smashLAB launches controversial ad campaign

Branding and advertising firm smashLAB launches an eyebrow-raising self promotional ad campaign featuring the less-glamorous byproducts of being a creative.
Initial reactions to ads have been strong - particularly to the one in the series titled "Toilet". The ad has raised a stink with some, with one respondent saying, "[It’s] gross. In a really disgusting way." But it also managed to hit some fans, with another respondent saying, "The **** is my fave. Masterful."
Overall, the feedback has been positive, with shades of concern. smashLAB feels it is just what the doctor ordered: a highly visible campaign that targets a very particular crowd and gets people talking.

You can see the ads and learn more about smashLAB by visiting www.smashlab.com

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Anonymous Adgrunt's picture
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suddenwaffle's picture

It's not controversial, but it is polarizing. Why is a turd, a snot, vomit, underarm sweat, a used condom, polarizing? Because either you don't like it because you know it sucks, or you love it because you think 'anything' that gets ANY kind of reaction constitutes a good reaction--and because you also have no taste. First of all, shock value? No, it's not shocking, it's just nasty looking. Toilet humor? Yes. Boring. It's something that I would expect an adolescent would come up with. Did the creative director leave the frat yet? This fine example is the very reason many clients don't trust 'creative' advertising. For all the strides some shops have made by just producing great work, we always see these little guys trying to compete by making something that's just crass and sophomoric. But you're obviously missing the point on how to stand out friend. Do work that makes you stand out. Don't puke and shit and blow your load to get attention. Make great ads or design pieces. Or make them better. You'll be appreciated for it. And respected. And successful. Tell me, if you're agency is so creative, why not just let the work speak for itself? Because obviously, it doesn't. Yes, there's some good design in there, but after seeing this, I expected your work to back up the claim way more than it does. Any agency or creative calling themselves a 'creative' through communication like this, while having the rest of their work be as boring and typical as your is, is like saying you're hyundai is a luxury sports sedan. You're the only one who believes it. Trust me, take this crap away, and you'll have a nice site with some tight work. That's honorable. But keep it on and you'll let it suck away whatever value and dignity your work once had.

Robblink's picture

It grabs my attention, but it could also be misinterpreted as "my agency's creative is shit".

AnonymousCoward's picture

Um, shouldn't this go in the Badland? This has been done at least twice already.

First by 86 the onions for NEC Japan:
View it here on AdLand

And again by MTV2's in-house agency:
watch it here (click on the MTV2 Beautiful/Ugly links)
or watch them on AdCritic if you've got a membership: spot #1 spot #2 spot #3

Dabitch's picture

It's seven thirty in the morning and I am working on that post already you mind-reader you. Dammit. ;)

James Trickery's picture

Doesn't the line force that conclusion? Our creative comes from within?

Dabitch's picture

Now featured in Badland, under Technicolor yawn. Ta!

caffeinegoddess's picture

Yup. All I can say is at least they didn't go the birthing, baby route.