Monday, December 21, 2009

Bose SoundDock

DM9JaymeSyfu (yes, that's an agency name) has created a couple of interesting print Bose ads. At first glance, they're nothing special. Just an iPod on a dock centered in the middle of nothingness. "Hear More. SoundDock." is in the bottom right hand corner. I figured it was a little too simple - there had to be something more. When trying to analyze it, my first thought was - is the white space being used as a metaphor for the "more" that you're hearing? I then clicked on the original sized ad, and realized what was going on. While the white space may very well be a metaphor, the key element of the ad is only visible in its large size.

Well, I'll let you see for yourself:





They're a little boring, but I kind of like the simplicity.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Target Holiday 2009 Campaign

Now don't get me wrong, Wieden + Kennedy Portland have got some great ads out there (LOVE The Levi's "Go Forth" campaign - commercial here), but I have to say, I'm not a fan of their Target ads. Their new holiday campaign has two commercials in particular that I'm thinking of. The first features a family on Christmas morning. The mother opens up a big screen tv, and she and the father bicker about how Santa should have realized they were in a recession. The second is a couple at a restaurant exchanging gifts. The girl opens her box to find a necklace, and says that she didn't think they were really "there yet." He says it didn't cost that much.

The point? Buying at Target isn't all that expensive. Effective? Not for me.

Of course, I've always been a big fan of Peterson Milla Hooks' Target ads. I think that their Target commercials were not only extremely visually appealing but also postmodern... and I love postmodern. They'd sell me some cheap clothes and makeup over a bickering family or an awkward couple any day.

NOTE:
The videos have been removed from Youtube, but can be found here:
Family
Couple


And just because I love them so:
Peterson Milla Hooks' Target ad 1
Peterson Milla Hooks' Target ad 2

Friday, December 18, 2009

Twix "Crooked Face"

Brazilian ads are pretty cool too.

AlmapBBDO came out with a new Twix ad today, which BBDO in the US promptly translated into English. In this new spot, a man with a crooked face (who kind of looks like he's got Bell's Palsy) meets his girlfriend in the library with a Twix and a rose. She runs out, jumps onto his moped, and the two embark on a romantic date, all the while with him eating his Twix. But when his Twix is finished, a bell sounds, and he returns to a wrestling ring, ripping off his shirt to expose his washboard abs in the meantime. My god. But I guess that's not the point. He positions himself back next to his opponent's fist, and finishes receiving a punch. The tagline is "Invent a pause. Open a Twix."

Alright, so the tagline is a little corny, but you have to admit, it's a pretty interesting ad. I kept wondering where the hell it was going. And the song is great - "On the Sunny Side of the Street." Worth a watch.

Buzzed Driving "Save A Life"

I'm sure many of you have seen a TAC (Transport Accident Commission) ad at some point (and if not, you can find their 20 year montage here). These ads, which are used to promote safe driving, are known for being extremely gory.

But does gore have to be used to make a point when it comes to safe driving? National Highway Traffic Safety Administration doesn't think so. Their new ad features Rachel, a woman who after drinking, chose not to drive home. In this spot, Rachel is honored by the Pope, the Dalai Lama, and thousands of other people for not only keeping herself safe, but her family as well.

Should we be honored for not driving drunk? No, it should be in our common sense. Unfortunately, not many people use their common sense. I guess this ad is targeted toward them.

Is it as effective as TAC's dead body advertising? No. But Mullen Boston used some creativity and came up with something new. Good for them.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

McDonald's Steaming Transit Ad

At first glance, this transit shelter ad by Cossette Vancouver appears to be simply a McDonald's coffee cup. Stick around long enough, however, and the steam from the pretend coffee will reveal a message - "Your free coffee is ready."  Not only does this attract attention, but it's something that should stick in the mind. Very cool. Below is a video of transit-riders' reactions.


AdFreak's Freakiest Ads of 2009

Check out Adfreak's freakiest ads of 2009... some really cool... some just a little too weird.

Here.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Dignity in Death's Park Bench Ads


Okay, so I may have a bit of a soft spot for Toronto's Cundari Advertising (I did an internship with them and had an amazing summer), but I really do have to say that this is a very creative campaign. At first glance, it seemed like something zig might do. 

This campaign for Dignity in Death, an organization providing information on voluntary euthanasia, takes stickers that look like brass plaques and places them on benches around Toronto as if they are memorials. Each one describes a death through suffering, and really makes you think. Very unique.






Thursday, December 3, 2009

Guinness "Slide"

So Guinness' new spot is not quite as elaborate as their last one (which can be seen here), but it is still pretty entertaining. BBDO New York has moved from tagline "Bring it to life" to "Fortune favors the bold." And this character sure is bold. In salary negotiations with his boss of less than a week, he's already asking for a raise. But no, that's not all - he also drinks openly on the job. Check out this spot below, where a pint of Guinness makes it all the way from a quaint bar up to a high rise office with just a little push:

Science World's "Ice Creamy Goodness"

With exams approaching, I've been finding it harder to get around to posting, but I decided to take a night away from the books. Thank God too, because I came across this commercial from Vancouver agency Rethink Communications that first aired in November. In today's youth obsessed culture, we are used to seeing sexy young women whoring themselves out. This spot for Science World (a non-profit organization attempting to get Canadians more interested in science) gives the fact that Vanilla is the most arousing scent for older men. And what better way to appeal to older men, then having old women sexually licking vanilla ice cream to hardcore techno beats. Awesome ad, you go Grandma.

MySky HD "Que Sera"

Que Sera Sera - Whatever will be, will be.

DDB New Zealand's brand new advertisement for SkyTV certainly uses a song that suits it perfectly.

The main characters in this spot go through quite a few downs. One finds out that the smoking hot woman he met on the street is in reality a man, one gets hit by a car, one is attacked by a shark, one is blown up by a land mine, and one finds his best friend in bed with his wife. Do these characters get upset though? Of course not - whatever will be, will be. And they've got SkyTV - their "happy place."

A little gruesome, but cute all the same: