Ads of the Week: 9 Campaigns That Caught Our Eye, From American Eagle to Nespresso

Star power drives this week’s standout campaigns: Dua Lipa (with a cameo from George Clooney) for Nespresso, Sydney Sweeney returning for American Eagle, Megan Fox in scholarly mood for Dr. Squatch, and Hudson Williams getting into shape for Peloton.

Elsewhere, Dove installs an unusual vending machine in London, while Liquid Death partners with Pop-Tarts.

Our Most Effective Ad of the Week, in partnership with EDO, came in handy during tax season.

Keep scrolling for the week’s most notable ads.

Nespresso | “Vertuo World” by Leo Constellation

New global brand ambassador Dua Lipa relegates George Clooney to a supporting role in this globe-trotting, glam showcase for Nespresso’s coffee capsule range, with a twist on the “What else?” tagline as the singer sips her way through the various options. It’s the first showing from the Nestlé-owned business’s refreshed visual identity and creative direction, all aimed – somewhat inevitably – towards that Gen Z audience. 

American Eagle | “Syd for Short”

The sequel to last year’s controversial but effective “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans” campaign sees the actor modeling AE jean shorts and keeping cool in everyday, sun-lit scenarios on the eve of another long, hot summer. Talking to ADWEEK, Sweeney described making the 15-second hero spot as “a really fun and playful experience.”

Dove | “The Beauty Machine” by Ogilvy

The skincare brand continues to raise awareness around the dangers of social media, creating a vending machine that highlights how algorithms promote unrealistic beauty standards. The installation at London’s Waterloo Station invited passersby to take part in an open casting call that saw their images appearing on billboards around the transport hub for the next 48 hours. 

Dr. Squatch | “Dr. Squatch’s Foundation for Odor eXcellence”

Megan Fox is head professor at The Dr. Squatch Foundation for Odor Excellence (or The F.O.X. for short), educating male students on the need for natural personal care products. Armed with a riding crop and a sharp tongue, she instructs the assembled young men to “whip out your sticks”. Cue an awkward misunderstanding and a lecture from Prof. Fox on the benefits of Dr. Squatch’s all-natural deodorant.

Liquid Death x Pop-Tarts | “Pop-Tarts Carnage”

Liquid Death’s latest offbeat collab is with Pop-Tarts to launch a limited-edition, low-sugar black iced tea that tastes like a Frosted Strawberry Pop-Tart. The accompanying spot is a blast of energy, featuring bored adults gleefully regressing back to childhood, set to a crunching speed metal soundtrack and complete with a mini homage to classic 80s teen-flick Stand By Me. 

Peloton | “Let Yourself Go”

The first non-athlete to feature in a Peloton campaign, Heated Rivalry star Hudson Williams works out at the gym in this steamy 60-second spot celebrating the joys of movement. Williams busts some moves to David Bowie’s Fame in tight-fitting, gleaming white athletic apparel, before being put through his paces by Peloton instructors Tunde Oyeneyin and Adrian Williams.

Kotex | “You Asked, We Heard” by Gut Miami

A new campaign from the menstrual hygiene brand that wittily celebrates the power of word-of-mouth and small acts of solidarity between women, from little words of reassurance to shared thoughts on the frustrations of inferior feminine care products. The one-minute short reaches a crescendo of dissenting voices as, in the words of director Camila Zapiola, “more women join in this shared realization that it’s 2026, we have self-driving cars, but most pads still suck.”

OFFF Barcelona | “Cultured” by Uncommon Creative Studio

This promotional campaign for the 2026 edition of the annual creativity festival hooks around the idea of working processes being collective endeavors, with creatives in London and New York drafted in to show how shared participation produces the best results. And then there’s the Mold Queen, the artist Dasha Plesen, who uses bacteria to develop text-based imagery and typography, with another example of how living systems and networks can be used for the creative good.

Most Effective Ad of the Week

Intuit TurboTax | “Now Taxes Is Done For You”

TurboTax’s ad debuted on January 26 and highlights how the platform makes filing taxes easier, emphasizing that taxes can now be “done for you.” The spot uses a simple, reassuring tone to show how users can save time and avoid the usual stress, positioning TurboTax as a convenient, go-to solution during tax season. The ad was 66% more effective than the average ad in the Financial Services category during the week of April 8–14 and aired most frequently on AMC. It was also featured across other cable networks.