Pure Thinking

Is more ambient advertising a sign of the times?

Brandweek recently published an article providing some interesting insight as to why ambient ads are on the rise - the economy. According to BrandWeek, ads are popping up in more and more public spaces because these previously untouched areas are considered “found money.” So, is the ambient trend less a sign of creativity and more a product of the recession machine? And at what point will we capitalize on any and every visible surface to the point that ambient work can no longer stop traffic, turn heads, and wow the public?

--Kate

Shepard Fairey speaks

Shepard Fairey Interview

From the mean streets as a graffiti artist to winning Presidential campaign artist, Shepard Fairey talks about his influences, inspiration and DIY attitude that got him where he is today. An outlook and attitude that continues to evolve and influence generations to come. - Todd

Uniqlo Human Vending Machines

"Basically we’re going to have two mimes. A male and a female mime inside the machine. And the public can see them through glass. When you get there, we’re going to have Uniqlo reps dressed in the silver bodysuits. And they’re going to hold a thermograph scanner — think of an airport security machine. The thermographer identifies cold spots in your body. After you go through that, you go to the vending machine and push a button and the mimes are going to do a synchronized choreographed routine and then your outfit comes out."

This Holiday shopping event will work to promo Uniqlo's new line of Heat Tech Innerwear. Gizmodo seems wary, but anything involving metallic bodysuits has me sold.

Wipeout

So this is kind of like when you accidentally lock your cat in the dryer, but with a person. Not real of course, but still nice to watch when you're killing time at the laundromat.

Oh, and it's for Wipeout, a TV show that lets you watch people knock themselves out for $$$.

By Colenso BBDO; Via I Believe in Advertising.

Teethers

When I was little, me and my best friend thought that people-eating monsters lived in pool lights. I grew up in Arizona and pools were everywhere, so needless to say this and the accompanying terror ruined some slumber parties. However, now that I'm a grown up, I can see that Trident's take on things in lights- big, teethy things in lights- is a freaking brilliant idea.

Still, let's keep it out of the theaters playing movies rated G.

Becel // Elevator

Awesome ambient by Instanbul's Lowe for Becel (tagline: Love your heart).

Christina Noble Foundation

Vietnam and Mongolia both face serious issues with starving children feeding from garbage on the streets, so Leo Burnett Limited, Hong Kong, created this campaign for CNF to help raise both awareness and support for the problem.

One thing that I really admire about this campaign, whether it was intentional or not, is how affordable it looks like it was to execute. While a lot of projects like this are taken on pro bono anyway, it always kind of creeps up on me that the money used to create them could have done some real good just put towards the problem. Not to say that the advertising for non-profits, etc., doesn't do wonderful things- it does, and it's important, and I don't mean to imply that these campaigns should be abandoned- I just love that this one managed to communicate effectively and cost effectively.

Mini Clubman // NZ

For the Mini Clubman's launch in New Zealand, ad agency DRAFTFCB played the fat card with some well placed carnival mirrors. This is awesome for a few reasons, mainly having to do with the simplicity of the message ("World's Biggest Mini. Coming Soon.") and the campaign's alignment with the entire Mini vibe. Oh, golf claps, golf claps.

Via I Believe in Advertising

Food court musical grabs your attention

Same people that brought you the Grand Central Station Freeze public stunt--the Improv Everywhere group-- also did this entertaining stunt at a Food Court in the Baldwin Hills Mall in LA.

Watch as 16 undercover actors begin a musical about needing a napkin in a crowded food court.

It gets your attention and entertains you. It communicates a message. And some people are probably annoyed (you can't please everyone). Not bad for a marketing campaign.

Public Stunts: The New York Freeze

Here's a video of a public stunt performed at Grand Central Station last month by 207 members of the Improv Everywhere acting group. They refer to it as a "freeze" where they walk into the train station and all freeze their positions at the exact same moment.

After holding positions for 5 minutes, they instantly resume their actions as if nothing had happened, confusing the hell out of the people who had no idea what was happening.

Apparently it went well because a similar group in London copied the act last week in Trafalgar Square.

It's amazing the impact you can have from just a few hundred people doing something slightly unusual in a public area.