Thursday 3 November 2011

Beyond the Atrium - Guest post by Tony Dell

Today I stood in front of one of the most famous illustrations in the world.  A meeting of western perspective and Japanese tradition.  I talk of The Wave that wonderful coloured woodcut by Hokusai which was drawnig about 1830 and which has captured the imagination of east and west. The British Museum has made a great deal of fuss about The Wave and has built a small exhibition around this one picture and it is absorbing.   


There is also an exhibition of Japanese manga which is their word for comics.  There are drawings by Hushimo Yakinoku for the comic character Professor Mujnakata and the edition of his mystery solving in The  British Museum.  A Japanese equivalent of Hercule Poirot!  The Professor is a very popular character in Japan and has appeared in a number of comics.  A book of the drawings is on sale at the Museum.


So much attention is paid to Grayhson Perry’s alter ego, the young girl with teddy bear, that it is possible to lose sight of the work for which he justifyably acclaimed in the creation of ceramics. While you are admiring The Wave you could visit the Grayson Perry ehibition of the pottery of unknown potters throughout time.



It is typical that he is exhibiting his collection of the work of othes and not his own. I don’t know if you saw it, but there was a brilliant documentary about Grayson the other night and his motorcycle ride acfoss Europe to a town in Germany which is paired with his home town. His observations belie the image he derliberately creates and explain why he has been a winner of The Turner Prize.
Here are some of his pots.


And the changing face of Grayson Perry.


Initially when he is dressed as a little girl with his friend Alan the teddy bear it is disconcerting but his lack of embaassment changes the situation and when you hear hs explanation for his cross dresssing it is clear that he is right to act as he does.  The acceptance by his wife makes it all seem perfectly natural.

Wednesday 19 October 2011

Tony Dell, the oldest man in Advertising in London*

I have the great honor of sitting next to Tony Dell, He is the oldest man working in Advertising here in London. My first week here back in September we celebrated his 91st birthday with cakes and tea.

Every week, sometimes several times a week, Tony sends us an email about his artistic adventures (he is Head of Visual Inspiration here at DLKW Lowe) which are always interesting because as you can imagine, he knows a hell of a lot about art.

Tony has always been an artbuyer since the 1950's, he still sits within the creative services department here inspiring the whole agency. I think this is prertty damn amazing.
Here is a piece he wrote on why the future of advertising looks colourful.

With his permission I may add a few of his emails as posts to this blog.

* Don't know if this claim is true, but I like to think so.

Monday 17 October 2011

New & Old

Last week Matt Barlow and Jessie came in from Germaine Walker to show us some books and a new signing. It was just before lunch and they were showing us some of Matt's gorgeous food shots which we were salivating over. Here's one of Matt's shots, chip butty...hmmmmm

Wednesday 5 October 2011

New Audi ad

Saw this Audi Q3 in GQ on the weekend while my wife was in Coast looking at dresses for her sisters wedding (amazingly Coast have a 'bored husband/boyfriend chair' AND magazines!)
I am not sure who did the type for this, but if you know, let me know.

Update: Philippe Wilson tells me it was Alison Carmichael

Monday 3 October 2011

Ginger Joe massive moustache in Hoxton

This massive moustache in Hoxton is a special build for Ginger Joe alcoholic ginger beer, and do I love ginger beer! You can go to https://www.facebook.com/gingerjoeukand upload a pic of yourself with a big fat ginger moustache.

Friday 16 September 2011

Higher Pitch

Last night I was invited by a friend of mine who works at Society46 to go to the Higher Pitch exhibition.
It is an exhibition of work created by people who work in Advertising around the world. Initially this was a women in advertising event but this year they opened it up to everyone. There was some really interesting stuff there, I particularly liked the 'Meh Cat' by Tim Cordell.I wanted to buy it but am low on funds this month. Sponsored by Absolut, there were three cocktails to choose from, unfortunately I had to ride my vespa as I had to get from west London to east, so I could not drink.

Friday 19 August 2011

New Castle Brown Ale - Shadow billboard



Really very cool. This was placed in San Diego's night life hub, the Gaslamp district.
Ellis Gallagher and Pablo Power created this.

Wednesday 3 August 2011

Doggelganger


This great site from Colenso BBDO in New Zealand, its been around for a few months I think. Upload an image of yourself (or take one with your webcam) and the Doggelganger site will scan the database of abandoned dogs and based on your facial features, and comes back with a match. Goes with the old saying that dogs look like their owners. Client: Pedigree.

