Advertising, marketing and copywriting made easy

Southwest Airlines conducts its 2009 shareholder meeting in rap

2009-12-13T22:00:00.001+05:30

Rapping flight attendant, David Holmes, from Southwest Airlines, explains generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in a "GAAP RAP" at the company's 2009 shareholder's meeting. Who says finance is boring?

Mumbai Canine Club: Fingerprint

2009-12-13T21:57:00.001+05:30

Poster for Mumbai Canine Club.

Art Director: Swapnil Shete.

Copywriter: Sunil Shibad.

ASICS: Origami

2009-12-07T23:18:00.001+05:30

Origami In the Pursuit of Perfection from MABONA ORIGAMI on Vimeo.

Nice origami, nice accent, nice brand story. Proof that corporate ads need not be dreadfully boring.

(via Highnobiety & Coute Que Coute)

Sixty2 on Wharf Restaurant and Lounge: Really Happy Hours

2009-12-07T21:11:00.007+05:30

Ad Agency: Keith Lane Creative

Client: Sixty2 on Wharf Restaurant and Lounge

Photography: Lajla LeBlanc

Graphic Design: Deborah Hines

Creative Director/ Art Director/ Copywriter: Keith Lane

What to do if a leopard enters your city

2009-12-03T18:32:00.004+05:30

Widespread deforestation is leading to the destruction of the leopard's natural habitat. This often results in leopards straying into urban areas. Wildlife SOS has set up a helpline - +919871963535 - to rescue these leopards and avoid a man versus animal conflict. This pro-bono poster's objective was to highlight the encroachment issue.

Art Director : Swapnil Shete

Copywriter: Sunil Shibad

The Mathuradas Mill Culture Crawl 2009

2009-12-02T20:47:00.007+05:30

If you’ve been on the road that takes one from Lower Parel railway station to Mathuradas Mills Compound you will know it is narrow, overcrowded, a little dirty and well, perhaps even a touch unpleasant. Hundreds of people hustle by all day on this busy little stretch made busier by the market that lines it. There is a vegetable market, a butchers shop, a temple, a garage, a tailor, a printing press, the local bar, a mochi and the fish market with crows flying at dangerously low altitudes and sly black cats slinking across the street to steal fish from the noisy yet watchful fisher women.

In all of this, the designers at Red Lion, ( a division of Publicis India), have found a wealth of inspiration and a way to appreciate the chaotic culture in the form of the ‘Mathuradas Mill Culture Crawl’. It is a 3-day visual arts festival with the theme "Life around the Neighborhood” celebrating art, culture and heritage. Joining hands with Red Lion are Blue Frog, The Loft, IdeaLake, Krsna Mehta, Spenta, Publicis and Mudra.

The Crawl is a self-guided tour of community-initiated events such as music shows by Blue Frog, film screenings by Highlight. “Little Zizou” directed by Sooni Taraporewala, followed by a conversation with the director and cast outdoors on the street, (parts of the film were shot at this location), dance performances, a fashion show by WLC College, Light and Fabric Installation by Krsna Mehta, Heritage Exhibition by Red Lion at 'The Loft', web workshops by IdeaLake, visual arts, culinary arts, community art walks and much more. There are various artists living and working in Mathuradas Mills and the surrounding area, many are quite famous and on display in galleries, and more are hidden in nooks and crannies, waiting to be discovered and enjoyed.

So come enjoy some design, art, music and food this weekend. Red Lion has some funky stuff up on display and for sale at 'The Loft' a gallery very close to Blue Frog. One of us should be there to show you around.

~Elsie Nanji

Contact:

Elsie Nanji/ Red Lion elsie.nanji (AT) publicisindia.com

Srila Chatterjee/ Blue Frog srila(AT)highlightfilms.com

Anupa Mehta/ The Loft mehta.anupa (AT) gmail.com

Vandana Verma/ MudraMax vandana.verma (AT) mudramax.com

Viraj /Idealake viraj (AT) idealake.com

Images below:

World AIDS Day: Are you smarter than a dog?

2009-12-01T11:00:00.001+05:30

Started on 1st December 1988, World AIDS Day is about raising money, increasing awareness, fighting prejudice and improving education. The World AIDS Day theme for 2009 is 'Universal Access and Human Rights'. World AIDS Day is important in reminding people that HIV has not gone away, and that there are many things still to be done.

