In the crowded world of advertising, being “cool” matters more than ever. It sets you apart, captures attention, sparks interests, and ultimately influences client choices. Here are ten cool ad agencies that are geniuses at creating campaigns that resonate with audiences, elevate brand perception, and drive results.
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1. Ogilvy
If being the inspiration for an award-winning TV series isn’t the definition of cool, we don’t know what is. Ogilvy was cited as a major inspiration for Mad Men, with one of its employees being the inspiration for one of the show’s main characters. This iconic ad agency is the brains behind many equally iconic campaigns.
First on its roster of unforgettables is the legendary “Man in the Hathaway Shirt” campaign with the enigmatic eyepatch. Recent works include the “Dove Campaign for Real Beauty,” which redefined society’s pre-set definition of beauty. Ogilvy is no stranger to awards, having won numerous prestigious ones, including Adweek’s 2023 Global Agency of the Year, among many others.
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2. Wieden+Kennedy
One of the largest independently owned ad agencies in the world, Wieden+Kennedy may not be known by everyone, but their work is. Nike’s “Just Do It” tagline is this cool ad agency’s most notable masterpiece. They are the minds behind this sports brand’s iconic campaigns, including Charles Barkley’s “I Am Not a Role Model” ad, “Here I Am,” and the “Dream Crazy” for the “Just Do It” campaign in 2018.
In addition to this, Wieden+Kennedy’s claim to fame includes Facebook’s “Facebook Home,” Coca-Cola’s “The Coke Side of Life,” and Chrysler’s “Born of Fire” campaigns. It also boasts award after award, having won six Webbys and eight Emmys, among many others.
3. TBWA Worldwide
Founded 1970 in Paris, France, TBWA Worldwide has 307 offices in 114 countries. They are the brains behind some of the most memorable campaigns ever made. The “Take The Lead” campaign is a powerful, 2-minute film featuring men narrating actual quotes from women. It was launched in 2016 for International Women’s Day and aimed to raise awareness about gender equality in the workforce.
In addition, the campaign garnered attention and sparked conversations about gender issues. TBWA Worldwide also has several awards under its belt, including Adweek’s Global Agency of the Year for 2018, 2018, 2021, and 2022.
4. Droga5
With only 13 years of experience, Droga5 is a fast-rising ad agency that scores high in the coolness factor. Its client base is one of the most diverse. They have crafted campaigns for Amazon (Before Alexa), HBO (For the Throne), Marc Ecko (Still Free), and Huggies (Welcome to the World, Baby).
In its short existence, Droga5 has built a reputation for award-winning campaigns that push boundaries and resonate with audiences. They take pride in a human-centric approach that fosters genuine connections between brands and consumers, making them cool, relatable, and impactful.
5. Mother
A fiercely independent ad agency, Mother isn’t beholden to the interests of a giant parent company. This is the exact feature that makes it one of the coolest. It was founded in 1996 by a group of creative, free-thinkers while eating lunch at a kitchen table. This creative freedom led them to craft such notable campaigns as Levi’s Odyssey spoof for Lilt, IKEA’s “The Wonderful Everyday,” and Al and Monkey, which won them the Campaign of the Year by Campaign Magazine.
Additionally, Mother’s website highlights its team of passionate people who deeply respect their mothers. This enthusiasm has fueled collaboration and an inspiring atmosphere. This has allowed them to nab awards like Agency of the Year 2001 and many others.
6. McCann
Formerly McCann Erickson, McCann is another global advertising agency that oozes coolness and creativity. Some of the most classic and legendary campaigns came out of their offices from the talents in their rich hundred-year history. These creations include Coca-Cola’s “It’s The Real Thing,” the United States Army’s “Army Strong,” and Melbourne’s Metro Trains’ “Dumb Ways to Die” campaigns.
McCann also has an impressive list of former employees. This includes Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss), homoerotic artist Tom of Finland, and novelist James Dickey (Deliverance). It has also won prestigious awards. They have been honored with the titles Digital Agency of the Year, Agency of the Year, and Network of the Year, among others.
7. 72andSunny
What makes 72andSunny one of the coolest ad agencies on earth is the impressive list of clients they work with. It was founded by former leaders of Wieden+Kennedy. Some of their initial clients consisted of A-listers such as Microsoft Xbox, Nike, and Quicksilver. They were the creators of the “live-action trailer” for Activision Call of Duty, which featured celebrities Cara Delevigne, Jonah Hill, Michael B Jordan, and Taylor Kitsch.
72andSunny has won 5 Emmy Awards, AdAge Agency of the Year, Cannes Lions Grand Prix, and the AdAge A-List Standout Agency of the Year for 2022. Their most noteworthy campaigns include Samsung’s “The Next Big Thing is Here,” Google’s “Year In Search,” and NFL’s “Football is for Everyone.”
8. Anomaly
Award-winner Anomaly focuses on creating business solutions for its clients rather than just producing “ads.” Despite its short history, its progressive and entrepreneurial business models have won them several awards. Its client list includes top brands Abbott, YouTube, L’Occitane en Provence, Denny’s Nespresso, Uber, and Unilever.
Anomaly was named Adweek’s 2022 US Agency of the Year and Ad Age’s 2017 Agency of the Year. It has also been named one of Fast Company’s “World’s Most Innovative Companies” in 2008, 2014, and 2020, among other honors.
9. Leo Burnett
Having an illustrious history starting in August of 1935, Leo Burnett has 85 offices and over 9,000 creatives working their magic worldwide. Its creations include the iconic Pillsbury Doughboy for the Pillsbury Company and the Rolling Can commercial for Chef Boyardee. The famous brand mascot Morris the Cat for 9Lives cat food, is also one of their iconic creations.
Leo Burnett has won several awards from The One Show, the world’s most prestigious award show in advertising and design. It has also won 15 Cannes Lions at the Cannes International Festival of Creativity, to name just a few.
10. BBDO
A global ad agency that’s the genius behind so many iconic campaigns, BBDO has a long and rich history starting in 1928. Its high place in the coolness meter was solidified by several campaigns, including Tnuva Milk’s commercial, the first to be shot in space. It was also the agency behind the Snickers commercial featuring Betty White, which won the USA Today Super Bowl Ad Meter.
This cool ad agency is no stranger to getting awards. They were named Network of the Year at Cannes, Global Agency of the Year by Adweek. They also hold the title Campaign Agency of the Year, and Cannes Lions Network of the Year for different years, among many others.
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