Thursday 28 July 2011

Dutch Football Federation T-shirts


Now this is COOL. A simple why-did-I-not-think-of-that idea.
Dutch Football Federation - 2010 FIFA World Cup T-shirt.
Advertising School: Willem de Kooning Academie, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Creatives: Bas van de Poel, Daan van Dam
Seen at thecoolhunter.co.uk

Wednesday 27 July 2011

Web Design Basics

I thought I would do a post on the course I did last week at the University of Middlesex Summer School.

As we all do, I wanted to learn more about digital, and not just the social media stuff but the actual foundations of what is online. Way back when I was a spring chicken and first starting out I decided that the best way to understand and manage artwork was to learn how to do it, so I put myself on a Quark, Illustrator and Photoshop course. Now, my skills are very basic but at least I understand what needs to be done and how, makes my job easier. I figured it was the same for web.

On this course I learned how to code HTML and how CSS works. The course was just what I needed, the room was 50/50 split with young kids (twentysomethings) and older - the oldest bloke looked like he was in his sixties, good for him I thought!

The first two and a half days was pure HTML, headings, breaks, links etc, then we got onto CSS - all the while actually doing things, practicing. The last 2 days was spent learning more things - rollover banners, animated gifs, colours (or colors as the code was done by Americans), and buiding our websites. I am pleased to say I am still working on mine, I am not changing careers but I may well do it as a hobby, something to do on a rainy day to keep up my knowledge.

It is only run once a year and there is only one class so look out for next years, sign up.

Tuesday 26 July 2011

USA Facebook/Passport figures


Interesting post on The Wall about hte number of Americans on Facebook compared with those with passports. Like the Jennifer Whitehead, I had heard the passport figure was around 5%. the figures are interesting.

Wednesday 6 July 2011

GOAB - then end of TV? Or a new begining?

GOAB. A TV Experience Concept from Syzygy on Vimeo.

I heard about GOAB today, not quite sure what I think about it; it's exciting but also a little scary - 'What if... your remote control knows you? And your social network?'

Don't get me wrong, I love this stuff, I just worry about privacy. How much of me is in the internet? Can I control it?

'Interactive' Outdoor in Amsterdam


Artis babyboom from Dawn Amsterdam on Vimeo.

Dawn in Amsterdam have done this really sweet outdoor campaign for Artis - the Zoo in Amsterdam.
The posters are made up of stickers that can be removed like kids sticker books and placed all over the city. Watch the film.
It's a great display of how you can still have interactivity in 'traditional' media.

I saw this on Advertblog.

Friday 1 July 2011

Natwest floor stickers at Marylebone Station



I noticed these Natwest floor stickers at Marylebone station this morning. I am usually on my scooter so I don't see stuff like this much.
It really grabbed my attention. It is often the most simple ideas that are most effective.
I was changing song on my iPhone and one of the stickers caight my eye and first glance I thought it was a real wallet, I then looked around to see all the other wallets/purses and cards on the floor and then the information block.
Good work whoever did it.

Friday 17 June 2011

Toyota multi touch wall

Toyota Vision Multi-Touch Wall Case Study from JUXT Interactive on Vimeo.


This was at the North American International Auto Show this year, it's something else I have found on theFWA site, it's really a brilliant place to keep up with what you can do online and with digital technology.

Next week Cannes...


If your agency is anything like the one I am working in at the moment there will be a mass exodus of creatives from London to decend on Cannes Lions next week. I wonder if any agencies are treating their chosen ones like the Royal family and making them travel on separate planes?
Good luck to all the entrants, though to some I think it is more about thse sun and parties than the awards ceremony.

If you can't go to Cannes, go to Cannt

The D&AD's were on last night. I expect there are some sore heads today.

Wednesday 15 June 2011

Pioneering Beering


Client: Hahn Super Dry Beer
Title: Pioneering Beering
Agency: Publicis Mojo, Sydney
Creative Director: Micah Walker
Art Director: Justine Armour, Ruth Bellotti

Friday 10 June 2011

Contagious Magazine

I had a drink with a digital producer friend of mine earlier this week, we were chatting about the advertising world getting more digital, as we all well and truly know, and I asked (grilled) her to find out how we as project managers can learn more about what is happening now, what we can do to be pro-active in learning about new technologies as every digital project is slightly different and even experienced digital producers will come across something they have not done before - unlike print where most jobs are very similar, with digital just about every job is different.

She told me about two places.

One is The FWA. The Favorite Website Awards. They feature a 'site of the day' which is very highly regarded. It's a great place to start to go to for us to see what is possible and what is new with regards to website. The Kijjaa site I mentioned earlier in the week is one I saw on here. I'll continue to post about other sites I find on the site. You can also search by production companies and agencies so you can see who has done what.

The other is Contageous Magazine. They have a website but unfortunately you need to be as subscriber to see most of the content. With an annual rate - 985 GBP + Delivery (excl VAT) it is probably too steep to invest in, but ask around at your agency to see if they have copies of the magazine to look at.

