Now That's A Cool Idea

Flash Fans

2012-02-02T13:33:00.000-08:00

Up in Canada, where a baby's first steps don't count unless it takes place on ice, just about every little boy grows up dreaming of someday playing professional hockey. They imagine the thrill of game-winning goals, exploding cheers from the stands and the majestic hoisting of the Stanley Cup. And for most, that dream is left behind somewhere on a frozen pond.

However, even over the passage of many years, their love of playing the game remains true. So, these men and their average (for a Canadian) hockey skills carry on at the local rink. After work. After putting the kids to bed. After picking a few things at the store. They lace it up and they hit the ice. No fans. No cheers. No glory.

But on one night, with the help of Budweiser, two teams were able to experience a pretty cool moment of "Eh, what if... "

Not Your Average Joe

2012-01-31T10:12:00.000-08:00

Honda could spend millions and millions of dollars creating the ultimate marketing campaign about how their cars are built to last. In it, they could include ads that will "cut through the clutter," "create both a rational and emotional bond" and "win international awards." They could have a 24/7 twitter feed, a video game from Zynga, a wickedly cool App and of course, killer product placement in Transformers 4, the legend of the Civic.

OR... they could just introduce us to Joe, an average guy from Maine sporting a pretty nice mustache who just crossed the 1,000,000 mile marker with his 1990 Honda Accord. Pretty amazing.

Honda wisely and nicely celebrates Joe and his not so average achievement. They document his odometer turning over to the original starting point of 000000. They throw him a parade. And they even buy him a brand new Honda. Now, that is a tremendous example of how to show off the feats of your product while building brand and customer loyalty. If they were really cool though, they would've thrown in a chauffeur.

A very sweet music video

2011-12-05T08:32:00.000-08:00

Music videos have always been a terrific place for artists to try something new and get a little outrageous. Well, the following by singer Kina Grannis and director Greg Jardin is exactly that and then some.

Created for the song, "In your arms," this piece of work slash art, took roughly 288,000 Jelly Bellies and 18 months to create. Pretty impressive, especially when considering that most pop artists these days take about 3 hours to write and produce a hit song. You know, the one about putting your hands up in the air and shouting "oh" or "yeah" or "eh-oh" or something of that nature. But I digress, be sure to watch both the "making of"and the video itself.

Jelly Belly must also be pretty happy with this kind of free product placement... the best since Lady Gaga's outfit for the Beef Industry Council.

Words That Play

2011-10-24T13:06:00.000-07:00

Ji Lee, a designer and creative director at facebook, puts together a really engaging collection of type treatments. The concept or challenge behind his effort here was to make words that work as images. It's not only very clever use of letters, but it makes for a brilliant communication device.

If you want people to pay attention to your words, this kind of thinking can achieve it. You can purchase the entire thing, entitled Words As Image, at amazon.com. Or for fun, pick out a word and try to come up with a like visual for it. In honor of Halloween, I'll pick... ghost... oh wait, I can't see it.

Defining a Terabyte

2011-10-03T14:03:00.000-07:00

So... the new Panasonic BWT800 3D Blue Ray disc recorder holds a whopping ONE TERABYTE of content. That's right, one whole terabyte.

So... "How much exactly is one terabyte?" you may ask.

Well, Panasonic, with a corresponding marketing campaign, is setting out to define what this massive number means to you. Because after all, one terabyte is big enough to record high-quality HD video for 684 hours or 28 days. This kind of room gives you the power to appease the recording habits of your wife, your kids, your relatives, your neighbors, your neighbors' relatives and your relatives' neighbors. 28 days is an absurd amount of TV.

To hype the magnitude of this number, Panasonic is producing and of course recording 28 days of entertainment entitled, "The Persecution of Rommy Gulla." And unless your name is Rommy Gulla and you live in Australia, this sounds like a pretty fun idea. As described in the video below, Rommy is about to endure 28 very long, very painful days -- all to help quantify one terabyte. You can watch the series via Facebook or Youtube. Viewers can even suggest a prank, vote on pranks and win Panasonic stuff. Day one involved a late-night police invasion and helium.

Overall, this looks like a great example of engaging consumers and showing, not just telling, what your product can do. Now, what prank should I suggest?

Have a Seat -- at your own risk

2011-09-26T11:44:00.000-07:00

There is no question that an "earned" beer always tastes better. Whether, it's the one you proudly imbibe after finishing off some handyman work around the house or the Apres-ski one you toast after a day on the slopes, or heck, simply the one that marks the end of a long Tuesday at work... a beer that follows effort is a beer that brings with it the taste of victory.

In the below marketing stunt, Carlsberg, a Danish beer, takes this insight and expresses it in a unique way. You'll see how 2 people are put to the test of fear, sterotyping and the fear of stereotyping. The concept is nicely paid off by their tagline, "That calls for a Carlsberg." It works great in this situation and no doubt sets the table for many other executions. Up next, a standing-room only bus filled with a half-naked, fully-tattooed, senior citizens.

Tongue Tastic

2011-09-22T11:03:00.000-07:00

The story behind Orabrush, a brand new way to fight bad breath, is a lesson both on marketing in today's youtube world and one of perseverance by a little product that could. Invented by Dr. Robert Wagstaff (Dr. Bob), this tiny tongue scraping instrument went from something no company wanted to recently the shelves of 3,500 Wal-Mart's. Yeah, for the little guy!

And the story of how that all happened is told in the first video below. As you'll see, Orabrush proves to us that good products that solve real problems demonstrated in the right way (see the other below video) will find a market and will sell, even if you have to do it yourself and make the retailers come knocking.

Orabrush also shows us how to capitalize on one's viral success. After finding an online audience, they then added a vast youtube library featuring their irreverent Tongue Mascot, also seen below. While it's a simple invention, it takes a not-so simple path to getting to market. Good job, Dr. Bob -- who is probably relaxing on his new yacht treating his tongue to the tastes of champagne and caviar. Afterall, who cares if you fish egg breath, when you have a yacht.

A Disgustingly Smart Idea

2011-09-12T10:42:00.000-07:00

Contagion, the new action thriller starring every other popular actor in Hollywood and co-produced I believe by the Hand Sanitizing Association of America, just finished #1 at the box office in its first weekend. While I was not one of the 23 million to see it, I did catch this very clever billboard created to hype the film.

[Insert bad pun here -- on how this idea really grows and presents the opportunity to go viral.]

Warning: While watching this clip, Germaphobes may find themselves experiencing cold sweats, hot flashes, wooziness in the leg region and a dying need to take an emergency shower followed by a week-long vacation in a sterile plastic bubble.

A Visual Diary

2011-08-31T09:08:00.000-07:00

So, I keep thinking that stop motion will soon feel old and boring.

Then comes along something like this.

Created by designer Joe Hollier, this stop motion piece details out a month in his life. He takes us on a little day-by-day journey of his activities and thoughts. It's a super-creative, super-fun diary. And as a marketing person, I have to add that it makes for an incredible self-promotional device -- showing off both Joe's skills and his personality.

Occasionally Perfect Billboard

2011-08-25T09:48:00.000-07:00

Heineken, known for a more clever brand of beer advertising, has created a billboard that carries that torch and does a great job getting people to take notice. Because this particular billboard is sometimes just a plain, old billboard, and "occasionally" as they say, it becomes much more than that.

On Aug 17th, for example, it transformed into a stage for the group TV on the Radio. What a cool experience for the band and the people gathering on the street. I love that the billboard is a little cryptic. It doesn't say, "Hey, see what's happening here next." It also does a terrific job of connecting a product and brand with the people without feeling forced or disingenuous. And certainly, if Heineken is trying fit into the "cool" space, this helps that cause.

Reporters without Borders

2011-06-28T12:27:00.000-07:00

Journalism is dying, right? Reporters have no idea how to connect with today's tiny attention spans and paper-phobic, technologically-savvy consumers. Hell, who needs reporters when we can have twitters?

This campaign for Reporters without Borders does a terrific job of squashing all that rhetoric in one mighty swoop. It uses the very technology everyone thinks these people don't understand while arguing the case for assisting reporters and the important role they play. It uses QR codes and smartphone to turn a print ad into something much more. Very cool.

Pool Ball

2011-06-27T12:11:00.000-07:00

From darts to bowling to Golden Tee, man has long searched for ways to combine two of his favorite pastimes - competition and beer drinking.

So, it seems oh-so appropriate that Budweiser offer up a little help and inspiration in this endeavor. Introducing Pool Ball, a game that marries the internationally popular sport of soccer (or football as the Europeans insist) with billiards.

For Budweiser, this creation helps build an even greater bridge between beer, sport and nightlife. Love the execution. And really could see this becoming both a spectator and recreational sport for soccer, ahem football, fans everywhere.

Seriously Interactive Billboard

2011-06-07T11:24:00.000-07:00

While some people out there -- that is crazy parents who can't say no to their child's french-fry fit -- will view this McDonald's video game slash billboard as simply another example of how the Big MacCompany is making our world fatter and dumber, I see an example of a very cool idea.

Check out the video and see again how a fun thought married with super-sized technological wizardry can create a wonderful marketing experience.

Nothing Fake about this Lip Sync

2011-05-31T10:56:00.000-07:00

"A dying city," is what Newsweek magazine recently called Grand Rapids. A statement that the people of this Michigan town obviously took as fighting words. This video below is Grand Rapid's official response.

It's creative. It shows off the city, its people and the pride they share. It broke a World's record for size and scope of Lip-Dubbing. And it's the perfect example how to get attention by making something spectacular. Not to mention, it's a powerful way to make your point.

Browser Worthy

2011-05-18T13:38:00.000-07:00

Here are 2 terrific videos created to hype the latest Google Chrome web browser. One is all about bells & whistles and incredibly sweet graphics. The other is all about heart and storytelling. Two very different approaches for the same product.

You may remember the Arcade Fire music video from last year. Well, Chrome continues to marry its message and its technology with music, design and an overall human touch.

