Motor City Awakens

There is no avoiding it, this ad is just brilliant. The kind of bold thinking that is everything good about America. The reflection and spirit to create something that has the potential (and indeed deserves) to spark a city into regeneration.

Others have really praised this ad, and rightly so; but even then... The tagline 'Imported from Detroit' is genius, showing the kind of clever thinking that tells you everything about why W+K is one of, if not the best agency in the world. It doesn't try to sugar coat, it doesn't have brazen pomposity or an unachievable dream cloying up the airtime. It is, it does, it works, it inspires.

This is Chrysler's '1984'. It deserves to be looked back on in 20 years as an ad that changed the way people thought about a city, about a brand, and about how to communicate honestly and engagingly with your target audience.

Review of the Year - Part 2 - Awards!

Not quite the Cannes Lions... but it's been a great year in many senses for advertising, lots of exciting and engaging campaigns worthy of merit. Here are The Ad Pit Awards 2010!

Best Campaign

Nike - Write the Future - Talk about catching the moment and running with it. A brilliant, if sadly prophetic piece of work. Making big superstar spokespeople utterly relevant and endearing instead of shoe-horned.

Runners Up: E4 Flashmob (Utterly brilliant), John Lewis - Always a Woman, Nike Grid, Old Spice, Skoda - Meaner stuff, Match - Music shop

Best Surprise

Ikea - Kitchen at Parties - Jona Lewie brought back to popular culture and a magnificent use of music to demonstrate product.

Runner Up: Gillette - Federer video

Most Improved Advertising

Virgin Media - Speedy Gonzales - Welcome back Speedy. This is how to use existing characters to sell a product. Hits the nail right on the head in a way that manages to sell whilst still being funny.

Worst Advert

Go Compare - Opera Twat - Somehow, somehow they made this even worse than last year. A campaign surviving solely on media budget, with no redeeming qualities whatsoever. It's not funny, it's not engaging, it's not entertaining, it makes me want to have nothing to do with the brand in a way I haven't felt since Jamster.

Runner Up: Argos - Xmas (Nice ad, now why not wait til Christmas to show it?)

Most Disappointing Work

Cadbury's Dairy Milk - Charmer - Product product product nice soundtrack product product product product product. Not what we expected from one of the most engaging campaigns of recent years.

Agency of the Year

Wieden + Kennedy - Nike write the future, Nike Grid, Old Spice Man... I think there could only be one winner this year. Some agencies have made great work, but this year W+K have been consistently outstanding.

Feed Me Now Seymour!

W+K's lunchtime revolution ads for Pizza Hut are clearly having an effect.

Ive heard one radio ad and seen one print ad that are complete and utter rip off's of the concept. Including one for a chinese restaurant that borders on photocopying!

I will try and get an image of the print one shortly...