WPP Wants Rocket Scientists For Project DaVinci Dell Agency

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At the end of last year, Dell and WPP hooked up to create Project Davinci, an agency created solely to staff the Dell account in Austin and around the world. Recently, WPP took out an ad in the Austin Statesman looking for, well rocket scientists because, apparently, advertising people aren't smart enough to handle the seemingly daunting task of creating computer ads. That or they just wanted to write an oh-so-witty headline they could enter in some award show.

Poor Casey Jones. It seems his dream agency is taking a bit longer to get on its feet. Adrants reader illustrates the point with the photo caption, "...I was in the shower and it hit me, all I needed to do to save my ass was to go out and hire rocket scientists."

by Steve Hall    May- 1-08    
Topic: Agencies, Newspaper, Strange



Hapa Ain't No Half-Wit; It's Really Rather Sly

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To promote afternoon Happy Hour, Hapa Sushi Grill & Sake Bar coupled public utility images (like the "Slippery when Wet" symbol or the crosswalk man) with the legal language of liquor advertising ("Drink responsibly").

The result is a set of prints that merit a double-take and a smile. At left is "Chopstick responsibly." Also see "Flirt responsibly" and "Dance responsibility" (wardrobe malfunction!). Agency: TDA ADVERTISING & DESIGN, Boulder.

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by Angela Natividad    Apr-14-08    
Topic: Campaigns, Newspaper, Promotions



Meet Pike Place, the Ghost of Starbucks Past

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On Tuesday Starbucks debuted the fresh-brewed Pike Place Roast, named after the street where, in 1971, the first Starbucks was born.

Print ads by Wieden+Kennedy ran in newspapers in most major cities. The bright colours and simple messages coax people to associate Pike Place with everyday workingman coffee (at $2 for a grande? Come ON). Creative concludes with the statement, "37 years in the making." So I guess this is the trump card.

And the trump card feels very Dunkin'.

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by Angela Natividad    Apr- 9-08    
Topic: Bad, Brands, Newspaper, Promotions



No! No! No! Fox is The Credible Network. Not CNBC

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Oops. What did you say about Bear Stearns, Jim Cramer? An ad in today's Wall Street Journal for Fox Business network is poking fun (more like slamming) CNBC's Jim Cramer for vehemently telling people not to take their money out of Bear Stearns just days before it tanked.

Fox. Ever the opportunistic marketer.

by Steve Hall    Mar-24-08    
Topic: Good, Newspaper



Friendly Gnome Pours Latte Out of Skull, Among Other Things, for McD's

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Here's a two-page spread called "WAKE UP!!!" by DDB Stockholm.

It's about a gnome who shares coffee with a furry woodland creature. Hijinks ensue: they tumble off cliffs, see flying eggs, befriend a giant pig, and sail away on a sperm whale while and guffawing over old times. By the way, have an extra large latte from your equal-opportunity friends at McDonald's.

by Angela Natividad    Mar-20-08    
Topic: Brands, Campaigns, Good, Newspaper



Does Bestiality Put You in Stove-Buying Mode?

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Check out this trio of ads by BLATTNER BRUNNER, Atlanta for Appalachian Stove Co. Campaign name: "Hot and Crusty."

The fact sheet reads, "Concept: Clean burning stoves for people who pretty much don't care. Market: Southeastern US, especially highlands."

You won't absorb the full awesome-osity of that sparing description (and choice of geography) until you see the creative. The one at left says, "A roaring fire. A bottle of wine. A barn full of sheep." (Dude ... ew. But also, HA!)

Text is followed by a solitary image of an old-school stove and the brand name.

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by Angela Natividad    Mar-19-08    
Topic: Brands, Campaigns, Good, Magazine, Newspaper



Exeter Hospital Celebrates 'Art of Wellness' With Beds and Babies

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While we're not sure what making a bed has to do with a hospital's ability to successfully perform a hip replacement or being ranked tops among all hospital responding to a heart attack, we do like this new commercial from Boston-based Winsper for Exeter Hospital. Oh wait, we get it. Attention to detail. After all, a well made bed is certainly as important as performing open heart surgery.

OK. We jest. We get the analogy. Besides, the spot is just very soothing and who doesn't want to be soothed when faced with a nerve-racking hospital stay? Not us. We've been there.

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by Steve Hall    Mar-17-08    
Topic: Campaigns, Commercials, Good, Newspaper, Online, Outdoor



Washington Post Says A F#@K Will Brighten Your Day

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There's an entire generation of people out there who have no idea what the terms "above the fold" and "below the fold" mean. For those that do (and even for those that don't), this image of a "below the fold" page from the Washington Post last week is sure to brighten everyone's day. Give it a look and brighten your own day.

FYI, the headline reads, "A Flick to Brighten Anyone's Day."

by Steve Hall    Mar-13-08    
Topic: Newspaper, Strange



The Hand of God, He Works with WaPo

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Check out these Washington Post ads by Adworks, DC and production company Phasmatrope (neat name). They're random. Like, Chocolate Skittles random.

The gist: on a job search? WaPo, and its Proprietary Wall-Breaking Disembodied Hand!, can get you where you need to be.

o Lab
o Go-Getter
o Charts

by Angela Natividad    Mar-12-08    
Topic: Campaigns, Commercials, Newspaper, Strange, Television



Have You Considered the HUMANITY of Your Fast Food Chain of Choice?

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Maybe because the white space technique wasn't sufficiently saucy, DDB Stockholm's latest McDonald's campaign has gone all red. (If it worked for The Economist, the People's Republic and Forbes, why not McD's, right?)

The ad -- which will run full-page in major Swedish newspapers this week -- reads, "We don't hire Turks, Greeks, Poles, Indians, Ethiopians, Vietnamese, Chinese or Peruvians."

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by Angela Natividad    Mar- 7-08    
Topic: Brands, Campaigns, Good, Newspaper, Poster