Favourite Friday Ad: Honda - Grrrrr

Hard not to love this quirky spot for Honda's re-invented diesel engine, circa 2004.

White empower! White empower!

Polished Up

Dirty Original


Oopsies. It looks like Microsoft Poland got caught using Photoshop's lesser known white-out tool, replacing a black man from one of their own ads with a white man. What's even more hilarious/outrageous is that the ads are all about being empowered by Microsoft. Ah, irony, how we love thee. Read the article here.

Rock On With Your Bagpipe Self

As Ogilvy Brazil show us here, a tried and true strategy for National ______ Appreciation Day is to imagine a world without _______. The glimpse of the absurd world that is created by this line of thinking never fails to amuse. This ad is no different - replacing the typical garage rock band with a fusion of classical and folk instruments. Is it just me, though, or are you kind of curious about this band? The harp is especially cool again, ever since husband Doug ripped it up on Flight of the Conchords. Along with the bagpipes and accordion, throw in an 808 drum machine and you could have the next Architecture In Helsinki.

Advertising Agency: Ogilvy, São Paulo, Brasil
Creative Directors: Anselmo Ramos, Fred Saldanha
Head of art: Denis Kakazu
Art Director: Érico Braga
Copywriter: Rafael Donato

"I cut the sleeves off because it looks awesome!"

I'm no fan of football - American or European - but I'm a huge fan of this latest ad for Monday Night Football on Fox from Weiden + Kennedy. I'm also a fan of any reason to look forward to Mondays. Go W+K go!

Kseniya Simonova - Sand Animation (Ukraine's Got Talent)

One of the most beautiful things you'll ever witness. Awe-inspiring.

Heineken - Walk-In Fridge

How did I miss this bit of AAAAAAAAwesome?

What Goes Around Comes Around

Great example of using the medium to help make your message. Definitely a "wish I'd thought of that" campaign, huh, Anthony?

Client: Global Coalition for Peace
Advertising Agency: Big Ant International, New York, USA
Creative Director: Alfred Sewon Park
Copywriters: William Tran, Francisco Hui
Art Directors: Jeseok Yi, Frank Anselmo

Revolution

Daft Punk exploded onto the music scene in 1997 with their 'Homework' album. An instant classic, it changed electronic music forever. As one friend put it, it's the 'electro bible.' Even ten years later, I think it would still have the same impact if it dropped tomorrow. Can you say the same about what you're creating today?

Real Men Drink... Lite Beer?

We've been told for years that real men drink beer. Now it seems that real men actually prefer... lite beer? If you've ever been unfortunate enough to taste the piss water known as Miller High Life, you know that the last thing it'll put on your chest is hair. You're more likely to wind up with some well-developed man boobs, which also happen to be the closest you'll be getting to real boobs as long as you have the stench of High Life on your breath.

My personal taste in beer aside, it seems yet another beer company has trod out the ol' "real men do _______, and they also drink our beer" line of thinking for their latest campaign. And it's gone over well, winning some high esteem from award shows like Cannes. But haven't we seen this done to death already? Sure, the executions are reasonably funny, but the strategy is pulled straight from the waste basket of any other American beer company's ad agency. At least put a twist on it, like the famous-for-good-reason Real Men of Genius campaign. Until you come up with something like the Foot-Long Hot Dog Inventor, don't even bother, Miller. It's just a waste of money, kind of like your beer.

If You Can't Find It, Look Harder

Years ago, a good friend of mine passed on the one piece of advice he had ever been given on what makes a great ad. His graphic design professor at Concordia University in Montreal had once upon a time been tasked to come up with a poster to promote a lunch at the United Nations. His ad? Simply: lUNch. The advice: there is always an idea in your message, you just have to look hard enough to find it. Now, there are hundreds of great ads that follow this advice, but it has been awhile since I've seen any as good as these print ads for British Airways by BJL, Manchester, UK. They're refreshing examples of visually applying the professor's advice. (And not just because one of them features a pint of Guiness.)

P.S. Where the hell are you, Nick Hammond?



Advertising Agency: BJL, Manchester, UK
Creative Director: Gary Fawcett/Lisa Nichols
Art Director: Gary Fawcett
Copywriter: David Forster
Illustrator: Gary Fawcett

Let's Not Get Serious, Folks

There seems to be a never-ending debate (usually between creatives and suits/clients) about what works better in advertising: emotion or logic. Bud Light has recently been playing with the latter end of the spectrum in their 'Drinkability' campaign. This straight-forward approach is often a fall back position for big brands in nervous times such as these, but, as this article from AdAge.com explains, logic doesn't always make sense.

One of my favourite entries into this debate between emotion and logic, or art and science, comes from the 'Philosophy' section of Vancouver-based ad factory, Rethink. While it's not directly about humour vs. drinkability, it poignantly explains the importance of emotion in advertising. Have a read:

"There are two schools of thought here. Many agencies believe that advertising is a science - that with the right formula, you can always achieve results. This type of advertising usually features lots of "rational benefits" - and very little entertainment value. The truth is, scientific advertising does get results. Just look at the success of The Brick. But while scientific ads may sell plenty of dining room sets in the short term, they're not very effective at building strong connections with consumers. For that, you need advertising that has an emotional component. It needs to be engaging, and entertaining, as well as relevant and convincing. You want consumers to fall in love with your brand. And love, as any poet will tell you, is much more of an art than a science"

Find out more about the awesomeness of Rethink here.

How To Get Fired And Amuse People

This has been floating around email boxes today. Another reminder to think before you call your boss a "pervvy wanker" in your status update, especially when your boss is on your facebook.

British-ism of the Week (or so) - Croydon facelift

Ready for a new look? Tired of your same old style? Why not give yourself the Croydon facelift! All the rage in south east London, it's as simple as pulling your hair back into a tight ponytail, then accessorizing with a crying baby, a hand-me-down stroller and a nasty teenage attitude. Optional accessory: chav boyfriend (usually not included)

5/5 crumpets

(for how uniquely British it is)

Zippo - Hero

Guitar Hero has taken over the world as one of the hottest video games in years. This past weekend, I got on the bandwagon as a good friend and I strapped on our controllers and rocked along to the songs of everyone from Pat Benatar to Twisted Sister.

Quick observation: It's surprising how much more open-minded you are towards a song when you strip away the image of the group behind it. I thought I hated Twisted Sister's music. Turns out I just hate them.

Anyway, a few songs in and I was already feeling like a rock god. I'm sure millions of Guitar Hero gamers around the world have had the same feeling. Thanks to Zippo for putting us in our place with this great ad. Check out the rest of the campaign here.