Mini Cooper AR Ad. Best Print Ad of 2008.

This is the coolest print ad of 2008. If you disagree I will fight you.

MINI has used augmented reality (AR) technology to create a truly interactive media piece out of a 2-dimensional magazine ad.

Using AR tracking technology, as you hold the ad up to your computer’s webcam, you’ll see a 3-D model of a MINI Cabrio convertible that moves as you turn the sheet of paper around. SWEET SHIT.

[not me in the pic]

All you need is a copy of the ad, a webcam, and a web browser (sorry, Internet Explorer/ActiveX only) to view the 3-D AR effect.

The ad appeared recently in three German automotive magazines: Auto, Motor und Sport, Werben & Verkaufen and Autobilde.

Interested to see how it works?
Print out a PDF of the ad and head on over to the MINI augmented reality web site to have a look. Trust me it is really cool.

The race to be #2 is on......

via MediaPost via ARTweets]Via technabob

Facebook Connect: Implications

Found a great presentation from Razorfish about the future of portable social graphs and the data use implications for brand sites. Facebook Connect is starting to become more common across sites in the web and I think that the applications of it could be fascinating. Don't know what I'm talking about?

Check out the presentation here:

Portable Social Graphs - Imagining their Potential

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: retail marketing)

Fear causes conservative thinking

An interesting presentation about inspiring play, to inspire ideas.

Does your company inspire play? If so how? Does it help with idea creation? Or do you find your ideas become the best when you hide away from each other and return with your thoughts?

Digital is the aim

From the London Telegraph...

It is the aim of Publicis to make 25pc of revenue from online advertising by 2010. The group has also been working secretly with Google on advertising strategy, with a an update due in January.

"It has to do with better targeted advertising, making it more sophisticated," he says. "We will advertise to people through their habits. Analytics and targeting online will be key in the future." There was scepticism when the Google deal was first announced, as observers saw Publicis sleeping with the enemy that threatens traditional revenues.

I am interested to see what the "update due in January" is? What do you think the update will be. Will Publicis be offering clients access to Google Ad Labs, or Media Labs products? Or will reduced fees be offered for testing and case studies?

See the full article here.

AKQA Happy Holiday's

Some agencies spend a lot of time creating Holiday greetings that can't be ignored. What I like about this one is that it's a simple video, cool idea and great execution. Found on Adverblog, I'm sure this is going to be one of many Agency Holiday "ideas" over the next couple of weeks.



Why would an agency spend time, money and resources against something like this? It doesn't have anything tied to it. It's not for a client. And it's using creative time when they could be focused on something else.

That being said, it says something when you can create a video that goes viral just for the sake of spreading some Holiday cheer. And I'm sure the long-term return of this for the agency will have massive (revenue) benefits.

Time Magazines favourite TV ads of 2008

#1


I forgot that I wanted to post this spot. Recently voted Time Magazines favourite TV ad of 2008. Well done Publicis Seattle.

#2 FedEx - Horror


#3 Nike - Fate


#4 Microsoft - Im a PC

#5 AT&T - Scorsese

#6 Old Spice - TV Doctor

#7 Visa - Dead last

#8 Obama - Infomercial

#9 Gutar Hero - Dream Band


#10 You will only know if you click

Are you as surprised as me with a few selections. Time seems to have a hard-on for celebrities in TV spots.

AdJoke will be sharing plenty of our own "The best and worst of 2008" lists between now and New Years.

Designing Obama's Logo

Part I


Part II


The adaptability of the logo amazes me.

"WE WANT VIRAL!" screams Pizza Hut

Another client screams for viral video and guess what, agencies happily oblidge. This new video from Pizza Hut did get 100,000 views in just over a weekend, however I've got to say that the positioning doesn't really work for me:

"Pizza Hut is so good we want to throw it in the face of small town Pizza shops all around the US. Who cares about the recession! Go corporate or die!"

Wouldn't this execution have been way better if the guy went into a Papa John's or Domino's? I mean, why the hell would you have gone into a mom and pop shop to have done something like this?

I don't know about you, but I bet the original concept was about 100x stronger than the execution.

WTF of the week - Remi Kart

I hope the running from the cops part is real.

The Best Viral Videos of 2008

Simply amazing. I love it. Just watch. This video just made my day.

