UK's Best Handheld Advert

The MD at my new work, Line Digital (in Edinburgh) forwarded this charmingly witty advert, for The Sun newspaper, to me earlier. I think it's great. All the more so because I dislike The Sun (with a reasonable amount of passion) - so an advertisement that get me thinking positively about it, has obviously covered at of ground.

Not sure which agency produced this gem, but I hope to find out.

Global Warming, by McCann Erickson

It has to be one of the most heart wrenching anti-global warming campaigns I've seen to date. I got shivers as I watched the brilliantly executed spot unfold.

Done by McCann Erickson (Portugal), for the Quercus (National Association of Preservation of the Nature). Directed by, FlavioMac and post-production by Seagulls Fly.

The first time I watched it, after a friend emailed the link to me, I didn't bother putting on earphones (not knowing what to expect) it still tugged at my emotions, watching the second and third time with sound only made it that much more effective (Though I suppose that's obvious). [via a friend]

I came across this quote on ffffound, and although (due to it being on ffffound) everyone has probably seen it, it struck such a chord with me, that I just had to re-post it. And along with this one, I found another great quote, via WikiQuote.

"Is graffiti art or vandalism? That word has a lot of negative connotations and it alienates people, so no, I don't like to use the word 'art' at all" Banksy

Eskom Advert

"Athough other commentators have accused this billboard of only being effective 50% of the time [that being at night...when it's dark and the lights go on], because it's sponsored by Eskom (the South African state electricity provider), it makes sense. You clearly only use lights at night - so to us it makes perfect sense...and in winter in Joburg more people are driving home at night in any case.
However...it's all very well not to waste electricity, but what about all that paid for advertising real estate that they're wasting instead?" Cherryflava

I think its a cool ad, the fact that so many South African's have a negative image of eskom, and the fact that they DO have the monopoly. It doesn't matter that they telling the public to use their product less, its about casting themselves in a good public light (no pun intended).

Anyway I think Its really cool, and as much as I'm probably immune to that kind of brand advertising (being a cynical graphic designer) I still think it works well to achieve that. via Cherryflava

Help Yourself Posters

Copy: "help yourself"
Very cool poster campaign by Leo Burnette (Sao Paulo), for CVV Suicide Prevention Center, Brasil. via DesignBOOM

Uniqlo's UNIQLOCK Viral Advertising

"The theme of this campaign is to spread the approach of Uniqlo globally through communication in fashion, music and dance beyond the language barrier." Shift

I don't even know where to begin... I am totally disgusted, amazed and intrigued that I am even posting this. On the one hand, this albiet viral advert for Uniqlo, is brilliant. I first saw it at Netdiver, a small unobtrusive moving advert. But I was hooked, I spent the next 2 hours of my day tracking down where it came from, what its purpose was etc. Then 1 more hour trying to get the code so that I could post in here.

Supposedly by posting it I stand a chance of winning a G-shock watch with their logo emblazoned on it, but I can't honestly say I want one.

"Already 5 428 users with 7 503 uniqlocks from 59 countries, and 6 472 263 views from 176 countries. " Rxbbx

The part that I can't even believe, is that I've been sucked into advertising for Uniqlo for free, even though i know that I'm doing just that. And no matter how much i justify it by saying that I think it's wonderful to look at, and a brilliant piece of motion graphics, I'm just another sucker/victim of the brilliant designers/marketers.

"The clock sound on the dance video uses original Fantastic Plastic Machine sound from Tomoyuki Tanaka." Fast Retailing

Cape Times print ads

Copy: Monday 10 September 2001 - The world can change in a day. Don't miss your daily edition of in-depth news.

It's not often that a print ad literally jumps up and throttles our attention like this one - done for local (South African) newspaper brand Cape Times - did this morning.
There are four executions. This one in reference to 9/11, another (beautifully shot) for Hiroshima 1945, the JFK assassination and the '76 Soweto riots.
Using iconic events from history, the campaign highlights the fact that world-changing events often can't be predicted and that the course of history can, quite literally, change in a day.
Brilliant art direction and the hard-hitting message of these ads, is wonderfuly stunningly and arresting.