Wieden+Kennedy for the second straight year "took the highest honor at Ad Age's A-List & Creativity Awards Gala" on Monday night. The agency was honored "on the strength of culture-leading campaigns for Nike, KFC, Bud Light and OkCupid and strong revenue growth in its New York office." Its work with Nike for the 30th anniversary of “Just Do It” included the controversial campaign featuring Colin Kaepernick (ADAGE.com, 4/15).
STORYBOOK ENDING: Nike and Wieden+Kennedy, Amsterdam, "created a storybook and accompanying video dedicated" to Mavericks F Dirk Nowitzki. The storybook, called "The Maverick," will have a "limited print run," and "tells the story of Nowitzki's rise" to stardom. Nike and W+K took a "playful and narrative approach" to the story. One copy of the book was "given to Nowitzki, with 41 others (honoring his No. 41 jersey) going to people who helped shape his career." More copies of the book will be "made available via the Nike app" (ADWEEK.com, 4/16).
IT'S JUST BUSINESS: In London, Daniel Schofield writes Nike's decision to stick with Tiger Woods after his on- and off-course issues was "based on a cold, hard cost analysis," as is the case with "everything Nike does." The "very idea that Nike possesses any kind of moral compass is ludicrous." The company's decision to "keep backing Woods was a calculated gamble that it won handsomely." Schofield: "Let us not pretend that Nike is a corporation overflowing with integrity and compassion" (London TELEGRAPH, 4/17).