Zuji Helps You Save...

I love when advertising goes beyond basic messages. The new travel site, Zuji, gives people ways to travel cheaply and take (much needed) holiday's. Rather than create an easily ignored campaign that focus on them being "the greatest resource in travel" or "the cheapest way to get away" propositions, they did something different.

They made beans.

Thousands of cans of beans.

And they sold them. For ten cents a can.

Zuji understood that people need to save money in order to even consider going on a vacation. You don't start searching without the financial comfort of knowing that you're actually going to be able to afford to go somewhere in the first place.

Zuji wanted to help people save money for their trips. So they created a common item cheaper than the rest and sold it in their stores.



This video has less than 2,500 views but I hope that it catches on (especially in our idea-driven industry). This isn't the first time we've seen a brand create a new product to help their overall perceptions, but it's a great example of thinking different and developing work that can't be missed.

Thanks to Adverblog for the link.

RBC goes cartoons, TD Bankorth goes....Puppets?

RBC worldwide has launched spots filled with globetrotting cartoon Dad's, Bowler hat bankers and more.

Not to be outdown by RBC, TD Banknorth has gone to paper-clipping puppets of Regis & Kelly, like the kind I made in Grade 4 to announce the merger of TD and Commerce.

Don't use cartoons or puppets to talk to me about my finances. My savings and investments are real and matter to me.



Then the puppets magically morphed into the real Regis & Kelly. Oh but wait, it is a campaign because they both include therapists.


Find more videos like this on AdGabber

Before everyone jumps on me and says "What about the Blue Water project spot from RBC", I will say yes I like it. Its great, but the execution makes sense for the message.

Google Canada - What Do We Search?

A collegue of mine (who is a Doctor...not like a real one but a P.H.D) sent me this article about Google Searches in Canada. For the past few years, Google has released its Zeitgeist report (German for "Spirit of the Times") to help show current web trends and provide insights into what people are searching.

This is the first time they've included Canada and it's interesting to see what Canadians have been searching for the past year. The top search? "Facebook". At number 2 and 3 are "YouTube" and "Lyrics" respectively.

The article also provide a list of the most searched political parties in Canada (Green Party, Liberal, Conservative, NDP then Bloc) and the top celeberities (Britney Spears, Jessica Alba and Heath Ledger coming in the top spots).

Search is a critical component to developing effective communications plans and I think many marketers simply think of it as an afterthought. ("Great, now that we've got the TV spots nailed, let's buy some search words!") Some of the best books I've read this year (Click and Super Crunchers) are solely about using data (and search data) to create campaigns that resonate and stick.

Tools like Google Trends for Search are immensly helpful in understanding seasonal trends in search as well as understading how your target searching for something. There are fantastic, free tools out there that people just don't use when planning campaigns or thinking about their target.

Another bailout Joke

Found on Boing Boing

Think Your Going to get Fired?

No matter what industry you're in, you can't avoid the fact that the global economy is in a recession. You also can't help but imagine what 2009 is going to be like, what your clients are going to want (need) you to do, and - most importantly - if you'll have a job in twelve months.

Mashable's as put together a great top 10 list of things to do to help increase your personal brand in the workplace. One of my favorites:

"It’s really easy to brand yourself an innocent observer. The problem is that consumers aren’t sharing any value with the world, while producers are building value in themselves and getting their ideas noticed. Try and start a podcast series or write a blog about what you love. Something you’re really passionate about, whether it be work or play. People will begin to notice and be drawn to your brand. Being a producer is much more rewarding, and it causes your network to flourish, thus positioning your brand for career success."

The Agency Life

We had some good news today - won a major pitch that a lot of the agency has been working on over the past 4 months. It was tough, challenging, inspiring and worth it. And not necessarily because we won.

It's funny how pitches work. The thrill of working with a team for nights on end, building work that is free from restrictions and daily client feedback. Doing what you think is best and presenting it with confidence.

Then you wait. And wait. And hope.

Sometimes things work out. Other times, you just wonder what the other agency did that was so much better - especially when you thought you did everything that was possible.

Northern Planner wrote a great post about why losing feels so much worse than winning. I agree. To those pitching right now, good luck. To those that just got some bad news, here's to figuring out what to alter in the future.

