Campaign

The world's first human brand look and feel guidelines?

If you've ever worked with brand guidline documents then you'll appreciate this wonderful piece from Aussie designer Christopher Doyle.

 http://www.ordinarypeopleonly.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/guidelines.pdf

Our favourite bit is the 'incorrect use' section.

Long copy reigns... a la carte

Copywriters are often asked whether they have extra curricular pursuits. Plays, films, novels… poems…anything to keep their creative juices flowing outside the realm of ads. For some it’s finessing the perfect haiku. Others its writing 6 page long complaint letters.

But I’ve never come across a writer with a penchant for writing postcards. I mean really writing them. Brilliantly crafted and witty ones. That was until I got talking to Bill.  He’s been a copywriter here at BBH for some time, but on the side he’s been slowly building up his oeuvre carte postale. Here’s just one fine example...
 

(Obviously we've had to blank out the brand and the recipient to protect their identity)

There’s no hello or goodbye, no wish you were here or any other post-card platitudes… it’s just lovingly crafted, punchy copy.

Is this the best post-card you've ever seen, or have you got a better one to share? Either way, in these times where people now seem prepared to spend more time writing letters (Mr Beale for one), I think it’s safe to say that long-copy is still alive and kicking.

p.s. if you can't read the writing let us know and we'll painstakingly transcribe.

Poodles at the piano: from Madmen to Madwomen

One of the only good things about being stuck in Post-Op-Confined-to-the-Indoors-Ville, Arizona, is that I'm (Lol) actually remembering to watch TV. Luckily the new series of Madmen started last week, and although it seems to be getting off to a slow start, it's still as classy a production as the first series.

What's interesting about this series is that the DDB influence is proving more and more of a threat, as the Bernbach philosophy slowly permeates its witty way across the US. It was funny to see the 'Lemon' ad crop up as one of the characters leafed through a magazine in the last series, and I'm looking forward to more of those real-life ad references in this series. In case you didn't see it a few weeks back there's an interesting Times article on it all here.

It's nice to see Peggy shining to her full creative potential, despite all the chauvinism of the times. I’ll never forget how much I laughed in season one in that focus group episode. Peggy, while still enfettered in her former incarnation as Draper’s PA, was meant to be assisting with market research into lipsticks, when she suddenly came out with some astute insight of some sort, and a copy line around the theme of ‘basket of kisses’. Whatever it was she said, it had the madmen bowled over with shock. How was it they described it? ‘It was like watching a dog play the piano.’

Obviously since then creative directors have come around to the idea that girls can be creatives too – but it still reminds me of an observation I made the other day. That in a world where women always have to queue for eons to get to a toilet in most public places, there are a few sacred buildings in London where that's never the case. Go into a ladies loo on the floor of the creative department in any major London ad agency, and you’ll never ever have to wait your turn - it's marvellous. Women often sneak into the men's when they're in night-clubs don't they? I guess ad agencies are the only place where you might ever see a bloke sneaking into the ladies when things get busy. Just a thought - will crawl back under duvet again now.

Sweet tooth

This ambient idea for Colgate was created by Young & Rubicam, Bangkok. Sorry if you've seen it already - I couldn't help but share it in case you haven't.

Instead of giving away boring product samples they gave out ice creams and candy floss. The stick is each is printed with a hidden message, that reminds you once you've finished eating, not to forget to brush your teeth. Such a brilliant use of media.

What I like about it is they didn't just print a message onto the normal shape reminding people to brush their teeth, but they actually turned the original shape into a wooden toothbrush. (Don't you just love the girl's lips in the last shot - what a look of surprise...)

I love things like this - untraditional ways of talking to people with a message that's entirely appropriate for that exact moment.

Better go brush my teeth..

DIY Bus sides

This website was created for the recent 'create your own bus side ad' for the atheist campaign that we blogged about back in November. This site enables people to quickly write a headline and see it immediatey appear on the bus side so you can contribute to the campaign.  http://ruletheweb.co.uk/b3ta/bus

I have only just found out about it. It's great fun because you can ignore what it's meant for, and write what you want in the boxes and then send it to your friend, who hopefully can be fooled into thinking that you saw the bus for real!

I think this is going to be quite viral for the next day or so..

Run away with the circus

Last night a friend and I went to the Peacock Theatre in Holborn. We saw an incredible acrobatic performance called ‘Traces’. (I’d thoroughly recommend it as an alternative Valentines date if you’re stuck for ideas.  http://traces.7doigts.com/en/index.shtml) It was so great, there was even a standing ovation...

Traces is performed by a French-Canadian dance company called ‘Les Doigts de le Main’ and is a high energy show, that combines the urban elements of skateboarding and basketball with traditional acrobatics and contemporary dance. It is all set to an incredible soundtrack that ranges from hip-hop to rock 'n' roll and blues.

The performance consists of  four men and one woman, all in their 20’s. (They have been training together since they were 8 years old) Each character reveals its personality through a series of high-risk acrobatic moves, films, illustrations and intimate monologues.

The characters range from the cool, good looking one who says he’s given up smoking, but still has the odd one when he’s drinking…. eating.... and in the morning, to the geeky character who loves cereal (cocoa pops being his number one).
And then there's the girl. The beautiful bendy French girl, who seems more malleable than plasticine.

I have never seen such a talented  bunch of 20 year olds in my life. I left the theatre wishing that I had joined the circus when I was young. ........Maybe it’s not too late..

If you see me back flipping around the bbh or balancing on Lol’s head with one arm, you’ll know why.

A way with words

I, Nat, recently received an alumni magazine from my old school. It was dreadfully dull, except for one  particular article about car crashes. 

The list below are actual statements found on insurance forms where car drivers attempted to summarize the details of an accident in the fewest words possible.

1) Coming home I drove into the wrong house and collided with a tree I don’t have.

2) A truck backed though my windshield into my wife’s face.

3) I pulled away from the side of the road, glanced at my mother-in-law and headed over the embankment.

4) In an attempt to kill a fly, I drove into a telephone pole.

5) I had been shopping for plants all day and was on my way home. As I reached an intersection a hedge sprang up obscuring my vision.

6) I had been driving for forty years when I fell asleep at the wheel and had an accident.

7) To avoid hitting the bumper of the car in front, I stuck a pedestrian.

8) An invisible car came out of nowhere, struck my car and vanished.

9) I was on the way to the doctor with a rear end complaint when my universal joint gave way causing me to have an accident.

10) I was sure the old fellow would never make it to the other side of the road when I struck him.

11) I was thrown from my car as it left the road. I was later  found in a ditch by some cows.

12) The pedestrian had no idea which direction to run, so I ran him over.

And my personal favourite…

13) I told the police I was not injured, but on removing my hat I found that I had a fractured skull.

Tantastic

It's our one year anniversary today, so we just exchanged paper themed presents. Nat got an origami kit, and I got a lovely home-made 'paper' card and some mutant oversized carluccios pasta for when I'm post-ear-op next week, confined to the indoors and in need of carby comfort food.

Still, on a brighter note, here is a rather clever bit of computer technology, if you've not seen it yet.

www.computertan.com

Happy tanning.