excitable creative thinker

Apple iPhone 4: the next generation of advertising?

I sign up to many trend sites, one being Springwise. I get weekly trends from across the globe. I came across this interesting post today re. a television ad for made-to-order muesli shot and edited by the iPhone 4. Very impressive work and more the point - what does the future hold for the advertising industry should other firms get on the band wagon. We’ve potential witnessed the birth of a new generation and it’s certainly an advertising medium I will utilise when launching my projects.

 

 
The article even has a link to an iPhone fashion shoot. Truly remarkable work!

A sense of satisfaction!

It’s been a very busy yet rewarding last few days. I finally finished the first draft of a pilot episode screenplay I’ve been working on - a great sense of satisfaction. Now for the re-drafts!

 

I’ve also been utilising my creative talents after designing a party invitation for a work colleague.

 

 Even got bought a bottle of GIN for my efforts!

Engaging the viewers

Nowadays you see a vast amount of adverts that simply just don't engage the viewer. With ever decreasing budgets, it's NOW even more important that advertisers attract the attention of the viewers.

I came across these two very interesting platform, courtesy of our friends at Trendunter.
1. Create your own TV Commercials - Virgin wants to know 'what happens next?
Virgin have come up with a campaign to conincide with one of their campaigns that allows you to get your ad on TV. Deadline for submission is 31 August 08 so get creative.
&
2. Create your own games - Playcrafter.com
Playcrafter is a free site that allows the viewer to design, build and customise games.

Eisenbahn Strong Golden Ale. When we say strong beer, we mean it

Fantastic idea... ads probably come to life when your pissed!

Thanks to ads of the world for the spot.
















Agency: CCZ Comunicação, Curitiba, Brazil
Creative Director: Gilson Genez
Art Director: Pericles M. Kwiatkowski
Copywriter: Thiago Bernardi
Released: January 2008

Diageo - drinking campaign

A nice campaign for Diageo by Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO that tries to get the point across of responsible drinking. There becomes a point that turns a fun night of drinking into a regrettable one. Hang on - what happens if you get laid?? I'll leave that one for the puriest.


























The tagline of “A Night to Remember ? Or One to Forget ?” uses scenarios of how drinking too much can ruin your night.

Read the article here.
Reminds me of a night out in Brighton.

Self-promotion (spec work)

There's nothing quite like a bit of self-promotion!

Please not this is just spec work. The photography comes courtesy of flickr. However, the copy and idea is all mine.































Excuse my art direction... that's not my strong point.

Olympikus Tube - Full Shock Absorption

Fantastic illustrative work here... very impressed.
















See more work of Olympikus by clicking here

Advertising Agency: DCS, Porto Alegre, Brazil
Creative Directors: Roberto Callage, Regis Montagna
Art Director: Rafael Bohrer
Copywriter: Tiago Mattos
Illustrator: Casulo
Photographer: Claudio Menghetti
Published: February 2008

Hovis soft bread - 'the softest thing since slice bread'

Simple but effective. Need I say anymore!











Advertising Agency: McCann-Erickson London, UK
Art Director: Ben Brazier
Copywriter: Johnny Skinner
Photographer: Kevin Summers
Published: May 2008

Fresh & Green

Well finally it's here. A whole year after originally shot, the client; Fresh & Green and their TV ad, that I worked on, has aired on our television screens. Doesn't it look great! Fresh & Green are a company going places!

Nose Knows Consulting - the nose knows where the nose goes

I came across a new form of marketing - scent marketing.  Everyday our senses capture different smells and according to research this makes smell the most effective to influence emotion. Which leads me onto Nose Knows Consulting - a Canadian company that takes the characteristics of a brand and produces a scent.

Courtesy of Trendhunter“Scent design is really simple – we create a scent that compliments the design principles! An average person smells over 10,000 aromas daily – Nose Knows Consulting offers a service that captures a specific smell for psychological, emotional and physical enjoyment,” Nose Knows explains.

The most sought after box on the planet

A new phenomena called sexvertising and quite possibly the best tag line I seen - The most sought after box on the planet. Great product placement. Just what the hell is it? Apparently it's a body building supplement called Gaspari Nutrition recently displayed inside Iron Man fitness magazine. But we don't care about that. Her name is Marzia Prince - a bikini clad famous fitness model and the 2007 Ms. “Bikini Universe” Wow!!

A lack of CREATIVITY

I have long thought that the advertising industry is lacking creativity. Either creatives nowadays at ad agencies are going back to their mentors for advice or the retired are getting off their deathbeds to show the 21st century creatives a 'how to in creativity.' An article by Lucy Tesseras of MAD echoes this very point.

