My name is Ian. I write things.

No Judgments. Just Help.

QUITPLAN Services was Minnesota's free tobacco cessation program. They wanted a new way to talk to smokers. So while the rest of the world offered unsolicited dirty looks and scare tactics – we offered empathy.
To make the campaign, we randomly decided to try calling Laika/house (of ‘Coraline’ fame) to see if they wanted to build an entire stop-motion world for us. They did want to! The campaign is still utilized nationally through different cessation programs.

 

Radio
    
    


Etc.



Banking for real life.


If you’ve ever worked in the financial space, you’re no stranger to the phrase “dreams.” Dream house. Dream vacation. Dreams, dreams, dreams. Our dream was to do a campaign that did the exact opposite. “Banking for real life” was born. 

   
   

Radio



Rewards for real life. 


The following year we needed to apply real life to Wings’ reward program. Luckily, a lot of purchases aren’t the most rewarding. But you can at least get rewarded for them. 

 
                 

Radio 
 



“WE’RE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL!!!” for real life.


As an extra reward for their rewards program, Wings gave away two tickets to the 2018 Super Bowl hosted right here in Minneapolis. You couldn’t have cast a better winning story if you tried. Seriously, just try.


            

It’s OK to change your mind.


When the COVID-19 vaccines first came out, there were legitimate reasons to have hesitations. But as misinformation was squashed, so many people continued to vehemently dig their heels in on being against it – unwilling to change their minds. So we decided to address notion that head-on, reminding people that changing your mind doesn’t make you wrong or stupid. It’s part of being human. 

 



     



Hairless Dog

Hairless Dog is a beer without alcohol. Does that mean you can do amazing things while drinking? Uhhh...sure! 
When the owners approached my buddy and I, they wanted a “cool, funny” campaign for their social channels. We wrote and shot it ourselves – and luckily aforementioned buddy knows a thing or two about editing. 

      

Pit Stop

One day I snuck into a restaurant to take a pee. It had a ‘Restroom For Customers Only’ sign. I texted a friend of mine, “What if someone actually enforced that after you peed?”
That text convo turned into a script. That script somehow turned into an actual film. That actual film has now appeared in actual film fests. What?


This whole experience was the perfect example of why I love what I do. I’m surrounded by wonderful, funny brains that actually want to make things – even if they’re urine-adjacent. 

You can see some of the process/behind-the-scenes here
Ian Simpson / simp0075@gmail.com