I Could Be Wrong, But I Think Your Torch Just Smoked a Prophet.

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LOL. To promote the strength and intensity of the Mag-Lite, Ogilvy & Mather/Paris composed a print in which a distracted security guard shines his flashie on a piece of art for a wee bit too long.

That open-mouth clueless look gets us every time. We like!

by Angela Natividad    May- 4-09    
Topic: Brands, Campaigns, Good, Magazine, Poster



Federici Gelato Poses Fresh Temptation to the Pious

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Antonio Federici Gelato just busted out with a print ad campaign where nuns and priests get a little more intimate than the Holy Spirit is comfortable with. Short but sizzling taglines include "submit to temptation" and "kiss temptation" (see variant).

But the UK's Advertising Standards Authority -- which has shafted campaigns for lesser blasphemies -- has apparently never indulged in the sensual magic that defines gelato. The watchdog is investigating the ads now, but that's pretty much a formality: according to the Committee of Advertising Practice, "linking sex or sexualised images with religion may cause particular offence" and "portraying nuns in a sexual manner is inappropriate."

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by Angela Natividad    May- 4-09    
Topic: Magazine, Poster, Racy, Trends and Culture



If Your House Can't Keep Up with the Joneses, Your Utilities Should at Least Try.

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This is neat. To remind people of their changing energy needs (and increased use of it), Colorado's Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association launched a wordy print campaign with look-twice imagery.

Each depicts an old-school domestic power setup that's been retrofitted or reused to (clumsily) accommodate technology like mobile phones, laptops and widescreen TVs.

Ads read: "The way you use power has changed. Doesn't it make sense to change how we provide it?" Yes, TSGTA, in fact it does.

Work by Cactus.

by Angela Natividad    Apr-30-09    
Topic: Brands, Campaigns, Magazine, Poster



Clarins Paris Nails the Perfect Way to Illustrate Lift.

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We were dropping someone off at the Charles de Gaulle airport last week when this gigantic image dwarfed us at the check-in line.

Questions of imminent discomfort aside, we were forced to admit that bare ass on a bike seat is probably the best way to plug lotion that lifts.

Seriously, though. Can you think of a better comparison?

by Angela Natividad    Apr- 2-09    
Topic: Brands, Poster, Strange



Swiss Elevator Riders Get Unexpected Skydive Experience

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Swiss Skydive, a skydiving school in Switzerland, commissioned Wirz/BBDO to outfit high-traffic elevators with a vertigo view.

Using branded shots of the city from a dizzying perspective, the objective is to give elevator-riders the sense they're going into freefall. The effort resulted in some free TV and print news coverage, which is always nice.

In an economic climate like this one, we're vaguely sure the average 9-to-5er -- even Swiss ones -- don't need help getting that plummeting-from-great-heights feeling. Their employers probably accomplish that just fine.

by Angela Natividad    Mar-27-09    
Topic: Brands, Campaigns, Good, Guerilla, Poster



Gate Worldwide Pulls a 'Professional' on Sacred Cows

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To promote its own agency merits, The Gate Worldwide produced a Hit List of Sacred Cows (pdf) it will happily execute on your behalf.

Irksome ethical heifers include "Marketing should be judged by sales," "Teams create the best solutions," "Success breeds success," and -- our personal favourite -- "The customer is always right." (We'd kill that shit ourselves. With a rusty scimitar.*)

The Hit List is going out to CMOs, along with the following message: "If any of these sacred cows are roaming your office, don't worry. The Gate Worldwide will help you kill them" -- followed by a name and a direct line you can call. Nice touch.

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by Angela Natividad    Mar-25-09    
Topic: Agencies, Poster, Promotions



It's the 'Where the Wild Things Are' Promo Poster!

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Every US kid born in the '80s probably had Where the Wild Things Are read to them at some point. It's an infectious(ly illustrated) story about a kid called Max who likes wearing scary animal costumes and being all growly.

One day, after some horrible little-boy shenanigans, he's confined to his bedroom, where he explores a universe of wild but benign creatures. He is ultimately made King of All the Wild Things.

A few years ago Spike Jonze signed on to make a film adaptation of the book -- one of those things that gives us chills and seems too good to be true. But hey, it's not: at your left is the official poster.

Perfect, right? We thought so too. Though for some reason we always imagine Max with facial hair.

Tagline: There's one in all of us. Film comes out this October. More about it all here.

by Angela Natividad    Mar-19-09    
Topic: Brands, Campaigns, Poster, Promotions



Vodka Firm Ferrets Out Nation's Best O-Face

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Victims of Office Space probably remember the unforgettable reference to the O face -- that almost embarrassingly vulnerable expression guys make when they're stuffing somebody full of meat popsicle.

Under the mistaken impression that it's clever (and maybe on some level it is), Three Olives Vodka has launched a "What's Your O-Face" contest. Give 'em your best O and you could win $10,000, a "VIP trip to NYC" (what is that, a Broadway show and coke?) and the privilege of getting your O-face splashed all over a national ad campaign.

Think of it! You could be the village bicycle ... except for the whole country.

Associated creative: blue O-face, cherry O-face, root beer O-face.

by Angela Natividad    Mar-11-09    
Topic: Brands, Campaigns, Online, Poster



Heavens, No, It's Some Guy's Ass!

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Fashion whore Jeremy Dante put our eyeballs in touch with the rear-wheel drive on this Armani Exchange ad -- which is currently languishing on the cutting-room floor.

Here's the story: the piece was slated to hit New York's Meatpacking District but was rejected by the Van Wagner Billboard company, which deemed it too racy. General consensus blames the rejection on the man-lumps, but I don't know, maybe it had less to do with that than the fact that it looks like he's wanking in a corner.

As an addendum to that, there's also the matter of the copious cleavage (which, to be fair, never really stops anybody from appearing on a billboard) and implied menage-a-trois (do fashionistas mind the occasional gangbang?). But hey, if the internet says VW's rejection is all about ass, then who are we to argue.

by Angela Natividad    Mar- 9-09    
Topic: Brands, Poster, Racy



The FedEx Box: Both Medium and Message

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Diggin' these prints by DM9 DDB/Brazil. In each, a FedEx delivery box is positioned as a conduit for items that bear some storytelling cachet. Two sets of hands, reaching toward each other from top and bottom of the frame, represent giver and receiver.

Perfect delivery, no pun intended. (Don't you hate it when people say that? Because if the pun isn't intended, isn't it terrifically convenient that it's there?)

See Trumpet -- the more popular piece -- and Robot.

by Angela Natividad    Mar- 9-09    
Topic: Brands, Campaigns, Magazine, Poster