Lactofree, the UK’s first range of lactose-free dairy products this week launches a new print campaign across the UK.  Created by Wieden + Kennedy (that's us!) the work will run in the Metro newspaper group through January and February. Like this:

The ads were illustrated by Owen Gildersleeve, using a range of hand-crafted methods.

The new creative seeks to unravel the sometimes confusing world of lactose intolerance, which is thought to affect up to one in seven of the UK population. The ads aim to help consumers recognise the symptoms of the condition. Which is useful, because over 90 percent of those who think they can’t have dairy can with Lactofree.

Our mission was simple, to help people have a really good cuppa or a tasty bowl of cereal. It doesn’t sound like much, but it is when you’re lactose intolerant. We realised that there’s a lot of confusion around the subject of dairy problems. So we wanted to help people navigate this world, avoid the pitfalls and confusion along the way and get to the holy grail – a cup of tea that doesn’t give you belly ache. 

Wieden + Kennedy has been named Agency of the Year by key US trade mags Advertising Age and Creativity.

"For the first time, Ad Age and Creativity are honoring the same top shop. And for good reason. When it came to bold idea-making and strong execution, nobody did it like this Portland, Ore.-based stalwart. Couple that with its newfound mettle in building strong client bonds and it won the business case, too."

Creativity said:

"Creativity considers all agency types in its agency of the year selection process — digital, full service and everything in between — so only one top agency emerges from that multidisciplinary pile. But no agency can win without demonstrating a "digital" mindset in its work, and an overall fitness to thrive in a digital world. Wieden simply represented the best all-round agency, one that happened to distinguish itself by having the best digital campaign of the year."

These latest accolades come on top of what was a pretty amazing 2010 for W+K in terms of Agency and Campaign of the Year-type things. There's no way to list this stuff without sounding like a bunch of smug gits, but here goes:

– Campaign Network of the Year 2010 

– Adweek Agency of the Year 2010

– Advertising Age agency of the Year 2010 

– Creativity Agency of the Year 2010 

– SHOOT magazine Agency of the Year 2010

– Ranked by clients as UK’s #1 digital agency (Pitch / YouGov survey)

– Ranked by strategic planners as world’s #1 (equal) for planning

– Five out of the year’s top ten most-watched brand virals on YouTube

– Nike Write the Future named Campaign’s Campaign of the Year

– Three Grands Prix at Cannes Festival

– Top prize at Campaign Big Awards for Nike

– Top prize at Epica Europe Awards for Nokia

– Top Prize at One Show Interactive for Nike

Phew.

Creativity quotes founder Dan Wieden as follows:

"In any company you go through a period of thinking, this is not like the good old days," Mr. Wieden said. "Well, the good old days were never as good as this last year."