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Our very first TV ad

Our very first TV ad is a tour through the collective Warby Parker brain

Why TV? TV is a great big megaphone, and we want to share our story with as many people as possible — with the ultimate goal of disrupting the eyewear industry and showing that for-profit companies can do good in the world.

Inspiration

Three Art Forms in One Commercial:
Live Film, Collage, Animation

We leafed through 1950s magazines, collections of Victorian wallpaper, Japanese architecture textbooks, and more to find inspiration. No archive, flea market, or dusty tag sale was left unexplored.

Sharply dressed man on unicycle Still from ad: Unicycles
Step one: Shoot unicyclists riding on Kite Hill in Los Angeles. Step two: Turn live-action into animated collage.
Vision: Golden Library of Knowledge
The skyline is from a Vision book — it’s based on a skyline of New York
Eyeball balloons
We love eyeballs, and not in a creepy way. You’ll find the motif popping up at numerous Warby Parker events, like our March 2012 SXSW Citizen’s Circus.
Still from ad: The Internet
See this computer-happy man? He’s our way of representing the internet, which has provided us with the ultimate method of reaching customers directly. The smokestacks in the background represent a glorious history of technological innovation. Here’s to the future!
Chess board Still from ad: Statue
Nice frames, cutie! Sinclair in Burgundy Fade
Bohn “Hello, Warby Parker!” Still from ad: Train
Pleased to meet you, Bensen. Bensen in Greystone
Northwest magazine
All aboard the Warby Parker Express! We monogrammed this train in order to imprint the Warby Parker name upon those who might be hearing about us for the first time.
Eye exam Still from ad: Cutting out the middleman
Our business model? Simple. We cut out the middleman to bring you designer glasses that don’t cost a fortune.
Vintage party balloons Still from ad: Houseboat
Warby Parker core value #1: inject fun and quirkiness into everything we do.
Vintage china Still from ad: Cheers
Welcome to the Warby Parker den. Kick off your shoes, flop onto the 1960s couch, and say hello to our cheetah friend. Sip a whiskey on the rocks. Read a book. Come back any time.

Did you catch these items?

  • Train
  • Pigeon
  • Black Coffee
  • Chess Board
  • Submarine
  • Parachute
  • Binoculars
Book
Transparency is always a good thing. We ended our commercial with a super-clear call to action, because — well, we want viewers to visit!

Q&A with the Artist

Alia Penner

Meet the Artist

Alia Penner is the visual genius behind our first TV ad. The last time she stopped by Warby Parker headquarters, Alia was a vision in blue: blue velvet dress, blue plastic daisy tucked behind one ear, a wash of cerulean across her eyelids. Fresh from shopping for vintage wallpaper with buddy Alexa Chung, Alia was happy to tell us about her art, her books, and her darling cat, Edie.

Favorite Films
  • MGM’s Ziegfeld Follies
  • My Nights Are More Beautiful Than Your Days by Andrzej Zulawski
  • SMILE by Michael Ritchie
Warby Parker Frame of Choice

Warby × SUNO in Stained Glass and Sinclair in Midnight Blue.

Reading List
  • Ozma of Oz by L. Frank Baum
  • Hollywood Babylon by Kenneth Anger
  • The Hawkline Monster by Richard Brautigan
A few of Alia’s favorite things
Place of Residence

Topanga Canyon, Los Angeles.

Favorite Tools

X-Acto blades and 1 Shot paint.

Cocktail of Choice

For summer, the Eastside cocktail. For winter, an Old Fashioned.

Snack of Choice

Goat cheese, beet, and pesto sandwich at Proof Bakery in LA.

Favorite Era

1960s London.

Current Obsessions

Wilting rainbow balloons, issues of FORTUNE from the 1930s, and the zine Craphound.

Favorite Artists and Designers

Niki de Saint Phalle, Zandra Rhodes, Sonia Delaunay, Yayoi Kusama, Anna Sui.

Q&A with the Animator

Meet the Animator

Born in Hong Kong and currently based in Brooklyn, Saiman Chow is a designer, illustrator, animator, editor, and director extraordinaire. He’s also the heroic leader of animation efforts for our TV ad — and truly a man of many talents. We asked Saiman to share a few favorites with us.

Favorite Childhood Cartoon

Doraemon.

Favorite Animated Film

Yellow Submarine (1968).

Favorite Artist

Peter Doig.

Favorite Thing to Doodle

Shapes.

Favorite Designer

Yokoo Tadanori.

Current Inspiration

American painter and printmaker Philip Guston.

Warby Parker Frame of Choice

Waldo.