As marketers, we need inspiration to do great work. At Bluewolf, we don’t spend our time waiting for epiphanies to strike. Instead, our pursuit of inspiration is built into our team’s process — we dedicate part of our weekly metrics meeting to share and discuss standout creative work we’ve encountered.

Our team kicks off each week by reviewing key metrics and chewing on creative ideas brought to the table. Innovative video ad? Let’s watch it. Cool mix-media web page? Let’s have a browse. Savvy social engagement tactic? Let’s explore.

Diving into the top creative ideas from around the globe is how we keep our creative tools sharp and dust-free. We’ve compiled this all-star list of marketing campaigns from 2014 that have inspired us, touched us, and galvanized us to do better work in hopes of spreading the creativity from our team to yours.

Kristil’s Pick: UPS “Wishes Delivered”

What it is: UPS takes shipping services and elevates it to delivering way more than a cardboard box — it becomes a personal wish for someone you love. The "Driver for a Day" video is absolutely priceless, as a UPS employee becomes a superhero in the eyes of a little boy. And if that’s not enough, the campaign has a social and philanthropic element: post your personal wish, including a video, and UPS will donate $1 to charity.

Why we love it: This feel-good campaign tells a great story around what UPS does from a philanthropic angle, while engaging you to interact with their brand for a good cause. Brilliant!

Michelle’s Pick: Beats by Dre “The Game Before The Game”

What it is: If the 2014 FIFA World Cup was simply a contest of advertising, a clear front-runner would be Beats by Dre, fresh off its $3.2 billion sale to Apple. “The Game Before the Game” is more like a short film than an ad at just over five minutes long, and shows the ritualistic preparation of athletes before they take to soccer’s greatest stage.

Why we love it: Right from the start, this video captures your emotions. It shows people from all over the world united by a game, by traditions, and by a desire to win. The astounding number of celebrity appearances, coupled with the subtle yet bright product placement of these headphones, did not overshadow the emotion-invoking storyline.

Saleema’s Pick: Zoosk "First Comes Like"

What it is: Zoosk’s logo redesign and multi-channel ad campaign, featuring the clever slogan “First Comes Like,” sets them apart from competitors in a saturated market. The campaign highlights the “real” nature of dating, rather than focusing on storybook endings such as eHarmony’s well-known tag “#1 Most Marriages.” The multi-channel campaign has a wide number of touchpoints — including print ads, digital, video, PR, and social— that make you feel like you’re getting a full campaign experience.



Zoosk also had a logo redesign to make the logo feel more more modern, yet remains on brand and conveys friendliness and approachability — note the rounded edges of the “z” and “k,” which soften the sans serif font and tie back to the friendliness of the old logo).

 

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Why we love it: The Zoosk slogan establishes the personality of the company and makes the site feel very accessible and familiar. Zoosk is certainly demonstrating that they know their audience!

Amber’s Pick: Hubspot “Behind the Content”

What it is: For curious marketers or those in need of a little inspiration and creativity, HubSpot and LinkedIn’s “Behind the Content” is a perfect remedy. From #UberKittens to Ann Hadley’s famous slideshare infomercial, This 45 page eBook gives insight into how some of the most successful campaigns of 2014 were made — from ideation to execution. 

Why we love it: This campaign takes advantage of all types of content — from video, to social campaigns, to ebooks, to websites. We love the use of both B2B examples and B2C examples, and as strategies converge for B2B and B2C marketers, we can draw inspiration from both.

Bel’s Pick: Ikea “BookBook”

What it is: Ikea channels Apple in this cheeky campaign for its 2015 catalogue. Using all the techniques to promote a much-hyped technology product release, the satirical video showcases the “technical” specs of the IKEA catalogue such as no lag time and eternal battery life. The video’s plain white background recalls Apple’s iconic product demo style, perfectly delivering its hilarious spoof of tech enthusiasm.

Why we love it: Jorgen Eghammer, Chief Design Guru in the video, sums it up: “Once in a while, something comes along that changes the way we live, a device so simple and intuitive, using it feels almost familiar.” The video ostensibly poses as a tech demo, while ironically appealing to the nostalgic simplicity we yearn for in our relationship with technology. 

We hope these campaigns sparked some light bulbs in your organization. What were your team’s top marketing campaigns of 2014? Tweet us @Bluewolf. Or, contact us to continue the discussion.