The organic movement has escalated in the past couple of years, with bare moments passing before another organic supermarket, organic cafe or organic deli pops up in the trendiest parts of town Although for many it is an intelligent choice in life; for many others, it’s a mere fad – something which sounds fun, everyone is doing, and can’t hurt.

In most cases, I hate these kind of fads. However, the fads that usually bother me are more like when everyone started listening to ‘indie’ music, or wearing ‘vintage’ that they bought new. The organic/vegan/vegetarian/yoga trends do not irritate me nearly to the same extent. I suppose it’s because people are actually getting something out of it; organic food is actually a healthy option for our unfit, obese populations.

Do I think this ad is a good option? I must admit, I love the graphics, and even the concept of greasy junk food hacking away at our organs (it’s not that much of long shot!) But there’s just so much going on in these images; that I can’t really separate a severed blood vessel from the manic teeth in the food. It’s amusing that the junk is wreaking havoc on the heart; it’s also a little close to the bone (mind the pun).

Plus, if someone didn’t actually read the writing about the ad, but picked up that it was a restaurant – the unfortunate situation could follow where a consumer assumed that this restaurant served angry fast good. Maybe I’m underestimating – but the artwork definitely needs some clarity.

I’ve never been a fan of restuarants that advertised their fare with mouthwatering images of what allegedly their means looked like. I guess I’ve now realised I’m not a fan of the opposite. Which, I suppose, leaves an ad agency working on a restaurant bid at a loss (just let me pretend that ad agency’s purpose in life is to make me happy!)
Having eliminated food imagery as an option for restaurant marketing, I wish I could offer a new direction. Sadly, I’m also at a loss – if only you could print taste.

Advertising Agency: Z Mexico
Creative Directors: Jose Arce, Fernando Carrera
Art Director / Copywriter / Illustrator: Fernando Carrera
Photographer: Gustavo Dueñas

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Gotta love this ad. Placed right in the middle of Barcelona, Durex certainly know how to grab the public’s attention and spread their message. Its amusing that all it takes is the same word 5 times in a row and our mind automatically turns to sex. Actually, they probably could have put the “Si” in once and 90% of the men would have drawn the same conclusion. And clearly they are drawn to it subliminally because every guy in the shot is conveniently positioned right underneath the Durex logo. Although they are all conveniently looking away from the board. Reminds me of the Google Street View image where the guy is caught walking out of the sex shop.

I like the use of second billboard, really gets the “prolong the pleasure” point accross. You’d only ever get away with an ad like this in Europe. I can only imagine the uproar it would cause if they put something like this up in plain sight in America: “Think of the children”. Its a handy way to remember where you parked the car as well, just underneath the double condom ad.

We all know that sex sells. But at least Durex have gone a little differently to the usual picture of a striking blonde in a raunchy pose. The spanish slogan really rolls right off the tounge “Prolonga el placer”. Condom makers must have great fun when thinking up their new campaigns…

Advertising Agency: Ciacomunicacion, Barcelona, Spain
Creative Director: Juan Pablo Caja
Art Director: Roger Cano
Copywriter: Jordi Lucas

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Irony: “a literary or rhetorical device, in which there is an or discordance between what one says or does, and what one means or what is”….an oil company which makes an ad featuring teddy bears and a young girl playing guitar in her bedroom. Now I’ve seen everything.

I’d love to know what went on behind the scenes while this ad was being developed. “Guys we sorta have a bad reputation after that spill in the north sea. A lotta dead seals. Lets try and turn this one around. I think I have just the idea”.

Its a fairly naive move to assume that the public will not see through this one. The ad itself is actually really well put together. Young girl, destined for stardom, playing her first gig in her bedroom in front of a packed audience of her teddy bears (although she owns a ridiculous amount). There was even a huge amount of attention to detail. You’ve got the groupies in the front, the barbie doll backing singers and the action man security staff. Good concept, well shot, and definitely grabs our attention. I just think its a bit rich for an oil company to put this one out, regardless of the fact that its for Hydro Power. I’m not even sure how Statoil are supposed to be helping this girl to become a popstar. Are they providing the power for her two lamps?