More on Obama and Technology

Forbes.com has posted an article in which they asked some "silicon valley thinkers" (whatever in the hell that means) what they learned from Obama's campaign. Not groundbreaking answers but worth a read.

I am excited to see what the worlds largest communication budget does now that technology and social media turns it on.

The very presidential looking Change.gov is a great start, but will it continue?

Go Miniman Go!

Even though this site launched in August, it's sweet - especially for Lego nerds. Not only can you create your own Miniman, you can watch a ton of cool stop-motion Lego video's created by passionate lego people around the world.

I'm not sure about the metrics on this website, but it's simple to use and great for someone whose a lego nerd. Not that I was ever a lego nerd and loved going to Legoland...

Christmas = books. Need your help.

I celebrate Christmas, and every year my Christmas list usually contains a half dozen or so books.

This year my list has:

1. The Outliers - Malcolm Gladwell
2. Grown Up Digital - Don Tapscott
3. Crowdsourcing - Jeff Howe
4. The Cool Factor - Del Breckenfeld
5. Brand Digital - Allen P. Adamson

What is on your list? Have you read any of these titles and think I should re-think?

Or if you are one of the authors send me a copy and I would be happy to post a review ;)

Better Than Free - Your Guide to the Future

Remember Kevin Kelly? We posted about his fabulous TED talk a few months ago and I've been obsessed with his blog ever since. Kevin is a futurist | web expert | blogger | idea man and one of the smartest people out there when it comes to thinking about what's next.

He's written a short piece called Better Than Free and I urge anyone who works in digital or is interested in the space to download it (free) and read it.

Essentially, it describes what it's like to work in a world of free content and goes into 8 ways that groups will make money in the years to come off of it. The internet, he writes, is one giant copy machine. Anything that's posted on the web can be taken, copied and passed on with little consequence.

As a result, we've got to find new ways to add value and create desire for users to pay for specific things. I won't get too deep in the hopes that you read the article but if you want to say anything smart for the next year, I'd take five minutes out of your day.

Don't give presents. Give Experiences.

Check out this commercial for Red Balloon Experiences.



I just browsed through the site and it is full of some pretty amazing experiences. If you have been considering starting a bucket list, click here for ideas.

He who knows, Knows. Isenbeck Beer.

Just finishing a couple of posts then I am off to register for ballet classes.



Thanks Ad broad for the find.

The Links - Pauls edition

1. The nastiest cult - Blackberry user. Read Why this is true.
2. Try to please everyone and you please no one. Use this visual to explain that statement to morons.
3. EVERYTHING IS AMAZING. Nobody is happy. Watch this. You'll laugh, you'll re-think everything. Seriously this is good TV.
   
4. Target & GAP launch iPhone apps just in time for the holidays. Read more here.
5. Sean Avery is an idiot. Don't waste your time watching this.
6. New Macbook commercial. Macbook has gone green.

Obama and New Media

A lot has been written about the Obama campaign being the greatest political campaign of all time. He raised more money than anyone (over $600 million US), dominated in the polls and created brand enthausists like nobody else.

A few days ago, one of his lead new media communication strategists - Rahaf Harfoush - gave a talk to the Rotman School of Business on the power of new media. For web 2.0 natives, the presetation might seem a bit basic but the strategies behind it are solid and proven.

My favorite tidbits:

- "4 days before the election, 3 million calls were made using the Obama Neighbor to Neighbor application"
- "639 million raised (in comparrison to McCain's $360)"
- "Half of all New Media Campaigns fail - find the sweet spot [and develop a good strategy to win]"

Yes We Did: Strategic Insights from the campaign that redefined modern politics

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: organizations politics)

Thanks to Nick for the reference and link.

Whoppervirgins.com

13 planes. 2 Dog Sleds. 1 Helicopter. A bunch of whoppers. A bunch of virgins.

In 3 days, 12 hours 40 minutes and 17 seconds from when I grabbed this screenshot the results of the taste test will be revealed.

CP+B and Burger King have gone to remote areas of Thailand, Iceland and Romania to ask people what they think about the Whopper and which they prefer; the whopper or the Big Mac.

I can't wait to see the footage on whoppervirgins.com

Thanks Dr. Steck for sharing.