According to UNAIDS estimates, there are now 33.4 million people living with HIV, including 2.1 million children. During 2008 some 2.7 million people became newly infected with the virus and an estimated 2 million people died from AIDS. Around half of all people who become infected with HIV do so before they are 25 and are killed by AIDS before they are 35.

The vast majority of people with HIV and AIDS live in lower- and middle-income countries. But HIV today is a threat to men, women and children on all continents around the world.

Art Director: Mandar Wadke

Copywriter: Sunil Shibad

Producer/Video Editor: Mahesh Abitkar

Ikea: Facebook Tag

2009-11-29T20:26:00.004+05:30

Ikea Malmö moved from their old boring building in the outskirts to a shiny new one near the Svågertorp train station. The new Ikea is much larger, recycles everything, and uses only green electricity to boot in order to become the first Ikea with the smallest carbon footprint. In order to attract people to Ikea, ad agency Forsman and Bodenfors decided to advertise where the Swedes hang out all day. In a word: Facebook.

But instead of a static banner showing off the showrooms, they decided to use Facebooks "tag" feature in photographs. They created a profile for the manager of this Ikea, and had him upload photographs of the new showrooms. The first person to tag an item with their own name in the photograph won it, making the photos spread like wildfire around Ikea-interested Malmö people on Facebook.

A great example of Facebook marketing.

(via Adland)

10 great Levi's TV commercials

2009-11-29T20:03:00.001+05:30

1. Pocket

2. Dangerous Liasons

3. Creek.

4. Swimmer

5. Towing

6. Laundrette

7. Kung Fu

8. Washroom

9. America, Go Forth

10. Funny Legs

A tribute to those who died defending Mumbai on 26th November, 2008

2009-11-24T20:37:00.004+05:30

"It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived."

~Gen George S. Patton

A tribute to those who laid down their lives defending Mumbai on 26th November, 2008. Let us never forget.

Art Director: Swapnil Shete

Copywriter: Sunil Shibad

Short papercraft film on the beauty of the book

2009-11-23T11:22:00.001+05:30

"Going West" is a beautiful short film illustrating the worlds in a book, incorporating papercraft to make something dreamlike and wonderful. It was animated by Andersen M Studio.

Everything you wanted to know about social media, Twitter, blogs, wikis, RSS and podcasting in plain English

2009-11-16T23:17:00.005+05:30

Social Media In Plain English.

Social Networking In Plain English.

Twitter In Plain English

Twitter Search In Plain English

RSS In Plain English

Social Bookmarking In Plain English

Blogs In Plain English

Podcasting In Plain English.

Web Search Strategies In Plain English

The World Wide Web In Plain English

Omved is looking for bloggers and journalists for its product sampling program

2009-11-14T14:31:00.005+05:30

Omved is conducting a Blogger and Journalist Product Sampling Program. To this end, they are looking for bloggers and journalists based in India. Omved will offer a bouquet of its pure, natural products in exchange for an unbiased review of Omved’s products.

Bloggers/Journalists should:

Be based in India.

Be currently writing a blog about green living, yoga, ayurveda, Vedic living, India or natural living.

Have a decent Technorati rank and a good following.
Be transparent. We are looking for unbiased reviews not endorsements.

Comply with FTC guidelines if your server is hosted in the US.

For more details, please email: sshibad (AT) gmail.com with Omved Review in the subject line.

Disclosure: I am the Creative Consultant to Omved Lifestyle Pvt Ltd.

About Omved

Welcome to a world of pure natural living. A world where each and every item - from master artisans and tribal craftsmen, to cottage industries and village units - is chemical free, natural, handcrafted, fair trade, made in India and biodegradable. All products at our store are authentic and ethical, embracing design and sustainability, beautifully finished and reviving our ancient Vedic traditions (the oldest living philosophy in the world). They are good for you and good for the earth.

Omved is a different type of store and the first of its kind in the world. So whether you're are seeking high-quality organic spices endorsed by Eco Cert, Ayurganic - herbal dyed organic, bath and bed linen, PVC-free yoga mats, non-toxic incense or 100% chemical-free body, hair and face care products, Omved is your natural choice.

