Stephen J. Walsh

DIRECTV: Outdoor

2010-04-15T23:16:00.000-04:00

DIRECTV has by far the most HD (high-definition) channels - on average, twice as many as cable and Dish Network.

This outdoor campaign highlights DIRECTV dominance, the mesmerizing nature of a 200 spectacular HD channels and, as advertisting of this type should, nods to its environment.

DIRECTV: New Year's Promotion

2010-04-14T23:04:00.000-04:00

DIRECTV does countless promotions with their dealers throughout the year, often tied to holidays when DIRECTV's sales are strongest.

For a New Year's promotion, I came up with the idea of doing a spin on the super-festive "2010" glasses that many wear for the occassion. These glasses nod to the 200 HD (high-definition) channels that DIRECTV offers - twice as many as cable or Dish Network. These handsome spectacles were a huge hit with the client, the dealers who wore them in the store and with yours truly, seen wearing them here.

DIRECTV: Print

2010-04-14T23:03:00.000-04:00

DIRECTV has a pretty amazing feature called SuperCast that allows you to watch an NFL game live on your computer or iPhone.

While DIRECTV does a lot of hard-hitting retail work, this print ad was a nice opportunity to position DIRECTV as a necessary luxury for the well-traveled football fanatic.

Citibank "Live Richly" Campaign

2010-04-13T15:50:00.000-04:00

Of the many campaigns I have worked on in my career, the “Live Richly” campaign for Citibank may be my favorite. The brand voice was an excellent match for my dry, keep-everything-in-perspective worldview. It was a particularly challenging and stimulating campaign for a copywriter, as the lines did much of the heavy lifting creatively. One of the other benefits of working on "Live Richly" was its national exposure. It was a thrill to see one’s ideas all over New York City and in much of the country as well.

Levitra

2010-04-12T11:48:00.000-04:00

While pitching the Levitra account at Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness, we wanted to differentiate the Levitra man from Viagra's macho man and the super-sensitive outdoor bathtub man of Cialis. My art director and I hit on the insight that for 99% of American men, good old-fashioned regular sex is pretty incredible just the way it is. Harleys, bathtubs and chandeliers are strictly optional.

Our "Real Guys, Real Sex" campaign celebrates everyday sex - and how Levitra can bring it back - with humor and honesty absent in other brands in the category.

Central Park: A Little Green Goes A Long Way

2010-04-12T00:00:00.000-04:00

As a onetime New York City resident, it was truly an honor to do pro bono work for the Central Park Conservancy. The print and mail campaign was unified under our tagline "A little green goes a long way." The postcard was sent to residents in zip codes surrounding the park and showed that compared to their rent or mortgage, donating $35 to keep the park beautiful was a true bargain. The print portion of the campaign asked New Yorkers to imagine life without Central Park. (It's no picnic.)

BP Chase Rewards Card

2010-04-11T14:23:00.004-04:00

Landing page: animation draws purchases in succession

Remember the good old days when BP was the "green" gas company? Way back then, in early 2010, my partner and I created this campaign for a co-branded rewards card from BP and Chase that turned everyday purchases into huge discounts at the pump that could leave you paying as little as 11 cents a gallon.

Seroquel XR

2010-01-19T22:08:00.004-05:00

Seroquel XR is an AstraZeneca medication for the treatment of bipolar disorder, which includes both manic highs and the devastating lows of depression. Unlike the original Seroquel, Seroquel XR provides extended relief (hence the "XR") that may help one manage their bipolar depression on a long-term basis when added to certain other medications.

Thus, a person living with this bipolar has a new chance to effectively manage their condition and lead a more satisfying day-to-day life, with better engagement with family and friends. My partner and I came up with these concepts that convey this hopeful feeling and weave the "XR" into the concept to differentiate it from the original version of Seroquel.

Multaq

2010-01-19T21:51:00.004-05:00

Multaq is the first prescription medicine approved for the treatment of Atrial Fibrilliation (AFib), a type of abnormal heart rhythm. In addition to being a serious disease in of itself, AFib can also lead to much more deadly ailments. Sanofi Aventis challenged Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness to create a global brand identity for Multaq, a quick symbol that would communicate the significance of AFib. My partner and I came up with the "telegraphing heart" symbol seen above and the tagline "AFib is your heart calling out for help."

