Pre-Turkey Sunday

Every Sunday, during my morning flat white with almond milk and pure organic maple syrup, I’ll share three powerful ideas transforming (creative) culture.

Neil French passed this week. His work was a masterclass in intelligent, literate advertising that trusted the reader. Long copy that people actually read. Headlines that rewarded attention. At Havas, early in my career, his print work showed me that great advertising doesn't interrupt culture—it enriches it. He proved that wit, craft, and respect for the audience never go out of style. The industry lost one of its most unapologetic voices.

Sometimes the bravest creative decision is breaking your own rules. Coca-Cola crushed their sacred logo—literally—to make recycling impossible to ignore. It's brilliant because it uses the brand's most valuable asset (94% global recognition) as the message itself. Every crushed can becomes a call to action. Ogilvy NY understood that when you have the world's most famous logo, you don't need to add more—you need to make it mean something urgent.

Heinz wasn't a sponsor of China's National Games. They didn't need to be. Heaven & Hell Shanghai created 34 tomato characters styled as athletes—using the five leaflets of a tomato to mimic human forms in motion. The line: "Every tomato that strives to win is in Heinz." It's cultural hijacking done right: timely, ownable, and charming. They turned a product feature into a participation play, proving that the best sponsorships are the ones you create yourself.

Send it my way: [email protected]

On the latest episode, I sat down with Dr. Javier Hernández—dean, entrepreneur, author, and percussionist—to unpack how ideas become market‑proof and how to lead the next generation of cultural innovators from his seat as dean of the School of Arts, Design, and Creative Industries at Sagrado.

Link below if you want to listen while you scroll.
→ Javier @ ADQLEB