Best Wieden+Kennedy Campaigns of All Time
Most agencies try to convince you they are selling a product, but Wieden+Kennedy is the only shop that consistently manages to sell a feeling - usually one that makes you want to buy a pair of sneakers and run through a brick wall. They have spent decades turning the "big idea" into something that feels less like a pitch and more like a cultural shift. From Portland to Amsterdam, the work below represents the high-water mark of creative bravery. Dive in.
73 campaigns
Nike: Zombies
Nike created a thrilling zombie apocalypse scenario where survivors rely on speed, agility, and endurance to outrun and defeat hordes of the undead, powerfully demonstrating how Nike gear empowers individuals to push their limits even in the most extreme, life-threatening situations.
Old Spice: 5 Year Plan
Old Spice leveraged absurd, surreal humor and visual exaggeration to transform mundane corporate ambition into a display of over-the-top confidence, effectively linking its Swagger product to a bold, unconventional sense of self-assurance.
Nike: What are Girls Made of?
Nike challenged traditional stereotypes about girls by reinterpreting a classic children's song, initially listing delicate traits before powerfully asserting that girls are made of iron, perseverance, courage, and independence, inspiring a generation to embrace their true strength and potential.
Hulu: NBA Sellouts
Hulu leveraged NBA All-Stars to create an influencer campaign that embraced brutal honesty, having them openly admit they were paid to promote Hulu Live Sports, which resonated by acknowledging audience cynicism about sponsored content and making the 'sellout' concept a strength.
Nike AirMax: Graffiti Stores
Nike Air Max launched "Graffiti Stores" to engage discerning men aged 40+ by inviting them to submit ideas and experience new models in unique, community-driven urban hubs, blending street culture with innovative retail to generate public attention and spread authentic word-of-mouth.
Fox Sports: Feet
The campaign showcased an extraordinary man using his feet for everyday tasks, including navigating foxsports.com, to powerfully demonstrate the website's universal accessibility and comprehensive content, ensuring even the most challenged fans wouldn't miss a second of the action.
Absolut Vodka & TABASCO: Absolut Tabasco
Absolut and TABASCO launched their spicy vodka by dramatizing 'heat' through a cinematic expedition to an Icelandic volcano where molten lava is replaced by fiery Bloody Marys, proving that true spice is a force of nature to be handled with care.
McDonald's: The Horizontal Breakfast
McDonald's rotated its entire advertising campaign 90 degrees to match the horizontal posture of exhausted fans recovering from the Super Bowl, positioning its breakfast as the essential first step to becoming vertical again through a relatable "morning after" truth.
Every day can be iconic with a TK Maxx deal
The campaign featured a cat humorously styling a designer loafer as a hat from a TK Maxx bag, leading to viral fame. This demonstrated how unexpected, iconic style and value are accessible for everyday moments, making luxury fun and attainable.
Nike: Jordan Can't Ban Greatness
Nike celebrated the Air Jordan 1's 40th anniversary by simulating a world where the 1985 NBA ban actually worked, using a massive 360-degree 'erasure' stunt to prove that the brand's spirit of defiance is what built modern culture.
Nike: So Win.
Nike reclaimed its performance-driven edge by flipping the double standards and criticisms faced by female athletes into a defiant call to action, proving that the very traits society labels as 'too much' are actually the keys to winning.
Ford: Taking Street View Off-Road
Ford collaborated with Google Maps to digitize the 5,900-mile TransAmerica Trail for Street View. By mapping the unmapped, Ford demonstrated the Bronco's extreme capability while providing a functional tool that empowers off-roaders of all levels to explore with confidence.
Nike: Winning isn’t for everyone | Am I a bad person?
Nike embraced the villain mindset of elite athletes through a cinematic film narrated by Willem Dafoe, questioning if the ruthless traits required to win make someone a bad person to celebrate unapologetic competitive greatness during the Olympics.
Nike: Winning Isn't Comfortable
Nike celebrated the grueling physical aftermath of a marathon by showing runners struggling with everyday movements like stairs, proving that true victory requires enduring extreme discomfort, effectively reclaiming the brand's voice as the authentic partner for serious athletes.
