Agency Profile: Wieden + Kennedy

Founded on April 1, 1982 by Dan Widen and David Kennedy, W+K has been at the forefront of some of the most creative and successful advertising throughout its thirty year career. Although based in Portland, Oregon, Wieden+Kennedy have expanded since their start and now have offices all over the world. Despite being a true global force, with offices from London to Delhi,  Wieden+Kennedy is still an independently owned agency.

Portland is gorgeous.

Up until recently, they were perhaps most famous for their work with Nike. After reading the story of a death row inmate saying “Let’s Do It” before being executed, W+K found inspiration for what would become Nike’s staple catch phrase: Just Do It. However, their latest successes have come from the rejuvenation of the Old Spice deodorant brand.  The hilarious, albeit outrageous, Isaiah Mustafa advertisements have catapulted Old Spice back into the competition with other brands like Axe and Tag.

Beyond the standard advertising fare however, W+K has expanded into Music and Film with their studios in Tokyo and the establishment in 2001 of W+K Entertainment. These independent projects have not only brought recognition to the agency, but attention to numerous musicians and filmmakers both at home and abroad.

Let--- Just do it.

And they deserve every amount of praise they get. The Gunn Report recognizes W+K as the agency that has received the most awards of all time. Much of the work that they do has even been given the tags of “Best in the Decade” by AdWeek. But beyond all of the award winning work, famous clients, and privately owned independence, W+K even helps out with the LIVESTRONG charity from Lance Armstrong with the Yellow Bracelet Campaign.

Wieden and Kennedy has an impressive resume. It is one of the largest independently owned agencies, and that independence has not hurt them in the slightest. Not only are they all over the world, but so is their work. Whether they are creating ground breaking ad campaigns, experimenting with creativity in music and film, putting-one-of-these… all-over-this*, or helping out Lance Armstrong and his charity, W+K takes it to the next level. It may be owned by two eccentric Oregonians, but W+K is the ultimate “little guy. “

Even the building is creative