Portland-based ad agency says giant inflatable Oregon Duck was 'just the start'

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A giant inflatable Oregon Duck was spotted floating down Indiana’s White River last week, leaving many to ask why it migrated there.

But when the creative minds at Wieden+Kennedy stepped forward from their headquarters in Portland, they revealed the 65-foot-tall duck was developed to show that the University of Oregon is “Mighty Different.”

The Duck’s appearance came after UO joined three other schools in leaving the Pac-12 for the Big Ten conference, which voted to accept Oregon effective Aug. 2, 2024.

“It’s been amazing seeing duck fans so quickly adopt the Big Duck into the Oregon flock,” W+K creatives Jacobi Mehringer and Andrew Chhour said. “Oregon is always ready to make a big splash and is consistently innovative with their marketing, and we wanted to do something that would turn heads.”

The day before the giant duck was spotted on the river, the UO’s athletics account on X — formerly known as Twitter — teased “something B1G is coming,” with a photo of The Duck mascot.

UO Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Rob Mullens previously told KOIN 6 News joining the Big Ten will help put Oregon on the national stage.

“Accepting membership into the Big Ten Conference is a transformational opportunity for the University of Oregon to change the short and long-term trajectory of our university and athletics department,” Mullens said. “The stability and exposure of joining the Big Ten is of great benefit to the University of Oregon, and we are grateful to the Big Ten presidents and chancellors for accepting our application to join the conference.

Although the Oregon Duck was deflated in the late afternoon, W+K creatives say the inflatable was “just the start.”

“We’re going to keep showing up in mighty different ways in the coming months,” they said. “So stay tuned.”