advergirl

The Masses Recreate Best-Known Logos

I'm not sure what the research MEANS, but the results are great fun to browse -

Monochrom's Brandmaker project recruited Austrians to draw a total of twelve logos (nine international, three typically European) from memory, 25 people per brand. 

I'm not sure what it really says about the power of brands vs. the art director's penchant for simple, iconic lines rather than detailed coats of arms.  But, like I said, well worth the look ...

Found at: Advertising / Design Goodness

The Ad Life

Am I in danger of becoming a cheeky ad humor blog if I post one more of these? Maybe, but this one is highly worth getting to the tipping point.

Found at Ad Arena, this "spot" was created by Meyocks Group from Des Moins, Iowa to intro their local Addy Awards. And, because the whole world loves self effacing humor, I should tell you that this one leaves no ad gig unmocked - from agency management to AEs to art directors to accountants. A very fun way to end the day (for those of you still reading ad blogs at 10 at night).

Ariel: Disappearing Stain

Really interesting find over at Coloribus - The Del Campo Nazca Saatchi & Saatchi agency in Argenitna developed two fun ways to communicate the stain-fighing power of Ariel detergent -

At a distance, these billboards appear to show a big black stain on the white shirt. However, as the driver gets closer, the stain disappears.

And, less innovative, but still eye catching - they acheive a similar effect with clings on these sliding glass doors.

Dr. Pepper publicity ploy?

You may have already seen the "shelved" Dr. Pepper spots on AdAge.com today. Story is that the soda marketers finished the $5 million spots with  WPP Group before deciding to start over with Y & R.

So, why are they online? Generally when a client nixes a spot, the explicit direction is don't associate this with our brand. Not, skip the media buy, but buzz it around the Internet.

Are marketers increasingly hoping they become the next big viral? Maybe playing on the success of some big word-of-mouse winners?

[W+K London says that their "Choir" ad for Honda Civic has been downloaded 3,000,000 times in a month since launch and that the iPod version of the spot has got into the Top 50 chart on iTunes. "The microsite had a record 679,000 unique visitors during the same reporting period. This led to Honda's highest level of test drive bookings ever."]

I'm wondering how long until our broadcast group is developing Internet-only spots, outtakes, etc.

 

Thanks to Ian for the find and the question...

Continuous partial attention

We advertising types tend to be mobile peoople - jumping clients, jobs, even cities. And, with each jump comes the constant undercurrent of negotiating the de facto rules of the situation. The dress code says x, but people really wear y. The business hours are 8 - 5, but it's a career killer to leave before 7. And, then there's availability...

The mobile world has made negotiating the issue of "availability" even more insistent. You can check email 24-hours a day and some people would suggest that you should. You can interuppt an evening with your loved ones to take six phone calls from coworkers or you can turn off the phone after 7. What to do ...

Collective Conversation found this great article called "(Some) Attention Must Be Paid!" from Newsweek,

"A live BlackBerry or even a switched-on mobile phone is an admission that your commitment to your current activity is as fickle as Renée Zellweger's wedding vows. Your world turns into a never-ending cocktail party where you're always looking over your virtual shoulder for a better conversation partner. The anxiety is contagious: anyone who winds up talking to a person infected with CPA (continuous partial attention) feels like he or she is accepting an Oscar, and at any moment the music might stop the speech."

"Constantly being accessible makes you inaccessible."

Makes you want to lose your cell phone for a while, huh?

The Adwords Addict

Ok, not the type of thing I'd usually post, but I got a request from this other odd guy - so, what the heck. It's a little AdWords madness viral for you...

Soon, we'll be the only ones watching these things...

I'm not usually one to believe the hype about the death of the :30 second spot. But, new research from the Association of National Advertisers and Forrester Research is certainly worth a look -

They interviewed - essentially - clients of advertising agencies. Marketers from Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Verizon, Colgate, etc. And found that "nearly four in five marketers surveyed believe that television advertising is less effective than it was just two years ago."

"Close to 60 percent of the advertisers say they will spend less on conventional TV advertising when DVRs spread to 30 million homes, the survey said."

The study suggested that marketers are looking to fill the gap with product placement, program sponsorship, interactive ads within programs and online video ads.

At least we're done with the podcasts. Blech.

Article.
Press release.

For a counter selling point, check out AdLab's DVRs don't kill commericals, people do.

Instant photo marketing

Great gadget marketing!

Use this instant Polaroid camera to create personalized branded experiences.

1. Take a pic of a willing consumer.
2. Camera prints a ticket with a unique URL.
3. Consumer goes to URL to see pic in fun branded environment.
4. If your luck holds, they pass it on to friends to ooooh and aaaah over.

Check out the site.

Found at: MIT Advertising Lab

Awash in duckies

This is a wonderful spot.

Unfortunately, the only two versions I can find of it online are (1) not in English and (2) either incomplete or out-of-order.

(Link one. Link two.)

Still, the concept is so good that I think you can get the idea ...

Here's the story:

In 1992 a merchant ship was caught in a horrible storm and sank betweebn Hong Kong and San Diego, losing all its cargo.

Over 20,000 yellow rubber ducks.

14 years, 6000 miles later, residents of Strattford, Scotland woke to find the ducks invading their shore.

Life's full of surprising endings.

Seat Toledo. Extraordinary from beginning to end.

I'm sure the English version of this spot is out there somewhere ... please comment with a link if you have one.

Thanks!

"Weekend at Bernie's"-inspired ads?

This might be another one to file under "why art director's should go to bed before 3AM." 

The "Road Sense" campaign for the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia uses the tag "it's no fun if you're dead" to try to get young drivers to slow down.

The campaign - reportedly pretty successful to-date - has a number of interactive elements, ranging from SMS sweepstakes to a fun Web site.

Agency: Wasserman + Partners