This first video is called Rome: 3 Dreams of Black. I suggest going to the actual site, www.ro.me, where you and your cursor can steer the direction of the video. I also added a clip that details out the making of this video.

The second video is called, "Dear Sophie," and with a more emotional bent, it shows a father using Google to document his daughter's life and then also share it with the someday grown-up version of her. As someone with kids growing up oh-so-quickly, this really struck a chord. I also love the line, "The web is what you make of it."

A chase across your computer

2011-05-17T08:38:00.000-07:00

Don't have to set this one up too much. Very cool video promoting Intel's Core i5 processor. Just as we jump around, opening up one application after the next in our daily computer lives, this spot showcases all that movement via a traditional Hollywood thriller chase scene. And all thanks, we can assume, to the speed of the Intel chip. It's a product demo that looks nothing like a product demo.

Augmented Reality

2011-05-02T14:38:00.000-07:00

Countless sci-fi movies have portrayed it. Video games have recently embraced it. And pretty soon, it's going to have a much greater function for many of us. Augmented reality, as its commonly called, is the blending of fake and real worlds. With the advancement and the reach of technology, it's rapidly journeying from a distant land of "Wow, wouldn't that be cool" to an everyday place in our lives.

Here are a couple of videos, some older than others, that show how it's used and where it's headed. From testing out a new product to the filming of movies to education, there will no doubt be some very smart, practical utilizations of it. And of course, there will also be some ridiculously fun for fun-sake uses, too. Think virtual Beer Goggles or the Holy Crap, I'm on Acid! App.

Graffiti With A Purpose

2011-04-26T10:47:00.000-07:00

A former-graffiti artist turned photographer named JR, has taken his two passions, shook them together and created something really worth spraying around.

Inspired by events in his native country of France, JR armed himself with a 28 millimeter camera and began taking photos of people from one "side of the tracks," blowing them up into gigantic posters and then splattering them around the "other side." His 28 millimeter project, as it's titled, was an ironic way to help change the way people are stereotypically viewed by going over the top with that very stereotype.

He carried his art to the Middle East, where he photographed Palestinian and Israeli folks of similar professions and then pasted their big, old faces right next to each other. In two countries that couldn't be more divided, he shined on a light on their similarities. Face to Face, in such a simple way told a huge story of humanity. The funniest part was that people of these countries could not distinguish who was Palestinian and who Israeli. Begging the question: "If you are so different, how come you can't tell who is who?

In the videos below, he describes the stories behind these two projects and several others. Each one is equally impressive. It's amazing how with just a camera, some glue and paper, he can construct something so powerful and transforming. When modern art often seems to be inspired only by good supply of hallucinogenics and creative spin, JR's concepts come from a place of real intent. So take a look and be prepared to say, "Wow, this guy is way more than just an artist."

He is also the well-deserved recipient of 2011 TED Prize and has since started the inside-out project, insideoutproject.net.

The Fairways of Mumbai

2011-04-14T11:21:00.000-07:00

This must be the week of inspirational sports stories.

Below is a wonderful look at the game of golf teed up in a way I've never seen. It's produced by E:60, ESPN's first prime-time newsmagazine. The story shows the sizable ingenuity of those who have very little. It's a testament to how one person's generosity can open up a door and quite possibly a whole new world for someone else. And as a sports fan & someone tired of hearing the same old stories being blabbed about on cable TV, it makes me want to watch more of ESPN's E:60.

So many cool stories out there, glad to see somebody is trying to tell them.

Soccer Island

2011-04-12T09:55:00.000-07:00

As the saying goes, "Where there's a will, there's a way."

And for some scrappy, soccer-crazy kids living in a tiny fishing village on a tiny island called Koh Panyee, those words could not be more true. The video below says it all. But I'll add my two cents that not only should the ingenuity of these young kids be applauded, but the video itself does a wonderful job of telling their story. So much so, I imagine a movie deal is in the works. While the film is merely a re-enactment of a true story, it feels very real, sucks you in from the start and brings a lot of heart.

It was created by Leo Burnett for the Thai Military Bank to help launch their new brand vision called, "Make THE Difference." Its purpose was to create a feeling of inspiration for this new branding effort by showcasing a story that embodied that very spirit. And I think there's no question that this story and film achieves that (cue Andres Cantor) "Goooooooooaaaallllll!

In honor of April Fool's Day

2011-04-01T08:49:00.000-07:00

Here's a cool little trick performed by Coke Zero to prove to nonbelievers that their product truly tastes just like regular Coke.

As they mention in the video, you can say to people over and over that your low-fat or no-sugar version tastes just a good, but they aren't going to believe you. There's a reason for fat and sugar, right?

I mean, turkey bacon is not that same as regular bacon. A veggie burger even loaded with cheese and condiments cannot stand up to a good old juicy 100% beef patty. And don't get me started with light beer.

This is really a sampling opportunity with a twist. A twist certain to get talk value beyond the audience in the theater. And it's a particularly appropriate idea for today.

Wear our product OR ELSE

2011-03-29T11:20:00.000-07:00

Question: How do you make a 22-year-old guy fear the consequences of unprotected sex?

Answer: Have him spend a weekend babysitting my children, one of which is going through wake-up-at-3am-and-scream-mommy and daddy-phase.

Well Durex, a top name in condoms, not too long along ago put the age-old truth of kids being the ultimate deterrent to having kids into action. Their motivation, of course, was to sell some product. The video below explains how they combined this well-established scare tactic with today's technology. They basically created a Baby App where through some "unprotected" contact with another smartphone, your iPhone would find itself giving birth to a child. "Wahhhhhh!" Like all babies, this little guy would cry late at night, need morning feedings, want tickling, cuddling, burping... all the joys of parenthood, all the time.

Now to become baby-free, you simply had to head to your local pharmacy, find a Durex package and take a picture of a QR code located on it. All in all, this is a really well-thought out idea. My favorite part being how one friend knocks up another. It's not only the ultimate motivator for condom-use, but the ultimate way to violate your buddy's iPhone. Hate to think what their STD App might look like.

One Shoe, Many Looks

2011-03-22T12:25:00.000-07:00

"Hold on, I'm swapping shoe covers," is probably a phrase I will never actually utter. However, this new footwear concept by Podi is still quite ingenious.

Instead of buying countless shoes for countless occasions and color schemes, you can purchase just one and then accessorize it with a variety of covers. Simply zip off the old, and zip on the new. Podi also gives you the option to express your own artistic flair in their Tattoo Parlor. Create your own one-of-a-kind shoe or design a new one for each day of the week... Monday's being beige and boring, of course.

Whether it's those beat-up Chuck Taylors you refuse to take off or a fancy-pants pair of fire-engine red Manolo Blahniks, shoes have always been a way to show off one's personality. Podi has a wonderful, bank-statement friendly method of letting that trend continue. Their line, as of right now, does not have great breadth, but I imagine they'll continue to add to it. And while these may not be a hit at your local plumber's union, I think a certain teenie-boppin' crowd should jump for joy over them. And perhaps their moms, too.

Also, here's a fun commercial shot in my hometown for these very shoes.

Approved by YiaYia

2011-03-18T10:44:00.000-07:00

From Kellogg's Tony the Tiger to All State's Mayhem Guy,
advertisers have long searched for interesting characters to help define their brand. Athenos, a Kraft line of Greek foods, has now entered that domain.

Her name is YiaYia (pronounced yaya.) And technically, she's not one character. Yiayia is the Greek word for grandmother and in this new campaign, each spot features yet another Yiayia. As you'll see, Yiayia comes from a different time, place and culture. She speaks her mind. And just about the only thing she might agree with you on is your enjoyment of Athenos hummus.

Oh, and she just might call you a "prostitute" if your cocktail dress shows off too much knee.

The spots were meant to go viral. And while they may have not achieved huge success in that goal, I find them very well done. Yiayia makes me laugh. She seems like a character you could really do a lot with it. And the idea behind these spots is clever. They also create a nice feeling and connection with Athenos, a name that until now just felt like any other brand of hummus. Opa to that! Now let's go throw some plates.

Excuse Me, Are Your Pants On Fire?

2011-03-14T09:47:00.000-07:00

While many of the images in this new Wrangler campaign fall into the dubious category of WTF, overall I have to commend their spirit of "let's try to be different." From lighting their jean models on fire to throwing them out windows, they've taken the typical fashion shoot and really blown it to pieces.

As a brand with heritage in the stunt person world, especially old cowboy movies, Wrangler can justify the craziness of it all, too. Certainly the creatives behind this campaign may have simply been motivated by the idea of having fun with explosives, but perhaps developing a modern version of their stunt legacy better explains it.

For those who see Wrangler only as the jeans Brett Favre wears,
it offers up a new perspective. Take one look and it's pretty easy to see this is not your retired quarterback's pants. It's bold. It's eye-catching. And it has a great behind-the-scenes story. Check it out in the video below.

Whether you view Wrangler's latest evolution of We Are Animals as a stunt work of art or just a stunt, it certainly works to grab your attention by exploring a unique approach in the fashion arena.

7 Billion Peeps

2011-03-11T10:07:00.000-08:00

Pretty soon the global population will hit a whopping 7 billion.

So what exactly does it mean? How should we think about that number? Does the 7 billion number include the cast of the Jersey Shore or are they classified as a separate species?

Well, National Geographic, as they do, is taking a deep dive into this number. And to get the word out, they've put together a couple of very interesting videos. The first one takes a collection of statistics and facts to give some perspective both on the number 7,000,000,000 and our overall population growth. Created with only type and graphics, this video really sparked my interest to see more of what National Geographic has to offer on this subject.

They also asked the question: "Of these 7 billion peeps, what does the typical one look like?"

Is it a he? A she? What's the age?

How much money do they make?

Do they listen to Katy Perry?

Are they lucky enough to share Charlie Sheen's Adonis DNA?

