About
Advertising is the most widely distributed design work there is, and the least often discussed as work. It gets measured (recall, lift, conversion) and it gets shared, but it is rarely read: what the image is doing, what the line is doing, whether the two agree, and what the whole thing assumes about the person in front of it.
Adkritik reads it. Each critique takes one piece of work, reproduces it, and argues about it at some length. The grade at the end is a summary of the argument, not a score card. Good work gets taken as seriously as bad work, which is the only way the compliment means anything.
Adkritik is written and edited by Ryan Ussery. It is an independent publication operated through Permadyn LLC.
On grading
Grades run from A to F and describe the work against its own ambition, not against a category average. An ad that sets out to do something modest and does it exactly can grade higher than one that reaches for greatness and lands near it.
Every judgment here is one person’s, offered with reasons so you can see where you disagree.
Method and sourcing
Critiques begin with publicly distributed advertising or campaign material. Brand, agency, campaign, and publication sources are identified in the article when they can be verified. Images are reproduced for criticism and commentary, not presented as Adkritik’s work.
Independence and conflicts
Grades cannot be purchased, and coverage does not imply approval from the brand or agency. Any material professional, financial, or personal relationship with work under review will be disclosed in the critique. Adkritik does not currently accept paid placements.
Corrections
Factual errors are corrected when identified. A material change to the argument, attribution, or grade will be noted on the article.
Submissions
A public submissions channel will be added when the publication mailbox is active. Until then, work is selected independently.