These ads are so cold. They are not still life, they are like still death.
David Barton Gym
Ogled at http://multicultclassics.blogspot.com
I see your true colors shining through....
Oh Mammy!!!
Diversity now.
Conditions Apply: Bowling Night
Black face? Night time bowling ad? Is this offensive? Or just poorly done advertising. I'd really like to know what you guys think. And you ad guys and gals from the big shops chime in too. We see you here... you don't have to leave your real name (so the slave massa won't get you).
cred:
FP7 OmanCreative Director / Art Director: Noufal Ali
Copywriter: Arun
Illustrator: Sanoop Ramachandran
Photographer: Ivan Mladenov
Other additional credits: Ajay Menon, Najeeb, Ragav & Solomon
International Olympic Committee (IOC): All Together Now
The IOC just launched the second phase of its “Best of Us” campaign, a multifaceted, global effort that aims to bring the Olympic values of Excellence, Respect and Friendship to life and engage youth around the world.
cred:
Cole & Weber United, USA
Executive Creative Director: Todd Grant
Art Director: Scott Fero
Copywriters: Jake Baas, Greg Lane
Executive Producer/Broadcast Producer: Pete Anderson
Production Company: Nexus Productions
Director: Fx & Mat
Executive Producers: Charlotte Bavasso, Christopher O’Reilly
Head of Production: Julia Parfitt
Producer: Christine Ponzevera
Project Lead: David Fleet
Animation: Nexus Productions
Compositing: Nexus Productions
Sound Design: Wave, London
Sound Designer: Stuart Welch
Music: Brains and Hunch
Producer: Tonic/Susan Stone
Inspiration: Yinka Shonibare
If you haven’t heard of Yinka Shonibare, here is your opportunity to briefly read up on him, and quickly do a search about all of his work, thoughts, and what he is about. Yinka, who was born in London in 1962, moved to Lagos, Nigeria (West Africa) when he was three years old. He studied at the Byam Shaw School of Art, London in 1984-9 and completed a BA at Goldsmiths College, London in 1991.What I admire most about him is the fact that he truly considers himself bi-cultural, he stays grounded and true to his culture as you can see by his use of the ankara fabric and more importantly, how he strives to open up debate about the social, cultural and political issues that shape our histories and construct identity. Yinka, who currently lives in London, has gained international attention by exploring issues or race and class through a range of media that includes sculpture, paintind, photography, and installation art. His work addresses a vast of cultural and historical issues.
Borrowed from the Style Pantry
Interview: Eric Larkin
Three of my favorite words are Beauty, Black & Brilliant. I use them liberally, like toe ointment, I spread it around thickly, densely, deeply even. But I feel those three words in no way counteract each other. They are after all, the biblical ingredients the formed the universe. And I see them in some form everyday... simultaneously. Here is yet another burgeoning example of that; Eric Larkin. I came across Eric's work quite by chance. I was trolling the wonder-webs with my browser set on serendipitous (you have that setting too, see it up there under: Edit - Find - Serendipity). So I run across these cool ass afro illustrations. If you been to this site before you know my "Fro" love only grows daily nappily out of control. Much like a well, fro. Now my first thought was damn, if nobody else has seen these, I'm biting these (so be on the look out for commercials with people walking around with state and country shaped afros). Further investigation led me to a site called scribbledoodled.com and I was like damn more ideas. More really good ideas. This dude is a really clever illustrator, blog fodder gold! Next I learned the Eric wasn't just an illustrator he is also a cracking Art Director. His concepts are really hear felt and fervent stuff. I reached out to him to ask permission to post his work here and his response warm and impassioned. The kinda folk I like, nice, pretense free & funny. (I hates a damn snob) But the kid aint cocky, not like a lot of the industry asses you meet. Especially the self amped rookies. Oh and ad people who leave comments under the psuedonym "one show gold" who the f-f-fu... ??? I get the feeling we will never get this from Eric, he is the craft in it's trues form. I suspect he may see his share of "one show gold" but it will be far from his defining factor or only claim to fame.
How did you discover design?
I always had a knack for just creating stuff from when my brother and I used to make home-made music videos and animations with our VHS video camera as kids. I suppose it's no surprise that, though I have an associates degree in fine arts, a bachelors and masters degree in Art Direction, I discovered the craft of design in my dorm room, making concert posters for a friend in college, with nothing but a bootleg version of photoshop and a cheap scanner.
How is your ethnicity a source of inspiration or strength in your work? Or is it just sort of a default setting that has little bearing.
Everyone has a their own personal reference library from which they work. Everything we do/see/hear/give/experience becomes an addition to our collection of life references. In that sense, I suppose my work is inspired by my blackness. How can I not be.
