Anti-Paparazzi Innovation

Apparently being a paparazzo isn't completely recession proof - Introducing the newest privacy keeper: The ANTI-PAPARAZZI CLUTCH BAG.  I found this patent-pending (2010) invention from a tinylink posted by lilyroseallen on Twitter.  

This device, which fits inside a lady's clutch bag, and is in further development to become smaller - think pendent - was created by NYU Grad Adam Harvey in his Physical Computing class at NYU ITP.  Its purpose is to counter the flash photography of a paparazzi's flash with another flash thereby rendering the photo unusable, no matter the number of pictures taken.  

See it in action: 

    

My thoughts?  Bad news for the only thriving print media: gossip.  Bad new for the Speidi's of the world.  Good news for the privacy seeking Lily Allens and the sometimes Paparazzi-violent celebs like Brittany Spears, JT and Mel Gibson.  And probably long-term good news for humanity.     

Ad of the Day: Evian (International Version)

The once pretentious water company EVIAN, second in nose-in-the-air-antics to Figi Water in my opinion, is now thriving with their international LIVE YOUNG campaign.  Orchestrated by Euro RSCG BETC (Paris) to "Bathing Beauty" with Ester Williams, this campaign is successfully showing the youthful effects of Evian water to the world.  Gotta love a brand that uses humor to exhibit one key benefit - without being too over the top or talking about too many things and downright confusing their consumer.  I mean, it's water... bottled water.  Are they really that different?  Well, even though I've never had Evian, I might try it because of these ads.

The campaign began with teasers from their spokespeople: babies. 

AND

The teasers are featured on the revamped Evian site - focused around their youthful stars... Talk about putting all your eggs in one basket.  Good thing it works.

Check out the making of the 'movie' - the main commercial for the brand, a brilliant 60 second spot.  Here's the EVIAN ROLLER BABIES commercial making water uber youthful:

Some highlights making this my favorite commercial in a long time:

• ghetto babies
• the brown sugar baby looks like a mini-Sinbad
• booty shaking
• blue old fashioned skates
• Central park
• baby facial expressions - priceless
• Asian baby break-dancer
• Babies jumping on the fence like mini frogs
• the dance off - Step Up style
• so many onsies
• the figure 8s through Evian bottles - best product placement of the month
• baby giggles

Favorite image: 

Only criticism: Creepy voice at the closing scene: "Live Young."

I absolutely cannot wait for the 'interviews' coming soon on the themed site.  

Wedding Post

I am a girl.  I LOVE weddings.  While I never had one of those notebooks with cutouts and drawings and exact seating charts growing up, I do have my fair share of doodles all over my college notes.  Apparently I was more entertained by learning when I was younger, or boys still had major cooties.  While I won't reveal how much of my perfect day I have planned - sorry Mr. Right, many details have been decided without you- I will show you one wedding that is truly inspiring and downright fun and fun-loving.  

I stumbled across this wedding photo-shoot while on The Cool Hunter.  Here is the link to Josh Goleman's montage of Adam and Halli's Wedding.

It proves that you can be you on your perfect day, create a vision in white, and just have fun. 

The photography is beautiful and I find this non-traditional wedding creatively inspiring. Here are some of my favorites:    

I love the build your dream concept, the down-home field to set the mood, the short white dress with red shoes!, the photo-wall, and the christmas lights.  This is truly a celebration and not a ritual.  PS. Congrats lucky couple!  

InspiratioNation: Cool Hunter's DESIGN

Australia's The Cool Hunter is finding more and more ways to stay relevant and hip.  Introducing the newest portion of their 'cool' informing site: 

The Cool Hunter Graphic Design Studio.  

Not only is the website visually interesting with its diagonal lines creating areas for each portion of their product to be explained, but they are proving that The Cool Hunter really knows what they are talking about because not only can they find what is cool all over the world, they can produce it too.  Now that's authority.

