Creative Department Do It Day picks: ‘Good ads’ including Airbnb, Lush, Barbie and more

Comprising a long-form TV ad, online spots, teasers and a VR simulator, AT&T’s summer spot emphasised how a simple distraction can have devastating consequences. It introduced six different characters going about their daily business – from a woman dressing her child to a boy riding his bike before showing how glancing at your phone for a split second on the road could change life in an instant.

BBDO San Francisco: Barbie 'Imagine the Possibilities'

The first ad from Barbie since appointing BBDO at start of 2015 used hidden cameras to capture onlookers’ reactions as young girls pretended to be soccer coaches, vets and museum curators – as they would with their dolls during play – the film’s ‘You can be anything’ positioning looked to empower girls to push beyond gender stereotypes.

Saatchi & Saatchi London: 'Operation Black Vote'

Operation Black Vote invoked the power of celebrity to encourage minority voters to register for the 2015 general election.

Tinie Tempah and Homeland actor David Harewood were among the stars painted white for the campaign, encompassing billboards punctuated with the strapline ‘If you don’t register to vote you’re taking the colour out of Britain’.

Molecule SF: Airbnb '#HostWithPride'

To celebrate Pride Month in June, Airbnb launched a film detailing the extra care LGBT travellers need to take.

The minute-and-a-half long ad features LGBT couples talking about their holiday experiences and the worries they have, with the endline ‘We look forward to a world where all love is welcome’.

WCRS: Women’s Aid 'Look At Me'

Women’s Aid partnered with WCRS and Ocean to create an interactive digital OOH campaign to coincide with International Women’s Day in March.

The creative presented images of bruised women pictured alongside the simple imperative ‘Look at me’.

Facial recognition technology was used to detect who was looking at the screen and as more people noticed the woman on the billboard her bruises slowly healed.

Clemenger BBDO: TAC 'Strings'

Australia’s Transport Accident Commission (TAC) created an ad to show how much of an influence parents’ driving behaviour has on their children from an early age.

The minimalist campaign features a son who mimics the movements of his father, including road rage and using his mobile phone, thanks to puppeteer’s wires.

Lush: 'Gay is OK'

#GayisOK was a social media campaign from Lush, in partnership with campaigning group All Out, to raise awareness of LGBT rights globally.

The cosmetic chain asked customers to purchase, and take a selfie with, its limited edition glittery #GayisOK soap and post on social media to raise awareness.

All proceeds from the product were donated to the brand’s ‘Love Fund’ which was distributed to gay rights groups across the world.

This feature was originally published in the 13 November issue of The Drum which is available to purchase from The Drum Store.