Fat Belly - 2008scandinavia promotes new training and fitness center

2008 Scandinavia have created, perhaps the simplest ad I’ve ever seen for their client – Oxygo (a fitness and training centre for people). This ad first ran on 19 January. I’m not sure whether this ad is part of a campaign but its given me a great idea for a series of online banner creatives.

A nice spot by Frederik Samuel

Ronaldo vs Bugatti Veyron

Check out this viral for Nike Mercurial Vapors, Cristiano Ronaldo’s new football boot. It’s fitting that one of the world’s quickest football players should race arguable the ultimate road car in the world.

It’s a race of speed, agility and composure. Who do you think wins?

The Nike Mercurial Vapor IV won’t be released until February 1, but Ronaldo proudly showed them off this weekend in the Premier League match against Newcastle United at Old Trafford. I guess they work, he scored a second half hat trick.

Jazz Radio

Jazz Radio ads sourced from Scaryideas. I like the black and white combination. It works so well - it's really good art direction. It does remind me of a certain 'Little Britain' sketch. Can you guess?

McDonald's serviette dispenser

A brilliant, yet simple guerrilla tactic for McDonald’s with this serviette dispenser idea – giant sized posters from DDB Stockholm. Hours… ok minutes of fun! Thanks to scaryideas for the spot.

Agent Provocateur Lingerie: mobile

Something to raise the heartbeat level and wake me up this am – especially given my last post on the dull PS3 ad.

Take a good look at this Agent Provocateur mobile office ad in Canada, Vancouver, to raise the awareness of its NEW location. Who said sex doesn’t sell!

I wonder if there’s a watershed to what time the mobile office can be paraded around… don’t want the young and restless getting too many ideas!

Thanks again to ScaryIdeas for the post.

Sony PS3: Human History

It’s number 9 from Print/Design on “Creativity Online Most Viewed countdown.” Why???

A 1950s shot that conveys the innocence of that era, but with subtly differences. Bet you can’t spot them?

Client: Sony PS3
Agency: TBWA/Chiat/Day, Los Angeles
Creative Director: Brett Craig
Art Director: Jamin Duncan
Copywriter: Allan Manaysay
Retoucher: Saddington & Baynes

Vodafone Live Music Awards: Heaven for Ears

A nice piece of advertising for the ticket barriers at Earl's Court station promoting Vodafone Live Music Awards. Aimed at building awareness - it certainly brings music to my ears. Created by the brilliant John O'Keeffe and his talented team at BBH London, the ad shows inventiveness and  simplicity. Thanks to adsoftheworld for the spot. Simple ideas always prevail!

Advertising Agency: BBH London, UK
Executive Creative Director: John O'Keeffe
Creative Director: Mick Mahoney
Art Director: Chris Felstead
Illustrator: Jonathan Tran
Copywriter: Gary McNulty
Agency Producer: Stuart Hayburn

Nokia: Music Almighty

I came across 2 different advertisements this morning on Creativity Online, both of which I share different views but must blog about.

1. Nokia’s 5310 and 5610 XpressMusic phone campaign created by W+K, London is a beautifully crafted visual, but I can’t help but think the idea will be lost on the consumers. W+K agency have aimed a set of illustrated ear phones to represent different genres of music – from pop to rock to jazz???

What’s this one I ask?

Client: Nokia
Agency: Wieden + Kennedy, London
Creative Director: Matt Gooden,
Ben Walker
Creative: Fabian Berglund,
Ida Gronblom

Burger King attacks the Drink cravers

Finally, an agency goes after the binge-drinking cravings: FOOD and naturally Burger King. I love its simplicity; the relationship between drink and food cravings. Although my only negative point would be the capital letters. Clarity wise - it was quite difficult to read. Can't believe I just wrote that - I must be drunk too! Thanks to ScaryIdeas for the spot. I would insert an ad below but having problems so I'm NOT! Click here to view the rest of Burger Kings campaign.

Advertising Agency: Bleublancrouge, Montreal, Canada
Creative Director: Gaetan Namouric
Art Director: Sebastien Deland
Copywriter: Jonathan Rosman
Published: November 2007

IFAW - The Animal Welfare Association spills its guts.

Usually I would write my thoughts to accompany advertising I see. I clearly don't need to with this! Good spot Creativity Online

Agency: Republic of Everyone/Happy Soldiers
Client: IFAW
Creative Director: John Kane
Art Director: Happy Soldiers
Copywriter: Happy Soldiers
Retouching: Electric Art
Photography: Adrian Lander
Producer: Annabelle Peacock

Superman is strong!

