Goodbye Cellulite

Spotted this in Cr, and thought "cool". It's quick, clever and good use of media.

Unfortunately while searching for the Nivea image, I was disappointed to discover someone had got there first two years ago in Russia. It's hard to know if the creatives at TBWA NY knew of this, and one could argue they have made much better use of the idea. However, it spoiled my initial "ahhh.." reaction.

Stop motion of the 70's

Here's some of those animations from the seventies/early eighties I was going on about below - God, we found them entertaining when we were little!

Some Colourful Ads

I've had hardly any time to devote to my little Blog since I started at Tribal and felt increasingly out of touch with all things creative so have a done a little trawling on some of my favourite blogs, and good ol' advertising sites, just to remind myself what business I'm in.
It's often quite frustrating when you see an ad in print or on Tv that has used an idea you came up with yonks ago, but got ditched somehow, and the latest Saatchi ad for NSPCC is a good example for me. And I personally don't think the tool of the butterflies work as well as we had in our concept. I'm referring to the coloured butterflies that flutter about around children's playgrounds, weaving in and out of children, then one comes up against a glass window and can't get in. On closer inspection you can see that the butterflies are actually two ears flying - representing the counselling service that the NSPCC offer.
Years back while working on a brief for the COI, my partner and I had an idea for a campaign against fraudsters who cheat the system and don't pay their taxes. The Inland Revenue were setting up a hotline for people to call up and 'dob' these people in. (I know, a REALLY effective way of catching tax evaders!) So we had these sweet butterflies fluttering about while some guy was blagging to his mate how to always pay cash, that way you don't have anything on paper to catch you out.. These innocent cute butterflies were actually conniving ears flying about. I think we may have even ended with them splitting apart and smacking themselves onto an earwigging neighbour...! Anyway it used the whole thought that if walls had ears - watch out.
A much stronger strategy don't you think?
Oh well.
An ad I do like at the moment is the Ford Fiesta ad created by Ogilvy.



I was reading in Creative review the other day that they commissioned 20 artists/designers to create the films on the tv's that move about. They are really cool, but it is so quick you can't appreciate the hard work that probably went into them. The reason it caught my eye when I first saw it was it reminded me of the cut and paste style animation they used to use on Sesame Street - you know, sometimes for learning the eight times table, or sometimes for no reason at all. They were always really eighties and graphical. The endline 'this is now' has recieved a lot of criticism within the industry e.g 'What is it saying?' But I like it. How deep can you be about a new car? This is now. Done.

Are You being Served? Exhibition.

Before I started my new job at Tribal, I managed to squeeze in a quick exhibition at the Bethnal Green museum of Childhood. As well as housing a large collection of dolls, toys and childhood memorabilia (remember Strawberry Shortcake!), the space at the front hosts exhibitions of local artists. The current one on show entitled Are you being Served is a collection of photographs by Tom Hunter, portraying the variety and communities of local shops in Hackney and Bethnal Green. All shot front on, to give the viewer the idea of what they may see if they were to be served by the subjects, it is fascinating to see them all as a collection. Yes, as individual images they are intriguing, but it is by seeing the whole series that you really get a feel for the area and the people that inhabit it. The shops give a hint as to the cultural mix of people that are drawn to theses areas and the services or products required. You also get a sense of which shops have staying power or may have been passed down through generations, even those not stopping.
What I liked about them was the great sense of human presence and activity within sometimes a very small space.

Santogold music video

Continuing the paper cut-out theme, santogold have done a beautiful video with folding paper people. Not sure who made it - anyone?

My own craftywork

While I wait for the final publication of the book I worked on at Langland, I thought I'd put up an element of it that I worked on, that wasn't my usual art direction. This, I carefully handmade with hundreds of sequins and some beading. It will be form part of the pages in the upcoming book 'Stop and Smell the Stilton', aimed at oncologists who deal with terminal cancer patients. It is then aimed at the patients to give them a positive take on their remaining months, once the initial shock of the diagnosis has set in. The book will make more sense once I put up the final piece, due out at the end of July.

Paper Cuts to Love

Here's some beautiful work by paper artist Rob Ryan who makes all sorts of intricate designs just from cutting out paper. Upon first look it is just 2d illustration, then you see the shadows and really appreciate the handiwork. Rob has created works for window displays, record covers, and book designs. Can't say anymore really, just check out his site!

It's Rainham sheds!

Just watching this makes me drool over sheds. "According to all sources the prices are low" Genius.

http://www.rainhamsheds.co.uk/

Found on Karma blog.

