I like the attitude of this Travelodge ad. Though I think it's risky asking bleary-eyed commuters - what's the point?
retrovertising
I seem to have noticed a lot of this stuff recently. Particularly, but not exclusively, in American magazines. On the one hand it's great, because I like this kind of 50s design, and there are times when it makes sense in evoking some nostalgic kind of feeling about the brand. But you do worry that sometimes it's just a substitute for an idea.
lost (but good) straplines of yesteryear
Saw this at Alton Towers. What a great strapline. 'Shortens Every Road'. They should use this now. Brilliant.
give it up
Is it just me or should The Economist give up with this stuff? It's been fifteen years, it's been a great campaign but it's just turning into wallpaper. It seems like a lazy use of posters and of late the campaign seems to have gotten really spiteful. It used to be about the value of intelligence and now it's about being in some club of elite, high-earning business men.
Like this poster above. Sure it's an easy gag to take the mickey out of that West Coast way of speaking (increasingly common here). But it's just a way of speaking, it's not a sign of intelligence or business acumen. They wouldn't do the same thing with a West Country accent or Jamaican patois or something.
saab selfridges shame
Saab have now got a showroom in Selfridges. All they've done with the windows though, is stick some posters up. I hope that's just while they prepare something spectacular, otherwise, shame on them.
micro-targeting
David in New York sent this, from outside the Wieden + Kennedy offices there. Metro's a new newspaper. Chris Noonan's a media planner/buyer at Wieden. I'd find this kind of specific targeting a bit spooky. It's what everyone tells us is the future, with smart posters and bluetooth and all that. But I think it'll just lead to a world where we can tune out our own name like we can tune out most marketing. Which would be inconvenient.
canada, excellent
I got an email from a chap called Ignacio. He said he'd found this blog when doing a search for stuff relating to advertising and students. Which seems remarkable. And he's asked me to promote this competition for junior creatives. It's here. I know nothing about it but it seems like a good idea. And the home site i have an idea looks fantastic. And it's Canadian, and I love everything Canadian. Obviously if it turns out to be an elaborate scam akin to transferring funds out of Nigeria then it's nothing to do with me. But I don't think it is.
tabasco
this is just a great example of the power of consistent design. it's not a hugely original advertising idea, lots of people have done something similar. but it's a great testament to the product designers.