For the last two week I was in Mexico for a service learning trip through my school. It truly is an amazing place and I had a great time. While I was there I was always on the lookout for advertisements and other forms of media, however one thing that I kept seeing over and over while I was down there was advertisements for Sol Beer. Sol is the first Mexican sunshine beer and was developed and brewed near Mexico City. I traveled through central Mexico by bus and cab and the one thing I saw over and over was all types of print ads for Sol beer, it truly is everywhere. Street signs, walls, spray painted and posters, billboards, stickers and banners. Every form of print ad is used in Mexico and Sol is known and sold all over( it’s even sold in 7/11 and grocery stores). That was really the only advertising/media that I wanted to post about.
Sometimes you just wish there was a big switch to turn off ads because they’re either really really bad, or you’re just plain sick of seeing them everywhere you go. Well now your wish has come true, but you actually want to turn this ad on, not off. A Toronto bus stop ad has a huge light switch that you can turn on and off. When you turn it on, it lights up and you learn about Toronto’s new Green initiative, livegreentoronto.ca. Copyranter, which where I found this campaign from, makes the good point that this ad is ironic because you have to turn it on which wastes electricity. Although, yes, it is somewhat ironic, I don’t think it takes away from the messaging.
So, Windows 7 is out, and no one really seems to care. Microsoft still hasn’t given me one good reason to switch to the new operating system, so I’ll be using XP until I have enough money to buy a new Mac. The new advertising for Windows 7 is nothing to shout at either. Now I never blog about how bad other advertising is, because that’s just not me, but seriously?! Microsoft what are you thiiiinking? There is nothing new in these ads. They are plain and boring. I would assume that Crispen Porter could come up with something better.
Do these ads do anything for you?! Talk to me. I’d like to know because they do nothing for me. I get what they are trying to accomplish. The ads make the brand seem personal and shows how dedicated they are to listening to consumers wants and needs. It’s a decent message, but I just don’t think it is creatively executed very well. But hey, I’m not Art Director so what do I know.
In related news, Apple has a new set of Mac vs. PC ads out. They’re good, as always.
Look at this guy trying to work his game to a little cutie on the side of the baskteball court. Even though he might have game on and off the court, his dirty pits are enough to make the girl dip out of there faster than an Allen Iverson cross-over. Apparently he’s a nasty chump and deodorant residude is evil. I think what’s more evil might be the brand website itself – www.residueisevil.com – where the first thing that pops up is a big, hairy armpit with little white clumps, and when you click on them they say, “Heeeeeeeey!” like that creepy guy at a party. No joke. Check it out, its really weird.
In an attempt to curb speeding the Elm Grove police department in Wisconsin has implemented an outdoor advertising campaign which tells drivers that “Slower is Better.” The interactive billboards register when the cars speed reaches above 25 mph and gives potential consequences of their high speeds.
American fine artist Robert McGinnis crafted these 1960 style print ads for Stella Artois. McGinnis did film posters for James Bond and Breakfast at Tiffanys back in the day. Not only am I loving the recent work done by Mother for this brand, but this beer post is also in honor of my 21st birthday! Cheers to beer and lots of celebrating.
Spike Lee and Michael Jordan teamed up for this memorable campaign from the late 80’s and early 90’s to market the infamous Air Jordan sneaker. Spike Lee was truly ahead of his time. Enjoy the nostalgia. (print ad/picture credit)
Back to back Nike posts. Why not? This one is much more different and comprehensive than the last though, so take a ride through it with me.
Nike Sportswear is currently celebrating their classic, Air Max 1 running sneaker by releasing it as the Air Maxim. The Air Max 1 is dubbed by Nike as: The Icon of Innovation. As I researched information to write this post, I found a lot of differences in how the Air Max 1 brand is being marketed in the U.S. and other parts of the world.
After a look at the U.S. version of the site dedicated to the shoe, you’ll find some cool stuff, including a flashback poster(shown above), a visual exploration into the evolution of the Air Max 1 into the new Air Maxim, and some in your face pictures of the shoe and supporting copy. All in all, this is a straightforward website. Nothing extraordinary, but still cool.
Now check out the 2 videos that show how the sneaker is being marketed overseas. They get much closer to the brand essence of the classic Air Max 1 than the campaign here in the U.S. does. You see some smooth stop motion visual effects, good music, and good art. Basically, the effort is far more creative. You’ll see.
The first difference to take away is that there is a structured campaign built around the IAM1 Journey. IAM1 breaks down into: I am Air Max. AM=Air Max. I know, probably clear, but still worth pointing out. IAM1 is about the shoe being an expression of one’s style and personality, or swagger, for lack of a better word. The folks behind the Nike Sportswear brand in Europe decided that a great way to depict the idea of individuality, style, art, and culture (all qualites and words that Nike prides itself on as a brand) is to team up with artists, directors, and musicians from 5 different cities in Europe.
The IAM1 Journey in Amsterdam that takes you through the cities creative hotspots is just 1 stop along the the 5 part I AM journey in Europe. If you can navigate your way through this Nike Sportwear site(it’s in a different language), you can take a look at some of the other cities journey’s. All of them are really cool.
I say that some American artists need to hit up the people in charge of the Nike shop in the U.S. with some fresh ideas for marketing the release of the Air Maxim–something more similar to the Big Idea of what’s going on around Europe. Immediatley. Us kids will appreciate it. And we’ll buy your new sneaker. Maybe, if we can find jobs.
Phew. I feel like I just threw a lot of content at you right there. Hope you enjoyed it.
For more on the people who helped produced the IAM1 campaign, go here, and here.
I hope I see stuff like this when I’m London in the Fall. This Audi installation piece is displayed in front of the entrance to the 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed in England. Gerry Judah is the man who created this and he’s also responsible for many other fresh peices of installation art. Check it out.
Scooped up at a Swedish advertising and communication blog Ronnestam.com. Gotta keep it global.
South African newspaper The Zimbabwean centered its recent campaign around Zimbabwe’s down-right crippling economic situation. They took the country’s worthless Z$ trillion dollar bank note and placed thier messaging on it in the form of flyers, billboards, direct mail letters, and posters. The advertising message communicates Zimbabwe’s (and the newspapers’s) current dissatisfaction of President Mugabe’s handling of the economic situation. Here is the challenge the agency TBWA\HUNT\LASCARIS was posed with:
Our client, The Zimbabwean newspaper, has been driven into exile for reporting on how the Mugabe regime has rigged elections, crushed the opposition, caused poverty, disease and the total collapse of the economy. And now, having been exiled, the regime has slapped a 55% luxury import duty on the paper (as if freedom of speech is a luxury) that makes it unaffordable for the average Zimbabwean. To get the paper into Zimbabwean hands, it needs to be subsidised, and our client can only do that by raising awareness, acquiring new customers and driving sales outside Zimbabwe.
Since the award winning campaign started, The Zimbabwean has recieved a siginficant amount of buzz and press throughout the world. Read more on the subject here, and view more pictures from The Zimbabwean’s flickr account.
Recent Comments