07.03.2008 by Zoltan

Nikon USA relaunches

Nikon has just relaunched their US portal, designed by my good friend Tom Kershaw, ex de-construct. Apart from the de rigeur Papervision homepage, I like the fact that the EXIF data (all the stuff the camera records every time a shot is taken) has been used as a hook for design, and a pathway into the content. And its nice to know that there are some clients out there brave enough NOT to overload the homepage with 17 content boxes / promotions.

07.03.2008 by Zoltan

Content stomps style in the Secret Wars Grand Final

As you know last Friday was the Grand Final of Secret Wars and I’m stoked to say that Wen completely wiped the floor with Odisy. Pics below…

With one judge each, it was decided on the crowd vote and I’m sure Odisy will put it down to Wen having more crew or something else. But the funny thing is that Odisy was so certain he’d win, and his piece so arrogant and juvenile in its simplicity (I’m not talking about line here, but content) that it was poetic justice for “the unkown art fag” to annihilate the old-skool graff boy. Goes to show that thought / insight / content always stomps style.

Big up Wen!

For those that weren’t there, the cap on Odisy in Wen’s piece was the one he was wearing that night, as were the glasses.

07.03.2008 by Zoltan

This is how you advertise in France

Was in Paris a few weekends back and found this in the Metro. No fear of Mad Cow Disease over on the continent that’s for sure. But apart from that what got me was why on earth they would feel that a cow’s head is the best way to advertise an agriculture trade show? And did they really shoot that cow in a studio? Mais oui, mais oui I hear them cry. Of course the cow has to look good, or no one will come to the show, right?

And don’t even get me started on why they thought media placement on the Metro was a good idea. Surely there’s not that many farmers riding the Paris underground… Or is there?

07.03.2008 by Zoltan

Analog Folk

Analog Folk is a new startup agency founded by some ex-TribalDDB London crew, Bill Brock and Matt Dyke. They’re billing themselves as creating ‘Communication Products’, not merely advertising, much the same way Anomaly do over the pond.

Check out their video about the evolution of gaming – it’s excellent. My only gripe is that its not portable. I would love to post about it here but cannot. I see no reason why people need to be on their site to watch it? Especially as they’re talking about websites being only one part in the comms mix, it makes no sense to not have it on youtube (at the very least) with their logo on overlay…

Anyway there’s been lots of trade press here lately about this ‘new generation’ of agency, what with all the Campaign coverage of Adam & Eve, so it will be interesting to see what happens in the next year or so… I wish them all the best. After all, there are many many eyes watching…

06.03.2008 by Zoltan

Reversal of duties, a world first?

This latest ad for Volkswagen in the UK is not an original idea, and has a fairly vanilla strapline. So why am I posting about it?

Because its worth mentioning for a very different reason – the reversal of media. Normally online supports and extends the traditional big-budget TV spot. In this case though the TV spot is advertising the new all-singing all-dancing fully-flash Volkswagen UK website itself and nothing more – a first as far as I know.

A collaboration between DDB London and Tribal London, it is still very well executed and apart from the cheesy german-techno-eque soundtrack, I like it a lot. And for all you 72dpi kids out there, fret not. One day you’re beautifully gradiented website just might make it onto telly…