FedEx

This FedEx campaign was done by Leo Valadão (AD) and Luciana Elaiuy (CW) of Universidade Federal De Minas Gerais in São Paulo. It brings up the age old issue of play on words. Where and how does it fare here? Here's an example of a similar executional style done by Patrick Stewart (AD) and Heather Sullard (CW) of Brainco in Minneapolis.

Is one more sucessful than the other? If so why? What are your thoughts on wordplay in an industry where there are rules, and then there are none.

Mercades AMG

Who said you can't put auto in your book? This headline for the Mercades AMG was done by Isaac Pagan (AD) of Miami Ad School and an whose name I will post when I find it out. Thoughts on the headline and its art direction?

Bayer Apsrin

This Bayer Asprin :60 was done by Jonas Mayabb (AD) and Jeff Butcher (Cinemotagrapher) of the Art Center College of Design Pasedena. Impressive as student work, it took a bronze at the 2007 Clios.

HoneyShed

Droga 5's, HoneyShed (beta)is here. Read here for more information. In a marketing age where more and more things are becoming interactive, real time and integrated, what does it mean to students trying to get into the "game?"

Will we start seeing the devaluing of classical creatives (including probably most all of us)--and more people in the bidness about transforming the possibilities of media? Your thoughts.

Brasillian Blues

Long copy--important for writers and art directors, they say. Show you can write, show you can handle lots of type. These Bush Harmonica ads were done by Raquel Salaro (AD), and Bruce Stern (CW) of The Creative Circus. Thoughts on the art direction and writing.

TiVo, Again...Really?

This TiVo outdoor was part of a campaign done by Derek Till (AD) and John Neerland (CW) of Brainco in 2001. It won Gold at the Minneapolis Show.

The TiVo ad on the left, by Adolfo Alcala (CW/AD) and Ozan Aslan (AD) of the Academy of Art University, was part of a campaign that won silver at the 2007 International Andy's. The one on the right, by Moyeenul Alam(AD) and Lucas Napolitano(CW) of Miami Ad School in Miami Beach, also won silver at the 2006 International Andy Awards. These aren't the only ones we've seen.

I don't think there is anything wrong with any of these executions. They're quick, concise and highly functioning. But can we please stop doing TiVo ads? How do they keep winning awards?

Child's Play

This L'Oreal Kids headline campaign was done by Barb Eztkorn (AD) and Theresa LaGuardia (CW) of Brainco. We don't see a whole lot of kids stuff--or good kids stuff. Is the key to create a message thats directed more at parents? And how successful are these headlines working in this difficult product category?

Logo Channel

This Logo Channel ambient piece was done by Parivaz Alloo (AD) of the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. The tag reads: "Television for Gays and Lesbians."

Lessons from a Genius

(Note, in using the term genius I am referring to a definition posted on Advertising for Peanuts a couple weeks ago.)

This isn't necessarily a post about advertising per se--but it is a post about great writing, particularly writing great dialogue. And that's worth significantly more than a dime a dozen (but probably less than their weight in gold). Here's an excerpt from David Milch, writer/creator of Deadwood and John from Cincinnati:

Dialog Step

Perhaps the most important aspect of writing truly great television (and naturally something I've always been good at) is coming up with dialog that just barely resembles what each character is trying to say. When people have to work to understand what the hell is going on, they presume (correctly!) that they must be watching fine art.

I could explain this, but I'm not that good of a writer so I'll just show you through an example. Casey does not want a drink that his friend Adam is offering, but he does want to use his phone.

Adam: Want a drink?
Casey: No thanks. Mind if I use your phone, though? It's a local call. I'll make it quick.

That's horrible. Now let's punch it up by making that exchange harder to follow.

Adam: As I would offer to others who were in my house if they were here and desired it, what say you to a serving of this not-air not-earth not-fire element?
Casey: If I were to answer you in the positive I would be the embodiment of the title of that Henry Rollins Band hit from the mid-90's, and half the embodiment of the title of that Jim Carrey lawyer movie. How much of a strain on our friendship would it be if instead I asked for a rendezvous with one of your appliances which I hold close to my head and stimulate with my mouth?

Better. Not quite there yet, but better. As I learned from Deadwood, cursing is the ultimate hot sauce. It goes great with everything. Let's revise the exchange accordingly.

Adam: As I'd fucking just as soon offer it to others, I'm telling you that a glass of that liquid pleasure can pass between your cocksucking lips if you indicate in the affirmatory.
Casey: Much as I appreciate your gesture of motherfucking kindness, I'd like to communicate with another cocksucker via your telephonic voice relay device.

Now we apply the lessons learned from John From Cincinnati. Anger, insanity, mystery.

Adam: (to a chair) I'd offer it to him, but I doubt he'd... no, no. You're right. (long shot of the chair, with the camera slowly zooming in) Hey, you shitbird! Why don't you partake in this once in a lifetime offer of what some who appreciate potables might accept gladly?
Casey: (pushes Adam onto the ground and pulls out a gun) This is the cocksucking end. I wanted to ask of you a question that would possibly lead me to using your receiver and dialing pad but the device communicated with me directly from across the room vis-a-vis my left and right hemisphere. It told me... (an old scar on his cheek vanishes) These things cannot be undone unless we have fucking started them. All is Babylon.

Asprin

This billboard campaign for Asprin was done by Jan Lohse (AD) and Patrick Duver (CW) from Miami Ad School in Hamburg.

