Archive for May, 2011
Giant public pinscreen thing reveals human truths
Posted on 31. May, 2011 by Jonathan Cherry.
There’s one of these in the Metalmorphosis caravan at the Old Mac Daddy trailer park in Elgin that we played around with.
It’s a human-sized pin screen that, when you press your entire body into it – leaves a visible impression thanks to some of the 6,000 chromed capped aluminum pins being depressed. You probably had the toy version as a kid.
This installation from Clerkenwell Design Week is “Be a Pin Up!” from Lulu Guinness. Naturally when you give people an entire body length display platform that they can manipulate you’re going to get a few dodgy interpretations on the theme.
But hey, that’s what makes us all just one step away from Ron Jeremy.
[thanks Isabeau]
Longboard Girls Crew: A spring afternoon in the Madrid Mountains
Posted on 30. May, 2011 by Jonathan Cherry.
Nothing shouts springtime in Madrid more than a group of ladies carving up a mountain on boards.
Such honest visuals. Lovin’ it!
Outside In – The Story of Art In the Streets
Posted on 30. May, 2011 by Jonathan Cherry.
While Hollywood insists on producing movies that resemble something you’d find at the end of a rock concert in a portable toilet – the world of documentary film making continues to improve.
As you would expect, brands have spotted the opportunity to associate themselves with the trend and getting involved under the label of ‘branded entertainment.
Levi’s has released a new art-inspired product as part of its ongoing collaboration with the MOCA museum started in Los Angeles in April—the jeanswear brand opened its new Levi’s Workshop at the ‘Art In the Streets’ exhibition of the museum and on May 24 it has released a hilarious short movie ‘Outside In: The Story of Art In the Streets,’ which showcases the process of arranging the event and interviews with graffiti influencers, “documents the artist’s creative process, their pitfalls with the law, the poetic impermanence of their craft and the artists’ evolution from the back seat of a cop car to the walls of a well-respected institution” as the synopsis states.
More about: Outside In- The Story of Art In the Streets here
It’s like a traditional TV ad, just a lot more expensive and useful.
Japanese gravity marimba
Posted on 27. May, 2011 by Jonathan Cherry.
A gravity marimba that plays Bach In An Ancient Forest [along with cats playing the fool] also has to be something you’ll spend time watching online. Very impressive, but the cat just needs a bowl of Kibbles and a scratch on its head – this takes a bit more organisation.
via
[thanks to Rob for sending this in]
How to make a viral video
Posted on 27. May, 2011 by Jonathan Cherry.
It’s simple – there’s only one proven method. Shoot a video of a cat doing stupid things and slap your logo on the end of it.
Simple, proven and cost effective.
Next…
Isn’t it just that we all hate this type of advertising?
Posted on 26. May, 2011 by Jonathan Cherry.
Playing the race card
The American media / public are apparently getting hot and bothered over this Dove print ad – that according to some commentators could possible be communicating that this skin cream will magically transform a black woman into a Latino woman and then, after continued use, finally to a white woman.
Now the overall racial make up of Madison Avenue is in question and the public are demanding blood.
But isn’t it just a case of a small spark lighting a bush fire that is primed for ignition. Aren’t we all just a little sick and tired of being stereotyped and convinced that we need to buy the crap that these consumer machines feed us like blind zombies? Any trigger will do.
The industry needs to realise that what people want is authenticity and transparency. In other words, what’s hot right now is something that the global advertising industry is not.
More: Dove Ad Casts Spotlight On Madison Avenue Racism – Huffington Post
Update: Unilever South Africa sent us this in response to this post:
“We believe that real beauty comes in many shapes, sizes, colors and ages and are committed to featuring realistic and attainable images of beauty in all our advertising. We are also dedicated to educating and encouraging all women and girls to build a positive relationship with beauty, to help raise self-esteem and to enable them to realize their full potential.
The ad is intended to illustrate the benefits of using Dove VisibleCare Body Wash, by making skin visibly more beautiful in just one week. All three women are intended to demonstrate the “after” product benefit. We do not condone any activity or imagery that intentionally insults any audience.”
Danny MacAskill plays in Cape Town
Posted on 25. May, 2011 by Jonathan Cherry.
Scottish street trials pro rider Danny MacAskill was in Cape Town recently, using the city for what it was design to be – a giant playground. He was brought out here by Leica who created these awesome videos.
Such a pity we didn’t get to meet the guy while he was here. Feeling rather bleak about that.
Complete street design: The future of cities
Posted on 25. May, 2011 by Jonathan Cherry.
Future cities are going to look and function very differently from how the work and look now.
Perhaps the popularity of social media has reminded designers that people do actually enjoy interacting with each other and their environment – even without the use of a screen. Weird but true.
The Stig gets a new job…
Posted on 24. May, 2011 by Jonathan Cherry.
…at a top secret Hot Wheels Testing Facility.
Since the BBC decided to ‘relieve him of his duties’ on Top Gear, The Stig has been without work. But now, wearing a new suit and multi-coloured head, he’s back where he belong – at the wheel of a modified Hyundai somewhere in the desert. Happiness!
Kids marketing: Whatever happened to the Coke yoyo?
Posted on 23. May, 2011 by Jonathan Cherry.
Super cool
When we were in junior school [that would have been the the 80's] the hottest and most widely supported craze involved doing tricks with Coke / Fanta / Sprite branded yoyos.
Non-branded versions didn’t cut it – you had to have the smooth spinning radness of either a Coke, Fanta or Sprite branded piece. You could buy them or save up the inner liners of bottle caps to exchange for one.
Coke even sent around professional yoyo teams to demonstrate tricks to school kids during assembly. The success of promotion spread like wildfire via word-of-mouth through the school social networks and has to have been one of the most powerful promotional projects ever undertaken in South Africa. You’d be buying Coke just to score yet another yoyo to add to your collection, because the 15 you already had just wasn’t enough.
Fast forward 30 years and we wonder if the same idea would work today? Are simple things like yoyos too lame to cut it in 2011 on the playground?