This is what they say about themselves:
'Our quarterly magazine identifies the ideas, trends and innovations behind the world's most revolutionary marketing strategies. The accompanying DVD showcases over 60 pieces of high quality creative work sourced globally. Each campaign is presented in a 'challenge/solution/results' format, which analyses the effectiveness of these innovative marketing solutions'

Just passing on what I find out.

Thursday 9 June 2011

Kijjaa online game


Now this is cool. Click on this link, go to the site, download the app from the appstore (not a free app unfortunately) and then enter the code on the website screen into your iPhone.
Then you have a very simple but addictive video game which you control from your iPhone - shooting and moving, tilting the iPhone, swerving side to side...Amazing. No idea how this works technically but I am going to find out!

Tuesday 7 June 2011

Transparent Solar Panels


I am working on a project for one of my clients at the moment and I came across this amazing product - Transparent solar panels, which are really no thicker than putting a piece of paper through one of those old laminating machines, AND it produces 20% more electricity than standard solar panels!

Obviously I cannot talk about the project but this product is very cool, the company is called Konarka, their European sales are based in Germany.

Monday 6 June 2011

Marketing Week Live - 29-30 June 2011


It's back again.
To be honest last year I felt a bit lost there and found the 'In-Store' show to be mainly aimed at those who work in marketing departments of retail clients, but it was still interesting in seeing the new technologies on offer.

The Online Marketing again is probably more targeted to clients and not agencies but you really should keep up with new technologies. Register for your free entry.

It's on at Olympia again.

Tuesday 24 May 2011

Wednesday 18 May 2011

Hyper Island Master Class


This week I was lucky enough to attend the three day Hyper Island Master Class, and I tell you it was everything I expected it to be. I had been looking into doing this privately but when i joined AMV earlier this year they said they would send me on this course. Nice one.
At the end of each day my head felt like it was going to explode (in a good way) from all the stuff we learnt.

The main thing I took from the course is relevance. Which you would expect to be common sense.

Personally I would highly recommend these sessions to anyone in Project Management/Creative/Planning/Account Management/Design - any facet of the agency.

Thanks Hyper Island, you have given me new tools for my next ventures.

Friday 25 February 2011

Tree House for Yellow in New Zealand




This a film about the Yellow New Zealand (Yellow Pages) campaign by COLENSO BBDO Auckland, NEW ZEALAND, From back in 2009. Someone told me about it today so I did a youtube search.
Yellow say they can help anyone get any 'job done'.

Tuesday 22 February 2011

Special Build from the late 90's


I saw this special build for Absolut in New York back in 1998. Absolute New York.
I can't believe I found a picture of it online the other day.

Friday 18 February 2011

The Future of Creative Services Debate. Thursday 17th February, 2011


Last night the IPA Creative Services Group hosted a debate on the future of Creative Services departments within advertising agencies. It certainly was a very interesting night, a really great turn out from many London agencies, from large ones like Publicis to smaller ones like VCCP Blue.

Melissa Smith, co-chair of the IPA Creative Services Group opened and chaired the night, introducing the panel and telling us about what each panelist would be talking about.

Phil Nunn (Executive Media Director,
TBWA\London) was the first speaker and he told us that he believed all agencies need to be Media neutral, that TV and print are not dead. It's now all about using all channels available to us and involving media planning bridging the gap between creative and media. We need to use more media, different media. There is so much opportunity out there

Andy Fowler (Executive Creative Director
Brothers & Sisters) spoke about his favorite campaigns of the past couple of years, these included the Wranger site, Levis go forth and Nike+, and how it is interesting that their Marketing department is now called ‘Digital Sport’.
He said we need have access to loads of media for our campaigns and that Creatives should feel like ‘a kid in a sweet shop’ having access to so many channels in which to let their Big Idea grow.
It’s all about craft Andy says and that there can be as much craft in creating new media as we believe TV and print as used to be. Creatives have the opportunity to get their Idea out in more interesting ways.
He spoke of the Brothers & Sisters Museum of London app, and how we now have access to technology you used to only dream about.

After the talks from Phil and Andy there was a group panel discussion, with questions afterwards.

The panel was Melissa Smith (Creative Services Director and Co Chair of IPA Creative Services Group), Andrew Dobbs (Recruitment Consultant, Talent Business), Tim Bath (CSD of AMV BBDO and Co Chair of IPA Creative Services Group), and Olivia Chalk (Head of Integrated Production, BBH)
There was much discussion on structure. Melissa discussed how TBWA are disbanding Project Management and their account handlers are now doing their clients production and that they are unskilled, but some Project Managers are becoming account handlers. She also said that there is a trend for agencies to bring in Content Producers.

