Ads of the Week: Why Adidas, Canva, and Liquid Death Are Still Outpacing the Rest in an Oversaturated Market
Every week, the advertising world churns out what feels like thousands of campaigns, but only a handful actually earn the spotlight for innovation and impact. This week, brands like Adidas, Jameson, Canva, and Liquid Death didn’t just throw budget at their problems—they showed why lazy, cookie-cutter creative still loses to campaigns with actual grit and personality.
Adidas’s latest effort isn’t just another sneaker drop wrapped in tired influencer hype. They leaned into storytelling that connects with authentic cultural moments—something most brands claim but rarely execute beyond buzzword bingo. Meanwhile, Canva’s ad proves that even in the crowded design software space, you can cut through by focusing on user empowerment rather than falling into the trap of generic product demos that make you want to check your phone.
Then there’s Liquid Death, still the reigning champion of turning a commodity—water—into a subversive lifestyle brand with a razor-sharp edge. Their campaign smacks the usual beverage marketing right in the mouth with irreverence and a clear voice, something the industry desperately needs more of instead of the same tired “refresh your life” nonsense.
What’s most striking is how these standout ads contrast with the sea of bland, agency-crafted nonsense that floods our feeds daily. The lazy “10x agency” grifters and their recycled playbooks should take notes: authenticity, boldness, and a clear point of view still win. If your ads could be replaced by a generic template from Yoast or Rank Math plugin updates, you’re doing it wrong.
The uncomfortable truth? Most brands will continue to churn out peak nothingburger campaigns because they’re afraid of risk and prefer the safety of blandness. But if you want to break through, stop hiring agencies that prioritize buzzwords over backbone, and start demanding ads that challenge, provoke, and actually connect.
In short: Adidas, Canva, and Liquid Death aren’t just lucky—they’re doing the hard work others pretend to do. If you want to catch eyeballs instead of yawns, it’s time to stop playing it safe and start making ads that actually matter.