Here are a few things that I think are so extremely visually interesting:

Branded Generation Perhaps? (Also, the new background on my laptop)

Matt W. Moore's experiment with Mini Cooper (a play on his 'Vectorfunk' style):

Nikki Farquharson's Mixed Media Girl:

Just my way to stay inspired...

MJ

From ABc123 to his sensual The Way You Make Me Feel to his infamous Thriller, Michael Jackson won a spot in everyone's hearts as the KING OF POP.

His death on June 25, 2009, at age 50, was a shocking one at the very least.  NOt only did MJ suffer from Cardiac Arrest, but the hearts of the nation stopped as well.

Jokes about MJ's "Doesn't Matter if You're Black or White" just don't seem Kosher anymore - in comparison to the tens of hits he produced and the global recognition he received during his lifetime.  Yes, he did change quite a bit but he will never be doubted for having an immense amount of talent.        

His videos have received millions of hits on YouTube, especially since his death and there are tribute songs and concerts galore.  He is definitely a sensation to be remembered.  He created today's POP for stars like Brittney (see her performance with MJ here), Justin Timberlake and more to branch from.  

Now, advertisers and artists are looking to 'pay tribute to an icon' or 'mooch off his global image' by creating campaigns and artifacts that refer to the King of Pop.  PEPSI, for example, incorporated MJ into their JoyitForward campaign with banners referring to the King of POP (get it?  soda pop, MJ pop). 

I personally HATE this campaign by BBDO/Proximity Canada because it reminds me of the America Runs on Dunkin' campaign - in your face, insultingly simple and way too loud.  But, I do like it a little more with the clever play on 'pop.' 

An LA artist created a tribute can of soda he hopes the company will pick up that follows the same thought process:

So far, my favorite Tribute can be found on DirectTV's ONDEMAND channel.  They have ABDC's Tribute Episode (pre-death), All of his full-length music videos (short films if you ask me), Karaoke for many hits and even dance classes to learn the infamous MJ moves.  It is so much fun that you'll want to swing your hips and grab your crotch in public just to feel the intense dance energy of MJ.

Yes, he's a little strange if you think too much about it.  But, pay attention to the dance difference he made, the tunes he sang that have played a part in every stage of your life and his love for the stage and you'll find yourself saying "OW!" and wearing one glove rather than wondering how to change from black to white.

R.I.P MJ.       

 

       

CP+B do it again = tear us from our comfort zones and make us smile, no matter the product.  They don't fulfill a need in the market, they create one.  Like when the "Father of Spin" Edward Bernays installed bookshelves in new homes to make people purchase more books.  I am a HUGE Rock Band fan and so I have loved the commercials with Heidi Klum (and other stars) dancing in a risky business white t-shirt to advertise Guitar Hero.

Now, CP+B has furthered their campaign to cleverly advertise the new METALICA package.  A good campaign can always grow bigger and BIGGER without becoming annoying.

     

A bit on Social Media

Long long ago in an ivy-covered castle, a young man yearned for more constant companionship.  He made a book full of faces and passed it around the land so his peers could become closer aquatinted without being face to face.  Other nearby places heard of this idea and asked the man to make the same for them.  Soon, many groups were all using this 'face book' to make 'friends' with those around them.  

This tale is that of FACEBOOK, the social networking site, started at Harvard University in 2004, expanded to other Boston universities in 2005, and then offered to the world later on.  What began as a networking site per school, joined with a legitimate school email address, soon became an online communication network open to anyone.  Facebook's history is a rich (literally) and interesting one.  

However, when  Mark Zuckerberg launched the site, I don't believe he realized the sometimes ' monster' he was creating.  A site that could cost you a job, make your mother stop sending you money, bring your grandmother to tears, cost you a friendship or force you to talk to someone really awkward.  Just as anything that trusts humans to behave and gives them too much freedom, Facebook has been slightly abused and now necessitates an etiquette guide: 

Thank you YouTube; you are hilarious and oh so helpful.