Click here to see the telegraphing heart in full animation at multaq.com. In addition to conceiving their brand image, I wrote much of the website copy as well.

AT&T WorldNet

2009-05-10T13:17:00.000-04:00

This spot uses computer animation and a character whose drawings come to life to illustrate all the amazing (at the time) things one can make happen with AT&T WorldNet internet service. VO is by actor Tate Donovan, who has the distinction of having been engaged to both Sandra Bullock and Jennifer Aniston (though not at the same time).

Cancer Treatment Centers of America

2009-05-09T14:59:00.000-04:00

Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) is a privately owned network of hospitals for late-stage cancer patients. The ideal CTCA patient is someone who has been told by their doctors that there’s nothing more they can do — but aren’t willing to accept that answer. CTCA provides unique treatments to heal the body and soul, from advanced radiation therapies to eastern medicine to nutrition to spiritual guidance. This multimedia campaign included print, outdoor and broadcast.

Plavix

2009-01-08T12:11:00.000-05:00

Plavix has been proven to help prevent heart attacks in those who have already had one (or more). This print advertisement (which has run in Newsweek and People among other pubs) captures the terrifying feeling of a first heart attack as an urgent call to do everything possible to ensure it never happens again.

Frontline

2008-08-12T21:21:00.000-04:00

Researching a product often leads to interesting insights and hopefully great creative. While working on Frontline, my partner and I learned that Frontline kills fleas & ticks by literally blowing them up. That led to the explosively entertaining banner you see here.

coloncancernews.org

2008-01-15T19:20:00.002-05:00

coloncancernews.org is an unbranded site I helped create for Sanofi Aventis, who also makes the chemotherapy drug Eloxatin. coloncancernews.org was created to be a first resource for someone who has just been diagnosed with colon cancer and wants to learn about the disease, what they can expect, and what questions to ask their doctor.

As the lead creative on the re-launch of the site, I proposed giving the site a more personal feeling, so those in this difficult, crucial time could feel like they’re getting advice from someone they know.

We conducted extensive, intimate on-camera interviews with several colon cancer survivors who were eager to share their experiences. They offered wisdom and advice on everything from diagnosis to chemotherapy to the importance of a positive attitude.

We also filmed these brave people doing something they love, such as cooking, to give the visitor a sense of these people beyond them being cancer patients. The re-launched site went live in June 2009.

Link: coloncancernews.org

Publishers Weekly.com

2007-11-01T15:16:00.000-04:00

This series of quarter-page print ads pokes fun at the glowing reviews one finds on mass-market paperbacks to tout the benefits of the Publishers Weekly website, which was going from free to subscriber-only.

BMG Entertainment/Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

2007-10-12T11:06:00.000-04:00

This congratulatory advertisement appeared in the 1996 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony program. The headline “What’s tougher? Getting into the Hall of Fame or tonight’s entrée?” salutes the inductees while skewering the rubber-chicken dinners one finds at events of this nature. I’m sure Lou Reed thought it was hilarious.

AICPA: Start Here. Go Places.

2007-10-03T16:21:00.000-04:00

The AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants) is, as you might guess, a huge trade organization for CPAs. A few years ago, they noticed the number of accounting majors coming out of our nation’s colleges was on a steep decline. My team at Wunderman's mission was make accounting seem exciting to high school and college students. And destroy the stereotype of the accountant as bean-counting, green visor-wearing nerd.

We started by creating StartHereGoPlaces.com and filled the site with useful information and fun accounting-related games and activities. The integrated campaign included print, banners and an on-campus magazine.

Over 80,000 students registered for the site. The campaign has won several awards. And hopefully the world will have many more accountants in the near future.

Citi "Thank You" Rewards

2007-09-25T11:43:00.000-04:00

Citibank introduced its “Thank You” rewards program in 2005. The rewards, highlighted in distinctive orange quotation marks, were positioned as Citi's way of thanking their customers for everyday banking activities. The massive sumo wrestler window decal above became a popular photo backdrop for tourists — and helped create that ever-elusive "buzz" for the program.

In addition to the window decals, I also helped create a breakthrough, introductory self-mailer which unfolded to a 2’x3’ spread featuring the sumo wrestler in all his glory. If you have not had a chance to work with a sumo wrestler, I suggest you do so at your earliest convenience.