If she does go on to be famous I don’t think she’l be thanking Statoil when she picks up the grammy.

Quite dissapointing to see Kermet the frog in the mix as well. Wouldn’t have thought this would have been his thing.

Advertising Agency: McCann Oslo, Norway
Creative Director: Atle Skageng
Art Director: Geir Gammern Florhaug
Copywriter: Frank Standal Dybhavn
Photographer: Billy Bonkers

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People are going to call this ad racist. You can just tell. People are happy to get excited about the first African-American President, or the first black President, or even perhaps the first President of Colour. But the moment this exciting skin tone of the President gets compared to ANYTHING white, people call foul.

And is it racist? To me, it says that the President is black, and he lives in a White House. To me, this is true. This is also something that millions have been waiting for, for many, many years.

It’s also a really cute illustration – and chimes in on the ‘change’ and happy times that everyone expected from the Obama administration. True, times have made it difficult to maintain that optimism. But we can’t blame the President for the mess he’s been left.

To an extent, we also cannot blame companies for continuing to buy into Obama-mania to sell their products. With notable mention to the lululemon athletica (yoga apparel store) shop window which featured a cartoon President meditating, with the words ‘om-bama’ above it, it is to be expected.

Businesses have cashed in on the ‘change’ notion as quickly as they started Bush-bashing. Americans create such a cult of celebrity around their political icons, it’s just too much free PR for companies to resist.

But it is a little bit of a cop-out – I mean, it isn’t really bothering to tap into the product at all. Instead, it just picked something amazingly topical and threw on a headline. It’ll grab attention, and hell, I would buy Obama icecream. But there’s little to commend in terms of the ad team.

Also, ‘flavor of the week’? More like the next four years – at least. I don’t love a new president being boiled down to the latest trend, even though that could be closer to reality than political pundits admit.

I wonder if they thought it would be slightly racially controversial? Or worse, I wonder if they hoped so? Not that I think our sunny President who surfs in Hawaii would have a problem with his smiling emoticon dancing in front of rainbows.

Advertising Agency: Voskhod, Yekaterinburg, Russia
Creative Director: Andrey Gubaydullin
Art Director / Illustrator: Vlad Derevyannykh
Copywriters: Aleksandr Parkhomenko, Evgeny Primachenko
Published: March 2009

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The fists look like a brain. Ok. Is that it? I mean, I get that this service is “working your brain out” – in this mental training concept.

But I mean, who works out with their fists? Ok, ok, I suppose kick boxers do. But I don’t know, most people work out with their biceps and groin muscles and all sorts of other parts of the body. The fists? They’re just there for the heavy lifting.

I suppose it’s clever that the physical part of the body which is responsible for exercise looks like the mental part of the body that might need training. But the fact I had to repeat the gist of the ad, what, three times now? That’s pretty much an indication that I’m not a fan.

Plus there’s that strangely blurred background. Light grey text on a charcoal background? I’m sure the art directors could have done something a little more appealing. Honestly, this looks like a sombre ad for a boxing match, or perhaps a thumb wrestle of sorts.

It isn’t really saying a whole lot about the service, and it isn’t that nice to look at either. I feel bad for all the criticism – but really, Houdini, (sorry in advance!) I think there could have been more magic.

Advertising Agency: HOUDINI, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Art Director: Boris Peters
Copywriter: Wilbert Leering
Photographer: Marcel Christ
Other additional credits: Souverein
Published: March 2009

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So for a second every business was going ‘green’ and it was the politically correct/popular thing to do. Then the GFC hit, and the unpopular thing to do was cut jobs and reduce spending. Regardless, it’s happening, and many environmental issues have been cast by the wayside.

