traditional as Ogilvy.  This ad shows how dynamic the company can be with their campaigns.

VirtoRobertson

This company, based in San Diego, revolutionized Taylor Guitars.  Their focus and ideas on this campaign is astounding and different.  They decided to sell the wood of the guitars, the wood for heaven's sake!  Still this campaign is one of my favorites in the originality category.

Cliff Freeman & Partners

Although this company recently closed its doors, it is a success story.  They made pizza famous by its name...so simple yet so creative.  Lately, I haven't really seen Little Ceasar's Pizza anywhere, except at Kmart, but I really like this commercial, it is captivating and entertaining, so even though we can't expect more from the New York headquarters like this ad, it is still a company that will be sorely missed.

Kirshenbaum Bond

This ad is just...different.  From the New York office the creatives take a completely different approach to the Frosty.  But I like it, it really shows how dynamic one brand can be.  Wendy's will always be tasty and my one of my personal favorites but this ad shows that the company is more than just the old-school hamburgers, it is creative.

Put your face on

Sometimes innovation does not seem so original.  Take make-up commercials, for example.  They all seem to possess the same elements: celebrity, flash a smile, buy my product.  Not so original.  This really bothers me a lot.  For heaven's sake you are selling something that could change someone's life, so why do all your ideas have to be the same?   A make-up commercial has endless potential, just like creativity, so let's use it, shall we?

Number 2

How does it feel to always come in second place?  Not good, so the mighty Publicis must win again in competition with the other Parisian holding company.  Still, HAVAS is a valuable company that has some of the most technologically advanced agencies in its arsenal.

Arnold Worldwide

Lately I have been working on a creative brief for my Intro to Creativity Advertising class.  My product is Amtrak, so of course this campaign speaks to me.  I like how the campaign as a whole reflects Arnold Worldwide.  They are the relaxed company and this ad concentrates on relaxation.  This also shows the variety of work the Boston office can put out, from claymation bunny rabbits to relaxing on a train, Arnold Worldwide just makes you say "ahhhhhhh."

Euro RSCG

This company is wholly known for their digital work at their Chicago headquarters.  I particularly like this campaign.  The idea with this is a lot like W+K's "Go Forth" for Levi's jeans.  It takes the idea that a Volvo is a treasure and pairs it with the Pirates craze of 2007 into a treasure trove of a campaigns and marketing.  Here, people can participate in the overall strategy without merely just taking in an ad.  And, in the long run, this probably has a pretty low production cost in the grand scheme of things, digital and a free car, how awesome could you get?

McKinney

Raleigh, NC is not the particular location for an agency, but McKinney makes it work.  After taking Nationwide from TM in Dallas this company has shown that it is ready to compete.  After shaking up the travel industry with the Travelocity gnome this agency is creative and innovative, yet surprisingly simple.  Brillant, simply brillaint.

Random

I feel like while studying these ads that creativity is something random...it is something unexpected and different, and also difficult.  It seems like whenever I think of an idea someone has done it before, and now I want it to be my job: originality.  This poses a problem, but also a challenge to succeed.