Take a look at the second video, where they attempt to answer those questions, well not all of them. This video, as you'll see, carries the same type treatment as the first. With the use of statistics, it delivers an interesting picture of who that typical person is... and then literally shows us his/her picture. Pretty cool.

Nothing small about this idea

2010-11-07T08:59:00.000-08:00

In advertising, one of the biggest challenges can be:

"How do we really make a statement and sell something at the same time?"

Well, below is a great example of how to do exactly that. It's for a charity to help those with corneal disease. And as the video details out, the agency created an Art Exhibition that showcases the hardships of this disease (raising awareness and understanding) while generating donations (selling) at the same time. All too often, the Big Creative Idea only garners attention or even worse is simply interesting to just those who created it. In this case, the idea works double duty and even better does so in the name of a worthy cause. Something nice to see.

T-Mobile At It Again

2010-11-05T08:59:00.000-07:00

T-Mobile is quickly becoming the Master of guerrilla/viral marketing. They've mob-danced in a Liverpool train station. Created a sing-a-long in Trafalgar Square. And now they're welcoming home international travelers at Heathrow Airport with an orchestral serenade. Terrific execution and a whole lot of fun, not only for the travelers, but for all of us online. Well played T-Mobile.

Rewrite this story

2010-09-28T14:11:00.000-07:00

Tippex White and Rewrite has created a fun interactive Youtube video that allows viewers to completely change the ending of the current video. It's part Choose Your Own Adventure and part Subservient Chicken. The set up for the video is the familiar scenario of 2 guys camping in the woods. A bear arrives and the one guy tells the other guy to shoot it.

This is where your input comes into play. You can click on the video and direct the camper to either "shoot" or "not shoot" the bear. Whatever you choose, the poor guy will not shoot the bear. Instead, he asks for your help to rewrite this story. He then appropriately uses Tippex White and Rewrite to erase the "shoots" part of the Youtube title. From here, you can type in any new verb you wish.

This interactive video is simple, engaging and when it comes down to it, does a nice job of telling people what the product does. I'm not sure who still uses white-out these days, but the fact that this campaign has netted over 9 million views already is certainly a relevant story.

iPad Magic

2010-09-17T11:46:00.000-07:00

Right smack dab on their website, Apple deems the iPad a "magical" product. Of course, they do so because of the iPad's multi-touch screen, expansive keyboard, vivid photos & videos, its ability to be your music library, reading tablet, calendar, game player, GPS and much, much more.

Well, here are 2 very cool videos that show the iPad and its magic in ways Apple probably never quite imagined.

Painting with Light -- Dentsu, London

Shinya -- Street Magician

Beyond the Like

2010-09-16T10:16:00.000-07:00

Every day, with the simple click of a button, millions of Facebookers are out there telling their friends, "Hey, guess what, I like _(fill in the blank)_." From movies, to music, to food, even to Plug the Oil Spill with Sarah Palin, you can "like" just about anything. More than that, our online friends are letting us know they've "checked in" at this coffee shop or that new Irish pub. And while for many observers the typical response is, "Great, I really needed to know you like Lady Gaga's Meat Dress," there is a bigger picture here. People are sharing tons and tons of information -- much of which could be very relevant -- with greater ease than ever.

Well, several companies are now helping everyone reap real benefits from the opinions of you and your many friends. Here are two to check out.

GET GLUE -- Akin to Amazon's "If you like this, we suggest this," Get Glue is about helping you find your next new favorite thing. With Get Clue's app, you check in to say "HBO's Hard Knocks," a reality show focusing on an NFL team's training camp, and Get Glue will inform you of other like-minded forms of entertainment. Plus, if your "checking in" frequency is high, you can earn rewards or praise for your loyalty. Get Glue also makes for a great platform for TV networks and movie studios to engage and build a better relationship with its followers.

FOURSQUARE -- This app is all about discovering new places. It links you and your friends together, giving you access to everyone's reviews or comments on restaurants, bars, shops and so on throughout your city. So as you're perusing the menu at some new French Bistro, you could see that your good buddy Joel Robuchon highly recommends the Duck. Ah Merci Beaucoup, Foursquare.

Arcade on Fire

2010-09-02T08:38:00.000-07:00

What do Indie music group Arcade Fire and behemoth technology company Google have in common? Well, not much, until now. The two unlikely partners have joined forces to promote their respective wares. And the result is a terrific example of art and technology working hand in hand.

Arcade Fire, with help from Google's brainiacs, have produced the first HTML5-powered music video. What does that mean? Well, Google Chrome's blog sums it up nicely:

"It features a mash-up of Google Maps and Google Street View with HTML5 canvas, HTML5 audio and video, an interactive drawing tool, and choreographed windows that dance around the screen. These modern web technologies have helped us craft an experience that is personalized and unique for each viewer, as you virtually run through the streets where you grew up."

You kick the video off by typing in your childhood home address. At some point, you'll use a drawing tool to send a message to your younger self. And with Google Maps and Streetview, you'll be taking on a trip down memory lane. All along the way, you're listening Arcade Fire's new song "We used to wait."

It's a really cool use of Google and an incredibly great way to get people intimately involved in your music. And if you're wondering if sales will follow, right now Arcade Fire's new album is #5 on itunes. To see it yourself go to thewildernessdowntown.com and below is a youtube video.

Poo in Blue

2010-08-04T12:34:00.000-07:00

My sincere apologies, as it's been a long time since I made a post. Anyhow, this product and commercial makes for a solid starting point to get back into things. It's for New Huggies Denim Diapers.

Yep, for a limited-time only, your little one can toddle with style. Certainly the absurdity of this product does not get past me. As the father of a 15-month old boy, I am more than fully aware that there is no need for "cooler" diapers and Huggies is not solving any kind of problem here. As no child, young enough for diapers, is thinking, "Mom, you know what, I would feel so much more confident with a killer pair of denim diapers."

However, with all that nonsense in mind, I do think these will sell. Parents love to play dress-up with their kids. They latch onto trends very quickly. And it is so ridiculous, it's actually fun. At first I wasn't sure if the commercial below was real or not. I think ad agency JWT has done a good job of not taking this product too seriously and acknowledging it's all in good fun. I particularly enjoyed the line, "When it's a number 2, I look like a number 1."

I'm sure this product will get it's share of detractors, but that doesn't mean it's a bad marketing idea. Up next, Huggies by Kim Kardashian, you know for when you've got that extra junk in the trunk.

The Great Walls of China

2010-04-29T13:35:00.000-07:00

What can one man do with 344 square feet? Well, in the below video Gary Chang of Hong Kong shows us exactly how to maximize your space. Yes, pulling out some Houdini-like moves, Gary transforms his tiny Hong Kong apartment into a space of many looks and dimensions. George Castanza and his under-the-desk bed would be proud of this kind of ingenuity.

Cold Sport. Hot Pants.

2010-03-01T13:51:00.000-08:00

Here's a major marketing conundrum? How do you bring excitement or attention to a sport like curling. Yes, that frozen shuffleboard game that takes forever and whose rules are about as understood as the U.S. tax code. Do you add tackling, checking or a little broom-slashing to the game? Or how about retractable holes where unwitting players plunge into the chilly waters below? Or perhaps: Put on some funky pants.

Yes, in these 2010 Olympics, while the Canadian Men may have been accessorized with Gold Medals, it was the 2nd place team from Norway and their colorful attire that gained fans from all over. The pants (I mean the team) have over half a million Facebook fans. And I can only imagine how many Norwegians are parading around in these fancy pants. Well done Norway! If you're interested, these Argyle wonders are available at loudmouthgolf.com for $90.00. If they were wise, they might throw in a couple brooms and a silver medal to complete the outfit.

Snow View

2010-02-23T09:34:00.000-08:00

For years now, Google Streetview has been fantastic way to take a virtual stroll through any neighborhood you wish to see. It's been employed to scout for new houses, take a peek at the giant estate that former high school nerd turned internet mogul just bought and it's even revealed a few inappropriately parked cars. "Wait a second! Why is there a pool repairman truck in our driveway? We have no pool."

With the Olympics in full throttle, Google has taken the Streetview concept to bring us a closer look at this worldly venue. I love this idea. And actually wish they went further by bringing a camera down the bobsled track or along for a Shaun White-esque, half-pipe ride. They do show a little bit of an alpine run, which is cool.

To satisfy my craving for an even better virtual experience, I give you a series of helmet cams that offer a feel for the thrill of these Winter Olympic sports. If you've watched the events this year, you've seen how NBC has taken advantage of innovative cameras and interesting setups to really bring the action into our living rooms. And yes, go USA.

Guerrilla Goodness

2010-01-15T12:16:00.000-08:00

Guerrilla Marketing, not so long ago, was something seen as hands-on and personable, yet small and short-lived. Typically, a tactical team would hit a city block or a train station or a college campus. They would do their thing. And then several hours later the effort and the impact would be history.

These days, however, thanks to the vast power of this little thing called the internet, the right guerrilla approach can live on and on. In fact, as a part of your marketing plan, you can create and execute ideas that work both from a guerrilla standpoint and a viral one. Here are 3 well-played ideas. One from Coke. One from T-Mobile. And one from Motorola.

The Happiness Machine in action:

T-Mobile shows us how life's worth sharing:

Motorola Droid hypes their secret apps... sort of.

Another 5 Most Excellent Outdoor Ads

2010-01-08T09:04:00.000-08:00

Maybe it's the frigid temps here in Chicago right now, but this billboard for Norwegian Air is really appealing to me. It takes the reality of the ever declining weather that you're suffering through and kindly offers a nicely priced escape.

Nothing fancy here, it's just a great use of the environment to make a small ad for Altschul Orthodontics much bigger.

Here's a clever campaign from SPCA to help get shelter dogs a home to call their own. Sure the way a pooch wags his tail, slobbers all over you and fetches that stick is nice, but this idea shows a real purpose and benefit to having one around. They're protective of their, that is your, domain and that could keep you safe.