I built my reference library reciting the reggae lyrics of Maxi Priest, dancing to Hype Williams music videos on BET, wishing I could be in a Boys 2 Men music video, laughing at jokes from "A Different World" and "The Cosby Show," crying to movies like "Lean On Me," comparing Micheal Jackson and MC Hammer's dance moves, being comforted by the spirituals of the AME Zion Church and spending too many hours in the community Barber Shop.
The cool part and sometimes tearful part is figuring out how to make my references relevant to those who don't share them.
Is being an illustrator very different from being a designer or does it involve the same brainpower?'
To say that illustration was my first love would be an understatement. it was my first nasty, down and dirty, completely inappropriate, sloppy, lusty, doin' it in the park, PDA, romantic relationship. It's raw. It's fresh, It literally often brings me to tears when I see a vision that was in my head on paper.
On the other hand, when I'm an art director or designer on a project, I can put all of my passion and energy into something, it could be completely my idea, but at the end of the day it's not for me. It's typically not for my tears. It's for my client
What aspect of design do you really love? Logo design, typography, type design Layout, etc?
I love some sexy type. I recently visited Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera's house, that is now a gallery of their work in Mexico City. The bulk of Diego's typographic work is secluded to one corner of a very empty room. I fell in love with his work for his expressions with type alone. I think the use of type in art.
What's your dream job?
I can recall the moment when I became an artist. I was drawing smiley faces on a page my mother and father stopped what they were doing, looked me in the eye and told me that I was indeed an artist. It was that given identity from a loved one that has formed my life. I'm fortunate to have that. There are so many that don't.
My heart is in helping people understand and live fully in their identity. Advertising and design is here and it's gone. Brilliance, if I ever get any, will come and go. But it's my investment in people that reaps a benefit onto eternity. I don't know my dream job, else I'd be doing it. But when I find it, I'm sure it would include building up people's identities.
Can you discuss any specifics about the process of creating a few of the pieces you sent.
I'd love to share thoughts about the illustration collection I've included:
The Beauty-Fro Collection was inspired from my trip to Kenya. It was the first time I was the majority in a whole culture or nation (as opposed to in a room, a class or a institution). No matter what I did or where I went, there were people that looked like me, very unlike America. Seeing this larger scope of Black people, helped me to understand the Black beauty more than I ever did. Some of the insecurities of my own image changed. Even some of the things that attracted me to a black woman changed.
There are aspects of black beauty that are completely opposite to the beauty of the majority or any other nationality at all. One of those in particular is the afro. It comes in many shapes and sizes, it comes soft and it comes rough, it comes loose and it comes tight. It is very unique to each person. It is what my people are born with. But because of lack of exposure to it in America, dating back to a time where the only acceptable hair style was the "straight hair" style of the majority, it is often misunderstood, written off as ugly and considered shameful to wear natural.
I think the fro is beautiful. Using extreme pop-exaggeration and expressiveness, this collection exalts the fro, as a representation of unique black beauty.
I'll also share about "THE STRONG INSIDE" campaign for Nike ACG Boots:
Being the typophile that I am, the STRONG INSIDE campaign was a dream come true. We stitched the typography straight into the posters of these in-store executions. We used the medium of these posters to illustrate the quality and durability of Nike ACG shoes.
Any advice for the neophytes?
If you are a new to this (like me), you are probably wrong at most everything.
The sooner you realize this, the sooner you will start correcting your wrongs and stop asking for pats on the back. (Brav-F'n-O! I Luh dat!)
The sooner you stop asking for pats on the back, the sooner you start defining your own success, instead of trying to meet up to other people's standards aka award shows.
Oh, and love the people you work with more than your work - your rep is everything.
Lunchbreath: Illustrations and Infotoons
Warning: If you go to this guys flickr photo stream you will loose track of time and you will launch indiscriminate cubicle wall piercing snorts of laughter. I spent an hour bleary eyed post all-nighter, that is goof-off dedication! Let's see if you can do better. I'm hardcore son!
I saw this ad Agency Spy who saw it at Core 77 who swears they didn't see they didn't see it anywhere else.
The Marcus Graham Project deploys the future
L-R John Genius, MGProject team member Wes Medlock,
Brandon McEachern of Broccoli City and MGProject founder Lincoln Stephens
At a time when everyone is complaining about the lack of diversity in the advertising industry, one man is setting out to make real and enduring change. That man is Lincoln Stephens. If you don't know him, remember the name. While some shops with multi-million dollar budgets and some with billions of dollars are flailing around the issue of diversity this one man has brainstormed, charted, implemented, orchestrated, tutored, soldiered up and readied young minds for the modern day mind jungle that is advertising.
