More Community cycling

 Got an email last night about the bike helmets campaign by The Community I posted yesterday.

Seems the agency has a thing about bikes and cycling.

Case in point this cute campaign to promote cycling in Buenos Aires.

Surprised I hadn't seen it before given it won the Print Grand Prix at Cannes last year!

Nutcase helmets

What I love about these ads by Miami agency The Community is they show the benefit rather than the product.

They're bloody eye catching too.

But if I head into my bike shop how do I go about recognising the Nutcase helmets?

After all they all look pretty much the same.

Or perhaps that's the point?

A preposterous video

Guaranteed that at least one of the absurdities featured in this fun film will turn up in an ad within the next twelve months.

The other Bic problem

Love this ad. A very cute idea.

But Bic pens?

Hate them.

Always go dry when I need to scribble an idea in a hurry.

And always fail to survive my pen chewing habit.

Which may explain I don't use them.

The horseless carriage

Now this is how you make an ad. With a focus on benefits rather than the product.

Mind you there was probably nothing better to say about the new horseless carriage way back when. 

Fear of the unknown

You have nothing to fear but fear itself.

I can't remember who said that but it's true.

At least it is when it comes to the world of commercial creativity.

Yet so many people go through their lives in adland afraid.

Afraid to speak up.

Afraid to give their opinion.

Afraid of being wrong.

Afraid of looking stupid.

Afraid of failure.

Trust me kids. I've been retrenched from WPP not one but twice.

I helped start and agency and walked away after a year.

I chose to focus on direct and digital when big TV was the place to be.

I chose to go work in London in my late thirties rather than my twenties.

And I walked away from the Aus agency of the year to go work for a tech company.

Was I afraid when I did these things?

Damn right I was. But I did them anyway.

Why?

Why the hell not!

For every lightbulb moment

It's rare that an Apple ad fails to float my boat. But this one definitely does. Beautifully executed. But seriously why/how would this ad make you wanna go buy a Macbook?

Brandalism on the Underground

Vandalising and/or altering the messages in advertising is nothing new.

Hell smart arse kids have been doing it for years.

But a UK mob called the Special Patrol Group are taking this to a whole new level with they are calling brandalism.

They're claiming around 40 members of their group have been active on the London Underground of late.

And rather than defacing posters they're replacing them.

I reckon their work is possibly better than many of the ads they have covered up.

But then again what would I know?

Been there done that

As a Creative Director I have a history of hiring people without category experience.

Yes it's obviously much less risky hiring someone who's worked on Ford or VW to come and work on a brand like Toyota.

But these type of people tend to bring their knowledge of what works with them.

And I don't want that.

I want people who do stuff without realising they can't.

Who break rules that aren't really rules anyway.

People who give it a go. No matter what.

Because that's how new ideas happen.

Not by choosing the proven.

Tiny Whale

Very cute spot for language app babel by the always reliable W+K London. Terrific casting too! 

Isn't everything digital these days?

Remembering & Reflecting

No that's not a concert ticket.

It a commemorative magazine cover from Germany's Zeit Magazin.

As someone who has spent 30 odd years going to gigs and concert what happened in Paris last November chilled me to the bone.

This cove is one of the best reminders and reflections I've seen. Respect. 

Cohen on Creativity

"One is distracted by this notion that there is such a thing as inspiration, that it comes fast and easy. And some people are graced by that style. I’m not. So I have to work as hard as any stiff, to come up with my payload."

The tale of Thomas Burberry

Big budget. Big name cast. But is it a big idea?

There's tough and real tough

I'm not sure if this is an over the top press release or a very clever direct mail piece.

Either way it's a fun way to bring to life how tough the new Cub Cadet ride on mower is.

It weighs in at a hefty 6.5kg.

Shudder to think what it cost to mail.

But I bet it sure got people talking.

Goodbye Someday

As any sports lover will tell you the Chicago Cubs win in baseball's World Series has been a long long long time coming. This Nike spot sums it up beautifully. Particularly liked the light touch of director Daniel Wolfe. 

Freelance is not free in NYC

Pretty much everyone I know has done freelance work at one time or another.

And most of those people have complained about how hard it can be to get paid sometimes.

Actually make that a lot of the time.

Perhaps it's time to move to New York.

Why?

Because the city just passed an act to protect freelance workers and ensure they get paid.

The 'Freelance Isn’t Free' act means any freelance project needs a written contract.

And that contract entitles freelancers to file complaints against non paying clients as well as those who don't pay on time.

With more and more people choosing the freelance life an act like this is long overdue.

Let's hope it spreads to other cities and countries. 

John Hegarty says...

Anyone can have an idea.

They are free of charge.

Don't like your idea?

Have another one.

And another. And another.

But once you settle on an idea do everything in your power to make it as good as it can be.

Don't listen to people who harp on about minimum viable products.

Ignore anyone who says not to let perfection get in the way of finished.

Because the best way to get people to engage with or react to your idea is to make it as good as it can be.

Being Boring

Vote for Gerald or....

Someone emailed me a link to this ad the other day. I didn't share it as I thought it was a spoof. Turns out it's not. Good luck Gerald!

The dog party

No idea whatsoever what this ad is all about.

With my minimal knowledge of French I'm pretty sure Jardiland equates to something along the lines of Gardenworld.

Whether I'm right or wrong I still have no idea what this ad is about.

Have to say I totally love the dog party imagery though!

Nutella before & after

This turned up in my Linkedin feed over the weekend.

It is a brilliant product demonstration don't you think?

Is it real?

I suspect not.

But damn it's good.