A Breif History of the Internet

With Microsoft desperately pushing Internet Explorer 8 in every possible way, they have released a series of videos exploring the internet and its many fads and phases. This is their 'Brief History of the Internet' video - worth a watch...

Nike: IAM1

I try not to post too much about the same brands but sometimes (or quite often with these guys to be honest) a brand has a couple of really good campaigns going at the same time. This is Nike's new work for Air Max 1 - IAM1 Journey. It's based on a journey through five European cities to seek out and discover the unusual urban spaces they have, through the eyes of of designers, artists, musicians and media creatives. A brilliant video.

Now Look What You Did

I've been doing a bit of research on production companies and going through show reels etc. Some of the work out there at the moment is simply amazing - cgi and animation that would put Hollywood to shame. One company MAKE, a Minneapolis design studio that specialises in motion graphics and animation, are doing some really cool work. Unfortunately it was a pair of public service announcement videos of theirs that caught my eye. The two videos, "Cigarette" and "Trash", are both fully animated and were pushed through a dedicated microsite. Their message is all about your actions having an unexpected affect on the environment.

Is it just me or would you agree that they're a little bit too much? I mean, whatever about "Cigarette" which is possibly just funny, "Trash" on the other hand is just depressing.

Display Ads: Sound or No Sound

I got involved in a really stupid conversation yesterday about whether sound had a positive or negative impact on online advertising. I took the stance that sound in itself means nothing and it's all about how that sound is used. Obviously if you're talking about in-banner video then it's pretty essential, but beyond that, what does it do for actual engagement in non-video ads?

My point seemed to be lost on my co-conversationists so I said I'd find them examples to show my point.

Consider the following two ads. The first uses sound as its main engagement. The call to action is to engage and create sound. The second, however, is driven by a complete absence of sound. IMHO both are good, low weight, eye-catching ads. They serve there purpose and 'get the job done'. The creative is simple but hard-working. What impact does sound have? Well a great deal, but both by its presence and absence.

Snoop Dogg Walk in Fridge

Heineken struck a chord with there Walk-In Fridge ads; one of those ideas that really captures a cultural spirit. And the latest 'spoof' version is just as good.

What would Snoop Dogg's Walk-In Fridge look like? Well, to announce his upcoming summer tour this is the video revealing all...



The full line-up:
'Walk-in Fridge'
'Walk-in Fridge Spoof'
'Walking Fridge'