adam&eveDDB launched a funny new campaign for department store Harvey Nichols giving historical figures a style makeover referencing the chain’s news Knightsbridge menswear location in a series of 20-second spots.
“Einstein,” for example, celebrates the man for having a “name synonymous with genius,” redefining modern physics and writing the world’s most famous equation as Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” (come to think of it, the composer could probably use his own style makeover) plays in the background and the camera zooms out to reveal a pair of truly questionable footwear.
“Pity about the sandals,” the voiceover concludes, as “Great men deserve great style” appears onscreen and then a graphic swaps in a pair of more fashionable kicks.
Another spot applies the approach to Barack Obama, 44th president of the United States, “first African American to hold the office” and wearer of dad jeans.
Other spots apply the approach to William Shakespeare (“dressed like a Christmas bauble”), Boris Johnson (“haircut like a labradoodle”) and Charles Darwin, whose beard we’d actually defend as kind of cool.
CREDITS
Client: Harvey Nichols
Agency: adam&eveDDB
Project name: Great Men
Client: Shadi Halliwell, Group Creative & Marketing Director; Anna Davidson, Head of Marketing
Chief Creative Officer Ben Priest
Executive Creative Directors Ben Tollett, Richard Brim
Art director: Tim Vance
Copywriter: Paul Knott
Head of Design: Alex Fairman
Agency Producer: Amanda Davies
Production Assistants: Nic Akinnibosun & Raluca Anastasiu
Account Management: Paul Billingsley (Business Director), Britt Lippett (Account Director), Katie Gough (Account Manager)
Agency Planner: Michelle Gilson
Media agency: Zenith Optimedia
Media planner: Tim Payne; Becky Dorfman
Animator: Rob Rae @ MOTIONCULT
Post Production: Touch Digital
VO Artist: Joe Dixon @ Sue Terry
Music Supervisor/ Audio post: Factory Studios
Soundtrack name and composer: main track – Moonlight Sonata/ Beethoven. Dance track composed by Si Begg/ Siren