The Big Idea - you'll get there in the end

I went to a really interesting talk last night hosted by the She says gang. It was all about the psychology of getting an idea, and how to allow yourself to get to the eureka moment. The evening consisted of four speakers all with fascinating nuggets of information to share.
One speaker, Dawn Sillet of Creative mastery mentioned something quite interesting about how the brain works. She said that as human beings we are inanely structured to solve a problem. And that if we allow our brain to, it will come up with the goods in the end. Rather like when you forget what you wnet going upstairs for, but remember when you get back down. Or when remember the answer from the pub quiz, when you are on the way home two hours later. That is often why we get our best ideas in the bath or on the loo. it is hwile we are relaxed, and our brain subconciously makes the connections, and solves the problems that we've been struggling to earlier. So when you see Creatives mucking about on the Foossball or lounging about, it is actually work. It is good to allow the brain time to breathe. That said it is all about balance (as with everything). So we need stimulus, challenges, deadlines, motivation, stress, calm, wacky ideas and logic to come up with the best ideas.
So if you catch me running around naked, hollering like a red indian, then stopping to do a suduko, you know why.

Crafty Tea

I'm all for a good cuppa and biscuits, so these were right up my street. And the fact they are hand crafted by British knitters or part of a fairtrade scheme in Asia makes them even better.
I came across them in this sweet little shop in Kingly court, Carnaby street, All The Fun of the Fair. I really felt like a kid in a toy shop as it took me back to childhood. they have all sorts of bits and pieces, buttons, haberdashery for all your crafty needs. Or if you just need an interesting baby present, my fav was the carrot rattle.
The top pictures are handmade pieces by Bugs and Fishes who makes kitsch pieces, from teacups to butterflies and birds. Love it.

Cool Animation

'MUTO' a wall painted animation by BLU from Brazil:




http://www.vimeo.com/993998

PostSecret

This may not be new to some of you, but I came across this article in the Sunday times and upon looking further it was relevant to project I'm currently working on at Langland.
It's about a project called 'Postsecret', initiated by Frank Warren in America. He asked members of the general public to submit their deepest darkest secrets on a plain A6 postcard. He invited people to reveal their regrets, fears, loves, desires and embarassing secrets to him anonymously; anything as long as it is true and it has never been shared before. Frank collected them together on a website after receiving over 10.000 cards in under a year. Secrets were sometimes moving or funny or just plain weird: 'I stole valium from my epileptic dog', 'I waste office supplies because I hate my boss', and 'I've always wanted to rob a bank'.
What became apparent was that by opening up their deepest thoughts, people actually began to help others, and a kind hearted supportive community developed. the project continued and he has published many books on this fascinating exploration of people and what goes on behind closed doors. For more laughs and insights visit www.postsecret.com

Where have I been?

I missed my blog too!
I was quite pleased when I got a few messages from readers asking what's going on with my blog. I haven't disowned it - just been extremely busy.
By royal appointment to the Ad industry, I'm freelancing in an agency right next to Windsor castle. And seeing as I spend a great deal of time travelling there (I live in North London), it doesn't leave much time for blogging. *Any donations of a laptop are welcome.

Meanwhile I have a stash of articles and links that I want to put up, so bear with, and apologies if you've seen it already - I can't always be on top of what's Hot!

Embroidered Graffiti

I found this very amusing: A Swedish artist, Ulrika Erdes encourages people to not only express themselves using good old fashioned embroidery, but of those who do, they leave such charming messages on public transport. From 'Hello' to 'Hugs' or a picture of a bird, it's hardly rebellious. How very Swedish.

MoveMe

For any of you that travel on the Victoria Line, an organisation called Artbelow have taken over the space at Finsbury park Tube station. During my many minutes on the platform, I've been admiring some nice pieces of work by artists supporting the 'Move me' campaign to encourage people to Cycle. I'm already a bike lover so can appreciate the sentiments expressed, and hopefully others do too.






To view the complete exhibition, visit http://www.anythingmac.co.uk/artbelow/

Grand Freeze at Central Station

This is really good - a new take on flash mobbing with people freezing at Grand central station, New York.

On your Melons, get berry...squash!

Strange one this, but came across my doodle from last week when I was pondering about my forthcoming interview at Innocent. Here's how it went:


I'm still waiting to hear about my score...

Now Art is Advertising

At first when I saw this I thought it was a reverse of the ongoing debate about Advertising copying works of art, and that some piss take artist was mimicking an Ad campaign. But no, it turned out to be another case of Advertising copying advertising.
I'm referring to this latest website for the Nokia N82 series, www.theworldismycanvas.com
A character named Stavros, introduces us to his concept of 'Position Art'. He creates works of art (well, doodles over overhead maps) using GPS technology, namely on his Nokia phone.
It reminded me of the character ' Van der Puup' that Karmarama created in the 'Elite Designers Against Ikea' campaign.
I realise the concept is different, but it does mock camp 'artistes'. Saying that I do like it. particularly the work' my feelings towards my neighbour'. The video of his early techniques is quite nice too.
What does everyone think?





http://www.theworldismycanvas.com/

Peaceful London

I was really struck by this image in this month's Creative Review, created by artist Gregor Graf. By stripping streets of their commercial clutter, signage and advertising, the familiar Oxford Street becomes virtually unrecognisable. It's really quite liberating, and for me, reveals a beauty in what are usually quite mundane buildings. What an interesting concept.

