February 1 2026, 2:30 pm | BY Ricki Green | No Comments
Each month, Campaign Brief invites top creatives to choose one standout piece of Australian work made outside their own agency – a space to celebrate the fresh thinking, craft and homegrown creativity pushing the industry forward.
This month features Clemenger BBDO’s Stephen de Wolf; HERO’s Bec McCall; Bear Meets Eagle On Fire’s Mark Carbone; Born’s Jenny Lennon; Pembleton’s Simon Bagnasco and Reconnected’s Melba Gounas,
Simon Bagnasco, Pembleton
The DoorDash campaign ‘Your Door to More’ via DDB is one of the better crafted pieces of film I’ve spotted in the last couple months.
Smart, tight dialogue with truly understated voice performances. The direction and production is effortless. Not a wasted moment on screen.
Hopefully the beginning of an enduring platform for the brand. You could see this sticking around for years.
‘Nappies. You know those pants people pee in.’ No notes.
Client: DoorDash; Creative Agency: DDB Sydney; Director: Jeff Low; Production Company: Revolver x Biscuit Filmworks
Melba Gounas, Reconnected
I’m a sucker for Aussie colloquialism when it’s used with intent. I love that Saatchi & Saatchi Aus found a way to swear without swearing and land a simple, very real insight. PHAARC is a smart reframe of that highly emotional New Year moment in a category that usually defaults to better eating and living tropes. Light, funny, and brutally honest. I’m still not ready for 2026, so I might be giving Youfoodz a bell.
Client: Youfoodz; Agency: Saatchi & Saatchi Australia; Director: Harrison Woodhead; Production Company: Clockwork Films
Mark Carbone, Bear Meets Eagle On Fire
I’ve got another confession to make.
I like this topical number from Tourism Tasmania and BMF.
These things usually feel like a rushed afterthought.
But this is a clever way to package up what is essentially a ‘best of’ of Tasmania.
Fun.
Client: Tourism Tasmania; Agency: BMF
Jenny Lennon, Born
I smiled all the way through this ad without even realising it. Who isn’t a sucker for dogs — especially loads of them? But the real magic is the narrative compounding of the “Never send a Ute to do a HiLux job” platform; it just continues to deliver and deliver. Love the observation of dogs sitting in the back of utes (or HiLuxes) – there’s nothing more Aussie. It’s a beautifully told story that proves a HiLux is the only vehicle suitable enough for a really big (but weirdly sturdy) dog pyramid.
Client: Toyota Motor Corporation Australia; Agency: Saatchi & Saatchi Australia; Director: Christopher Riggert; Production Company: Finch
Stephen de Wolf, Clemenger BBDO
Some ideas are beautifully simple, and Uber Backstreet Arcade is one of them. A lovely extension of the ‘Can’t do that if you’re driving campaign’, it’s a smart behavioural hijack, looks great and gives you discounts on your Uber rides. What’s not to like?
Client: Uber; Agencies: EssenceMediacom, Livewire, Special
Bec McCall, HERO
What makes SLATHER stand out is how confidently it blows up a traditionally dull category. Instead of same ol’ sun care sell lines, it commits to a simple idea – that the sun is not your friend and actually wants to roast you alive – and pushes it far enough to become genuinely (and uncomfortably) entertaining. The humour and craft create real cut-through, and the completely unnecessary yelling is the sunburnt cherry on top. This brand knows its audience inside out, then meets them right where they’re scrolling. It helps that the product looks bloody great, too.
Client: SLATHER; Agency: SICKDOGWOLFMAN; Directors: Will Suen & Sejon Im; Production Company: Haven’t You Done Well
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