Articles - Scarlett Sherriff

My Work

Long-form culture features

Explore my long-form pieces below.

Storytelling: A Fight For Craft Or Fluffy Business Cringe?

I was asked to write a piece about storytelling in advertising. I created something of an essay redefining the problem...
TLDR: Selling is not sacred.

Creative Salon • 13th October 2025

The New Punk: Why Antiaesthetic Branding Is On The Rise

Exploring the rise of anti-aesthetic visuals in advertising. TLDR: "When everyone's super, no one will be". - Syndrome, The Incredibles

Creative Salon • 4th August 2025

What's the matter, Hun?

A deep dive into the pink world of "hun culture" in advertising. TLDR: Gemma Collins meets Susan Sontag.

Creative Salon • 12th June 2025

Strange Fascination: A Century Of Surreal Ads

I pitched a piece celebrating 100 years of surrealism in advertising. Think Dalí, dada, Cadbury's gorilla and KFC's cultish "Believe In Chicken" work. TLDR: Weird sells.

Creative Salon • 12th November 2025

How Waitrose Nailed 'I Love You' At Christmas

An opinion piece about Waitrose's cinematic masterpiece of an ad featuring Kiera Knightley and Joe Wilkinson. TLDR: Buy me a limoncello mince pie.

Creative Salon • 4th November 2025

An Ode To Meaning

Behind John Lewis's Christmas campaign with brand manager Amy Tippen-Smith and Saatchi & Saatchi CCO Franki Goodwin TLDR: Masculinity, music, nostalgia.

Creative Salon • 11th September 2025

Choosing The Challenge: Meet The CMO Who Brought Monkey Back

An interview with Lipton marketer Elle Barker about bringing Monkey back, working with NCA, and why being bold is the best gameplay.

Business Features

CMO-focused interviews and write-ups, and agency leadership pieces.

Creative Salon • 11th September 2025

Choosing The Challenge: Meet The CMO Who Brought Monkey Back

An interview with Lipton marketer Elle Barker about bringing Monkey back, working with NCA, and why being bold is the best gameplay.

Creative Salon • 10th September 2025

How Iris Became The Agency Of The Brave

An interview with Iris's new leadership team about the agency's bold rebrand - CEO Zoe Eagle, CCO Menno Kluin and CSO Ben Essen.

Creative Salon • 13th May 2025

The Squad That We Are

An interview with VML's leadership team - discussing developing a collective ethos post VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson merger.

Creative Salon • 10th March 2025

Checkmate! Why VCCPs Creative Leaders Love A Memorable Gameplan

An interview with VCCP's CCOs Chris and Johnny Parker about their best work and creative strategy.

Marketing Beat

A few bits from earlier in my career.

Marketing Beat • 21st August 2024

When #ad isn't enough: What Steven Bartlett's banned ads say about power

An analysis piece about the implications of Steven Bartlett's run-in with the ASA over "misleading" Huel and Zoe claims TLDR: BE HONEST

Marketing Beat • 6th June 2024

Ballot boom: how can politicians use sound to win?

Exploring the use of music in political advertising, hooked on the snap election announcement of 2024. TLDR: Rain and D-REAM.

Marketing Beat • 19th March 2024

Why Amnesty's gritty Olivia Colman trailer makes a mark

A chat with purpose-focused agency Shape History about when Clearcast banned an ad for Amnesty International. TLDR: Everything's political.

Marketing Beat • 4th March 2024

Adland pay: Why Pablo and St Luke's are making a statement

An interview with agency leaders at Pablo and St Luke's about why they made the decision to up starting salaries to £30,000 a year. TLDR: Pay up!