Scrolling through Advertolog website earlier and stumbled upon SKY Television ads, created by DDB New Zealand. Superman is strong! It’s brilliant – idea so simple and art direction a delight. It’s shame we don’t see ads like this in the UK more often.

Released: December 2007
Prize: Young Guns 2007 Winners

Client: SKY Television
Agency: DDB New Zealand
Eligible Creatives: Mike Felix

Dills: Digestive Tablets

If you have no idea what Dills are – you are gonna be clueless to this advertisement but I’m going to let you know. Dills are digestive mints from Belgium and below you will see print ads. Thanks to copyranter and scaryideas for the spot. I love copyranters take on the ads – a joy to read!

I can’t say I brimming with bubbles over the execution but the idea has been well thought out so I applaud that!

Advertising Agency: MortierBrigade, Brussels, Belgium

Arrive Alive: drink driving

Courtesy of a fantastic blog (I believe in Advertising), I stumbled upon a highly visible campaign that always get large press at this time of year – and yes it’s “Drinking Driving.” The campaign by Arrive Alive shows a range of ambient advertisements in public bathrooms with taglines such as:

• “I sober up when I’m behind the wheel” “
• “Just give me 5min and I’ll be fine to drive.”

The idea and art direction is very different to traditional drink driving campaigns but nonetheless, it’s extremely thought provoking.

Advertising Agency: The Jupiter Drawing Room, South Africa
Creative Directors: Graham Warsop, Michael Blore, Tom Cullinan
Art Directors: Frank Van Rooijen, Chantelle Dos Santos
Copywriter: Gavin Stradi
Photographer: Graham Kietzmann

Caught on Camera - Vodafone

Have you ever had that feeling where you laugh so much you actually start crying, or in some female cases, wet themselves - and I mean literally! Well, take a look at this French Vodafone ad I found on dialaphone website posted by Nick. To view Nick's top 10 funniest mobile phone TV ads, click here.

Kite Marketing Bizarreness

There are some truly, brilliant and innovative products launched everyday of the week but I’ve came across this very unusual marketing ploy by Shopping Kite. Trendhunter say, “After fulfilling their function is a package for delivery, the plastic bags can be transformed into kites to serve as a unique visibility tool for brand exposure.”

What’s to stop me ravelling through the utility room for a Tesco carrier bag? Isn’t that too marketing?

Please check out their video on their website… windy stuff! It must be spook.

DEXTER Viral

I came across the Dexter viral yesterday, courtesy of Creativity-Online. For all those who don’t know, Dexter is an American TV show. The show stars Michael C. Hall (Six Feet Under) as the title character Dexter Morgan, a Miami-based serial killer who works for the Miami Metro Police Department as a blood spatter analyst. I’m sure by the viral example below, you’d gather Dexter was a serial killer!

I blogged about the importance of virals and the impact they can have and this really does prove my point. They are brilliant.

"We're very happy with the campaign," says Ralph co-founder Jay Armitage. "The ability to genuinely prank and scare someone was critical and this made people want to send it on to their friends. We're always trying to push out the boundaries in clever and interesting ways and the personalised nature of the campaign demonstrates this."

You can even enter your friend’s information (name, age, job), which generates a fake video about yourself. According to numbers from Ralph, the Dexter viral spawned 300,000 unique emails and 750,000 page views since its launch, and even roused Scotland Yard in the process.

The FUTURE of ADVERTISING

I guess you could say this is the million-dollar question? No one knows the answer but many have added their two bob and had a punt. Well today, it’s my turn. Firstly I don’t believe interactive TV is the way forward. I’ve seen research (not to hand I'm afraid) that shows less people are actually watching TV nowadays so this route is down the toilet.

I see so many ads, whether it be on the box, internet or in the press that have absolutely no relevance what so ever to the products in question. The ads are simply a push for the agency rather than the client and this is so wrong or they are simply asking way too much of the audience. You only ever get seconds to engage and it appears that on occasions, ads that are created aren’t focused on this point.

This is why the key words I associate with the future of advertising is ‘tailored’ and ‘unique.’ We live in a society where the consumer has become more knowledgeable than ever before through the likes of Internet and we the agencies will need to re-invent to adapt.

