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Pandemic Cards, House Numbers & Unhappy Birthdays

From sad birthdays to virus-fighting decks, here’s how smart brands tackled tough moments with heart.

Welcome back to your daily marketing swipe file. The best ads, served fresh daily, and as tasty as your favorite slice of pepperoni pizza. 🍕 Let’s dig in.

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Stay Well, Stay Home

  • What’s happening: Loren ipsum dolor loren ipsum dolor, loren ipsum dolor. Loren ipsum dolor.This ad from the Câmara Municipal de João Pessoa (João Pessoa City Council) features a triptych of images, each showcasing a house number plate against a different wall. The first plate, "101," is captioned "movies watched." The second, "9098," is captioned "hours closer to family." The third, "1000," is captioned "lives saved by staying at home." The ad highlights the positive aspects and societal benefits of staying home during a health crisis. Text on the right encourages: "NOT ALL DAYS ARE GOING TO BE GOOD, BUT THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOMETHING GOOD IN EACH DAY." The main call to action is "STAY WELL STAY HOME.

  • Why it’s awesome: This ad is incredibly effective and empathetic in its approach to public health messaging. By reframing the concept of "staying home" from a restriction into an opportunity for positive outcomes – like watching movies, spending time with family, and saving lives – it creates a sense of hope and purpose. The use of house numbers to quantify these benefits is a clever and relatable visual metaphor. It's a heartwarming and encouraging campaign that supports community well-being with a positive outlook.

#UnHappyBirthday

  • What’s happening: This poignant ad from Burger King features a young boy looking visibly bored and disappointed, with a party hat askew on his head and a single lit candle on a small cake in front of him. A white bar across his eyes highlights the hashtag "#UNHAPPYBIRTHDAY." The message at the bottom reads: "LET'S GIVE YOUR KIDS THE HAPPY BIRTHDAY THEY DESERVE." The Burger King logo is in the bottom right corner. The ad taps into the reality of lonely birthdays, especially during times when large gatherings might not be possible.

  • Why it’s awesome: This ad is incredibly effective because it uses a relatable and empathetic scenario to connect with parents. Instead of focusing on flashy food, Burger King taps into the emotional desire for children to have joyful birthdays. The "unhappy birthday" visual creates an immediate emotional hook, and the call to action implicitly positions Burger King as a solution to make those celebrations special, even in challenging circumstances. It's a clever way to promote their brand by focusing on a universal parental sentiment.

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Toothbrushing Gets Crafty

  • What’s happening: This ad for Aquafresh showcases a creative and engaging "TOOTHBRUSHING CHART" displayed on a blue magnetic board, likely designed for children. The chart lists days of the week, with columns for morning (sun icon) and night (moon icon) brushing. Kids can place red and blue "checkmark" shaped magnets (mimicking the Aquafresh stripe) to mark off their brushing progress. The scene is set in a bathroom, featuring Aquafresh toothpaste, toothbrushes, and a branded timer. The "CRAFT FACTORY" logo is in the bottom right corner, suggesting a collaboration.

  • Why it’s awesome: This ad is brilliant for its practical and playful approach to promoting dental hygiene. By turning a daily chore into a fun, interactive game, Aquafresh effectively encourages consistent brushing habits in children. The physical chart and magnets offer a tangible reward system, making it more engaging than a simple reminder. It's a smart way to involve parents and kids in a healthy routine, subtly positioning Aquafresh as a partner in making dental care enjoyable.

Cards Against Coronavirus

  • What’s happening: This creative ad from Anchovy showcases a deck of playing cards designed with a playful, pandemic-era theme. One card, a "Joker," features a sleeping character and the text "Symptom: Tiredness." Another card, the King of Hearts, depicts a character with a tissue box for a head, wearing a chef's hat, and states "Mr. Tissue, your pocket's best friend!" The back of the cards features a chaotic, colorful collage of various characters wearing masks and engaging in different activities, reflecting the complexities of life during a pandemic.

  • Why it’s awesome: This ad is incredibly clever and engaging for its unique approach to a serious topic. By transforming health guidelines and pandemic experiences into a fun, collectible card game, Anchovy makes the message about staying safe and managing symptoms highly relatable and less intimidating. The playful illustrations and witty character designs turn everyday items and emotions into memorable visual cues, demonstrating creativity and a fresh perspective on public awareness campaigns. It's a fantastic example of using design to make complex issues accessible and even enjoyable.

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Did You Wash Your Food Before Eating It?

  • What’s happening: This bold and direct ad from the WHO (World Health Organization) features a large "70%" in dark blue against a bright blue background. Text overlaying the numbers asks: "DID YOU WASH YOUR FOOD BEFORE EATING IT?" A smaller text on the left states: "OF THE POPULATION TOUCHES FOOD IN MARKETS WITHOUT PROTECTION." The hashtag #FLATTENTHECURVE is at the top left, and "BEING SAFE IT'S BASIC" is at the bottom right.

  • Why it’s awesome: This ad is incredibly effective due to its direct, urgent question and striking visual simplicity. By highlighting the statistic that "70% of the population touches food in markets without protection," it immediately raises a critical public health concern, especially relevant during a pandemic. The direct question about washing food prompts self-reflection and personal responsibility. It's a powerful and straightforward campaign that underscores the importance of basic hygiene for safety, making it a memorable and impactful message.

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That’s a wrap! We hope these bold, fun, and inspiring ads gave you your daily dose of creative energy. See you soon for some more best-in-class marketing goodies!

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