Ah, another dog-related ad. At first I wasn't sure about this execution: "Dog staring at food." But then I spotted the drool on the ground. Nice job Royal Canin, Pavlov would be proud.

If a car were to come in a box, it probably would be the Mini Cooper. This outdoor Christmas tactic, does a nice job a blending in just enough to make the reveal worthy of a smile. It carries on the Mini Cooper's embracing of its size and gives people a thought on how to create a very surprising gift.

Fun with Lights... and sheep

2009-12-17T10:26:00.000-08:00

Don't get the wrong idea, this 1st posting has absolutely nothing to do with lonely men and furry animals. Well, okay... maybe a little bit. This piece has already claimed viral victory with over 10 million views on youtube.

It's purpose is to hype Samsung's LED TV technology. I'm not sure it tells me anything about the TVs, but it's interesting, different and certainly an effective example of creating something that goes viral.

This second "fun with lights" spot is for Honda. It's probably less viral and more commercial because it's a little less talk worthy. Lighting up sheep is new, cars not as much. However, it's still very engaging and it delivers a message about their latest and now very affordable Hybrid car. I've also posted the very ambitious making of Honda's Let It Shine.

This message brought to you by Santa

2009-12-15T13:47:00.000-08:00

For a kid, there is nothing cooler, or perhaps scarier, than Santa. He's big, loud and hairy. He runs with a pack of elves. And he's constantly watching your behavior. He is also the guy who leaves a towering pile of awesome presents in your living room and flies through the sky in a sleigh. And right now, kids everywhere are wondering: "What's the Jolly Man up to?" "I wonder if he got my list?" And "I hope I don't get coal."

Thus, the website portablenort hpole.tv has created a unique way for people to check in with the North Pole by sending a personalized video message from Santa Claus himself. Parents create a Santa Greeting that in nice detail informs their little ones, with name and picture included, that they are being "nice" and that Santa knows what they want this year. Or on the flip side, if you're Elin Woods, you could send Tiger a special Santa message about how "not nice" he's behaved and what he'll be finding in his stocking this year... (insert joke here).

Either way, this is a very fun use of technology and creativity to bring home some holiday excitement. Click below to see a Santa video.

http://portablenorthpole.tv/

Battle of the Sexes

2009-11-11T12:42:00.000-08:00

Okay, who's smarter: Men or Women?

Chances are if you're guy, you answered one way. And if you're a woman, you went the opposite direction. Yes, this war of brain superiority has been waging for quite some time. And certainly there is no conclusive answer. However, Trivial Pursuit is attempting to shed some light on this fight with their very own online experiment.

At trivialpursuitexperiment.com, you can go and try to answer an many trivia questions as you can. The correct male answers are tallied on one side, while the female ones on the other. This challenge is certain to spark debates, bragging, excuses and so on. It also does a nice job of getting people involved with a old brand/product called Trivial Pursuit. Along with every correct or incorrect answer, you are are given a funny youtube clip showcasing men and women doing not-so-smart things. You can even send a banter card to someone of the opposite sex with one of those embedded clips in it.

Watch the below promotional video. It beautifully sets up the battle. Right now the women are winning by a resounding 90,000 points. Which as a man, makes me wonder "Are they smarter or do they have more free time." Just asking the question.

Bring It To Life

2009-11-05T14:47:00.000-08:00

As a strongly biased fan of just about everything Irish (hey, it's my heritage), I will always have a special place for Guinness in my heart... and in my fridge. So when I saw they had a new commercial and tag line, I was instantly pulled in. And much like their very delicious pint, I was not disappointed.

The spot embodies the spirit and life that flows out of every Guinness pour. It begins with a simple action. It then builds and builds and builds. Along the way, our senses are summoned and enticed. At the finish, there is something wonderful to enjoy. Ahhh... watch this tasty commercial while I quickly head to a pub.

Double Duty

2009-10-30T14:51:00.000-07:00

Dr. Elena Bodnar gives new meaning to bra support. Yes, her invention the "Bra Mask" works both as your everyday brassiere and when danger strikes it quickly transforms into protective face mask. Her multi-functioning creation recently won the lg Nobel Prize, for achievements that first make people laugh and then think.

The Bra Mask could be put to use during a fire, a terrorist attack, a swine flu outbreak or anything you've read about in a science fiction novel. And the best part is each cup separates so that you can share your bra mask with a nearby friend. It not only can save your life, but your husbands, too. Once again, it proves why breasts come in pairs. Anyhow, I'm not sure Victoria's Secret will be stocking these any time soon, but I seriously cannot wait for the Direct Response commercial. "Call now and protect the whole family with this 3 pack, "Now this is a wonder bra!" and "Don't be a boob, get your bra mask today."

Nice work doctor.

Theory in Action

2009-10-20T08:55:00.000-07:00

Volkswagen has always been a car company with a strong brand personality. From the Beetle to the Rabbit to the Touareg, their vehicles generally come fully equipped with marketing that is fresh, different and fun. With their latest initiative, they hold on tight to that image, however, they take an exit off the traditional car category highway and navigate their way into everyday life.

They call it the Fun Theory. It's hypothesis is that "fun is the easiest way to change people’s behavior for the better." This is certainly not a breakthrough concept, as parents have been employing this method on their children probably since the dawn of time. "Okay, grunt, here's the game, grunt. Let's see who can throw these leftover Wooly Mammoth bones the farthest from the cave." It is a new idea for a car company and so far I like what they've done. From getting people to choose stairs over the escalator (exercise never hurt anyone) to inciting a greater recycling effort, it's good stuff. Very clever. Very simple. Very fun. And these days we all could you use a little more of that, right?

See more at thefuntheory.com

Because It's Just Fun

2009-10-01T07:31:00.000-07:00

This commercial for Coke Zero from Ogilvy Argentina is just too fun to not post. With great animation and catchy music, it's the happy Coke brand we know, served up in a fresh way. The music track is from PowerSolo and it's titled "Canned Love," which seems like an amazing coincidence considering Coke's often aluminum encasing.

Think Inside The Box

2009-09-28T09:08:00.000-07:00

A co-worker once boldly proclaimed to me that he liked to think outside the box. I internally chuckled and thought, "Wow, the fact that you used those 4 words makes me really wonder about that." Because as anyone in advertising knows, the phrase "think outside the box" just might be the most overused and meaningless one in the industry. So when I saw this project called Think Inside The Box, I could not help be a little cynical.

However, I quickly changed my tune as I saw what it was all about it. A little agency called Zulu Alpha Kilo from Toronto set up a BOX in Dundas Square. Inside the box, 8 of their employees sat and waited for problems in need of creative solutions. Pedestrians passing by were encouraged to bring any pressing question to the box. It was nine hours of free creative problem solving. Now this is a nice way to showcase the merits of creative folks.

I think clients often look at their agencies simply as ad creators and while that's true, we are also very much in the problem solving business. "Our competition just came out with a cheaper product, what can we do?" "We need more foot traffic!" "We changed our brand colors for the 6th time in 3 years, can you retro fit it?" Every day, we solve problems, both big and small, for clients by using our differently-wired noggins. We reinvent. We challenge the status quo. And we travel down avenues not even on others' maps. Yes, thinking outside the (I refuse to say it) is not just for fun and games, but can provide real solutions.

Below is a link to the site. Watch a promo video and see some of the creative answers they came up with.

thinkinsidethebox

13 Reasons Why

2009-09-02T14:15:00.000-07:00

Unless you're Dan Brown or John Grisham, publishers aren't all that likely to put advertising dollars behind your masterpiece. Their marketing plan usually reads: "You're on your own, Shakespeare!" However, thanks to youtube and the "free" factor of the internet, these days a smart viral campaign can economically truly raise awareness.

Thus, before releasing a new fictional book entitled 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher, Penguin Publishing launched a viral effort to create interest. They hired Grey Advertising, a big-time agency in New York, to make content that would build an audience. The book itself (I have not read it) is about a young girl who commits suicide and made 13 audio tapes explaining why. It's a morbid, yet intriguing concept.

Targeting young teenagers, the viral campaign consisted of sending out 13 tapes with the voice of the main character Hannah Baker. The tapes were unbranded at first to add mystery. Eventually a community of interested folks uncovered the story behind these tapes. They, like good online groupies, began sharing their find with others.

As it began getting viral, Penguin then made the campaign less puzzling for the masses with a dedicated youtube channel. These videos are haunting. And I can think about 14 reasons why if I had a teenager, I might not want them to read a book about suicide. Nevertheless, this campaign did its job. 13 Reasons Why has sold over 200,000 copies and reached #3 on the NY Times Bestseller list. And the reason why it's successful is simple. It's not because it's viral. It's not because it has a youtube channel. It's because the creative, a tape and a voice, did its job of making people say, "I want to know more."

Radio Formatted By You

2009-08-21T10:35:00.000-07:00

If the radio gods where to design a station based on you and your musical tastes, what would it sound like? Well, if you haven't heard of Pandora.com, I suggest you go there and find out. Pandora, an online radio station, enables you to build a station based on artists and songs you love.

It's simple to use, but the technology and methodology behind it is anything but. Pandora believes that everyone has a unique relationship with music. Thus, they created a Music Genome Project which over 8 years has analyzed the makeup of songs and artists. Using this musical DNA (up to 400 characteristics), they are able to match up your designated preferences with others you likely should enjoy.

For example, I created a Keb Mo station. When I hit play, Pandora kicked things off with one of his songs followed by Taj Mahal and then some old school Eric Clapton. Pretty soon I was in blues heaven. You can skip songs. You can give them a big thumbs up or a giant thumbs down. And you can add endless artists mixing them up as your mood dictates. It's customized but not limited. Chances are you will discover a new song or artist that you absolutely love. Very cool.

With today's FM stations falling into a only handful of categories along with the fact that they play their tunes on the same tired loop, Pandora is truly a breath of fresh air.

It's call letters should be WYOU.