Victoria

Soho

'Hidden Town' is on at the Austrian Cultural Forum until 4th April. More on the CR blog.

Don't Poke Me!

It's been one of those unproductive days today and I've ended up blog trawling. Check out my de.li.cious page to see what I've enjoyed reading.
One extraordinary phenomena that caught my eye was on Iain Tait's blog about a new application on facebook called add my gear'. Basically it uses a new technology that is currently only built into mobiles in Japan and the US, but won't be long before it's over here. By scanning a code, the phone then follows to the webpage - or in this case your facebook profile page, rather than you typing in the URL. The application of course is designed to get more people adding friends by flirtily wearing their QR code on a t-shirt or bag (the makers of which are linked withe the FB application. So my page link would look like this:

(except my bag would be a lot cooler)

..and if you've downloaded the technology for your phone, you could then stalk me by scanning my bag (scary). Still, I think this has interesting potential for other brands. If a 'QR' code is available for certain webpages, we could see more imaginative, illustrative looking advertising, subliminally inviting you to scan and visit that site (if you happen to be at the right place at the right time etc..). But as with all new fandangled technology, it will be cool until it's widespread and overused.

Who Pays campaign

I said I'd give Rob a mention so here it is: (plus its a good idea for a really good cause)

Nonsense have done a sweet widget-y campaign for ActionAid UK, designed to get people to take the "Who Pays? pledge", in the hope that tougher regulations will be brought in to ensure UK supermarkets treat suppliers more fairly in developing countries.
You can find out more here or by watching my silly face you can either pass it on and sign up or create your own. It's fun, and has a good message behind it (plus with voice overs from Bill Bailey you can't go wrong).

How to win an argument

....Ply your Clients with Coffee!

Sounds too easy doesn't it? But according to Pearl Martin of the University of Queensland, Brisbane a few doses of caffeine can make you more easily convinced by arguments that go against your beliefs.
In 2005, her team published a paper. They suggested that stimulators in caffeine improves your ability to understand the reasoning behind strong arguments. So you are more likely to end up agreeing with something that goes against your typical views.

So those posh coffee perculators in meeting rooms aren't just for effect. You've been warned...

Water anyone?

Spreading the Love and Creativity

It's that time of year again where everyone is under pressure to either send/receive/avoid sending/ waiting to recieve/ deliberately not sending, hesitating, do something/ not do something romantic - God love is complicated huh?
Well no it isn't. Just send a bloody card and be done worth it! Everyone likes being told they are special, so wear your heart on your sleeve and spread the love!
To help you along, I'm donating one of my designs I created for the online card company that I'm illustrating for. I would say click there and buy it, but they haven't got themselves organised (and so are missing out on one of the biggest days in the greetings card industry!) Which means my stack of designs shall have to wait 'til next year. So I'm sharing my work for free. All I ask is that you credit me and don't pretend it's your own work! (Be creative on the inside, that's the bit that counts)

Just click the picture to get a larger version, and drag to desktop/right click..then print!

Ads that think they are witty writing in the headline kind of ads.

Confused? yes the use of English in this style of writing is getting really annoying and overused. What I'm referring to is those ads that describe the product in a witty sentence, ending with the product. Example:

Grrgh! It's not funny, it's not clever and it's quite difficult to read. Think of a better way to say it.

While I'm in the mood for criticising work, another one got me last night while I was on the tube. I thought it was my drunkeness that affected my ability to understand this ad, but this morning, no, still don't get it.

Why use a visual of DIY instructions to say recycle? Am I missing something. Someone please enlighten me.
They've got a great line to work with 'Keep London Beautiful', so show beautiful recycling! (origami newspapers/ flowers made of newspapers/ beautifully shot recycling bins??)

Finally, to show I'm not all bad, here's an ad I did like. Clean, simple, no small print or confusing headline, no idea that is completely irelevant to the product. Well done BT/agency people.

Tiny Art

I've been collecting a few images lately of miniscule art - It fascinates me that these artists have so much patience and time (and eyesight) to create these masterpeices. They are intriguing, and some really do make you question scale (and our size in relation to the universe). because you have to peer more intensely at them it also makes you spend longer digesting the work.

Hand etched patterns on eggshells (have lost the link, sorry)



A tiny street Art project by Slinkachu.



Amazing but strange: chewing gum painted by Ben Wilson. Well if it's stuck there it may aswell look good!




Miniature scenes from the exhibition 'Eyes Blind Arm Outstretched' I went to by Lisa Swerling