« Mar-07 | This archive, pg:  1  |  2  |  3  |  4  |  5  |  6  |  7  |  8  |  9  |  10  |  11  |  12  |  13  |  14  |  15  |  16  |  17  |  18  |  19  |  20  |  21  |  22  | May-07 »

Sao Paulo Purges Ads. No, We're Not Kidding

sao_paolo_billboard.jpg

Here's a billboard we haven't seen before.

"Imagine a modern metropolis with no outdoor advertising: no billboards, no flashing neon signs, no electronic panels with messages crawling along the bottom.

Come the new year, this city of 11 million, overwhelmed by what the authorities call visual pollution, plans to press the 'delete all' button and offer its residents unimpeded views of their surroundings."

City officials in Sao Paulo, Brazil just passed a law that may see the end of ads in public display. Billboardom tips us off, but the above quote comes from the International Herald Tribune.

"I think this city is going to become a sadder, duller place," says Dalton Silvano, an ad guy who cast the one dissenting civil vote. "Advertising is both an art form and, when you're in your car or alone on foot, a form of entertainment that helps relieve solitude and boredom."

more »

by Angela Natividad    Apr-20-07    
Topic: Policy, Social, Strange, Trends and Culture



Animals Aren't Accessories! Even if They Match the Shoes

dalma.jpg

This dalmation standing at graceful attention poses with a price tag - like a handbag or fancy gloves - because 80 percent of people who become pet parents do it on a whim, according to the Foundation for the Adoption, Patronage and Defense of Animals.

Thus armed, Contrapunto Barcelona created a set of fashion spreads that included well-matched pups to air both the vacuity of such life-changing impulses and the seriousness of consequent pet abandonment cases. The awareness ads were then run in fashion magazines for the most devastating effect.

A clever way to make a point. It could probably be used for, you know, other types of irresponsible impulses.

by Angela Natividad    Apr-20-07    
Topic: Good, Magazine, Social



Have Child, Get Love, Says Heart-Rending Adoption Campaign

adopt2_25.jpg

The unlikely ingenues at Ogilvy put together a moving set of prints that sweetly admonish, "Adopt. You will receive more than you can ever give."

The campaign is for the Indian Association for Promotion of Adoption and Child Welfare. We love it, we really do, but we wonder whether it doesn't ever so softly whisper, "Adopt. For love."

by Angela Natividad    Apr-20-07    
Topic: Good, Magazine



Era of Sanjaya-dolatry Sees Sunset

sanjaaaaaya.jpg

When George Parker tipped us off that Sanjaya's overripe moment in the sun was finally over, we almost cried. We really did.

As of Tuesday's American Idol, Project: Torment the Less Tressy ended with a bang (that "...other than hair" ad-lib in his rendition of "Something to Talk About") and a whimper (his, when finally the die was cast).

He made us laugh and snarl, he appalled us and gave us a never-before-experienced sense of pop culture woe, fear and even - occasionally - sick pride.

Like (the possibly plastic) Ryan Seacrest, we too will not soon forget you, Sanjaya Malakar.

by Angela Natividad    Apr-20-07    
Topic: Television



Verizon Addles Goldfish with Mean-Ass Gz'One Type V

verizon_typev.jpg

Why is the bulky screw-ridden open-grilled Verizon Gz'One Type-V so ugly? Because it is tough. So tough it is waterproof and shock resistant. So tough it merits a name that can't be pronounced without a platinum inlay across your teeth.

McCann, New York threw together a promotional event called "Call the Fish" in a New Jersey store. One of these bad-boys got tossed into a fishbowl while people called the phone and watched the aggravated fish react to the phone's musical ringtones, flashing lights and vibrations.

How far we've all come from tapping incessantly on tanks.

by Angela Natividad    Apr-19-07    
Topic: Brands, Promotions



ADC Awards TBWA, Fembot Goes Gay, LeSportsac Zips

svedka2oiug.JPG

- TBWA\Chiat\Day took the Art Directors Club Gold Cube medal for Advertising and R/GA took the honor for Interactive Media. All the finalists can be viewed here. (PDF)

- I'm a gay man trapped in the body of a fembot.

- Bag seller LeSportsac has hung a "zipper board" on Lafayette near Bong in New York.

- The New York Festivals Interactive Media Advertising Awards show will take place April 27th at the Daryl Roth Theatre.

- AdOfDaMonth has launched and promises to nominate one each each month as the best in the word as determined by a jury of ten creatives.

by Steve Hall    Apr-19-07    
Topic: Agencies, Industry Events, Outdoor, Strange



Social Conversation Overtakes Traditional Marketing

ad-tech-paul4-thumb.jpg

Over on Madison Avenue Journal, Levenson and Hill New Media and Marketing Strategist Paul McEnany has written an article that discusses the rise of social media and the increase in consumer control over media which, when combined, has had a tremendous effect of the pillar of traditional advertising. While highlighting ad:tech San Francisco sessions that cover aspects of this discussion, Paul urges us to stop thinking about what we do as advertising and he's right. Advertising is shouting a message at people. Clearly, the power of that model as quickly losing its luster.

With people's increased connectivity and control over what they consume, marketers are finding it very difficult to "herd" demographic groups together to advertise to as easily as they once could. It started with media fragmentation. Remember when we thought 100 cable channels was a lot? And it continued with the growth of the Internet and the most recent explosion of social media which has absolutely changed the advertising equation. It's far from the one way street it used to be.

more »

by Steve Hall    Apr-19-07    
Topic: Opinion, Trends and Culture



Mochila Introduces Ad-Supported Multimedia Player For Publisher

mochila_logo.jpg

Mochila, a service that provides publishers a place to buy and sell content, has introduced the AdMatch Player, a branded multi-media player that lets publisher customize video offerings. It offers up a sort of content marketplace from which publishers can choose con tent and share in the revenue gleaned by ads served through the player. Content will be available from asap, Associated Press, blipTV.com, EFE, Ford Models, The Health Central Network, ITN Source, Lonely Planet, MeeVee, Mobi Jokes, Red Herring, Rodale, ShermansTravel.com, SmashTube, South China Morning Post, Tiempos Del Mundo, and Vibe Media Group. ans others.

by Steve Hall    Apr-19-07    
Topic: Online, Publishing



Mitchum Pits Make Pretty Music

mitchum.bmp

Those of us who always wished we could make callous armpit noises, but just couldn't, can now live vicariously through Mitchum's armpit orchestra.

Wait for all the fancy members to load and then record a tune. It's like having a human piano except with fart noises and the occasional surprise puff of smoke. We don't know why but right now we find this insanely, inexplicably funny.

Carat Fusion is responsible for this one.

by Angela Natividad    Apr-19-07    
Topic: Online



Adidas Uses Street Art to Stir Sleepy Commercialism

adidas_end_to_end.bmp

Adidas goes graffiti way with End to End, a snazzy collabo that includes graffiti artists from around the world drawn together to bring hype back to the sleepy brand. It's got a playful mishmash of colour that reminds us of the Asics Made of Japan effort.

Fresh Creation has a more elaborate intro and some neat videos too.

by Angela Natividad    Apr-19-07    
Topic: Campaigns, Good, Online, Television



« Mar-07 | This archive, pg:  1  |  2  |  3  |  4  |  5  |  6  |  7  |  8  |  9  |  10  |  11  |  12  |  13  |  14  |  15  |  16  |  17  |  18  |  19  |  20  |  21  |  22  | May-07 »