A Rollerblade Comeback?

2009-08-17T08:02:00.000-07:00

Ah, remember the days when jogging paths were filled with elbow-and-knee-padded amateurs weaving on wheels their way to tighter buns? Yes, the rollerblading fad flew by about as fast as a 300 lb. guy descending down Lombard Street with questionable brakes.

So what happened?

Was it the token ER visits that accompanied learning this new sport? Perhaps, it was the backlash of bikers and runners? Or was it simply a victim of going out of style? My guess is that it was probably a combination of all. The rollerblading image became less of an extreme or hockey-related activity and more of a "Let's put on our bright spandex and blade over to that smoothie place for a Lo-Carb Tropical Mango Breeze" kind of thing.

Anyhow, I recently read about how in Paris, urban rollerblading is making an underground uprising. And of course, all you have to do is go on YouTube to discover exactly what's happening. One video below is absolutely insane, as severe injury or death appears to be one hidden pothole or stale croissant away. Another shows how rollerblading can be an activity for the masses. It certainly repositions some of my thinking on the sport. The daredevils performing are not en route to Starbucks for a mocha latte. This is hardcore. So will rollerblading make a revival? Will American skateboarders like our fashion designers follow this Parisian trend? Will average joes then pull out their dusty, buried-in-the-basement blades and go for a glide? Oui or Non?

Dutch Fun

2009-08-07T11:59:00.000-07:00

Hema, a Dutch department store, brings us some fun domino-like interplay amongst a range of its store items. This webpage takes a second to begin, but once it gets going it's really quite funny. Although, I can't see any real purpose, other than entertaining its shoppers, this technique could potentially be a cool way to showcase a new product or help someone find a gift. Either way, it's a hoot.

Check it out here, http://producten.hema.nl/

Creating Together Apart

2009-08-05T09:12:00.000-07:00

User-generated content has long been a big buzz word for marketers and the online world. Well, Tongal.com has put a new spin on this concept. Tongal enables people to create connected, yet separate aspects of user-generated content all for the common goal of winning some cash. Confused? Here's a video detailing exactly how Tongal works.

This is a great way for people of varying skill sets and passions to create something together. It's also a very interesting look at how people execute differently the same idea. And of course, the winning money part is where the incentive to participate comes in. Very cool. I look forward to seeing where this goes.

Music videos are not dead yet

2009-07-30T07:52:00.000-07:00

Yes, Music Videos may no longer be all the rage. You don't hear people around the water cooler gabbing, "Hey, have you seen Lady Gaga's awesome new video." And MTV and VH1 frankly run more celebrity and reality footage than music. However, this does not mean that terrific videos are not being produced. Here are 3 that really push creativity levels and stand out.

1. Coldplay's Strawberry Swing. Talk about ambitious. The animation on this is all-chalk drawings. Created by a collaborative artist group, known as Shynola, Strawberry Swing makes an okay song something very memorable.

2. Here's another animated video from another big name. U2's I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight is directed by David O'Reilly and designed by Jon Klassen. This video tells the story of multiple people going a little crazy and making changes in their lives.

U2 - I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight from David OReilly on Vimeo.

3. The Killers' Dustland Faireytale takes a different approach than the others. This video actually uses people. It tells a story of regret. Watching it, you understand this old man's life completely through visual flash backs. The editing is great. The story unfolds perfectly in time with the music. This is not just some song without meaning and the video helps everyone see that. It really bring the lyrics to life. Nice. This was directed by Anthony Mandler.

Unfortunately, the embedding was disabled, so here's the link to youtube: KillersVideo

5 Oh So Damn Clever Ads

2009-07-27T11:35:00.000-07:00

I love clever uses of media. So here are 5 recent ones that hit that mark.

I actually saw this image at a bus stop, only it read "Bus Stop for Humans Only. Report any Non-humans." It definitely got my attention. I even went to D-9.com to find out what this non-human stuff was all about. It's a movie called District 9 of the SciFi genre directed by Peter Jackson. The trailer's pretty sweet, so I've included that, too. Great teaser.

We've all experienced a navigational system gaffe. You know where the lovely voice politely instructs us to cross a lake or turn left into a house, right? Well, LandRover introduces the first navigation system, via an iphone app, that does this on purpose. The reason is obvious. If you have a LandRover, who needs a road? It's an App that makes a brand statement.

Now here's an advertising device I've never seen before. It's the high-rise window cleaning medium. Very cool. This would be even more hilarious and effective going up the side of an office building. Imagine a bunch of cubicle dwellers slugging out their daily reports and beholding this lovely destinations. Or even a simple message from Budweiser at 4:30pm about having a Happy Hour tonight would be perfect.

Who said the paper towel business can't be fun? Bounty owns the big spill with this guerrilla approach.

A bus billboard that changes pictures when you look at it? How very Minority Report... and innovative. Not only is this great eye-tracking technology at work, but it's a smart use of smart technology. The ad's purpose is get people to think twice about looking the other way when it comes to domestic abuse. Thus, the ad literally mimics the message. When no eyes are directed toward the billboard, the man strikes the woman.

A Hole New Take On Breakfast Treats

2009-07-10T09:16:00.000-07:00

Okay, a biscuit hole from Hardees does not sound like anything I would ever want to eat. However, that aside, I found these videos highlighting the name and the shape of this morning breakfast treat, quite hilarious.

Hardees, unlike many food establishments, refreshingly does not take their product too seriously. In fact, they go out of their way to make fun of it. They've created a website entitled nameourholes.com. And as you'll see in the videos below, they welcome your not-so-tasteful discussion of their biscuit holes. Although crass, I like how Hardees gets people thinking about and engaged with their new product. In fact, I'm trying to come up with a clever name for them right now.

A Diaper Dandy

2009-07-10T08:11:00.000-07:00

So, I have a 2-month old at home and I've been quite impressed by how adept he is at holding up his neck, moving side to side and burping. Well, that was until I saw these videos from Evian. Wow, these little ones can really move.

Okay, so it's fake, very fake. Nevertheless, the execution on this viral campaign impresses the hell out of me. As I'm sure a ton of preparation and then post-work was done to make it all happen. It capitalizes on the cuteness of babies while also working to own a statement of "a natural way to stay young and full of energy."

Evian takes the bigger statement and strategy of "live young" and finds a catchy way to spread that message. Evian has a history of striking advertising and a solid brand image. However, with the many, many water choices out there and the backlash against plastic, it has lost some visibility. This campaign certainly helps bring Evian back into the minds of water drinkers everywhere. Dancing babies are nothing new, but breakdancing, rollerskating babies are a different story. Nice wok. Now, I wonder how many diapers were used in the making of these videos.

Share This Billboard

2009-07-06T13:47:00.000-07:00

James Ready, a wallet-friendly beer poured in the Ontario area, has a proposition for you. In order to keep their product at the low, low price of one dollar, they want you to share in their media buy.

That's right, James Ready has bought a bunch of billboards and left a healthy open spot for you, too. In Wave One, the billboards ask you to "help them, help you" by making an offer for this ad space on jrbillboard.com. It's here online where you can upload a photo or message of your choice for their review. Then in Wave Two, the lucky photos or message are then implemented on the many billboards along with a message of "thank (your name) for keeping our beer a buck." See below.

It's interactive. It's personal. And it still really hits their core positioning as a budget lovers beverage. Of course, you don't actually have to pay a portion of the billboard buy. That would be poor taste. James Ready proves that with the right idea and execution, the online and offline worlds can really live in harmony. Nice job, eh.

Their general website, jamesready.com, is also worth checking out.

Playing for Change

2009-06-23T08:14:00.000-07:00

Music is no doubt a universal means of communication. So what a better way to help people come together from all parts of the planet and make a change for the better than through song. Playing For Change is like one colossal virtual open guitar case asking for donations to their cause -- creating music & art schools around the world.

From big names like Bono and Keb Mo to unknown street musicians, artists of all stature and genre lend their voices, guitars, keyboards, drums, harps, washboards, and cowbells to this ongoing project. The music is soulful. The multimedia format is innovative. And the journey they've gone through to put it all together is inspiring.

See more or donate at: playingforchange.com or playingforchange.org

And enjoy a few of their wonderful tunes below.

Bing it on!

2009-06-16T08:45:00.000-07:00

The search engine war has seemingly been over for quite some time now. Google is king and everyone has to accept it, right? Well, Microsoft, the czar of a different sector of computing, has decided to see about that.

Bing is the name and helping you cut through the search clutter is the game. To introduce its latest innovation, Microsoft's advertising establishes the problem of how much time and energy we waste on search engines (ahem, Google) that lead us in the wrong direction. They then sell Bing as the solution to that very problem. Bing is not a search engine, but a "Decision Engine." I checked out Bing and I am not exactly convinced that is the case. It's a little more eye-friendly than Google, but is it a revolutionary breakthrough good enough to dethrone King Google? I'm not so sure.

I do like the Bing campaign, however. It makes me think twice about Google and the search mess that's certainly exists. And I like the thought of a decision engine. Is it all sizzle and no filet? Time will probably answer that.

Deadline

2009-06-11T13:21:00.000-07:00

Not much to say about this other than ENJOY. This video tells an age-old story of procrastination and deadlines in a whole new way. The stop motion is a very well executed and a lot of fun.

A bloody nice idea

2009-06-10T13:36:00.000-07:00

A vampire fan I am not. The sharp teeth, the aversion to sunshine and all that blood, I just don't get it. However, the latest promotion of HBO's True Blood is something I could sink my teeth into.

True Blood sprayed fake ads targeting the vampire market throughout various media. Using appropriate brands like Gillette and playing off popular campaigns like Geico's "This is the money you could be saving," the show certainly got creative to remind everyone the second season was about to start. I'm not sure I'll be tuning in, but I do think the campaign would make Dracula's CMO proud.

Plus, they've got a pretty substantial website called bloodcopy.com worth taking a look at and some nice viral videos.

