Entries from May 1, 2008 - June 1, 2008
169. Pontiac's SpyHunter Spot.
You probably have seen Pontiac's SpyHunter ad recently, featuring effects straight out of the video game and the new Pontiac G8. This spot definitely got the attention of every 25 - 35 year old who can rememeber getting arcade/nintendo-thumb while dodging oil slicks and avoiding helicopters while racing for time in this classic video game. The spot is well done but I've recently come across a short making of video that is entertaining and helps one appreciate the final result a bit more. (both the ad and making of video are embedded below.) Created by Leo Burnett Detroit and effects house SWAY, this spot features the car as hero - just the like the game that inspired it. Well done. In typical graphicology style, I'm also attaching another ad from Pontiac that takes direct aim at the small performance sedan market leader, BMW. It's a rare, on the offensive spot and although I'm not sure I'm convinced – I am intrigued. If nothing else, Pontiac is trying to be relevant again and that has to mean something.2008 Pontiac G8 SpyHunterSpot
Making of Video:
And the Attack Ad:
Jason
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168. New Bond Hardcovers.
I’m loving the redesign of the Bond Novels by Michael Gillette. He was commissioned to paint fourteen titles by Penguin Books and the result is stunning. Using the bond girls as the visual and incorporating the typography within their figures makes for a stunning bookshelf display if not a few good reads. The new Bond hardbacks will be published (tomorrow) on May 29th and commemorate the 100th anniversary of Ian Fleming's birth. See more on Penguin's blog. (Images courtesy of Penguin.)
Casino Royale Spread:
The Spy Who Loved Me:
167. Radio Mercury Awards
Just got back from the Radio Mercury Awards, held in Beverly Hills this past Wednesday where one of our radio spots was recognized as the best PSA in 2007 - which is really cool. You can listen to the spot here, a single piece of a much larger responsible drinking campaign created for Clemson University over the past year. Only 15 awards are given out each year, and just to be a finalist is no small honor. However, this post is more about two spots that were done by others that I think are great. One is a fabulous, "wish I did that" use of the medium developed by BVK (link). And the other is just a well-written, top-notch, humorous campaign for Finnegan's Ale (link.) I enjoyed hearing the spots and meeting the guys behind them as well.
166. Ad of the Week: Nike Zoom China.
Here’s a great use of technology that makes advertising a participation sport. The Nike Zoom campaign, by MindShare China, fitted billboards with a shoe display that was equipped in each city (Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou) to send a Bluetooth signal aimed at nearby mobile phone users. When people approached the billboard, they received short-range signals on their activated mobiles to start a virtual stopwatch. Then they received a message to run to the nearest designated Nike store as fast as they could, where a second Bluetooth signal stopped the stopwatch and recorded their time. Every day, for the length of the promotion, the store gave away one different pair of running shoes for the fastest athlete. This is the kind of marketing that I like – it’s participatory and immersive. Though, I wonder how many innocent pedestrians were knocked to the sidewalk during this time? You can check out the Nike site (via a direct link to the .swf file.) It’s in simplified Chinese characters, but take a look around and be sure to check out the videos by clicking the bottom right navigation button. This concept won Campaign of the Year at The Venice Festival of Media - which, in full disclosure, I never even knew existed. (Photos via Nike's Site.)
1. User activates his/her phone.
2. Bluetooth message starts a timer.
3. Hold up your shorts as you run to the closest NIKE store.
4. Compare your time to others throughout the day.
