Get All Access for $5/mo

How This Agency Is Using Creativity to Inspire Greatness in Others In this episode of 'Anatomy of an Ad,' FCB Chicago Chief Creative Officer Andres Ordonez discusses the award-winning 'Boards of Change' campaign.

By Mackenzie Truman

Make people feel like they count.

That was the task given to FCB Chicago by the city of Chicago for the census and for voter registration. With an estimated one in five eligible voters going unregistered in America, it was no easy task.

In the aftermath of the death of Floyd George, protests and marches led businesses to put up plywood sheets to protect their storefronts. Many of the protestors calling for social justice and change were the same people FCB was trying to reach, and so an idea was born: use those same plywood boards to construct voting registration booths. "The idea was that when you saw them out in the world, they would stop you and remind you of what you just went through," explains Ordonez, "And in order for you to make sure that doesn't happen again, you have to do something." The booths were placed around the city with a clear message: If you register, we can win this fight," he adds. "We can make this into something positive."

The incredible campaign resulted in multiple awards at the prestigious Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, and importantly, a significant boost in voter registration and voter turnout numbers. But for Ordonez, it means much more than that. "Whenever we put something out into the world, it needs to do something," he says of FCB Chicago's philosophy. "The fact that we can use our creativity — our superpower — to bring about change and to actually help people is the biggest award you can receive."

Mackenzie Truman

Entrepreneur Staff

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

More from Anatomy Of An Ad

How This Ad Agency Got the Attention of An Entire Nation

How This Agency Is Using Creativity to Inspire Greatness in Others

How to Deliver a Serious Message Through Humor

How Do You Get People Excited About a Product That Doesn't Exist?

Editor's Pick

Science & Technology

Why Businesses Are Relying on Automation to Survive the Labor Crisis

Robots are revolutionizing industries by addressing labor shortages and enhancing efficiency, while businesses navigate challenges like workforce adaptation and high implementation costs.

Green Entrepreneur®

How Global Business Leaders Can Build a Sustainable Supply Chain

Businesses can build sustainable supply chains by leveraging technology to reduce environmental impact, optimize resources and track emissions while balancing operational efficiency and sustainability goals.

Side Hustle

'Hustling Every Day': These Friends Started a Side Hustle With $2,500 Each — It 'Snowballed' to Over $500,000 and Became a Multimillion-Dollar Brand

Paris Emily Nicholson and Saskia Teje Jenkins had a 2020 brainstorm session that led to a lucrative business.

Celebrity Entrepreneurs

The Pep Talk From Mickey Mouse We All Need to Hear, Compliments of Chris Diamantopoulos

Chris Diamantopoulos, the star of "The Sticky," "Red Notice" and the voice of Mickey Mouse, gets real about resilience, chasing dreams, and his desperate wish for a normal hobby.

Productivity

6 Habits That Help Successful People Maximize Their Time

There aren't enough hours in the day, but these tips will make them feel slightly more productive.