At last count, Omved had over 900 products and 283 suppliers and our relationships and products are growing fast. We source and manufacture only with suppliers who operate on a fair trade basis, have high ethical and moral values and who try to minimize their impact on the environment. We also aim to meet these standards in our own enterprise. We recycle everything that we can and use only biodegradable and recycled packaging as possible and water-based inks for printing. Our labels and stationary- reduce, reuse and recycle. We don't stop there.

We firmly believe that to have a great shopping experience, exceptional customer service is a given. So we ensure attention to detail at every turn: from an informed service team, easily marked sections, clear detailed labels and added value services such as our services in gift wrapping, gift vouchers and gift hampers.

It is also very important to us that every visit of yours you take back not only products from the store but also some information and suggestions to help you live naturally and holistically. Our stores are stocked with pamphlets on various subjects from knowing your Doshas and analyzing your Chakras to rating the toxicity of your homes and how to read labels.

Click here for the Mumbai Mirror write up about Omved.

V Glam Fine Jewellery: Express your individuality

2009-11-10T22:55:00.003+05:30

Client: V Glam by Varuna D Jani Fine Jewellery
Ad Agency: IBD Brands, Mumbai, India.
Art Director: Mandar Wadke
Copywriter: Sunil Shibad
Photographer: Ashay Kshirsagar

Advertising on flies

2009-11-03T00:07:00.003+05:30

Advertising on flies, courtesy of Adland. Somewhere, a channel planner is smiling. These guys haul mini-banners, but you can also paint your brand directly on them, or laser-etch your USP.

India has so many flies. I think they have great potential as an ad medium out here.

Apple ad guru Lee Clow: A look back

2009-11-01T18:47:00.003+05:30

Lee Clow, chief creative officer at Apple's longtime ad agency TBWA/Media Arts Lab, recently announced that he will be stepping down from his post as chief creative officer.

Clow contributed to some of Apple's most famous and successful advertising campaigns, including the "1984" commercial that introduced the Mac computer, Apple's "Think Different" campaign, its iPod ads, and the "Mac vs. PC" commercials. (Watch them below)

By relinquishing the creative lead on the account that has distinguished his storied career, Clow, 66, appears to be moving toward retirement.

Apple 1984

Apple Think Different

Apple iPod

Apple I Am A Mac

Apple iPhone

Apple Lisa

Apple Macintosh (Classic from 1984)

Apple IMac (Classic)

Apple Get A Mac ( Windows 7)

Axe: Send SMS to complete this picture

2009-10-29T12:32:00.003+05:30

This Axe ad from Uruguay is the best mobile "send SMS and get something" implementation I've seen. Send a text message after dark to a phone number listed on the ad, and you'll get the missing fragment of the picture. Good teaser, meaningful payback. Very smart.

Sony promotes Bravia TV by smashing a PS3 into it

2009-10-28T12:33:00.002+05:30

A video in which a PS3 Slim gets smashed into a Sony Bravia LCD TV at 50 mph (22 meters per second)? Yes. It’s part of a promotion during which Sony Australia is giving away 25,000 PS3 slims for buyers of selected Bravia LCD TV models.

A couple of blogs were invited for the event, which included a specially-constructed sled that hurled the 3.2 kg heavy PS3 Slim into the Sony Bravia KDL46X 3100 Full HD LCD TV which was standing some 60m away. You can read the gory details over here, or simply check out the beauty of sheer destruction (in slow motion).

Oddly enough, it reminds me of the Onida "Devil" TV spot done in India in the 1990s.

(via Mashable.)

Twitter in real life

2009-10-26T11:45:00.001+05:30

A witty take on microblogging service, Twitter

The world's most dangerous airports

2009-10-25T23:44:00.003+05:30

Toncontín Airport, Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Having negotiated the rough-hewn mountainous terrain, pilots must execute a dramatic 45-degree, last-minute bank to the left just minutes prior to touching down in a bowl-shaped valley on a runway just 6,112 feet in length. The airport, at an altitude of 3,294 feet, can accommodate aircraft no larger than Boeing 757’s.

Paro Airport, Bhutan.

Tucked into a tightly cropped valley and surrounded by 16,000-foot-high serrated Himalayan peaks, this is arguably the world's most forbidding airport to fly into. It requires specially trained pilots to maneuver into this stomach-dropping aerie by employing visual flying rules and then approaching and landing through a narrow channel of vertiginous tree-covered hillsides.

