B&TB&TB&T
  • Advertising
  • Campaigns
  • Marketing
  • Media
  • Technology
  • Regulars
    • Agency Scorecards
    • Best of the Best
    • Campaigns of the Month
    • CMO Power List
    • CMOs to Watch
    • Culture Bites
    • Fast 10
    • New Business Winners
    • Spotlight on Sponsors
  • Jobs
  • Awards
    • 30 Under 30
    • B&T Awards
    • Cairns Crocodiles
    • Women In Media
    • Women Leading Tech
Search
Trending topics:
  • Cairns Crocodiles
  • Nine
  • Seven
  • Cannes Lions
  • NRL
  • State of Origin
  • WPP
  • B&T Women in Media
  • Thinkerbell
  • Pinterest
  • imaa
  • AFL
  • Anthony Albanese
  • AI
  • Spotlight on Sponsors
  • Foxtel
  • Meta
  • TV Ratings
  • Radio Ratings
  • Sports Marketing

  • About
  • Contact
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Advertise
© 2025 B&T. The Misfits Media Company Pty Ltd.
Reading: Weekly Ad Round-Up: The Good, The Bad And The Quitbit
Share
B&TB&T
Subscribe
Search
  • Advertising
  • Campaigns
  • Marketing
  • Media
  • Technology
  • Regulars
    • Agency Scorecards
    • Best of the Best
    • Campaigns of the Month
    • CMO Power List
    • CMOs to Watch
    • Culture Bites
    • Fast 10
    • New Business Winners
    • Spotlight on Sponsors
  • Jobs
  • Awards
    • 30 Under 30
    • B&T Awards
    • Cairns Crocodiles
    • Women In Media
    • Women Leading Tech
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Advertise
© 2025 B&T. The Misfits Media Company Pty Ltd.
B&T > Advertising > Weekly Ad Round-Up: The Good, The Bad And The Quitbit
AdvertisingFeatured

Weekly Ad Round-Up: The Good, The Bad And The Quitbit

Staff Writers
Published on: 11th September 2015 at 9:15 AM
Staff Writers
Share
3 Min Read
SHARE

This week’s Friday round-up we’re looking at some serious issues: a strange take on death, a Sudanese man with an incredible story and the issue of consent in Canada.

The Good

https://youtu.be/buA3tsGnp2s

The Western Sydney University, as a part of its rebrand, has launched an online and television campaign called “Unlimited”. The ad follows Deng Thiak Adut who was taken from his mother at the age of six, forced to become a child soldier, was shot, smuggled out of Sudan and then taught himself to read.

Adut was then rescued by the United Nations and settled in western Sydney in 1998, he now works as a refugee lawyer after graduating from Western Sydney University with a law degree. He volunteers his time with community groups, including the Parramatta Community Justice Clinic, and works with disadvantaged groups, especially refugees, on human rights issues.

The Bad

https://youtu.be/JTtlkdKyOWc

This morbid product promotion is a creepy addition to the wearable technology hype. The ‘quitbit’ is a fake product which predicts the exact moment that you will die, but it’s actually an advertisement for Mount Pleasant Group a Toronto funeral service.

“We wanted it to be different and fresh,” said Glen D’Souza, associate creative director at Union, the Toronto ad agency that created the campaign.

“It is a bit of a departure,” said Rick Cowan, vice-president of marketing for Mount Pleasant Group. “When we apply humour in our advertising, we always have to be mindful – just given the subject matter that we deal with – of not crossing a line and being perceived as offensive. Everyone has a different meter as to what becomes offensive, but we’re careful not to push the limit. This is very clever.”

Get Consent

The Canadian Women’s Foundation has launched its annual advertising campaign taking a rather lighthearted tone to a serious issue. ‘Get Consent’ shows how ridiculous it would be if people assumed they could do whatever they wanted once someone had said ‘yes’ once.

According to Diane Hill, the senior director, public engagement of SHE, of the Canadian Women’s Foundation magazine wrote in her blog: “The barber has an odd little smile on his face. (Is it smugness? Sadistic pleasure?) The waiter pouring gravy is relentless, ignoring the woman’s clear “Stop!” The heavy-metal-loving grandson is so focused on his own enjoyment that his gramma’s discomfort means nothing to him.

“When you respect someone, it’s a no-brainer to make sure they’re willing, whether we’re talking about haircuts, gravy, music—or sex.”

The ad will be running online, on out-of-home video screens, and promoted through social media posts and radio.

Seen an advert you want to share? Tweet us @bandt

Join more than 30,000 advertising industry experts
Get all the latest advertising and media news direct to your inbox from B&T.

No related posts.

TAGGED: gender marketing
Share
Staff Writers
By Staff Writers
Follow:
Staff Writers represent B&T's team of award-winning reporters. Here, you'll find articles crafted with industry experience spanning over 50 years. Our team of specialists brings together a wealth of knowledge and a commitment to delivering insightful, topical, and breaking news. With a deep understanding of advertising and media, our Staff Writers are dedicated to providing industry-leading analysis and reporting, both shaping the conversation and setting the benchmark for excellence.

Latest News

Patrick Rowe, Mandie Van Der Merwe, Avish Gordhan.
Agency Scorecard: Saatchi & Saatchi
15/07/2025
SCA Chief Content Officer Dave Cameron To Depart After 30 Years
15/07/2025
Harley-Davidson Rallies Riders For Inaugural ‘United We Ride’ Fundraiser Via The Salvation Army
15/07/2025
Agency Scorecard: Nunn Media
15/07/2025
//

B&T is Australia’s leading news publication magazine for the advertising, marketing, media and PR industries.

 

B&T is owned by parent company The Misfits Media Company Pty Ltd.

About B&T

  • About
  • Contact
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Advertise

Top Categories

  • Advertising
  • Campaigns
  • Marketing
  • Media
  • Opinion
  • Technology
  • TV Ratings

Sign Up for Our Newsletter



B&TB&T
Follow US
© 2025 B&T. The Misfits Media Company Pty Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Register Lost your password?