DOORDASH ALL THE ADS
DoorDash proved its "Your Door to More" platform by turning every Super Bowl ad into a single, epic delivery for one lucky winner, generating unprecedented real-time engagement and conversation around a complex, interactive promo code challenge.
Budweiser - Bring Home The Bud
Budweiser turned a potential sponsorship disaster into a global marketing opportunity by promising to give away its entire Qatar beer stock to the World Cup winning country, creating a viral #BringHomeTheBud campaign that engaged fans worldwide and transformed a ban into a playful, interactive challenge.
McDonald's: The Adult Happy Meal x Cactus Plant Flea Market
McDonald's collaborated with streetwear brand Cactus Plant Flea Market to release a limited - edition Adult Happy Meal, leveraging childhood nostalgia and hype culture to turn a routine fast - food purchase into a high - demand cultural collectible for grown - ups.
Nike: You Can't Stop Us
A split-screen montage seamlessly blends diverse athletes into unified movements, proving that despite global isolation and social unrest, the collective spirit of sport remains unstoppable. It worked by visually manifesting the human truth that we are stronger together.
Michelob ULTRA x NBA - Courtside
Michelob ULTRA digitally immersed fans courtside in the NBA bubble during the 2020 season shutdown, using Microsoft's AI-driven Together Mode. By scanning a bottle, fans won virtual seats, recreating the live game experience and vital human connection, which significantly boosted sales and brand engagement.
Nike: You Can't Stop Sport
Nike united athletes globally, asserting that sport's spirit transcends cancelled events and individual challenges, proving that collective resilience and passion can overcome any obstacle.
Adidas: Ravi Superstar
Adidas launched a limited-edition Superstar sneaker inspired by Dubai's iconic Ravi restaurant, a beloved hub for local subculture. This celebrated the authentic community of sneakerheads and streetwear enthusiasts, connecting the brand deeply to their shared, underground gathering place.
Mondelez International: Dark Chocolate Humor
To highlight the intense crunch of the 5 Star bar, the campaign created a deceptively cute chocolate world where characters meet violent, ingredient-filled ends, subverting traditional appetite appeal with dark, scroll-stopping humor tailored for a cynical younger audience.
Corona: Lime Ritual
Corona elevated the simple act of adding a lime wedge into a globally recognized ritual, transforming a refreshing beer into an iconic, distinctive experience that became synonymous with relaxation and good times, making it uniquely Corona.
Nike - Dream Crazy
Nike created the "Dream Crazy" campaign to inspire people to pursue their wildest dreams by showcasing athletes who defied odds and stood up for their beliefs, even when it meant personal sacrifice. By featuring Colin Kaepernick and other athletes, Nike transformed their brand message into a powerful cultural statement about courage, perseverance, and staying true to one's convictions.
Nike: Nothing Beats A Londoner
Nike celebrated the grit of young London athletes through a fast-paced relay of "one-downmanship," proving that the city's unique hardships - from long commutes to social pressures - are what forge the world's most resilient and determined competitors.
Three UK: Phones are Good.
Three UK challenged the prevailing 'life was better without phones' sentiment by humorously depicting a dystopian past where people were miserable and disconnected, thus highlighting the undeniable positive impact and essential role of mobile technology in modern life.
Nike: Breaking2
Nike turned a product launch into a scientific moonshot by attempting to break the two - hour marathon barrier. It worked by blending elite performance with high - stakes storytelling, proving innovation through a live, global human experiment.
Nike: Australian Marriage Equality Swoosh Vote
Nike transformed its iconic Swoosh into a literal 'Yes' checkmark during Australia's marriage equality survey, turning the world's most recognizable sports logo into a powerful political statement that equality should exist both on and off the field.
Old Spice: Whale 2016
Old Spice used surreal scenarios where smelling great grants 'bathroom law' immunity, proving that premium scents do not need fancy bottles to command authority. It worked by parodying hyper - masculine tropes with the brand's signature deadpan humor.
Old Spice: Smellcome To Manhood (Dad's Song)
Old Spice subverted the "sad parent" trope by featuring ecstatic fathers singing a Broadway - style musical about their sons finally growing up and moving out, using absurd humor to celebrate the brand as the ultimate catalyst for manhood.