MasterCard

2007-08-08T11:24:00.004-04:00

MasterCard Applied Intelligence is a portfolio of services provided to CFOs to help them manage their corporation's finances. This B-to-B print advertisement lets the CFO know that MasterCard understands their day-to-day needs and pressures, and can help them do something about it, thus making their working lives a bit less stressful.

Citibank "Arc" Campaign

2007-08-05T19:39:00.001-04:00

In 2005, while concepting for the next Citibank merchandising campaign at Wunderman, my art director and I hit upon the idea of using the iconic red Citibank “arc” as a bridge between dreaming up a goal and reaching it. While our clients loved the idea, they passed on it at the time because the Citibank arc was viewed as sacrosanct.

Two years later, in 2007, Citibank rolled out a successor to their “live richly” global campaign — using the arc in exactly the same way we had suggested, with the same “make it happen” philosophy.

Oscillococcinum TV

2007-08-05T19:18:00.000-04:00

The ill-named Oscillococcinum is a homeopathic flu medicine made from duck liver. When taken at the first signs of flu, it is remarkably effective in shortening its duration. It is very popular in Europe and starting to grow in the U.S. My partner and I created this campaign of married-life vignettes when pitching the the “Oscillo” account at Unit7.

The New Yorker: "Alice"

2007-08-02T17:43:00.000-04:00

Inspired by my daughter Alice's fondness for eating objects not intended for human consumption, I wrote and shot this spec TV spot for the New Yorker with my friend and fellow copywriter/director George Feinn.

CitiBusiness: "Experts"

2007-08-02T17:39:00.000-04:00

This online superstitial whimsically informs prospects that CitiBusiness puts a panel of experts to work to help you with any business related concerns. It was illustrated by famed New Yorker cartoonist Leo Cullum.

Glaxo Asthma Control Program

2007-08-02T17:27:00.000-04:00

Incredibly, Jackie Joyner Kersee has won several Olympic Gold Medals despite having asthma. This made her the perfect spokesperson for Glaxo Wellcome's Asthma Control Program, which emphasized the importance - and major benefits - of vigilantly sticking to your treatment routine.

Easy Traveler Cups

2007-08-02T16:55:00.000-04:00

What creative hasn't longed to work in the insulated cup medium? My dream came true at Wunderman, where we had a small mug-making client called Easy Traveler. The above was designed as a "cup campaign" to be sold in 7-11 stores all over the country, but were ultimately deemed too urbane and risqué for middle America.

ACE combs: Just Plain Durable

2007-08-02T16:43:00.001-04:00

I originally did these spec ads for ACE combs when I was putting together my first portfolio in the early 90s, and have a fondness for them that continues today. Fortunately, I still have hair as well.

Pfizer - Lyrica

2007-08-02T13:35:00.000-04:00

Lyrica is a Pfizer medication approved by the FDA for the treatment of several nerve-related conditions, including Diabetic Nerve Pain, Epilepsy and Fibromyalgia. Combined, these conditions affect many millions of Americans.

At the agency Unit7, my partner and I created print, mail and in-office materials for Lyrica from its launch in 2005 through 2007, when the medication grossed over a billion dollars.

Ford: Built for the Road Ahead

2007-08-01T16:24:00.001-04:00

While at Wunderman, we partnered with other WPP agencies to pitch the Ford account. My partner and I created a well-received campaign based on a strategy linking Ford's legendary heritage with the very forward-thinking design of their newest vehicles.

Citi: Virtual Account Numbers emails

2007-08-01T11:47:00.000-04:00

My work on the Citi "Live Richly" campaign covered a wide range of media. Above are HTML emails for Virtual Account Numbers, a service which scrambles your account number as you shop online, thus thwarting the efforts of would-be identity thieves.

Citibank Identity Theft Campaign

2007-07-30T12:55:00.000-04:00

The message of this Citibank in-branch campaign was “Ask how Citi can protect you against identity theft.” One might say the medium was the message as well. These pieces shrewdly utilized the branches' heavy ATM traffic to let many thousands know that Citi is looking out for them. The “Welcome Mat” was a Caples Awards finalist in 2005. And the campaign as a whole was a finalist in 2006.