Return of Motorola - 06.09.16

I worked on Ericsson back in the late 90s when it was the No.1 mobile phone brand.

Couple of years later and Nokia had taken the title.

Quickly followed by the clamshelled Motorola.

Then along came the iPhone and everything changed.

Of course I wish Motorola well with their new device.

But I very much doubt people are hanging out for them to reclaim their position as the world's most popular mobile phone. 

Who's looking?

This Sainsbury's piece has been popping up a lot on my Linkedin feed of late.

Another example of huge organisations placing no value on creative thinking.

Which is why the response is so good.

Artists giving the finger and then some. Love it!

Should I stay or...

When I was a lad Levis ruled the ad world.

Great ads. And particularly great use of music.

This spot isn't really one of their best. But it uses one of my fave tunes by The Clash.

Which is ironic given that the teenage me would never have imagined The Clash selling out like that! 

Another great David dies

We lost a truly great David in David Bowie back in January.

This month we lost another. David King.

Artist. Designer. And proud socialist.

His career was built on an amazing series of photos for the Sunday Times magazine back when it was an important document of the era, not a puff piece inserted into the Sunday newspaper.

He worked tirelessly with anti-Nazi and social groups in the 70s. Designing many great posters.

Oh and did I mention he designed record covers too, including the radical for its time Electric Ladyland by Jimi Hendrix.

A unique and gifted creative person. He will will be much missed.

Happy Humpday

Beware the cliche

Buzzword bingo is a way of life in the corporate world.

And every industry has its own lexicon of acronyms 'n stuff.

But film?

It looks like even they fall prey to cliché. Especially when it comes to sound.

New low in advertising

Sponsored posts. Native advertising. Paid influencers. Bought, owned & earned media. Etc etc...

Much as I love the infinite possibilities of the modern age of advertising there are definitely times I long for the simplicity of the Madmen era.

This is especially so when I see what are so obviously blatant paid product plugs on Instagram.

The Insta above by US reality show 'celeb' Scott Discick has taken it to an all time low.

Either that or it's the best example of honesty in advertising I've ever seen.

Although somehow I don't think that's what it is.

Honestly. How dumb is this guy?

He actually posted the agency/client instructions along with the photo.

I wonder what Don Draper would think?

Man's best friend delivers

I honestly thought they'd stopped making beer ads like this one from Kronenbourg.

Great production values. Corny yet charming storyline. And a much revered celebrity thrown in for good measure.

Seriously what's not to love?

Creative Process

Every morning of every day a creative person sits and stares at a blank sheet of paper.

It taunts you. It can haunt you. But put something on it and the feeling of elation is like no other.

At least until you have a better idea!

The artwork above is by Christoph Niemann. It's called Creative Process and you can buy it at his website. 

Intel in the sky

100 drones in the Palm Springs desert makes for a stunning display in the sky.

Nice idea for Intel but not so sure I want my night skies filled with bloody drones buzzing here there and everywhere. 

This GAP ad has been much discussed on social media.

And is it any wonder.

Attention to detail is everything in my book.

But it's obviously not so important at GAP. 

Spotify loves you

I'm not a big music streamer as I have a huge music collection so see no point in streaming what I already own.

Anyway...

I saw a post in my Linkedin feed the other day about someone who had just cancelled their Spotify subscription.

After unsubscribing the Spotify app started playing I Want You Back by Michael Jackson.

But wait there's more!

It then auto-loaded a playlist called Can We Still Be Friends?

Seriously. How cute is that?

Almost enough to get a person to change their mind if you ask me. 

Quality grapage

Wine in a can. Doesn't exactly spell class. Does it?

But wine in a can it is for The Drop.

It's a Rosé for young blokes.

Can't imagine any fella in Australia drinking this stuff.

But it's made in America where wine tastes are obviously different from ours.

Love the tagline though - Quality Grapage. No Breakage. 

Not smoking is scary

This is surely the most unbelievable set of side effects ever to be covered in the small print of a TV pharma spot.

Been many a year since I lit up a gasper but I gotta tell ya I'd rather take my chances with cigarettes than Chantrix.

No fun type

I think this poster came out of Italy.

So the headline may (or may not) be a translation from Italian.

Either way there is absolutely no excuse whatsoever for the appalling typography. 

Unemployed Superheroes

Spotted this ad on Tumblr the other day.

I can't make the pic bigger so to save you squinting here's the headline:

The new RAC rescue helicopter is here.

Very cute idea.

Although given how many bloody superhero films are released every year I can't see superheroes being out of a job just yet.

Nick Cave + Curtis = Dark Coles

Everybody knows the Big Red Hand ads for Coles supermarkets.

Lots of people have an 'opinion' on them too.

But add a touch of Nick Cave to the soundtrack and everything changes. 

Harry Potter & the lost art

The art of signwriting (actual signwriting) is definitely in decline like many old crafts.

But former lawyer and Harry Potter buff Meredith McCardie may well end up inadvertently inspiring a whole new generation of kids to take up the almost lost art.

The pic above is a wall in her home-office that she painstakingly painted from a projection of the first page of the first Harry Potter book.

Of course this takes fandom to knew levels.

But imagine all the kids who see it and want to create something similar in their bedrooms. Just brilliant!
 

Oregon sounds nice

This understated and oh so aware campaign for Oregon is just lovely.

Makes me wanna go there now.

Reminds me a bit of what it is I like about Melbourne.

No real obvious tourism drawcards. But a great place to spend time.

It's by W+K. Of course.

Thinking backwards with Seth

Seth Godin gave a Creative mornings talk recently. It's a cracker. 

Obama on Blue Note

Big thanks to Trevor for alerting me to these gorgeous Blue Note homages to Obama.

These really show the esteem he is held in for me.

At least by people with half a brain anyway!

Click here for info and a few more covers.

Osteoporosis Run & Walk

Kudos to whoever spotted the link between a trainer sole and the human spine.

Beautifully simple ad. Beautifully shot too.

Wish I knew who created it.