Aqueous I & II By Mark Mawson
The extremely talented photographer Mark Mawson got in touch recently. His underwater photography in particular is worth checking out. These stunning images are part of his Aqueous series, a book of which is available though blurb. Lovely stuff to see on a rainy Wednesday.
Old Spice Dadsong
This follow up ad to Old Spice's Momsong almost had me throwing up into my cereal bowl this morning (in a good way). Hats, socks and thongs off to Wieden Kennedy Portland once again.
Peep it:
Peep it:
Milton Glaser
Have a goosey at this interview of Milton Glaser with Steven Heller for Offset earlier this year. Milton Glaser has a lot of interesting things to say about today's world of graphic design and advertising.
I think he particularly hits the nail on the head when he talks about contemporary practitioners (his words, not mine) being fuelled by the idea of fame and riches rather than the pursuit of good work.
Milton Glaser in conversation with Steve Heller from OFFSET on Vimeo.
I think he particularly hits the nail on the head when he talks about contemporary practitioners (his words, not mine) being fuelled by the idea of fame and riches rather than the pursuit of good work.
Milton Glaser in conversation with Steve Heller from OFFSET on Vimeo.
Duluth Trading
As kindly pointed out by George in the comments yesterday, more advertising focused on what makes the product worth buying – imagine such a thing...
By the way, on this subject, George's latest post is well worth a read.
By the way, on this subject, George's latest post is well worth a read.
Carhartt Rain Defender
Roll through angry weather.
This is good advertising. Honest and true.
Not a surprise to learn that this idea came from the in-house Carhartt creative department.
Aldi gives Morrisons a kicking
Aldi have followed Lidl's lead and produced a campaign that exposes Morrisons so-called loyalty scheme.
Whilst this execution doesn't display the same brutality and intelligence of its fellow discounter, it does still go for the jugular and take the high ground of price leadership.
I think it's a really healthy and refreshing thing to see a company take such a direct and no-holds barred approach to communication.
There's way too many ads around where you struggle to find even the remotest expression of a competitive advantage and too many ads bamboozling people with marketing gimmickry.
Hats off to anyone bold enough to run advertising counter to this trend and bullish enough to publicly tackle a competitor head on.
Ad of the day
Introducing the R2 Fish School Complete Fish Training Kit.
That fish doing the slalom has made my day.
Because Christmas.
There's been a lot of discussion surrounding the recent Sainsbury's christmas ad. I for one don't see a problem. After all, what's not christmasy about the mass slaughter of young men forced to go to war? Exactly! Nothing.
If it were me though, I would've had Santa and Rudolph play a cameo role, stuck a hashtag at the end and then flog a load of teddy soldiers stuffing their faces with chocolate, crying they're eyes out, whilst riding Rudolph and cuddling Santa. But you know, not everyone is a marketing genius like myself. #wastedoppurtunity.
In fact I think there should be more global tragedies used to sell shit at Christmas. Like, maybe use the gas chambers of Auschwitz! Or maybe the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki! The assassination of JFK! YEAH, CHRISTMAS!
(In case you haven't realised) I think the Sainsbury's ad is fucking grotesque. If your that bothered Sainsbury's, donate the (no doubt) colossal budget you spunked on that ad and donate it directly. Maybe even reach a little further into your bottomless pockets and donate some more money. Don't use such an awful period in time to try get people into your shop to buy your stuff.
Incase you haven't seen it already, the vomit-inducing ad is below.
If it were me though, I would've had Santa and Rudolph play a cameo role, stuck a hashtag at the end and then flog a load of teddy soldiers stuffing their faces with chocolate, crying they're eyes out, whilst riding Rudolph and cuddling Santa. But you know, not everyone is a marketing genius like myself. #wastedoppurtunity.
In fact I think there should be more global tragedies used to sell shit at Christmas. Like, maybe use the gas chambers of Auschwitz! Or maybe the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki! The assassination of JFK! YEAH, CHRISTMAS!
(In case you haven't realised) I think the Sainsbury's ad is fucking grotesque. If your that bothered Sainsbury's, donate the (no doubt) colossal budget you spunked on that ad and donate it directly. Maybe even reach a little further into your bottomless pockets and donate some more money. Don't use such an awful period in time to try get people into your shop to buy your stuff.
Incase you haven't seen it already, the vomit-inducing ad is below.
The Beauty Of Landing On A Comet
A spaceship from earth travelled 317 million miles to land on a comet travelling at135,000km/h yesterday. Quite an impressive feat. Whilst you are trying to get your head around that check out these amazing shots of the comet taken from the spaceship. Very surreal.
You can see more over on this NYTimes interactive website.
UPDATE: The European Space Agency has a flickr album dedicated to Rosetta (the spaceship) and it's photos over here. They look even more spectacular.
Erik Lamela on TransWorld Sport
Erik Lamela's incredible 'rabona' goal of a few weeks ago was a sight to behold.
Whilst this was a glimpse of his incredible talent, it's fair to say that he's still got a long way to go to fulfil his potential. Potential that was identified over a decade ago in this piece from TransWorld Sport that featured him as a twelve year old and one of the world's most in-demand youngsters at that time.
It's worth a watch if you have a spare five minutes. Even just to see his Caniggia-style ponytail in action.
Whilst this was a glimpse of his incredible talent, it's fair to say that he's still got a long way to go to fulfil his potential. Potential that was identified over a decade ago in this piece from TransWorld Sport that featured him as a twelve year old and one of the world's most in-demand youngsters at that time.
It's worth a watch if you have a spare five minutes. Even just to see his Caniggia-style ponytail in action.
Who said MPUs aren't any good?
Have a look at this mind-bending idea for some company that presumably has a red logo (Vodafone? Santander? Virgin? Coke? The devil?).
I was scrolling, reading a news article when this sex pest appeared with the words "Every 2 minutes" next to him.
I stared waiting for something to happen. A single reason why somebody felt the need to pay someone to make this, to have me look at it. But nothing happened.
Money well spent.
I was scrolling, reading a news article when this sex pest appeared with the words "Every 2 minutes" next to him.
I stared waiting for something to happen. A single reason why somebody felt the need to pay someone to make this, to have me look at it. But nothing happened.
Money well spent.
Keep Kemistry Alive
After 10 years of exhibiting some of the UK's best graphic art, the Kemistry Gallery is facing closure due to redevelopment of their current home. (Which reminds me of this Grayson Perry cartoon, very apt.)
However they are not going down without a fight and have grand plans for the future including establishing a new permanent location. The first step towards that goal is an exhibition in the new year to celebrate the very best of classic and contemporary visual communication, including work by Saul Bass, Milton Glaser, Parra, Jean Jullien and Anthony Burrill. But to do so they need a bit of help and have started a kickstarter project to get enough funding. There's lots of goodies up for grabs to encourage you to part with your cash, all the details are over here.
If you're a fan of the graphic arts then help keep Kemistry alive by backing the campaign.
The Truth Is Stranger Than Satire
You know when the ad business has lost the plot when it's really difficult to tell whether something is truth or satire…
From the guys who brought you CatVertising…
From the guys who brought you CatVertising…
James Victore's Silkscreened Aphorisms
These silkscreened aphorisms from James Victore are great. He was invited to exhibit some artwork for an exhibition in New York's Ace Hotel. However not having anything ready he decided to find some paintings then screen print them with aphorisms. There's something about the incongruity of Cooper Black, fluorescent orange and antique oil paintings that's quite appealing.
See the rest of them over on pinterest.
