World of LEGO

I was a massive LEGO fan when I was a kid so I think I have definitely identified my next must-have piece of equipment for the glow office. May slow down productivity a bit though.....

Pixar- Day & Night

I recently went to watch Toy Story 3 (which is a great film by the way) but I was struck by the beauty of the short film which preceded it. Pixar are well known for their short films which sometimes sit alongside their major features but this one is by far the best I've seen. Day & Night features two 2D characters (one called Day, the other Night, as the title suggests) who's feelings are played out by 3D scenes within them. It's really hard to describe but carries a great message about not being prejudice and how we are all the same even if we look different. It is also just brilliant to look at. Here is a making of video which gives you a sneak peek but I really would advise you to go to the cinema and see Toy Story 3 even if you leave after this short film, your money will have been well spent.

there is also a small description of the film on Pixar's website which you can view here

http://www.pixar.com/shorts/d&n/2.html

Brand New Experience

A brand is much more than a logo, it communicates on a wider level.

Of course a logo is vital to the making of a brand and serves its purpose as a symbolic, identifying tool, but your brand is your strongest asset. It is the personality of your company, the culture and the ethos. A brand is the essence of what your company can offer and deliver. It should reflect the experience your client can expect if they choose your company. Whether you wish to increase sales, reach a wider audience, enter new markets or find new partners, correct branding will create the right impression.

A successful brand is easily ‘read’ through a carefully crafted set of perceptions and images that represent a company, product or service. Take Coca-Cola, an iconic brand, which to the consumer eye has not changed a great deal over the years. However even the big players need to reinforce their branding strategy regularly to stay at the top of their game:

The Coca-Cola brand is taken for granted, after all it hasn’t changed for decades has it? In fact the Coca-Cola brand underwent 18 months of design scrutiny (largely due to the size of the organisation) resulting in seemingly effortless changes to the iconic brand in 2009 which, according to some, may seem like nothing more than an easy tidying up exercise but which in fact was a huge project, taken on by Pio Schunker and a team of independent design consultancies, with an aim to reinforce the brand.

Click here to read this article in full.

Images: D&AD website

X-rayted! sorry, that's a terrible pun.

These images are from a brilliant calendar to promote EIZO, a Japanese medical display monitor company. Amazingly these lads-mag type poses were created from individually spliced x-rays of separate body parts taking a total of 3 months to complete. The designers have done a really great job of creating some extra interest out of what could have potentially been a very dry brief. I really want a copy.

Great thinking!

This campaign is quite old now but as it was run in Lebanon many of you may not have got to see it, which would be a shame. The hair has been die-cut out of the billboard so that it changes colour throughout the day. This is a fantastically creative way to illustrate that the hair dye range is made from natural ingredients. Enjoy.

The new Flake advert

The new Flake advert has been causing much debate, which in terms of marketing must be a good thing. Personally I quite like it. The imagery is stunning and the music (Unfold-by Warren Ellis) is equally beautiful.

A lot of the issues people have with it do ring true though. The first time I saw it a thought it must be for a fragrance, only in the world of fragrance ads can the content bear seemingly no relation to the product until the final shot. The yellow dress with the purple ink is to subtle a link to the packaging colours for most. The imagery does also make me think of jelly fish and sea creatures (although many have compared the dress to floating tripe) at first which is not overly appetising.

There have also been comparisons to a hologram of Kate Moss at a Alexander Mcqueen show which may suggest the idea is not as original as many had thought. The video is below so you can make your own judgment.

Viewing marketing as a luxury is so yesterday!

History tells us why marketing is a must for growth...

Despite a slightly more positive feel, businesses are still struggling to stay afloat in the UK’s challenging economy. If only these businesses knew that their chances of recovery and stability could be increased by a focus on marketing as opposed to cut backs.

Strategies for growth have been set aside by many of the big players past and present, in favour of survival strategies that employ the more obvious cut backs such as heavy discounts and reduced over-heads. Although to employ a strategic marketing plan for growth seems hard to justify in today’s economic environment, committing to a marketing plan and a ‘real’ budget can work wonders for your business and your brand’s longevity.

The depression of the thirties offered opportunities beyond survival and for Kellogg’s, whose profits increased by almost 30% through an increased advertising budget and the launch of a new product – Rice Krispies! Kellogg’s competitor, Post, joint market leaders at the time, employed the cut back strategy and as a result never regained and faded away.

“The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) claims companies are increasingly realising it is the creative marketer, ripe with innovation, imagination and the right budget, who grasps the downturn as an opportunity”

Kate Hilpern, The Independent, 24.06.10

In her article in The Independent, Kate Hilpern discusses why the CIM claim that committing to a marketing plan pays off in a downturn. According to the CIM, there are 6 key reasons.

Click here to read about these reasons in detail and view the full article.