The challenges and methods of communications that agencies and clients will become even more dependant on than ever before will be new media through social networks and new technological developments and virals which I firmly believe are key due to their limit cost inputs. We also need to pay particular attention to everyday life situations i.e. regular routines that stimulate the mind (subliminal advertising) – socialising, playing computer games, shopping, going to the gym etc... There is a massive gap here for marketers to utilise. I’m talking about advertising on pint glasses, arcade games like Pro Evolution, the lavatories etc…  anything that stimulates the mind and soul. Whether we like it or not (I’m one of those who does like), advertising is there in every shape and form and it’s up to us, the marketers, to make the most of it.

In summary, agencies need to listen and interact with consumers more than ever before!

We need to be more personal through ‘tailoring’ and be more ‘unique’ with what we do than ever before to stand out from the rest.

The Spirit Mobile Media Network

A NEW way to connect and interact with consumers devised by Spirit Mobile Media Network. It has the ability for marketers to reach million and millions of wireless data subscribers with strategically targeted advertising on mobile phones.

The website comments “Sprint's scalable media platform delivers interactive mobile ad units to help marketers engage their desired audience and establish a two-way dialogue around products, services, brands and promotions.

Together with Sprint, brands can now add a new media channel to their advertising initiatives through innovative use of mobile web browsing pages. The Sprint Mobile Media Network offers a wide variety of targeting options, adding relevance and personalization to campaigns that have the potential to reach to an audience of millions. On average, Sprint Mobile Media Network campaigns achieve a 3.6% CTR*, outperforming Internet display industry averages.”

To date, clients include the likes of Pepsi and Sony – two of the biggest brands in the world. Pepsi used Sprint Mobile Media Network programme in strategic advertising during the 2007 Super Bowl.

Thanks to Mediabistro for the spot.

World's Largest BANNER Ad - Dubai

The myth in advertising ‘less is more’ probably isn’t true of this Sorough Real Estate banner. According to the Guinness Book of Records, this real estate ad in Dubai is the largest banner ad in the world, measuring in at a whopping 5 acres.

“Now here’s the cool part— it lies flat on the ground along flight paths where it will be viewed from the air by an estimated 14 million people over the next year. This has viral WOM potential. That’s big time branding” says real estate blogger Sellsious.

“The site in Dubai is part of an international network of mega advertising at airports planned by Ad Air.”

A huge thanks to Sellsious for the spot.

New online Guinness ad

Guinness’s ad agency, AMV BBDO is launching a new ad… but not on TV. They’ve hidden it within the depths of the Internet. I hear cries of ‘what were they thinking?’ I actually think it’s a very good idea. I guess you could say it’s typical that Guinness would do this

Fans of Guinness have to solve the cryptic clues from the new film.

This is what AMV BBDO had to say:
To be the first to see the new ad you must solve a series of clues, codes and puzzles and piece together the new film…but don’t expect it to be easy. As you know, it just wouldn’t be GUINNESS® if the reward didn’t involve a little waiting. The site goes live soon, but until then we’d like you to meet Juan Ramon, the mayor of the village (he may even give you some clues to get you started):

A special thanks to Adland and caffeinegoddess for finding this.

Ron Dennis & McLaren – “no such thing as bad publicity”

By my last few blog entries, you can probably tell I am avid fan of Formula 1. Correct. Yes, it has been an eventful season both on and off the track. However, in the wake of the spy scandal that has rocked this sport, and to be brutally honest, put it back on the worldwide map again is a good thing. Obviously, the spy scandal can not take all the credit for the rise of the sport once more…. a large proportion has to go to Lewis Hamilton too.

The phrase ‘No such thing as bad publicity’ applies to Ron Dennis’s McLaren Team. Yes, they got a hefty fine of £50m, but the success of Lewis and the press McLaren have received over the course of the last 7 months will only benefit them in the long term.

Formula 1 has always been a lucrative sport with millions poured into the industry yearly and I firmly believe companies, who probably never thought of the sponsorship / advertising avenue in F1 will be throwing themselves into the sport next season, and more to the point, to McLaren. Time will tell, but I’ll be very surprised if McLaren don’t reap the rewards in the next few seasons!

Jobsite Ads

Everyone knows that the job market frenzy occurs twice a year; September and January and with that follows a galore of recruitment ads across a range of different medias. The problem is – the majority of them are extremely boring and let’s face it, uninspiring too.

When brings me onto my point. I saw these thought provoking ads. Stand up and applause. Fantastic art direction and with a brilliant idea. The creative team behind this campaign really understood their market. Lets hope the boys and girls working on UK recruitment accounts give us something entertaining next time like this German agency!

I’m afraid I can’t take credit for finding this…. the thanks go to Dan Parr at Iguzzini who forwarded it to me and Megabunny who sourced the ads.