Kai Tak Airport, Hong Kong

Although it closed in 1998, this infamous urban airport will go down in history as one of the scariest of all time. Planes would practically graze skyscrapers and jagged mountains surrounding Kowloon Bay as they took off and landed on a single runway that shot headlong into Victoria Harbour.

Tenzing-Hillary Airport, Lukla, Nepal

Recently renamed after the famous Everest climber-conquerers, mountainous Tenzing-Hillary Airport not only has one of the steepest uphill runways in the world, but its drop-off, into the wind shear-prone Himalayan valley below, is sure to give even the heartiest mountaineers pause. Here, daily 30-minute flights from Katmandu are only allowed to land during daylight, weather permitting.

Courchevel Airport, France.

Part of massive Les Trois Vallées ski resort in the French Alps, Courchevel’s airport is notorious for its super-short ski slope-esque runway (it’s just 1,722 feet), which is punctuated with a vertical mountainside drop. Ice and unpredictable winds are always a concern for pilots, who must meet rigorous training requirements before being able to land in this stunning winter wonderland.

Tioman Island, Malaysia

Landing on this volcanic South China Sea isle—referred to as giant sleeping dragon for its emerald ridges and misty plumes—has set many a pilot’s and passenger’s hair on end. Its approach, directly into a mountain with a 90-degree turn to align with the runway, ends short with a cliff—if you don’t jam on the breaks you’re a goner.

Saba Island Airport

Saba Island is an idyllic, secluded, honeymoon destination. Travel and Leisure voted it the best island in the Caribbean. But before all you soon to be marrieds rush to book a post wedding trip to Saba, please make sure your partner to be can handle a ride on a Win Air DHC-6 Twin Otter.

The landing strip is a reported 1300 feet, which makes it one of the shortest commercial runways in the world. Furthermore, the strip is flanked on one side by steep hills, and on the other side and at both ends of the runway by cliffs dropping into the sea. This creates the possibility that an airplane might overshoot the runway during landing or takeoff and end up in the sea or on the cliffs.

Maderia Airport, Funchal

Wedged in by mountains and the Atlantic, Madeira Airport requires a clockwise approach for which pilots are specially trained. Despite a unique elevated extension that was completed back in 2000 and now expands the runway length to what should be a comfortable 9,000 feet, the approach to Runway 05 remains a hair-raising affair that pilots absolutely dread. They must first point their aircraft at the mountains and, at the last minute, bank right to align with the fast-approaching runway.

Alberto Carnevali Airport in Merida, Venezuela

The airport of the city of Merida, Venezuela is in between a valley with 17,000-foot mountains and houses at the end off the runway.

And now for some fun:

Airport:

The animated story of one man's epic journey, created entirely from public domain symbols. In other words, an airport story told in the language of airport infographics.

Bent objects by Terry Border

2009-10-25T22:52:00.007+05:30

Wacky artist Terry Border specializes in bringing food and ordinary objects alive - all with a deliciously dark sense of humor. You can see more of Terry's Bent Objects at his website, and you can order the book here.

Mallu guy speaking to a call center girl

2009-10-20T12:06:00.000+05:30

The Rolling Stones creative brief to Andy Warhol

2009-10-20T11:39:00.003+05:30

Now if only more clients briefed ad agencies in this manner.

Inflatable bag monsters

2009-10-19T14:41:00.002+05:30

Using only tape and garbage bags, street artist Joshua Allen Harris creates giant inflatable animals that become animated when fastened to a sidewalk grate. Steven Psyllos caught up with Harris recently to discuss his older works (including a bear and a giraffe) and unveil a new beast that looks not unlike the Cloverfield monster.

Hand from above

2009-10-19T14:32:00.001+05:30

Chris O'Shea, an artist with latent fantasies about growing into a giant and teasing, then destroying, the people of Liverpool, England, has a new installation! It's a live video billboard that teases, then destroys, the people of Liverpool, England.

The piece, titled "Hand from above," is best explained in video, but in any case it's fairly simple: a live camera feed from in front of the billboard is overlaid with a giant finger, which has its way, such as it does, with rapt viewers. The tickling and teasing soon gets more severe, and before you know it, said finger is throwing you off of the pavement, or shrinking you into nothingness.

Hand from Above from Chris O'Shea on Vimeo.