DDB RIP

This blog post started with me searching for the original Doyle Dane Bernbach logo. I had hoped to find a big bold sculpture of three gold letters emblazoned across an outrageously expensive mahogany door. Like a scene out of Mad Men, but to no avail.

Then I turned to Gemini to conduct my search. Truth be told I  find myself on Gemini quite a bit these days as it helps me craft images and answers questions that go beyond a one word search. Like the early days of the internet, AI search takes me down several rabbit holes and gives voice to my offbeat imagination.

Here for instance is an image of Bill Bernbach as a Hasidic rabbi riding on a unicycle with a toucan on his shoulder.

OK, this post has officially gone off the rails. 

Ostensibly, I wanted to write about the rumored passing of the DDB, the ad agency that gave birth and rise to the creative revolution of the 1960's. This is when admen and adwomen stopped pandering to people and began respecting their intelligence and their ability to make informed buying decisions. All with a healthy sense of humor on the side. This has been replaced with BOGO banners and bogus "brand journeys."

I never got to work at DDB. Though I did start at Needham Harper & Steers, which merged with DDB two years after I left. Maybe the merger talks were stalled until I left the building. 

Sadly, I'll never know the joy of having that esteemed name on my resume. 

Believe it or not, probably not if you're under 40 years of age and working in the biz, but there was a time when the name of a 5 star agency topped off your resume, you could write your own ticket. Headhunters came hunting for you. And aggressive creative directors would find ways to meet you for clandestine lunches and huge contracts just waiting for your John Hancock.

It was nice to be wanted. Much better than ghosted.

Soon, no doubt, the Chiat/Day name and even the BBDO name will all disappear, swallowed up by the omnivorous Omnicom name. And shortly after that, the two remaining holding companies will be completely sanitized to simply Holding Company #1 and Holding Company #2. 

I'm hesitant to say anything more or even slightly disparaging about the fall of our industry. Mostly because both my daughters are loyal, productive and successful employees of said Holding Companies and their affiliated vendors. Plus, being my progeny I think it's safe to say they've suffered enough. And they'll tell you that.

But I will leave you with this more contemporary image of Mr. Bernbach...

Why did  I conjure this up? I have no idea. As Ms. Muse is wont to tell me, "Siegel, your brain works in strange ways."

That used to be worth something.