To an extent, it’s understandable – after all, eco-friendly practice and corporate social responsibility is expensive. That’s not to say that the environment ought to take a back seat to our financial issues: but it is a likely result. In truth, many businesses were only embracing the green revolution in order to win public sentiment; the public are currently otherwise distracted.

I know that it is a mass generalisation – but we tend to be selfish in difficult times.

However, GE are addressing both concerns in a single campaign. Not only are they broadcasting ‘green energy,’ but it’s also a more afforadable option.

Plus they’ve managed to portray an idea of ‘natural energy’ perfectly – I love the butterflies being drawn to the light, or the energy-saving fireflies.The art direction is gorgeous, and the lightbulbs (almost) seem a part of the natural environment itself.

Which of course, is a huge exaggeration. No matter how hard we try to minimise our carbon footprint, our need for electricity and energy seems to always outweigh our planet’s need for protection.

But GE are taking more than a step in the right direction – considering the times, a massive influence like GE could remind people of the very real ‘green’ issue which was a fad not too many months ago. Earth Hour is this weekend. Compared to last year, I’m not even sure that anybody has noticed.

Our environment has stuck around, through thick and thin, providing support, resources and (as these ads show) some really pretty sunsets. Perhaps we owe it more than just our fleeting attention, when our bank balance is feeling healthy.

Advertising Agency: BBDO New York, USA
Executive Creative Directors: Bill Bruce, David Lubars
Creative Director / Art Director: John Leu
Creative Director / Copywriter: Brad Roseberry

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For a long time (until mere moments ago, in fact), I believed that the somewhat superior airs of the British were a result of their upbringing and accents. For whatever reason, I believed that their poshness was beyond their own control.

These ads have irrevocably changed my mind.

Because they make quite the statement. Read: “We are British. Therefore, we are better than you.” (In a distinctly North London accent).

Of course, everyone was always thinking it. But I think the polite nature (or at least, polite accent) of most of the English always made me think that they had no idea that they gave off this, somewhat, condescending impression.

The sad fact is, often they are right. The snooty tone of an English gentleman will declare that London is undoubtedly the centre of the Earth and there was no reason to ever venture even as far as the Continent. We might provoke an argument, raise the many wonders of Europe and beyond, but honestly, we’re all agreeing on the inside. Who can argue with a Londoner? They do, after all, live in London.

Even the little jabs that we take pleasure in, the mini-taunts which bounce off the British skin because really, they are petty at best – are harnessed in this ad. Yes, it’s always grey in Britain, and perpetually raining. But the Stephens Brothers like it that way.

We can dangle our Australian blue skies and beaches in their faces – but the Brits still manage to win. After all, you can’t wear impeccably cut suits in 40 degree sweltering heat. I would know.

So the British continue to conquer the convicts – even if it was hundreds of years ago, we still suffer from little brother syndrome. These ads are from India – a nation who has a far more recent experience of British superiority.

However, it’s possible that the Indians don’t have the memory we do – after all, these ads are a direct reflection of the Stephens Brothers 2007 campaign.

Well, you can’t say the Brits aren’t honest. They can dangle their handsome-media-darling Princes and gorgeously cut clothing and tea parties in the country all they like – and it’ll work. The photography in these shots is stunning; the monochromatic tones make even the dreariness of London skies beautiful.

So you may have noticed I’m a London-phile, and its ads like these that feed my obsession. They’re so…British. Stormy skies are no deterrent, let’s just sit in the park and have some tea. Wait – that could be the attitude that has been their economic downfall. All of a sudden, (if it means I get to get back to England), I’m hoping for some blue skies.

Advertising Agency: ideas@work, Mumbai, India
Creative Directors: Zarvan Patel, Prashant Godbole
Art Director: Manoj Gorde
Copywriters: Roy Abraham, Kartik Smetacek
Photographer: Tejal Patni
Published: October 2008

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