This ad on Pandora first piqued my interest to check out the Blue Moon Art Project.
People from cities like Philadelphia, Chicago and Boston created and submitted art inspired by the brewing company's line of beers. The best were awarded prestige (and cash) and are featured in their online gallery. Any type of medium and materials were used to create some pretty cool pieces of art. I've posted a few of my favorites.
I know technically it's not Christmas yet, but I already go my major presents: Yay! Can't wait for the annual Christmas Eve party at the Painters' house tonight (where I will be utilizing all three of these presents from the parents)!
Gotta love sitting in a crowded airport, 4 days before Christmas, the day after a plane crash. I was attempting to get into the holiday spirit by watching Elf last night in my hotel room when the news interrupted to tell me that a Continental Boeing 737 slid off the runway and caught on fire. I don't think it was that bad and by 'that bad' I mean at least no one was killed. I guess it's a good thing I'm flying Delta this afternoon. I also think it's funny that in my last post I featured ads for Keystone, and I ended up actually going there to snowboard with Brent. After a few hours on the slopes we got to meet Santa and Blitzen. Wow the internet is bad here. I can't get my picture uploaded. I'll try again later. I think I'm boarding soon anyways... (6:30 pm in ATL) (7:00 pm in ATL) Since I'm stuck in Atlanta right now, here's some classic holiday coke commercials:
I am thoroughly enjoying the beginning of my break. Today I did some character research and costume design for the outfit I am wearing to the Christmas party tomorrow night. Or in other words, I layed in bed and watched Mortal Kombat and then went and bought black, white and lime green clothes. Anyways, I'm planning to visit a couple agencies in Denver tomorrow so I have to do a little research today. I already had two in mind and I found another cool one called Cultivator Advertising. The website is very well designed and I like a lot of their work including these keystone ads.
The one about skiing back east is so true. I hate it when they have to make the snow and it turns into ice and makes me skid and fall on my butt. Speaking of which, I bought a few early Christmas presents for myself: pink goggles, the north face gloves and snowboard pants complete with suspenders. I should probably start packing now...
I figured I would post my favorite print and TV ads we produced for our Gymboree project. The strategy is that it takes 10,000 hours to become a genius at something, whether it's music, art, sports or computer programming. Gymboree helps kids start acquiring these hours early. Therefore, we shot 7 of the cutest kids in Colorado as younger versions of celebrity geniuses!
I'm finally done with the Gymboree campaign that my group and I have been working on for 10 weeks at Crispin! So, what better way to celebrate this finish than blogging about their latest campaign?
This campaign of course, is the Whopper Virgins. It's a very interesting twist on the classic rivalry-inspired taste test, but I'm not completely sure how I feel about it. It definitely generates publicity (a CP+B always likes to do). I saw some stuff posted online by very pissed-off people.
I guess I'm torn. It's a novel concept, but considering that fast food is one of the big contributors of the American obesity epidemic, it's not particularly a part of our culture that I would want to share with the rest of the world. I mean, I don't even eat burgers, myself, being a vegetarian. I would have loved to travel to Thailand, Iceland and Romania, though. Note to self: When I get a job at a big ad agency, think of a campaign that requires me to fly to exotic destinations to produce it.
Dave, one of the creatives behind this campaign (who is featured in the video) and his amazing Italian wife hosted the end-of-quarter party for all the greenhousers and 8th quarters. It was pretty much the best food and wine I've ever tasted! Bruschetta, soup, mozarella balls, portabello salad, specially made vegetarian lasagna for me and the other 2 vegetarians present, red wine from Italy and melt in your mouth tiramisu. OMG I am drooling just thinking about it again. They were such great hosts and helped make last saturday the best night I've had here in Boulder! :)
I also can't wait to go to the annual craziness that is the Crispin Christmas Party. Here's the cute invite email I got:
After you apply your makeup, don your cape, and put your underwear on the outside of your tights for the superhero holiday party, grab a paper bag. Fill it with canned goods and bring it to the party. Times are tough right now and it is a very good time to be a hero. Bring at least one can of food per person (suggested donation).
According to my weather widget, it's one degree outside right now. One degree.
Excited to have a little time off right now after working 12-14 hour days for the past week or so on this campaign (Hence, the lack of posts). Last night we had the party for all of us students and our 'teachers' at Crispin. I overindulged in the best authentic Italian food ever; including two servings of tiramisu. And I licked the plate.
Then we spent the night dancing at Round Midnight, and when we came out it was snowing. It was still snowing when i woke up this morning.
Here's a great commercial that aired in the Netherlands for Heineken supporting their 'extra cold' campaign. Created by TBWA\Neboko in Amsterdam.