Lebron vs. Kobe

2009-06-04T14:48:00.000-07:00

ABC had the promos edited and ready to go. David Stern was giggling with anticipation. And basketball fans everywhere were all amped up for the matchup of all matchups. Kobe vs. Lebron. Only Clevelanders, well versed in the agony of defeat, and the Orlando Magic seemed to think it would be any other way.

Well, even though the cards didn't play out as expected, the latest campaign from Nike brings Lebron and Kobe together for us... sort of. Nike has created the puppet version of these 2 slam-dunking athletes. Filled with hilarious one-liners, trash talking banter and other antics, this is great, great stuff. And hopefully, for those Cleveland fans muttering "next year, next year" as they now focus on the last-place Tribe, this is a foreshadowing of the 2010 finals.

Sing for Beef

2009-06-03T07:49:00.000-07:00

Songwriters historically have found their muse in such things as love, heartbreak, tragedy, anger, sorrow, and so on. Beyond Cheeseburger in Paradise by Mr. Jimmy Buffett, songs inspired by red meat are a rarity. That is... until now. A1 Steak Sauce brings a promotion certain to get crooners out in full force to sing about Beef.

The promotion via youtube asks you to serenade them with your best love song about A1. Posted on youtube, your song and video might not only win you some tasty steak for a year, but it could be your stepping stone to fame. Okay, probably not. But this promotion certainly should serve up some hilarious odes to meat. Just think of the possibilities.

I like Big Butt Steaks and I cannot lie.

A little ditty about Jack and Steak Diane.

I will always love Au Jus.

Let's get it on... the grill

New York Strip of Mind

Check it out at: www.youtube.com/a1

And here are a couple videos. This is certainly a fun idea and great way to get people engaged with your brand. Well done, ha!

Another 5 Inventive Ads

2009-06-02T09:34:00.000-07:00

How do you get people to think about foot fungus? See the above shoe. Nasty? Yes. Disgusting? For sure. Effective? You bet. That's a fungal work of art from Lamisil.

Smooth Ice. Smooth shave. This is a perfect marriage of machinery for Gillette.

Okay, so I'm not sure I want to find myself on the beach staring at this guy's very pale ass. However, I enjoy the clever device of discarded clothing to draw one's attention. Fiji certainly contrasts nicely with the surrounding environment.

Not sure this ad tells me anything new, but it does deliver its message in a way I've never seen before. The print piece reacts to UV rays, showcasing who does (the semi-tanned female) and does not (the lobster-red guy) use Sundown sun block. Pretty cool.

This is such an excellent use of advertising space, I just want to break out into a jig... at the Camden Irish Music Festival of course.

Thinking Green

2009-05-22T08:50:00.000-07:00

At a time when many packaged goods are simply cutting back on price or quantity, Sun Chips is doing something very different. They're cutting back on waste. Their new packaging, displayed in the time lapse video below, is an innovation in garbage. So when you're done scarfing down their crunchy goodness, you'll feel okay tossing away the bag... in a trash can of course.

Sun Chips has also teamed up with National Geographic to give Green Thinking people the chance to spread their earth-friendly ideas around. The Green Effect promotion inspires one to submit his/her best idea for green change. Online viewers and a panel of judges will review these ideas and $20,000 will be awarded each to five winners. These 5 folks or groups will also be profiled in National Geographic and travel to Washington, D.C., to share their projects with environmental leaders. See more or submit your idea at greeneffect.com.

A chip company probably won't save the planet. (That's Al Gore's job right) However, this bite-size move certainly steps in a nice direction. Simple. Smart. And yeah, it should help sell some product, too.

McDonald's Photo Shoot

2009-05-20T07:29:00.000-07:00

Now here is a wonderful way to get people interacting with your brand in a positive way . This ever-changing McDonald's billboard, set up in Piccadilly Circus, acts as a hilarious backdrop for the many camera-toting tourists making their way around London. While the other signs hang there like wallpaper, this one reaches out to all those around and says, "Let's have some fun."

If you want to measure it's effectiveness, just look at all the laughing faces. Bloody brilliant.

A very telling story

2009-04-30T09:43:00.000-07:00

When a commercial makes you feel a little sick to you stomach and it's not an ad for KFC, Taco Bell or any other food product, it's probably doing something right. This spot for ECPAT (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes) details the brutally sad reality of what's happening to kids all over the world.

This spot made me both very mad and sad. Not sure it'll stop the sick people who enjoy this kind of thing. Hopefully, it can help raise awareness and money to help stop these criminals, their networks and the idiots downloading such crap. From a storytelling point of view, this commercial does its job very well.

See more about ECPAT here

Beyond Baseball

2009-04-23T07:45:00.000-07:00

Full Disclosure: I love the game of baseball. And despite certain aspects of today's national pastime (ahem... new Yankee Stadium, its sushi bar and that 3rd baseman of theirs currently on the DL), I always get jazzed about the prospect of hearing the crack of the bat, grabbing a hot dog & cold beer and watching guys do what I wish I could. Play ball.

Anyhow, this latest campaign "Beyond Baseball" from the MLB plays into the passion many of us have while also bringing some real humanity to a game that's taken its hits. Hello, steriod scandals. It's fitting that the one spot features a very much not bulky Tim Lincecum. MLB.com also has a dedicated "beyond baseball" webpage where fans can learn more about the lives of players... not just their stats. I really think MLB has hit a homerun with this... not a Barry-Bond type of home run, but more like a Kirk Gibson walk off.

A Dramatic Introduction

2009-04-20T13:25:00.000-07:00

Introducing a breakthrough video to introduce a breakthrough TV, Philips and their new 21:9 Cinema LCD have struck gold. The below film is beyond cool. Not only does it provide serious eye candy, but at their website the video goes interactive. It lets you compare the ratio difference of 21:9 vs. 16:9. At certain touch points, you can access additional features such as the director's take on the role of lighting or a little lesson on post effects.

The education they give on shooting all relates directly to the key benefits of this TV. From its size to its lighting to its picture quality, the Philips Cinema was created to bring the full movie experience home -- the way the director wanted you to see it. Very cool. Now could Philips please donate one of these to my house? I simply can't live the 16:9 way any longer.

See more at the dedicated website.

The Opposite of Neighbor Envy

2009-04-16T10:56:00.000-07:00

Ah, remember the days when you'd walk out of your home, look around and spy your many competitive neighbors mowing, trimming and edging their lawns. How times have changed. These days, you're more likely to watch your now-foreclosed neighbor skedaddle out of town while his once beautifully manicured lawn turns into a lovely shade of "really dead" brown.

Well, some clever folks now have an answer -- for you, your neighborhood and that troubled bank trying to sell their very vacant home. You can do what Californian David Milligan did. He bought some eco-friendly dye, got a sprayer and quickly transformed his neighbor's yard from a foreclosure brown to a buy-me green. More and more communities likewise are using this technique to maintain some semblance of vitality. You know what they say, "Necessity is the mother..."

Check out this VIDEO to see more:

5 out there Ideas

2009-04-09T13:25:00.001-07:00

Below are 5 out-of-the-box ways people are getting their message to the people.

It's always a good idea to put yourself in some one's shoes before passing judgment, right? Well this outdoor campaign for the Weingart Homeless Campaign helps you put more than your stinkin' foot. It draws attention. Gets people interacting. And probably most importantly, makes you think a little.

One the lighter side of things, here's a great playful piece from YogaOne. It's different. It's something worth holding onto. And it just might cause you to share with others. Now that's an idea that stretches itself. Ha!

The only landmines we may ever worry about are the ones inconsiderate dog owners let lay on the pavement. However, in other parts of the world, these maiming devices are a serious, serious problem. This campaign and its unique execution from Unicef brings visibility to the issue in a powerful way.

Ah, flea season is here. How do you remind people to give their pets their meds? How about a huge floor mat like this? It certainly gets attention and I'm sure a few photo ops as well.

Okay, here's an outdoor ad begging you to rip it off. With vinyl stickers, this ad from New Zealand Insurance is created to be thieved in order to prove its point. Original. Fun. Interesting.

The E Trade Outtakes

2009-04-02T07:16:00.000-07:00

You know you have a good campaign when:

1) People at the water cooler can recall full lines of copy from your ad.

2) It gets parodied.

3) The outtakes get nearly 4 million views on youtube.

E-Trade has achieved such status with their hilarious webcam baby. Here are the outtakes if you haven't seen them yet. And no I haven't heard anything yet about Madonna adopting him.

A Commercial That Pops

2009-03-30T10:14:00.001-07:00

Okay, I generally loathe lame puns so please take this title with the knowledge that I don't think it's remarkably clever. I found this Schweppes spot fun, interesting and very well executed. It's simply a spot that is enjoyable to watch over and over. And how many commercials can you say that about?

Enjoy.

Taking it to the Streets

2009-03-26T07:50:00.000-07:00

Before releasing their seventh studio album, Dig Out Your Soul, Oasis decided first to bring these new tunes to the streets of Manhattan. But instead imitating bands like U2 and play live themselves, Oasis came up with a more brilliant guerrilla tactic.

The group enlisted the help of a small army of street musicians. They gave this ragtag group the sheet music for four new tracks; they helped them practice the new songs and then they sent them out to spread -- that is sing, strum, rap, blare and beat -- the news of this new album.

I find this concept brilliant not only for its originality, but it embodies a spirit of musicians helping other musicians. It brings these notoriously pompous, egomaniac rock star characters down to earth a little and gets after the root of it all. And hell, if their tunes can sound good in the corner of a train station with nothing but a tambourine, a cow bell and beat-up acoustic guitar, well...

And from a marketing standpoint, it makes me want the album. It just does.

Here are some videos about this promotion.

Cheap Decor = Cheap PR

2009-03-24T11:40:00.000-07:00

Okay, so you're about to launch a brand new company and you're tossing around a million and a half ways to spread the word and get your name out there. Well, a new creative agency in Amsterdam called Nothing has a fresh way to accomplish just that.

