Alt Media campaign for Amnesty International

I came across this alt media campaign for Amnesty International on Guerrilla Marketing defined this morning. Essentially, Amnesty is doing a "cell tour" around the United States to protest illegal US detentions. "A cell similar to those used at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba is used to really bring the point across and by-passers are encouraged to try on the cell for size and record a message for the official site of the tour."

Falling in love with Traktor

My friend, Grant Eull, a senior interactive art director at Colle+McVoy, recently reminded me about this hilarious ad. The spot, which aired for the first time during the 1998 Superbowl, was made by Traktor, which is based in Venice, California and edited by James Hutchins at HutchCo Technologies. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.



I'm pretty impressed with Traktor. They created another favorite spot of mine from 2005, Levis "Nice Try" 505 Jeans.



And, the Barcardi "No Bad Dancing" spot, which I love.



Way to go, Traktor! Cool stuff!

I love EURO 08 ads

I have to admit as a Liverpool fan and someone who is closely following the EURO 08 I really felt this ad was cool. Then again anything that ties Liverpool to EURO 08 especially since England didn't even qualify (Thanks for that, Russia) is exciting. What do you think? Is it cool or just an easy tie-in for Nike?

Client: Nike
Agency: 72andSunny
Creative Director: Glenn Cole,
Bryan Rowles
Copywriter: Jon Matthews
Producer: Juliet Pearson,
Benji Howell
Production Company: Outsider UK
Director: James Rouse
Director of Photography: David Luther
Executive Producer: Robert Campbell
Editorial Company: Marshall Street Editors
Editor: Jinx
Post Production: Glassworks
Audio Post: Factory Studios
Music Company: One More Music Company

Also, while we're at it, you might want to check this out as well: http://uk.youtube.com/23diaspt

Finally some Jeep ads that speak to me

Ok. So, I tend to be anti-car ads. Most of them are pretty boring. Usually you have the car and some obviously beautiful setting. The ads don't do a lot or say a lot. These new Jeep ads by BBDO Proximity, Malaysia (found at Ads of the World) totally change that. Conceptually, they say everything that needs to be said about Jeep while allowing the viewer to draw the necessary connections. I think they are brilliant. What do you think?


Advertising Agency: BBDO Proximity, Malaysia
Executive Creative Director: Ronald Ng
Creative Director: MUN
Copywriters: Kevin Le, Ronald Ng
Art Directors: MUN, Eric Hor, Gary Lim, Willeon Leong, Hans Lee
Illustrator: Gary Lim
Account Supervisor: Dong Hyun Yoo
Advertiser's Supervisor: Sally Hong

So, I sort of have a thing for Iceland

For a while, I've been in the process of saving jpegs of ads that I like. They give me great concepting and art direction ideas, but probably more importantly they inspire me. Some ads I really like are these 66°North ads by Icelandic Ad Agency, JÓNSSON and LE'MACKS, and photographed by Ari Magg. They won EPICA Gold and Silver awards 2005 and 2006 and several Icelandic gold awards for creative excellence.

"Keeping Iceland Warm since 1926."



I love the quote directly from the 66°North website about these ads: "Why are the models not smiling in the ads? Our ads come directly out of Iceland and are 100% authentic. Our award winning advertising group has won multiple EPICA awards for the unique, stark 66°North, ads. Although they don't seem happy - we promise they are smiling inside and love what they are wearing."

And another interesting one: "Being isolated, Icelanders are artistically creative and independent thinkers. Our newly hired Icelandic ad agency won the EPICA award in Europe – this is equivalent to the CLIO awards in the U.S. – for our unexpected ads with a tinge of Icelandic fortitude and style…this type of independent spirit is reflected in our brand’s use of innovative new materials like eVENT, creating what I call a ‘Matrix Coat' out of Polartec’s Wind Pro Light and tailored, yet athletic signature designs."

Makes sense especially since I see the same artistic, creative, independent spirit in the music of Sigur Ros. Definitely impressed with the advertising, photography and music coming out of Iceland. Perhaps, I should move there!

Brunswick - It's Personal

I'm currently a student at Brainco: Minneapolis School of Advertising. As a student, still pretty early in the program (I'm in my 3rd quarter out of 7), I figured why not put some of my student work out there and get some feedback. Here's some ads for Brunswick Bowling Balls that I've been working on with Sean Jervey. I would love to hear impressions of the work, comments on what could be improved and any ideas for how to make these better.

Judy Abel - Art Director
Sean Jervey - Copywriter

Cool Headline-Driven Packaging

Ran across this cool headline-driven package design today. I think its pretty rare to find strong headline-driven campaigns and even more so with packaging. This is a new design by Beauty Engineered Forever. Only other brand packaging I've liked as much is this from Bumble and Bumble.

Brilliant forward from a coworker

So I got this forward from a coworker and good friend, Angie Koehn, today: "DUE TO OUR BUDGET CUTS, THIS IS MY NEW CUBICLE." Below are the brilliant pictures!