Half full or half empty?

The copywriter in me (not to mention pop culture buff) really likes these ads for Mexican beer Tulum.

But the perfectionist in me can't help thinking a glass half full/empty appriach ike this would've worked better with the beer in a glass.

Of course that's just me being pedantic about this nice work by Estudio Vivo.

Small biz gets social

A recent survey of 4,500 small businesses in the US found that 51% of them did not have a Facebook page.

I have to say I wassurprised by this stat.

Why?

Because I've spend a lot of time working and connecting with small business people over the last few years.

And all of them use social media for their business.

Why?

Because a small biz needs a community of customers to support it and tell their friends about it.

And social media is the best (and most cost effective)way to do this.

Now some may prefer Instagram. Others like Linkedin or Twitter.

But regardless of their choice of social media the fact is small businesses really should be using social.

An ad that skips itself

Hands up who hates pre-roll ads on YouTube?

Yeah. Thought so. Pretty much everyone.

So kudos to The Martin Agency in London who created an ad for Barclays that actually skips itself.

Of course using a Rube Goldberg machine is not a new idea. But it sure as hell is fun.

University of Internet

This sweatshirt pic landed in my inbox the other day.

Really got me thinking about how much I've learnt from wasting time on the internet.

Yes there's a lot of so called fake news out there.

And far too much unimportant stuff on social media.

But what the hell. I love the internet. 

Day that Shazam forgot

The cynic in me wants to say that this case study appearing during 'awards season' makes me wonder whether it may or may not have a scent of 'made for awards' about it.

But given my mother-inlaw has been developing Alzheimer’s in recent times it really hit home.

So thumbs up for a very clever idea from Innocean. And fingers crossed it helps make a difference.

Radiohead goes floppy

You know you're getting old when an album from a few years back is being re-issued in a 20th anniversary edition.

Yes that's right folks - life moves pretty fast as Ferris Bueller said 31 years ago!

Anyway remember last week I posted about disappearing tech? Well here's another great example.

An OK Computer screensaver on a floppy disc.

Screensavers are definitely old hat these days. And Apple ditched the floppy drive about a year after OK Computer was released.

Which makes me that that maybe, just maybe, there's an opportunity to create a technology museum.

Nothing too hi-tech. Just a place to showcase the fun features and products that have come and gone in my lifetime.

Hmmm! Maybe I should do a Kickstarter? 

Toyota senses safety

What I find fascinating about this campaign is that it wasn't created by Volvo.

I mean they have built their brand on safety.

They've even used crash test dummies (if memory serves).

Anyway....

A very cute little idea that clearly demonstrates the amount of safety features built in to modern day vehicles.

Hungry garages

Fun campaign out of Argentina for McDonalds drive thru.

Tagline is 'Don't Go Home Hungry'.

Great to street art used in a way that still feels like street art.

I like it. A lot.

Technological memories

From VHS to the iPod during the course of my life I've seen many new technologies come and go.

The iPhone is ten years old and already many of it's main features are consigned to the past.

Like the 'Slide To Unlock' feature.

I was fascinated by it when I got my first iPhone.

Whereas nowadays all I need is a finger print.

Who knows what hot tech feature is destined for the trashcan next?

Layout & Design

There are YouTube 'how to' videos for practically everything these days.

I love that people make and share them.

It's what the true community spirit of the internet is all about.

This particular video is a cracker. Especially if you like to tinker with layout and design. 

Kardashian goes underground

Apparently this campaign has caused a bit of a stir in the London Underground.

In fact fourteen people have complained to Advertising Standards that the campaign promoted an unhealthy and competitive approach to dieting.

Which of course it does. But so what!?

Personally I'm more offended by the line - Can You Keep Up With A Kardashian?

Ajax removes grime

Reverse graffiti (cleaning off grime) to create an image has been around for a while.

There are examples on most street-art blogs and sites.

So there's nothing new in this idea for Ajax from BBDO in Sweden.

But what the hell. The average punter doesn't know or care about that.

Because ultimately this is a terrific product demonstration.

Age is just a number

Let's face facts. Advertising is a young person's game.

To be still gainfully employed in an agency once you pass 45 you generally need to be in senior management.

And I've seen far too many friends and colleagues 'pensioned off' even though they are still at the top of their game.

Yet, as this clever campaign by Mark Moll shows, many people don't truly hit their straps until they reach the age that agencies consider to be over the hill.

I very much doubt this campaign will solve the adland ageism problem. But it sure as hell provides some compelling food for thought.

Never give up

Free to go

   

Can't say I've ever heard of GiffGaff. But boy oh boy do they make a great ad.

Totally lateral/random thinking.

Direction by Sean Thompson and music by the amazing Walker Brothers.

Seriously what's not to love?

Bulletproof idea?

America and its guns.

Truly one of the great mysteries of the 21st century.

Last week the President gave a talk at the NRA.

These posters were commissioned to raise awareness of gun violence and death.

They're made of bulletproof material.

Very clever. Although sadly I doubt they made one iota of difference.

Because America is guns.

Cats R Us

   

 
Where would the internet be without cats?

I have no idea to be honest but I imagine it'd be a little duller.

Anyway stockphoto agency Depositphotos made this promo video using nothing much other than stockshots of cats.

Genius is probably overstating it, but it's pretty damn fun none the less. 

Real yet fake

This clever yet lazy poster was doing the rounds of the internet early last week.

Actually forget doing the rounds. It went viral.

But guess what...

It's fake.

Not the poster. Which is very real.

The iPhone text exchange.

Turns out designer Dave Blackhurst doesn't own an iPhone. He has a Nokia.

The text exchange itself was real though.

And Blackhurst used an online iPhone screen generator to create the poster.

Simple. Effective. And clever enough to get us all talking. 

For the record

These days the height of hi-fidelity is generally considered to be a Sonos speaker that plays music streamed wirelessly from Spotify or iTunes.

But when I was a boy hi-fi was high tech.

So high tech it was almost daunting. As these three old school stereo ads show.

Nothing simple about sterophonic equipment back then!

Of course Ché drinks Pepsi

There's been much written about the recent Pepsi commercial.

None of it positive.

To be honest it was too easy a target to ridicule. So I've purposely steered clear of it.

Until today.

When this wonderful piece of street art appeared in Melbourne.

That picture says it way better than a 1000 words ever could.

Hat tip to Lants for the pic. 

Stay up to date

Great news for aspiring young copywriters everywhere - the super smart Dr Draper has put together this advertising Babel Fish to help you navigate through the jargon infested malaise that is contemporary adland. 

The plastic problem

How beautiful is this image?

Beautiful yet disturbing.

It's an entry into a poster competition for the Bienale del Bolivia by Jorge Gamboa.

I'd love to see Greenpeace or similar take Gamboa's image and use it for a plastics awareness campaign.

Fingers crossed I guess...

Good or bad idea?

Came across this on Twitter while holed up in bed during my recent health issue.

Thought maybe the medication was playing tricks on my mind.

But now that I've come out of the narcotic stupor I suspect not.

It's a real ad. By Boeing. Thanking the President.

Weird ad. And a very weird thing for a brand to do if you ask me.