Yes, first of all, their name is unusual. However, more interestingly, when Nothing went to build their new office, they decided to create everything out of cardboard. Cardboard desks, cardboard cubicles, cardboard walls, cardboard stairs, cardboard tables... you name it and it's cardboard. Anyhow, the idea of decor as brand or company positioning is an interesting one.

Walk through any office and you'll get a general feel of its essence. Some are minimalistic. Some are cozier. Some are purposely not flashy. The cardboard look jives nicely with the name "Nothing," helps establish the personality of the agency and no doubt constructs a nice platform for PR. Potential clients may come by simply to see the setup.

However, this agency best be careful at any office holiday party. One intoxicated tumble from a heavy-set employee could ruin the place.

See more at nothingamsterdam.com

Get a tan while you work

2009-03-05T08:27:00.001-08:00

Didn't make it to Florida this year for your annual romp in the sun? Or have you just been spending too many hours in the pasty-skin inducing office? Well, here's your answer. It's Computertan.com. Just log on and let this break through technology turn your skin into something of which George Hamilton would stare in envy.

Okay, so this is a total spoof. It's actually a PSA to remind everyone the dangers of UVA rays from the Karen Clifford Skin Charity. As a viral PSA, I find it very effective. The below video is purely a teaser to draw you in and get you to journey to the website. It has a nice, simple purpose and does just enough to make you wonder what this is really all about. Once you commit to figure that out, they've got you.

And from my honeymoon in Greece a few years back, I can tell you that Europeans need all the reminding they can get about burning the bejesus out of their skin. Well done.

A Hair Relief Crisis

2009-03-02T12:47:00.000-08:00

Forget your 401K and its devastating disappearance. Forget the housing market and all its shambles. Forget the banks, the Madoffs, the bailout, AIG, the Blagoviches, pensions, airlines, and the many, many other things you might deem a crisis.

Instead, think about the top of your head and the crisis that may be occurring up there. Yes, there is a male hair crisis sweeping the nation. Okay, maybe now isn't the best time of worry about the good or bad hair days. However, Axe has launched an interesting interactive way to get hair advice and let guys know that women (the ones you're trying to impress) really do care about that bed head look of yours.

How exactly do you make getting hair advice for men tolerable? Well, at the Hair Relief Crisis Center, Axe has set up a on-camera moderator along with 100 women judges. You, the male wondering if your dome is in need of hair relief, simply upload your photo and wait for the women's vote. Do you get a 10% hair approval rating or a 95%? The Moderator then makes suggestions on how to help your hair with various Axe products. Problem/Solution at its finest.

Check it out the judging at at www.axehaircrisisrelief.org/100girls

Or see the whole program at www.axehaircrisisrelief.org

Coach Tom: winning is everything

2009-02-26T08:28:00.000-08:00

To ramp up holiday sales, Staples held a sweepstakes where 10,000 people would win their purchase. And to advertise this promotion online, they created this character called Coach Tom to spread the word. Coach Tom is a cross between the Chris Farley Van-Down-By-The-River Motivational Speaker and every high school gym coach ever. Coach Tom believes in life there should be ONE and only ONE winner, which is why he cannot understand Staples' promotion. Coach Tom's quite entertaining, too. Not sure how Staples' holiday sales were, probably not great, but this was a fun campaign and hopefully Coach Tom will live on. The 3rd one is his Winning Manifesto, pretty great.

5 Fun Outdoor Executions

2009-02-20T08:08:00.001-08:00

Auckland City has a walking problem. Well, actually they have a walking into cars problem. Yes, too many pedestrians had been getting injured so they decided to bring attention to the problem precisely where the problem was occuring. This 3D sidewalk execution helps deliver the message of "walk safely" in a way you can't miss. I wonder though how many people tripped and fell trying to avoid the mighty bite of the great white?

It's the "I'll do anything for money" Show. And to promote it, here's a naked guy doing anything for money. He was commissioned to hit various media agencies to hype the show. Gotta love European TV.

Everybody has a secret. That's the premise behind this interactive guerrilla promotional campaign for HBO's Big Love. This mural of everyday pedestrians was put up in New York and LA. It allows real pedestrians to put on museum-style headphones and listen in to the inner thoughts of those in the mural. From someone with a drinking problem to another preparing to leave his pregnant wife, it's a interesting way to get attention and hype this year's show which has its own set up intriguing characters with deep secrets.

As a man, I'm not totally aware of the benefits of a quick drying nail polish, but this clever sculpture of sorts surely does its job. This piece by Rimmel is eye-catching, interruptive and fun. And it tells you the benefit of the product.

What is it with sharks and today's blog? Anyhow, I thought this was a very toothy way to let it be known Discovery Channel's Shark Week is coming. Not only does it draw a major look, but it makes me think of others shows or products that might be worth promoting via the rickshaw bike. How about John and Kate plus 8? Take a ride with screaming kids. Or perhaps a hat store like Lids? Or how about the remake of John Travolta's The Boy in the Bubble (if it ever happens)?

The Post-SuperBowl Blog

2009-02-03T07:00:00.000-08:00

The hype was big. The ads were expensive. And the biggest winner in my book was... The Boss. Yes, in an age of lip-synching, studio-created pop jokes, this 59 year-old legend showed a thing or two about live music. The man has enough energy to make the Arizona Cardinals think about adding a roster spot for him. Maybe, just maybe, he could have caught Jerome Harrison on that 100 yard interception romp into the endzone?

I am a fan of Bruce and you may think this particular blog has little to do with marketing or trends, HOWEVER, there is something a marketer could learn from a guy like Bruce. Thus, I've detailed out 5 things we all could go to school on from Bruce and his performance.

1) Engage the audience. Right after he took stage, Bruce looked straight into our living rooms and told us exactly what to do. "Put down those chicken wings... walk over your TV and turn up the volume." He knew what his viewers were up to, spoke to that and got them involved right away.

2) Adapt. Bruce changed the lyrics of Glory Days because the venue was the SuperBowl. He not only gave fans a new twist on a old favorite, but he embraced the event at hand. Very smart.

3) Love what you're doing. There's nothing worse than watching a performer mail it in or robotically go through their routine. Bruce does not know how to do this. And advertisers should be the same. Look at a brand like Pedigree -- they've gone from a dog food company to a company that loves dogs. Loving what you do really goes a long way.

4) Be genuine. Standing the test of time is a most difficult task in any business, but especially the music business. Fans and consumers will be loyal to those who don't change for a quick buck, lower their standards for a easier way or rest on their laurels.

5) Don't make it all about YOU. Bruce certainly is the boss, but his accompanying cast of Clarence Clemons, Patti Scialfa, Steven Zandt, Max Weinberg are always given plenty of props and time to shine.

The Boss is a brand, but you'd never think of it that way... which again is something any marketer should aspire to create. So here's to Bruce, my non-football related SuperBowl winner.

And here's a couple performances for fun.

Absolute Radio

2009-01-29T08:45:00.000-08:00

I had never heard of this radio channel, probably because I don't live in the U.K., but their youtube channel and campaign definitely merits a look. It's just a bunch of nonsensical shorts (pardon the pun... as you see a dwarf named Doug in their spots) that are frickin' hilarious. Check out their channel HERE and below are a couple of the shorts.

Ah, the Superbowl is almost here

2009-01-29T07:39:00.000-08:00

With the big game looming, there are so many questions us marketing people have.

Will the ads suck?

Will the ads be more interesting to watch than Kurt Warner praising the lord for giving him Larry Fitzgerald to throw to?

Will these tough economic times make the funny commercials unfunny?

Will GoDaddy.com show cleavage in their commercial?

What animal will Budlight choose to make us laugh... a burping skunk, a sweaty penguin?

Which client will have wasted their 3 million dollar media buy?

Which agency will realize their big idea is not so big?

Anyhow, on Sunday we'll know the answers to these questions. And to get us all prepared and ready for this all so important day in advertising, here's a preview of Careerbuilder's campaign. It's pretty hilarious. That's of course, if you forget that most people right now are just happy to have a job, and that there are many who would gladly take a paycheck, even if it meant sitting next to a bald man in a banana hammock.

A Video That Sticks

2009-01-15T12:11:00.000-08:00

As I started watching the below video, I very quickly found my mouth wide open desperately trying to find a word of description. Of course, the only thing that came out was an understated, yet powerful, "Whoa." That simple statement sums up the effort and creativity behind this interesting piece of work.

Created by Jeff Chiba Stearns, this film details a period of time in this guy's life and his obvious obsession with writing notes to himself. You get to know a good deal about him through this massive collection of 2,300 yellow sticky notes. The stop motion animation is pretty sweet, too.

See more about him at: hapanimation.com

In honor of the Agency of the Year

2009-01-09T07:22:00.001-08:00

Recently Creativity Magazine deemed Cripin Porter + Bogusky the advertising Agency of the Year. I was a little surprised considering they were responsible for those less-than-inspired Bill Gates/Jerry Seinfeld pieces. However, as I read the article and thought, "They've done some really some cool stuff." And when I say cool stuff, I mean advertising that thrives on different media platforms, ideas that break free from traditional thinking and yes... work that actually helps their clients succeed. Here are a few of their 2008 gems.

It's the VW Routan Baby Maker. You saw the commercials with Brooke Shields so seriously informing us that people were making babies just to buy this car. Well, here's the online component where any expecting, or not, couple can get a preview of what their precious little one may look like.

Domino's BFD Pizza, that's Big Fantastic Deal, allowed customers to create, name and order their customized pizza online. Plus, Domino's teamed with TiVo to enable couch potatoes everywhere to order a pizza direct from their remote. Ah, who has time to pick up the phone anyhow?

And of course, there's the Whopper Freakout. A contrived setup with real reactions of people thinking their beloved Whopper has been retired.

This Freakout launched a fleet of parodies. The most popular being this Ghetto Freakout. Pretty funny.

