Why we exist.

 

As System 1 Group’s Chief Innovation Officer, Orlando Wood, says,

“A golden age for advertising technology has not translated into a golden age for advertising. In a period of technological innovation, advertising effectiveness has fallen. Short-termism, specialization, and narrowness of focus are on the rise. And advertising styles have emerged that are diametrically opposed to effectiveness.”

Or, as one of our beloved advisors, Howie Cohen puts it:

 
 

“I think the industry has forgotten how to put on its underwear.”

— Howie Cohen

Oberman Astrowsky ONeill Ito (OAOI) is a creative agency based in Los Angeles founded by industry veterans turned outsiders Justin Oberman, Evan Astrowsky, Gregg ONeill, and Tiffany Ito with strategic relationships in Melbourne, Tokyo, San Francisco, Toronto, New York, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv.

[ Our Motto ]

People don’t buy advertising.
People buy what interests them.
We make sure it’s your advertising.

 

We’re exactly like every other agency.

 
 

We advise.

We advise advertisers on how best to use advertising to accomplish their objectives.

We produce.

We also execute the advertising required to do this.

Which includes, but not limited to: Digital, Print, Out-of-Home, Radio, Television, Experiential, and urinal pee guards.

We partner.

We work with top media planning and buying agencies, PR firms, event management, and performance marketing agencies. 

We’re flexible.

Our involvement can range from simple coordination to strategic oversight. You might also find us resembling something pretty close to your own internal marketing department (without paying for health insurance and matching 401ks).  

 

We’re nothing like every other agency.

 
 

We don’t bait and switch.

Most agencies will showcase all their experienced, senior-level talent to pitch your business, only to pass it off to a more junior team once they’ve won it. If you hire us, you’ll get us.

We don’t sell hours.

We sell ideas that solve problems. Some problems might take longer to solve. That’s ok because we don’t punch clocks.

We don’t pitch (for free).

It takes a lot of time and money to develop and design ideas for free. We reserve that kind of attention to paying clients. And the few times we do pitch, we keep things very simple with just enough high-level ideas to show you how we think.

We don’t do the “Big Show”

We don’t have swanky offices with beer taps, foosball tables, and other tragically hip toys. We don’t hideaway for two weeks and wow you with parties and a dramatic presentation. We don’t spend our time making our decks look beautiful either.

We only work with 8 brands.

When you choose to work with us, you get us—executive level agency pros who not only know how to solve problems creatively but also effectively.

We build brands that drive sales

The distinction between

We

We don’t know it all.

We believe we know more about advertising than most agencies. We also believe that our clients know more about their business than us. While we’ve been in the ad business for a whole lot of years (and have the experience to prove it), we’ve been successful because we’re honest and listen well.

FAQs

  • We’re a creative agency. So we’re not going to show you a bunch of charts and Venn diagrams mapping out our process. That’s because there is no process. The only thing that separates us from other agencies is our work, who we are, what we stand for, what it’s like to work with us (which you’re probably getting a good sense of already), and our work. Everything else is flubdub and flim-flam.

    But if you absolutely insist on a process, here it is:

    DIAGNOSE

    You tell us about your problems, goals, and everything you can about your company/brand. We do a lot of research and ask a lot of questions. We think about all of it for a little bit. Then we stop thinking about if for a little bit.

    PRESCRIBE

    We come up with creative ideas to solve your problems and goals. We test those ideas for their ability to go beyond sales goals. We share the most interesting and exciting impactful ones with you.

    APPLY

    You say yes to an idea. We make it happen.

    REAPPLY

    We take what works and make it even better

  • Brands are important. But branding is bullshit. The world’s greatest brands were created through great product advertising. We believe the only way to build a brand is through great product advertising.

  • It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

  • It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

“One hundred years from now, the idea is still going to be more important than all the technology in the world.”

— Bill Bernbach