MAY EDIT
At Stir, we believe the most powerful and creative campaigns stimulate both the conscious and subconscious mind. Consumers are bombarded with thousands of different messages a day and absorb only a handful of these, so brand campaigns need to make an emotional impact to drive measurable action. That’s why on the last Friday of every month, we pick 3 campaigns from the month that stirred emotion. Taking inspiration from those that gave us all the feels, and questioning those that left us feeling indifferent.
Keep scrolling to read more ⬇️
PERPLEXED
Alexander Wang x 100% Authentic
Fashion brand Alexander Wang re-launched its iconic 2010 it bag “Ricco” in the US with an A-list influencer campaign that was not all it seemed… As the brand used doppelgangers of celebrities including Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande rather than the actual talent. The campaign - and in turn the bag - has gone viral, with shoppers drawing parallels between the cheeky campaign and its name “100% authentic”. At a time when Gen-Z are supposedly hunting down cheaper, counterfeit products (37% of Gen Z in US are happy to wear fakes) it’s a bold, irreverent tactic to reaffirm the brand’s luxury credentials and draw in younger audiences. However, it’s causing huge controversy with conversation on image rights at a time when AI and deep-fakes are rife.
Alexander Wang: Ricco Dupe Emotion: Perplexed
JOY
Guinness World Record x youngest male painter
Hot off the press, Ace-Liam Nana Sam Ankrah has just been named the world’s youngest male painter by Guinness World Records. The child prodigy has already sold paintings and held an exhibition, with his talent recognised by his mother at just six months old. The coverage is rolling in globally from the BBC to art journals and nationals. A classic, feel-good, human-interest story with brilliant photographs and a strong case study, this is an example of simple PR storytelling done well. But what will be more interesting is watching the clever brands who will already be looking to harness the potential of working with Ace-Liam in future – from Crayola to The Tate.
Guinness World Records: Youngest Male Painter Emotion: Joy
Resilience
Samsung vs Apple
Everyone has been talking about that Apple advert, which resulted in a public apology for appearing to “crush creativity”. In true Lidl x Aldi style, Samsung (no doubt using the power of AI, quick thinking and 48-hour work stints) turned around a very clear response to promote its own tablet, showing “creativity cannot be crushed”. The clever piece of content parodied the ad to show a musician pick up a broken guitar and use a Samsung tablet to play music. There is no script, just a flash of the Samsung branding, but the message is absolutely clear. We love this as it’s a masterclass in how content can be quick, masterful, and support a much broader objective than just product showcase in supporting brand values too.
Samsung: Samsung Vs. Apple Emotion: Resilience