Bringing Peeps Together

2009-01-07T12:36:00.000-08:00

Check out this spot from Cisco. Don't know if this commercial is staged or not, but nevertheless it's a cool idea. Cisco technology creates a window into another world right your home town square. Imagine the horror if they placed one of those in the French Quarter of New Orleans during Mardi Gras and the other in say Dubai. Now that would be interesting.

Can a hotel improve your rapping skillz?

2009-01-05T13:31:00.000-08:00

Holiday Inn Express carries on its long-standing campaign with this very funny spot. In Eminem 8-Mile fashion, this white boy from corporate-ville takes a verbal smackdown from some guy on the street and throws it right back in his face with an even funnier, smoother and rhymier freestyle. Great casting, writing and extension of an already solid ad campaign.

Is your cellphone evil?

2008-12-17T09:40:00.000-08:00

My first cellphone came with another person's list of contacts in it. No wonder Circuit City is in bankruptcy. My wife's latest Blackberry constantly told her she had 2 messages waiting. Were they evil? Well, this new campaign from Net10 would say so.

This attempt to be viral and relate to cellphone users' historically woeful problems certainly does stand out. If you didn't know what the video was for, it sucks you in with that age-old curiosity of "what happens when we put X into the microwave?" And then takes you to a curiously morbid website called: www.no-evil.net.

At the site, you can learn about how evil your current cell phone service is, you can win prizes and you can see why Net10 might be a better choice. It's dark. It's a little contrived. But it's interesting and the viral video has nearly 1.5 million views on YouTube.

BEWARE of the doghouse

2008-12-16T08:56:00.000-08:00

Around this time of year, every guy has that "Oh crap!" moment. The moment where he realizes Christmas is not just on its way, but it's actually here and he really really needs to get his wife or girlfriend something. He'll think about what she's complained about around the house, ponder ideas that might have a nice emotional hook and then total panic will ensue.

Inevitability, many of these men will fumble big time by making absurd purchases like the Ron-Co Ultimate Potato Peeler or a nice new bouncy exercise ball or the very lame chocolate covered fruit. As a consequence of these poor purchases, our guys will spend the remainder of their 2008 snuggled up alone in the lovely confinements the infamous Doghouse.

Well, JC Penney and their very well put-together campaign Beware of the Doghouse sets out to help men everywhere avoid this predicament. And in the unfortunate case, how to get out of the Doghouse once you're in. They bring to life this metaphorical place in an Indie film sort of way. It's pretty funny. You can send warnings to those in doghouse danger or actually throw someone into this virtual setting.

However, my big complaint is that their wonderful solution to the Doghouse seems to be diamonds and only diamonds. Now I understand how diamonds could be a great help, but in this economy couldn't they offer a few more economical out-of-the-doghouse-tactics, please!

See more at: Bewareofthedoghouse.com

Whopper Virgins Have Spoken

2008-12-15T11:13:00.001-08:00

Crispin Porter broils up a fresh Whopper vs. Big Mac taste test. Not so juicy on the surface, however, for this challenge they travel to remote destinations such as Baan Khun Kiean, Thailand and Budesti, Romania to make it happen.

Yeah, I've never heard of 'em and they've never heard of a Whopper or Big Mac. That's the idea. Take "burger virgins,"serve them up some red meat goodness and get them to decide. Tasteologists might call bad logic. Others do call it exploitation of fastfood-deprived peoples. I call it interesting. It's a bit far-fetched and I kind of laugh at the sincerity of the BK/Crispin folks on how "this is a legitimate" anthropological study, but it is no doubt talk worthy. And that makes it good.

See WhopperVirgin for more.

And you thought your holiday lights were sweet.

2008-12-03T08:46:00.000-08:00

As I strolled the neighborhood streets with my dog last week, I witnessed the annual labors of Christmas light gurus all over. I saw a guy stacking candy canes on his roof while another was busy hammering hooks up and down his front porch. Festive? Competitive? Crafty? Maybe it's a little bit of all those things.

Anyhow, I also recently stumbled upon this clip highlighting the artistic feats of projection video. Created by some French Artists, labled NEOPROJ, these projections are 3D and use buildings, sidewalks and even cars as their canvas. Yeah, it's no hot-air Santa with a motion detector Red Nosed Rudolph, but it's still pretty sweet.

Top Ads for Today

2008-12-02T09:15:00.000-08:00

I love finding terrific advertising so here's a collection of some of the latest I've seen that fall into that category. Click on any photo to enlarge.

Screeeeeech! That's the sound of people stopping to check out what this campaign from Mercedes is all about. An ad about brakes that has stopping power. Nice.

How do you show off your lifelike printing capabilities? See below from HP.

Ikea continues its clever ways with this interesting outdoor campaign for storage solutions.

What a great way to get someone to start thinking about their next vacation. Malaysia Airline's very clever tray table ads here helps hype their vacation packages by first by getting the potential customers excited about that next trip.

A McYawn? Yes, this pretty cool use of billboard technology makes a nice tactic to get someone thinking McDonald's and its burgers.

I've never worried about split ends personally, but I still like this ad from Pantene.

With all the bad news these days...

2008-12-02T08:32:00.000-08:00

Here's another funny little greeting card site out there to help everyone get through it. The site's not so short title is Breaking Bad News with Baby Animals. Yes, what a better way to let someone you love know that you once were a man or that their newborn child is hideous looking than with the cute face of a tiny kitten. Pretty funny stuff. And just another good idea.

Getting in the holiday spirit

2008-12-01T09:51:00.000-08:00

Before the sorry results of Black Friday and Cyber Monday pour in, before I find myself tired of snow and the pain it shovels in, before the hectic holidaze hits me like an eggnog hangover, I'd like to share some holiday fun and one of my favorite online applications from last year.

It's the OfficeMax Elf Yourself. Elf Yourself uses the infamous JibJab crew's expertise to enable you to create your very own Elf Dance. Users simply upload up to 5 photos and choose a musical style. Be it disco, country, charleston or classic. And voila, you're a dancing elf. This one stars my son and my dog.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Can good advertising turn the auto industry around?

2008-11-17T07:30:00.000-08:00

No, it cannot. However, this new campaign from Ford takes a step in the right direction. These spots stand out in a sea of sameness. They talk to the target in a very personal, straightforward, but entertaining voice. And the type treatment brings a big punch. The spots also tell me what's different about this truck in a simple, yet fun way. I have no need for a pickup truck these days (a rugged mini-van seems to be on my horizon), but I'm a fan of this new campaign. Can you guess the voiceover? Here's a not-so-tiny hint: his first name is Denis and he's on a show with the word Rescue in it.

They also have a great website www.fordvehicles.com featuring Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs comparing the Ford F-150 to the competition.

Politically Creative

2008-11-12T07:47:00.001-08:00

Freedom of expression no doubt ran crazy the last few months. From people ranting and raving on TV to the rallies both Republican and Democrat to personal postings on Facebook, people held very little back. Some were good. Some were bad. Either way, that freedom is the beauty of this country. Now to help sum up a little of that banter, here's a tiny fraction of millions of the designs, sayings and merchandise that people were selling, wearing, saying... perhaps even branding onto parts of their bodies. Creativity certainly blossomed as people strove to get their viewpoint across. Ah, freedom! I especially like the McCain and Obama flip-flop accessories.

Monster of a Campaign

2008-11-06T14:05:00.000-08:00

What were you destined to do? Are you there? Or are you stuck in some job that defies everything that is you. A place that ignores your talent or at the very least is not interested in it. Monster.com, in this very nice ad campaign, asks you these very questions. If you're an artist imprisoned by data or a scientist concocting lattes or a chef cooking the books, it's time for change. This campaign fills us with clever imagery, an inspirational feeling and a solid foundation for many, many more great ads.

There's something funny about this grass.

2008-11-05T08:17:00.000-08:00

When you think about Wimbledon, what do you see? White shorts. White shirts. Rackets flying around. Grunting. Some crazy Brit streaking the court. And grass. Yes, grass. In honor of this famous turf, artists Heather Ackroyd and Dan Harvey created these interesting grass photos. They used the grass itself as the paper and then projected b/w photos onto it while it grew in a dark room. Yeah, who thinks of this stuff?

Anyhow, their technique is part biology, part art as they literally deprived the grass of light to develop the photographic shape. And as you can imagine, the art's lifespan is quite short. As soon as the grass sees the light of day, it begins to grow more evenly and the photos fade away. Kind of like, Anna Kournikova's tennis career.

Things that make you go... really?

2008-11-04T14:24:00.000-08:00

Just something to think about. And no, I have not fact checked this video.

This SpreadSheet Rocks!

2008-11-03T10:35:00.001-08:00

Holy awesomeness. ACDC may have shook you all night long many years back, but now they're rocking your spreadsheet with this very cool music video that plays in Excel. Firewall-proof, the video is a great way to enable every cubicle dweller to easily download the most exciting spreadsheet since... yeah, I can't think of any others. This makes it not just a cool use an everyday application, but a great method to maximize the number of people to whom they promote their latest album.

Download the document HERE

Visualize It

2008-10-31T08:44:00.000-07:00

Words. Numbers. Data. Depending on how they're served up can make all the difference. Many Eyes, part of IBM's Collaborative User Experience group, has developed all kinds of cool, interesting ways to take your data and look at it with a fresh perspective. You can take charts, spreadsheets, speeches, your resume, emails, whatever and transform them in a way that causes you to digest it all from a different angle. It's also just fun to play with. I took some of the contents and description of my book, Die Happy, and "Wordled" them as they call it. Click below to see it in all its glory and to learn more about Many Eyes.

A new candidate to consider

2008-10-31T07:19:00.000-07:00

A buddy of mine and I had been debating the merits of both Obama and McCain over the last week. He then sent me a link detailing a rising new star in the political arena. Click HERE to discover who it is.

Anyhow, this is a great use of technology. Share it with your friends as it adds some much needed comic relief as the election tension hits its boiling point.