Voldemars, Mihnea and Savina (Sunny) won the golden bullet and have now been dubbed the official Young Guns Students of the Year for their voting and recycling idea. Simple. Brilliant. I find it funny that they are all European, yet American polictics still play a part in this campaign. (I think I remember them working on this when I was in Germany this summer).
Then there's Devon and Christian who won TWO bullets - a silver and a bronze for their World Vision Foodmail and IKEA Perfect Fit ideas, respectively.
And I don't know these guys, but the professional Young Guns of the Year are Eric Kallman and Craig Allen from TBWA/Chiat/Day from New York for their Skittles commercials:
I hope to be inducted into the YG Club at some point...I still have 6 years.
This is one of the funniest videos I've seen in a while. The beat is surprisingly good. Makes me want to get up and dance. Maybe I'll do the jizzerbug. Or throw in some 'jizz hands.' Maybe they'll do a remix featuring DJ Jizzy Jeff. Enough with the jizz puns? Yea, I've been working for 12 hours straight on this campaign and may or may not be losing my mind...
The Lettuce Ladies website makes vegetarianism sexy using veggie bikins, tofu wrestling and public make-out sessions. It's interesting and gains publicity to say the least, but I don't know if it will actually convert anyone. And I'm pretty sure they're targeting guys who are generally harder to convert.
Using sex to sell something to guys. Novel concept. Still, I totally would have loved to design and wear my own lettuce bikini. ;)
I LOVE this new commercial for nip/tuck that I've been seeing on TV. Very well executed visually and choreographically.
I can't embed it, but you can view it on the show's website. I've never actually watched the show. I don't have any desire to. I don't like blood and medical things.
The song is Flashing Lights by Kanye West. The choreography is by Marguerite Derricks, an award-winning ballerina/choreographer from New York, although I am more interested in the art director and costume designer.
I saw one of the first public commercials for Crispin's new 'Reality' Campaign:
Earlier this week at the agency I saw a bunch of 'clean coal' facts plastered all over the walls. So far it seems like the exact same campaign as Truth, except they changed the topic from smoking to coal burning and global warming. Don't get me wrong, though. I loved the Truth campaign. In fact, that's one of the reasons I love the agency, they have the same values as me in general: anti-smoking, recycling, environmental preservation, physical fitness, etc.
I'm excited to see how this campaign unfolds. CP+B loves their PR! I wonder if this is pro bono.
The website makes me a little sad, but at least you get to bring the canary back to life each time! After seeing the website, I now understand why they used the yellow bird as a mascot.
I remember learning this at some point: Early coal mines did not feature ventilation systems, so miners would routinely bring a caged canary into new coal seams. Canaries are especially sensitive to methane and carbon monoxide, which made them ideal for detecting any dangerous gas build-ups. As long as the canary in a coal mine kept singing, the miners knew their air supply was safe. A dead canary in a coal mine signalled an immediate evacuation.
Here's the print ad that's been released:
Everything is so simple, which is why it's so brilliant.
“Simplicity is not the goal. It is the by-product of a good idea and modest expectations.”
"Design is so simple, that's why it is so complicated.”
Don't you love it when they make metaphors literal?
The South West is an agency in England which is apparently trying to attract new employees and/or clients. I like the video but I have no idea what kind of work they've done for clients. Curious...
How cute! Nine year old Alec Greven from Castle Rock, Colorado had just published and released his first book: How To Talk To Girls. I find this interesting for two reasons: I. I'm currently working on a campaign that promises to make your kid amazing II. I am reading The Game by Neil Strauss.
I'm pretty sure boys still had cooties when I was nine...
With people literally getting trampled and shot to death on Black Friday, it might be a little safer this year to do your shopping online. Here is a collection of the greatest gratuitous gifts the internet has to offer (i love these cheesy videos):
Support your sweet tooth's addicion with this gluttonous gummi creation, the giant gummy bear on a stick, about 90 times the standard gummy bear size and available in blue, green or red.
This should be on every college guy's christmas list: the port-o-pong inflatable beer pong table (girls not included):
The Pes Films Fireplace is available on DVD so you can transform your tv into non-functional 'fireplace.' You can also download it as a high-res screensaver for free:
You're not supposed to play with your food, but there is no rule against playing with the utensils:
Historical tragedies are finally fun again with titanic and iceberg shaped ice trays:
ok i actually want (correction: need) this one: clocky, the alarm clock that zooms off your desk and hides if you hit the snooze button:
So I now have sort of a love/hate relationship with Snow. I was so excited to see it for the first time in five years. Here is a video of our reunion at my uncle's house in Wyoming on Thanksgiving. (Uncle Rolf accidentally had the camera on record instead of capture).
