There were no Cannes Lions. Other awards shifted their dates. But the good folks of the Los Angeles advertising community kept to their usual schedule, albeit virtually, awarding recent high-profile work.
The region’s trade body, ThinkLA, celebrated its 10th annual IDEA Awards online with a virtual cocktail reception, a photo booth (somehow) and a DJ battle. There was even a swag bag that members and guests could pick up in advance of the event.
Hosted by former NBA star Baron Davis, prominent work from agencies and brands judged by professionals outside the market rose to the top.
Among the winners were Innocean for its popular Boston-centric Hyundai Super Bowl ad; Edelman and United Entertainment Group for last year’s Taco Bell Hotel & Resort stunt; RPA for its Dr. Seuss Day ad for Farmers Insurance; a powerful video, What’s Love?, supporting the Los Angeles LGBT Center; and Deutsch for its #MeToo movement survivor stories project.
Entertainment was well-represented as well. Big Family Table walked away with an award for its Hulu Sellouts work with the NBA, UM snapped up an innovation honor for Hulu’s Handmaid’s Tale work and Snap got an OOH nod for its work with HBO’s Game of Thrones.
Zambezi was honored with the DIG (Diversity, Inclusion and Gender) Award, while Lisa Herdman, director of national video investment at RPA, was named Agency Leader of the Year.
See the full list below.
Advertising Achievement
Best Auto Campaign: Team One | Sole of the UX
Best Branded Content: RPA Advertising | Happy Dr. Seuss Day from Farmers Insurance
Best Cause Marketing Campaign: Deutsch LA | The ‘me too.’ Movement Survivor Stories
Best Consumer Experience: Edelman/United Entertainment Group | The Bell: A Taco Bell Hotel & Resort
Best Entertainment Campaign: Engine | Recommended by Humans
Best Influencer Campaign: Big Family Table | Hulu Sellouts x NBA
Best Out of Home Campaign: Snap Inc. | Snap x HBO – Game of Thrones, Season 8
Best Short Form Video Ad: RPA Advertising | What’s Love?
Best Super Bowl Ad: Innocean USA | Smaht Pahk
Thinkla Innovator: UM | Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale: Shape of History
Company Achievement
Dig (Diversity, Inclusion and Gender) Award: Zambezi
Silicon Beach Startup of the Year: Thrive Causemetics
Partner of the Year: Centro
Individual Achievement
Agency Leader of the Year: Lisa Herdman, director, national video investment, RPA
Salesperson of the Year: Sunny Behniwal, associate director, sales, Viant