Yes, I watched the Superbowl, and of course I paid attention to the commercials. This year I was struck with a particular feeling that was hard to put my finger on, and it was a bit unsettling. I felt a tinge of sadness, as if I was looking at the world through a strange, dystopian lens. But sadness for what, I wonder. Am I changing, or is the ad world changing… is society at large changing? I think the answer is probably YES to all three.
The thing I noticed most …

I was getting haircut a couple of days ago and I was pleasantly surprised by the hair stylist calling me Hon and Sweetie. And It wasn’t in that fake, Hooter’s waitress looking for a tip way. Or that condescending small diner waitress way either.
It was in that genuinely concerned way. In the context of the final touches of a good haircut. I walked out of the trendy Floyd’s 99 happy and comfortable that I paid 150% more than I had at the last place I used to get my haircut. …

I’ve been kicking around on this today.
Kickstarter
People submit projects they are working on and need funding for. Brilliant idea really. What I’m finding most interesting is not just the concept of the site and organization but the actual projects people are doing and the way they are presenting their ideas on the site. Cool Videos. Some very talented people out there, with big hearts that just want to make the world a better place.
Kick around won’t you.
- Lindsay Stevens

Is this the coolest website ever? I won’t reveal the spoiler, but they DID get it right- in reference to the addicting quality of “the product”. I wish more sites did cool shit like this rather than placing oversized, ugly buttons like “place order” on the page.
(Click on the pic to go to the site)
- Patrick Buchanan

In ad school you’ll have a professor tell you to present to him every idea you have so that he can decide which ones have to most potential. What he might forget to tell you, is that that’s just when you’re in school. Creative Directors want you to present the ideas you think are good. If you can ever say, “well, we didn’t really like it but we’re showing you anyways,” you can be sure he will think less of you. CDs don’t want to be your professor. They’d rather …

Usually when I see a piece of advertising I instantly know whether I like or dislike it, and why. But the recent TV campaign for the Dodge Charger (Man’s Last Stand) has me feeling a little conflicted. Technically, it’s well done. The copy is concise & witty, and I like the simple, slow zoom in on the car (in one of the executions). I give it bonus points for getting the point across without gimmick-y CGI or other studio trickery. And of course, when Dexter is providing the V/O you …

Last week I was in a screening, eating some delicious free food and watching some SICK motion graphics reels. The rep threw out this website, Motionographer, as a great place to go and see what is happening in motion graphics right now. I might be late to the game on this, but I find it pretty useful. Famous design houses are on the site of course, but there are links to student work and other indie sort of stuff. Selling motion graphics can be the hardest thing to do. Finding …

This week I want to share the latest from TBWA Paris, a very fun viral ad with a great insight that will never be produced in the USA.

- Pablo Jimenez

At first glance I wanted to applaud the creatives who sold a very nice and well thought out art directed campaign for HALLS lozenges. The typography was beautiful and made out of cut up red lozenges. The portraits were beautiful and resembles the work of Tony D’Orio. The colors were stunning, the makeup, the expressions of the people. All polished. At first glance I found this campaign slightly funny, slightly mean, and slightly optimistic. After further reflection I have to take all those nice comments back. I looked at this …

In a world of expensive, extravagant photo shoots and retouching, I have noticed a trend of super simple and clever print executions that probably cost little to produce.  As an art director, I really appreciate the simplicity. I can only imagine that when they were concepting, they sketched out the idea and at some point decided that a photo/photoshopped solution would only complicate things. Here are a few of my favorites.

- Sean Leonard
- Sean Leonard