These are the real seeds of change. Just watching dude do this makes me feel like I gotta step up my game, we all do.
See more of how it's done here and take notes here.
Hot on Twitter right now: Microsoft Photoshop debacle
Buh-bye Black guy.
What it was for the Poland version of the ad.
Movie Trailer: 2 Turntables And A Microphone
A well deserved tribute or the documentary of an unsolved murder? Either way Long live Jam Master Jay! Conversely, isn't it about time for a Run DMC movie. If it is well crafted that could be a masterpiece of a film. No diss to Beat Street, we love Beat Street. Russ, Run, D, what do you guys think?
Mangaloo fresh juice bars: Freshly squeezed
Freshly squeezed juices.
Advertising Agency: Rust, Prague, Czech Republic
Creative Director / Art Director: Robert Houzar
Copywriter: Lukáš Jalovecký:
Photographer: Lukáš VrtĂlek
One Milwaukee: The adolescents
"It should[n't] be any less disturbing when it’s a girl."
cred:
BVK, Milwaukee
CD: Gary Mueller
AD: Brent Goral, Giho Lee
CW: Mike Holicek, Jeff Ericksen
Tim macPherson (photography)
Rev. Jesse Jackson asks BMW to explain how "No Urban Dictate" was issued
(August 19, 2009) The Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, has sent a letter to BMW expressing concern over the actions of one of the automaker's advertising agencies in issuing a "No Urban Dictate" for an upcoming BMW/MINI Cooper ad campaign. [I HAVE A VERY SOLID SOURCE CONFIRMING THAT THIS DID NOT, I REPEAT DID NOT COME FROM THE ADVERTISING AGENCY] The request to discuss the matter comes after disclosure that BMW's media buying agency sent an email to stations requesting information on ad rates, but specifically stated "No combos or urban formats" should be included.
In a letter to BMW Chairman and CEO, Jim O' Donnell, Jackson called the exclusion of urban radio stations "disturbing." The letter also said, "This issue, along many others, continues to boycott communities of color and excludes us from participating on a level economic playing field even when we fully embrace and purchase your vehicles."
Jackson also questioned BMW's commitment to diversity by saying that the automaker had ignored earlier Rainbow PUSH requests for information and participation in discussions. "Because diversity and inclusion are so important to the automotive industry, each year Rainbow PUSH Automotive Project hosts a symposium whose mission and programs include a multitude of topics on diversity." wrote Jackson. "The symposium's purpose is to facilitate substantive dialogue, open communication on diversity opportunities, and to prevent this type of behavior recently demonstrated by BMW. However, you have repeatedly declined to participate in these dialogues."
"This speaks to your lack of transparency of your business practices as they relate to diversity," added Jackson.
The letter from the civil rights leader comes on the heels of a letter to BMW's O' Donnell from the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters (NABOB) requesting a meeting to discuss "a corporate culture that condones discriminatory practices."
Both NABOB and Rainbow PUSH have questioned the role of BMW's African-American ad agency of record, The Matlock Group, and whether it was using the expertise of the agency to avoid the exclusion of urban radio stations and other African-American media outlets in the placement of advertising.
Thus far, both organizations say they are still awaiting a response from BMW executives.
Source: Target Market News
Adidas Running: Super 7
Adidas’ new SUPER 7 campaign - it’s the first time that all 7 of adidas’ greatest track and field athletes star in a campaign together. The featured athletes include Tyson Gay, Haile Gebrselassie, Veronica Campbell-Brown and high-jumping phenomena Blanka Vlasic. The idea was to create a series of films contextualizing the athletes’ achievements in ways never seen before. We did this by finding an insightful fact that enabled us to add some irreverent humour, which would engage but also inform hardcore and casual runners alike.
The films were created for adidas by digital agency RIOT.
See more here.
cred:
RIOT (180\TBWA\Critical Mass)
ECD: Nathan Cooper
AD: Lee Ford
AD: Daniel Brooks
EP: Stephanie Oakley
Director: Lee Ford
Director: Daniel Brooks
Editor: Julie Snider
Production Company: DATABASS
Paul Washburn: Executive Producer
Matt Bass: DOP
Post Production Company: Rushes London
Sound Recording Studio: Wave Amsterdam
Joe Mount Sound Design
discriminatie.nl: Hide
Doesn't everyone have to hide something of themselves everyday? Does this ever happen to you?
cred:
imagine’, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Art Director: Sander Jacobs
Copywriter: Sander Bergmeijer
Director: Mike van Diem
Photographer: Oscar Seijkens
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