Dave Dye - Stuff from the Loft

Dave Dye, one of the top ad creatives of his generation, has agreed to us adding a permanent link to his fabulous blog, “Stuff from the Loft,” onto our website. 

Dave doesn't need much introduction to our regular readers, as we have been lucky to feature his work in Archive magazine many times over the years (along with the work from a number of his own agencies). You can find a small selection below - some of the ads date back to the late 90s. 

Reading Dave's blog posts has always felt like an education in creativity but I always marvel at the depth of advertising history knowledge that they reveal. I frequently share Dave’s blog posts on my personal Facebook page, but of course, this is a limited affair. So, I’m thrilled that “Stuff from the Loft” will now be permanently accessible to Lürzer's Archive readers, providing a great service to anyone stumbling across the Archive site, whether they're ad creatives or students of advertising and graphic design. 

We last interviewed Dave Dye back in 2016 for “200 Best Ad Photographers 16/17” when he had kindly consented to be on the jury selecting the work included in this book. Back then I wrote, "There is hardly anyone better suited to judging ad photography than Dave Dye. Dave can look back on an amazing 24-year career as an art director and creative director at some of London’s most prestigious agencies (AMV BBDO, BMP DDB, Leagas Delaney), as well as at agencies – Campbell Doyle Dye and Dye Holloway Murray – at which he was a founding partner. All in all, he has worked with some of the best photographers of our time. In addition to his agency job, Dave has also taken on the role of a kind of advertising historian. His highly recommended blog puts the spotlight on some of the advertising greats of the 60s, 70s, and 80s from both the UK and the US, including legendary names in advertising photography from a bygone era.“ 

So, from now on, whenever you have a minute, do yourself a favor and head over to “Stuff from the Loft” and check out the great content there. But be careful: Dave's writing can be highly addictive. Whole afternoons may go by without you noticing once you start dipping into them.

Left: Agency: Thingy, London. Vol. 2-2018, Right: Agency: JWT (J. Walter Thompson), London. Vol. 6-2016

Left: Agency: Abbott Mead Vickers (AMV) BBDO, London. Vol. 4-2000, Right: Agency: DDB, London. Vol. 2-1998

First: Agency: JWT (J. Walter Thompson), London. Vol. 3-2016, Second: Agency: DHM, London. Vol. 2-2013, Third: Agency: Shop, London. Vol. 2-2003, Fourth: Agency: DDB; London. Vol. 3-1998

Left: Agency: Leagas Delaney, London.  Vol. 5-1996, Right: Agency: Leagas Delaney, London. Vol. 3-1997