A couple of cute ads from CPB promoting their ‘Back to College’ packages of Windows 7 and an xBox. Not the easiest brief I suspect, which makes the use of MasterChief from the Halo series not only a smart strategic thought, but opens up the opportunity for some nice executions see here above. Check ‘em out.
(Via Agency Spy)
Well, Cannes Lions 2011 has passed. Another chapter in Advertising’s sordid history with booze and awards has been written. This is the first Cannes I’ve followed intensely, helped along my road to jealousy by Instagram especially among other usual suspects. However, the quality of work on show was excellent, and there were some really inspiring pieces that were awarded beyond the obvious ones that we all know and *love* (and therefore don’t have to mention here).
But the real interesting action seemed to be happening in the margins. Both in development of applications surrounding the festival, and also in critiques of the Lions relevancy. Friends, Creative Social put in a good effort with their work of Instacanneslions, as well as the ‘Gutter Barometer’, but also providing one of the most thoughtful posts on the whole Cannes scene and some great behind the scenes thoughts from the judging panels.
There was also a healthy round of talks, symposiums and what-nots to feed the hungry mind, (though not neccesarily the thirsty Rosé palette or fresh seafood deprived tastebuds). With that in mind, @jessedee has compiled the 100 most beautiful slides from Cannes. Not only are some of these well put together (which makes a change), they are also informative, and worth a perusal at your leisure.
Enjoy.
Last month, was the first ‘Creative Social Presents’ event. I originally was going to blog about the night in as much detail as I could remember through the slightly drunken post-event haze, but, the guys at the Social have done the hard work and created a great little summary over at their website. Which luckily, now includes a short video summary too! (Posted above)
As ever, the night it proved to be a useful, fun and a thought provoking semi-anarchic alternative to the seemingly endless treadmill of conventions and talks, which can be a bit of a circle jerk these days…
No doubt the provocative title of the night helped fuel debate, and opposing perspectives. Highlights such as the “greatest animated gif of all time” an exploding dog, the obilgatory ‘Haters Gonna Hate’ image, and the underused phrase ‘eugoogilization of the internet’ showed that the internet was still as irreverent as you wanted it to be, but also undergoing it’s maturation as a medium, not just a distraction tool. But, it is everyone’s to use in their own way. ”We Are The Internet” (As Nathan pointed out) serves as a short, fitting way to describe where and what the Internet is. As fun, or as serious or as useful, or as irrenverent as it needs to be for you and your peers.
You can find the complete presentations over at Slideshare.
Via Creative Social.
Here are two ads from the biggest sports brands in the world. One, is a grandly produced, epic, hyper edited monster, covering seemingly every single touchpoint, from fashion, to subculture, to sport and back, soundtracked by one of the worlds most recognised ‘hipster’ bands, that all rolled into one, is designed to hit you with the force of truck.
The other is made up of old recycled ads, from a treasure trove of over 25 years.
Nike’s new ad hasn’t really had a huge amount of airplay. (That I know of) The theme of the ad (sustainability and Nike’s green credentials) could well be the reason for this, although that doesn’t reduce it to mere throwaway artefact.
The thing that struck me was the power of consistency.
Nike has it in spades. Adidas is seemingly still searching for it.
Nike ads/sites/print/etc. While each unique, are fused with the consistency of the brand. Each creative output, epitomises ‘Just Do It’ (Even though that line hasn’t been seen around in a while) They have daring and provocation hardwired into them.
Adidas has none of this. This might be overly harsh on one of the worlds biggest and most well known brands, but what DOES Adidas stand for? Sure this Ad, in it’s attempt to capture the vastness of it’s world, and tie it all up into a catchy little slogan, is slick, epic and packed full of high energy, but it still feels like a transient campaign, not a definition of WHO they are, and what they stand for as a guiding principle.
Adidas might have the buzz, but Nike has the substance. That’s where the Brand plays a role beyond campaign. I think I’ll go with the substance every time.
A couple of weeks ago, Wolff Olins launched a brand re-fresh for PwC (Price Waterhouse Coopers) the global consulting firm. My initial contact with the new Brand came from the increasingly influential (and increasingly snarky, more on this later) website Brand New. Brand New’s official review is glowing. Rightly so. As Simon Manchipp of SomeOne pointed out in his blog, there is probably no tougher brief than that of refreshing and focussing a global business of this scale, doubly the difficulty with a consulting firm, triple it with it’s organisational complexity and differing regional cultures. That’s one tough cookie to crack, and the re-brand, does the brief justice.
Great title, but alas, it’s not my big world critique moment on the state of advertising, (I’m sure that will rear it’s head at some point) This is in fact a rather strange, but perfectly formed Flickr album of missing ads spaces, culled mainly from London Underground, but also the odd billboard or bus adshell. The blurb says there aren’t photoshopped, which we will have to believe, for they illustrate two things, one how the lack of visual stimuli (or annoying interruptions depending on your point of view) greatly affects our perception of the space around us, and also act as a weird mausoleum to a rapidly mutating communcation form. If they say the art of print is dying, then these represent the real live representation of that change.
Or they could just be waiting for the poster guy to come round and slap another Danny Dyer film poster up.
Whichever, it’s a funny old set. Take a look.
These have been about for a while, but as a set they are deceptively simple, and are worth a share. Shot for Film Four, they do two things simultaniously. Cement Film Four’s credentials as a both a producer of films (Jude Law, Kristen Scott Thomas, Daniel Day-Lewis, Tilda Swinton and Bob Hoskins help with that) while also neatly dovetailing with a seriously heavyweight Hollywood cast. But, what’s great about these is that the stars don’t get in the way of the stories, these are personal recollections on film, the process of making, and the satisfaction in creating art in ones craft. Add to that a fine editing style, and simple and effective Art Direction, a very familiar piano piece, and you have a lovely little set of ads. Check ‘em out.