But then on my way home, Snow covered the sky and ground, made my car fishtail and skid off the side of the road. Somehow I managed to avoid things like guardrails, other cars and anything else that Snow might be hiding. I sat there stunned for about 20 seconds then got back on the road.
Harrison Ford is pretty much my favorite actor. And I definitely believe in rainforest conservation. Here's an interesting PSA I found that combines the two:
Harrison Ford was somehow convinced to wax his chest as an awareness analogy for deforestation in the Amazon by Conservation International. It definitely gets attention, both negative and positive. It was named the #2 "Most Retarded Way Celebrities Have Tried to Go Green" on Cracked.com. But you have to admit he's still in pretty good shape for a 65 year old dude.
He also recently did an interview with National Geographic which can be found online or in the April 2008 issue. I think its cool that he lives in Jackson, Wyoming now instead of Hollywood.
Yep. Time for pre-Christmas overload. An over-indulgence in shopping, seasonal songs and traveling. I actually heard my first Christmas song on the radio last weekend. I swear it starts earlier every year. I mean, the day of Halloween I saw Christmas decorations sprouting up at Target and Walmart. As for my shopping and traveling, I bought most of my friends' Christmas presents when I was in Europe and I have my flight home all set for December 21.
Starbucks turns their coffee cups red every Chrismas anyways, but this year they are partnering with the (Product) Red Campaign. Their website has been counting down the days until the caritas cups are launched on November 27.
Five cents from the purchase of every Starbucks Red Exclusive beverage, which includes the Peppermint Mocha Twist, Gingersnap Latte and Espresso Truffle, will go to the Global Fund to support AIDS programs in Africa. It kind of coincides with December first, which is World AIDS Day.
This attractively art-directed ad by BBDO is all over YouTube:
There's even a Facebook event that uses peer pressure to make you want to go:
I personally can't wait for the Hot Chocolate and Caramel Apple Cider! I'm not really a fan of coffee.
...yummy meat alternatives, as elusive as they may be. I still haven't been able to find a Tofurkey to take to my uncle and his girlfriend's Thanksgiving dinner in Wyoming tomorrow.
The animal-friendly entree is made by Turtle Island Foods, which has been "providing premium quality soy products at affordable prices since 1980." I eat the deli slices and they really are delish.
I guess I'll try one more time to find one today. Hopefully they're not sold out. I dont think they are THAT popular, but it's Boulder so you never know.
Look how much more fun it is than eating a dead bird :) LoL
UPDATE: Friday, November 28, 6:50 PM: Success! I bought my Tofurkey roast and gravy at Whole Foods on Wednesday. Molly helped me cook it and I had a great time yesterday. I thought I would get made fun of more on a ranch, whose livestock includes cattle, but everyone was really curious and wanted to try it. Some people even admitted to liking it. Score!
Last Tuesday my Young Guns creative brief entry was finally done, printed and mounted. The final step in the process was to mail it to Australia, in less than 4 days.
Good old FedEx came through. It's the first time I really used their online package tracker and it's pretty cool. According to it, my package got their on time, for the hefty price of $116.
It's another reminder that price and time and inversely related. You spend more time to save money or spend more money to save time.
(Sidenote: The YG shortlists are supposed to be up November 30, but honestly I'm not expecting much. I liked my core idea, but I don't think I had enough time to perfect it).
FedEx usually has pretty funny commercials:
Here's their 2008 superbowl commercial. It's funny but 'eh.' Superbowl commercial status just isn't what it used to be.
I assume these were all created by BBDO New York because according to this article, FedEx has been their client for almost 20 years.
Here's a neat little agency I discovered while working on the never-ending brief: Sommers Whole Brained Creative is a group of creatives that used to work for bigger design and ad agencies and decided to band together to 'bring back the magic' that they had as younger creatives. The copy on the website is really interesting.
They are based in Ohio and have done a lot of product and in-store design. My favorite is the stuff they've done for Timberland. I wish I was better at distressed design like this.
Since being middle brained is the whole basis of our campaign, I took a quiz courtesy of the Art Institute of Vancouver to see how much I rely on each side:
Well that seems about right. I can think left-brained, but I don't particularly enjoy it. Maybe that's why out of the 1200 points I got on the SAT, about 700 were in the verbal section. Numbers and I have never been very good friends.
Finally getting my feet wet in the advertising world. I would prefer to be barefoot, but I'll settle for flip-flops. I create, work out, work hard & play hard. Basically, life is good.
