Campaign Brief Creative Circle: What’s hot in August 2026?
Each month, Campaign Brief invites top creatives to choose one standout piece of Australian work made outside their own agency – a space to celebrate the fresh thinking, craft and homegrown creativity pushing the industry forward.
This month’s Creative Circle features Clemenger BBDO’s Matt Chandler; jnr.’s Jenny Mak; Thinkerbell’s Sesh Moodley; Howatson+Company’s Letizia Bozzolini; TBWA\Australia + Eleven’s Matt Stoddart and Common Ventures’ Jane Burhop.
Special leads the agency pack in the 2026 Creative Circle League table so far (see full table below) with 7 points, closely followed by Bear Meets Eagle on Fire and Sunday Gravy on 6 points apiece. Droga5 is in fourth spot on 5 points followed by 2045, BMF and Cocogun on 3 points apiece.
Matt Chandler, Clemenger BBDO
What a confounding image the cookie man is.
I am at once repelled and attracted.
Who is this man? Why hath he become cookie? And what life now lays ahead.
All these questions I hope are answered in future campaigns.
Traumatic. Unforgettable. No notes.
Client: Maxibon; Agency: SICKDOGWOLFMAN; Director: Matt Devine; Production Company: Revolver
Jenny Mak, jnr.
My vote’s for Cocogun’s Think Outside the Bot for The Economist. It takes on the biggest conversation in our industry with absolute confidence: no gimmicks, just razor-sharp writing. It’s a reminder that in a world obsessed with AI, original human thinking is still the most valuable creative technology. Congrats to the brilliant Cocogun team. I’m more than a little jealous.
Client: The Economist; Agency: Cocogun
Sesh Moodley, Thinkerbell
“Authentic Intelligence” and “Think Outside the Bot” are timely, sharp and unmistakably Economist.
Love how they held onto the restraint the brand is famous for. Well done Cocogun on taking that wit global.
Client: The Economist; Agency: Cocogun
Letizia Bozzolini, Howatson+Company
DiDi’s “Sore Loser Saver” stunt was a lot of fun. Creating organic looking content, calling out fans at the stadium (sore losers) leaving early connects behaviour to product in a cheeky, on brand way.
Client: DiDi; Agency: Sunday Gravy; Director: Conor Mercury; Production Company: EXIT Films
Matt Stoddart, TBWA\Australia + Eleven
Hello losers. DiDi has found a way to monetise emotional resilience, and as an Essendon supporter, I feel personally targeted. Their latest campaign rewards fans who stay until the final siren, with rides getting cheaper the longer they stick around. And yes, I absolutely fell for the Kevin Sheedy social video. Well played.
Client: DiDi; Agency: Sunday Gravy; Director: Conor Mercury; Production Company: EXIT Films
Jane Burhop, Common Ventures
I’m a sucker for simplicity. The recent OOH campaign for The Economist brilliantly revives the brand’s iconic minimalist style: witty, clever copy on the classic brand red background. It cuts through the AI slop with sharp wit (that an LM could never conjugate), perfectly mimicking the publication’s promise of delivering the truth in a world of fake news and misinformation.
Client: The Economist; Agency: Cocogun
VIEW PREVIOUS CREATIVE CIRCLES HERE
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