Nik Kleverov, executive creative director and co-founder of Native Foreign, picks out a selection of incredible storytelling in five diverse projects from the last year
I’m Nik, a Primetime Emmy-grade storyteller, creative director and and EP. I’m a half-Russian / half-Ukranian immigrant who grew up in LA, so yeah- I have some stories I can tell you over a drink. I also co-founded a boutique agency called Native Foreign that helps brands tell authentic stories that we elevate with design...
Taco Bell - 'NFTaco'
Agency: Deutsch LA
Say what you will about NFTs and Web3 while the crypto market figures itself out, but one thing’s for certain - opportunities like this for creatives to flex with a tight timeline are priceless. I find that great work often happens under pressure. It’s funny, flippant and doesn’t take itself too seriously, all the while raking in a ton of cash for charity. What’s not to like?
Camping World - '$5 a Day'
Agency, Production & Post: Native Foreign
Sound: Sonixphere
Let’s face it, the '90s are back, and stories told through that lens are just more fun. Abe Lincoln pokes fun at overpriced things and reasons with us (in a rap video, of course) that you can buy an RV for just $5 a day. With graphics inspired by 'Saved By The Bell', wardrobe reminiscent of the 'Fresh Prince of Bel-Air', dance choreography that grooves like 'In Living Color', and an original jingle made by the same minds that created Mazda’s 'Zoom zoom zoom'...'$5 a Day' is one of those that just gets stuck in your head.
DoorDash - 'Passion Should Never Go Hungry'
Agency: In-house at DoorDash
With so many food deliveries competing for top spot, I like DoorDash’s over-the-top love letter to all different types of food to the tune of 'When the Saints Go Marching In'. The fact it’s in Spanglish also crosses continents and broadens the reach without having to do localisation - funny and efficient!
Pentakill - 'Lost Chapter' Album Release
Agency: We Are Royale
I love what WAR was able to do to craft a robust narrative-driven campaign combining metal music and the video game world. It’s a wonderful niche of music within the 'League of Legends' world - it’s a virtual band using LoL Champions or playable characters. Check out the case study to see how WAR updated Pentakill’s logomark. Pretty impressive stuff!
Metrolink - Digital Campaign
Agency: Clever Creative
When I noticed an uptick in Metrolink’s social presence and enhanced look and feel, it made sense that Clever Creative was behind the digital strategy. Well-positioned brands are poised to succeed and with a goal of expanding current ridership, winning back lapsed ridership and growing new riders - I can tell they’re on track to do it (see what I did there?). Check out the case study; my favourite positioning statement is “we move the well-being of our riders, our communities and our planet, one ride at a time.”