Norton

These ads for Norton System Works were done by Stella Geurtsen and Kris Spape at the Junior Academy for Art Direction in Amsterdam. To me, its an example of a smart visual solution--not a exaggerated benefit (a favorite of the Brasillians).

Thoughts on the significance of the visual solution today, both in the industry and in student work. Is the increase in visually-driven work winning awards both domestically and internationally the effect of:

• Globalism, as ideas today are so readily and instantly communicated without regard to physical distance?
  
• A result of continually declining intellectual capital throughout culture?
• A new age in marketing, where the success of creative endevors in marketing can not be measured inside the box of traditional media--but in its potential to become something far more than just "advertising"?
• Something else?

All thoughts welcomed and appreciated. More consistent posting will likely ensue. And please, send us your work/thoughts/ideas: portfolioparty@gmail.com

Andersen Windows Alt Media

This alternative media/ambient piece was done by Andrew Bernardi (AD), Sarah Brown (AD) and Gabriel Cendoma(CW) of The Creative Circus. Are creative directors more and more wanting executions outside the clutter of print--or when it boils down to it, do they really just want to see print? Thoughts?

Vespa

Sorry it's been so long (busy finishing my last trimester of school). This print campaign was done for Vespa by Jeremy Claud (AD) of VCU Ad Center. Thoughts on the headline campaign? Are pure headline campaigns the hardest to art direct?

Hale, Guinness

The recent debut of "Tipping Point", the latest installment of Guinness' remarkable television commercials, inspired me to post 2 of my all-time favorite t.v. spots. Both directed by Jonathon Glazer, they are masterful in their conception and artful in execution. It begs the question: Why the hell can't we have this stuff on t.v. here in the States?

It borders on art if you ask me. Thoughts? What are you favorite commercials ever made? Please post links.

Un-Natural Defenses

Yes, another NRDC campaign--but I thought it was a pretty interesting and unexpected approach, worthy of some discussion. This print campaign was done by Andrew Glafke (AD) and Gregg Hutson (CW) of the Creative Circus.

Thoughts on the strategy and its implementation. I dig the AD considerably.

Web 2.what is it now?

This web ad for Ampad was done by Priyanka Guha (AD) and Amy Travis (CW) of VCU AdCenter.

It gives us an opportunity to talk about having web/interactive pieces in our student books. I think it's mostly clear that we should all have some web in our book. But what makes a good web ad? Should it play off the environment? Should it truly be interactive? Or is a banner that could work as a print, or outdoor equally as legitimate on the net as it is in print? Thoughts.

English, English!

It's a great language. Here's a Friday/weekend challenge to all of you:

Every poster writes one sentence in the style of the above pictured writer (from left to right: Maya Angelou, Dr. Suess, Ernest Hemingway, Virginia Woolf, Salman Rushdie). I'll start it off with an actual line from an Angelou poem. Every sucessive post must be an original simulation of the author's voice and relate to the previous sentence. After Mr. Rushdie's sentence is written, we start again with Maya (from her poem Insomniac).

Good luck, here's the opening sentence:
"There are some nights when sleep plays coy, aloof and disdainful."
(Dr. Suess, you're up!)

Changing Tides

This Tide print campaign was done by Lindsay Stevens (AD) while she was a student at the Creative Circus.

Thoughts on the po-mo, ad off another ad execution. Has the style become popularized to the point where it has to be absolutely brilliant? Or will it become a staple of more things to come and see?

Used CD's

This piece for Sonic Boom was done by Marqus Bobesich (CW) of Humber College in Toronto. Thoughts on this interesting insight/execution--as well as doing smaller local clients in your book? Should you keep the brand a bigger one if you can?

Slim Fast

This Slim Fast billboard was done by Kyle Grummun (AD) from Syracuse University. Simple, smart and fast. Thoughts?

Sure Lock

I'm sorry, but I couldn't embed the video, but it's a great ad.

I don't know where to start.

All I know is that I'm sure if it'd work people would have quite the demand.

Match Point

Another lovely little Friday afternoon distraction: Layer Tennis. It's a little back-and-forth between designers. It starts with one image created by the first competitor. Then the opponent has fifteen minutes to use the original image to create something new. And so forth and so on. They each have five volleys.

Today's is Marian Bantjes (!) and Armin Vit. Upcoming matches are listed in the sidebar.

Now you know what I'll be doing for the rest of the day.

Headline This:

Write the headline, and or come up with the brand. Have a good weekend!

Edward Jones

This Edward Jones campaign was done by Brady Cotton (AD) and Nobuhisa Tanimoto (CW) of Brainco. Thoughts on the outdoor campaign?

Japanese Efficiency

This Toyota Prius ad was done by Glen Scott (AD) and Matt Bowne (CW) while students at Chicago Portfolio School.

An instructor of mine consistently drives home the point of brutal, pure simplicity in strategy. Is this accomplished here in your opinion?

Farming for Alternatives

These Factory Farm guerilla spots were done by Miranda Gerlock (AD) and Paul Korel(CW) while they were students at The Creative Circus. I think the first one hits home harder because the placement is more relevant.

Thoughts on these ads and the growing importance of having non-traditional media in your book.

Wrong Answers

Hey, it's casual Friday again. So something not in Ad World.

A roomate of mine created this short animation that debuted at a Fearless Film Makers festival in Minneapolis last year. This is one installment of a collection of conversations he had recorded over the years with telemarketers and wrong number calls. Thought I would share it.

Viva la Olympia

How did they get that idea?...

Well, I think...