Tim Bath said how at AMV they have a Project Manager who has entered via the Graduate scheme and how this is the same scheme as account management and planning. He said how this is introducing the role to grads who may never have considered Project Management as a career progression from university. He said how AMV now have content producers, that they have merged the TV and digital departments, and while you can't separate just yet as there are specific skills for ‘heavy lifting’ digital work like back end website builds that agencies still need specialised people for. The panel agreed this. Tim says the PM role at AMV is media non-specific role, facilitating the development and production.

BBH no longer have Project Management, Olivia told us, they are now producers. All departments take responsibility for delivering projects. Everyone is client facing. BBH Producers cover TV, print interactive, mobile and integrated. Each Producer has core strengths in one field, and their skills are pulled in and out on projects as needed.

Andrew Dobbs from The Talent Business talked of there being different routes to integrate departments. A good Project Manager asks the right questions pull the right people together. A good pm knows how to manage the project.
What about client liaison on production and strategy? Melissa asks.
Tim replied that the PM role is to have an understanding of roughly how it's done. 'Get the right people in the right place at the right time'. It's an untaught skill-set. He suggested that there is a 'big demand, but a small pool of good project managers'. He hopes the Grad scheme, which AMV are involved in, will be a good way of getting them.

Brothers & Sisters do not have Project Management, they have Producers. They have two processes, and Internal and External process. Producers produce their own TV commercials as well as use external production companies. Andy believes in Super Producers. He likes the idea of producers who have specialty in one area but running the project with other producers feeding into them.

The panel discussed the interesting point that you need to have specialists otherwise you end up with mediocrity, you end up with a jack of all trades and master of none – as Tim put it, 'one person might have a rolodex of contacts to get the job done, but that person is only as good as that rolodex of contacts'. There are hundreds of production companies doing amazing things out there and to limit yourself affects the creative output.

Melissa suggested that Creative agencies are not so much worried about costs they spend as it is all about the creativity, and what is needed to produce this, and this can mean roles are duplicated, and how in more account management based agencies care more about the bottom line, and are very concerned about.

Tim said that he believes there should be more duplication of roles and that everyone should be media neutral.

When asked by Melissa ‘How many briefs are you getting in for super producer?’ Andrew replied that the 'requests tend to come from smaller agencies, because in these smaller agencies you work in all aspects of the campaign and it’s all hands on deck'. He said 60-70 percent plus of the briefs he gets are for this Super Producer role, but that most of the candidates he is finding are in the US.

Tim suggested that these smaller agencies are the breeding ground for these super producers, places like Adam & Eve and Brothers & Sisters.

From this debate, Melissa said that there was hope that the IPA can draw some consistency for the roles, create a standard job description as Project Management is such a varied role from agency to agency and everyone agreed that the size of the agency dictates the role, that every agency is inherently different.

Tuesday 15 February 2011

Lactofree Print


Client: Lactofree (Arla Foods)
Agency: Weiden + Kennedy London
Creative Directors: Sophie Lewis & Lucy Collier
Creatives: Ben Everitt & Sophie Bodoh
Photographer: Sara Morris
Illustrator: Owen Gildersleeve

Tuesday 1 February 2011

Facebook apps work half as well as regular banners

Interesting article on this on Mashable.

Interesting statistics and graphs within the article, but they are all US based.

Personally I never click on them, but then do we notice banner ads? I am more inclined to interact with a cool takeover - that is if I am not in a hurry and find the takeover is annoying me. Fickle consumer.

the dreaded stairs



Great film not sure who did it, but this staircase in Odenplan, stockholm was re-built by engineers to see if they could get people to take stairs than use the escalator.

At first hardly anyone took the stairs, almost 97% of the people took the escalator.

Now they have reversed the percentages, 66% more people take the stairs than take the escalator.

Volkswagen initiative. clever buggers.

Sunday 2 January 2011

Stick it in the diary


Deutsche Börse Photography Prize 2011, 5 April - 1 May 2011.

It's been going for 15 years now, £30k prize. The 4 Shortlisted artists: (details copied from The Photographers' Gallery site)

Roe Ethridge (b.1969, USA) is nominated for his solo exhibition at Les Recontres d’Arles Photography 2010, France (3 July – 19 September 2010).

Thomas Demand (b.1964, Germany) is nominated for his exhibition, Nationalgalerie, at Neue Nationalgalerie, Berlin (18 September 2009 – 17 January 2010).

Jim Goldberg (b.1953, USA) is nominated for his exhibition Open See at The Photographers’ Gallery, London (16 October 2009 – 31 January 2010).

Elad Lassry (b.1977, Israel) is nominated for his exhibition Elad Lassry at Kunsthalle Zürich (13 February – 25 April 2010).