AdverChatter

advertising, sports, perspective.

[adverchatter-blog]

Alex Chinneck is known for the sliding house in Margate (1st and 2nd pictures)- the brick front of which has shifted down into its front garden. He studied at Chelsea Art College, but claims he's not interested in art, but 'construction, set design and magic'. 

The 'magic' elements of his work certainly intrigued me and the viewing population. he's doing something different with architecture and it's Dali-esque in it's nature. 

His next venture is a floating piazza in Covent Garden which will be open from 02.10.14 for less than a month. I work round the corner so am definitely going to pop in. 

[adverchatter-blog]

Coca-Cola Life

Coca-Cola have launched their 'Coca-Cola life', bringing you a drink that has fewer calories than normal Coca-Cola, but that's sweeter than the zero calorie options of Diet and Zero.

The new Coca-Cola Life is sweetened by a leaf extract from Brazil, called stevia. It has a third less sugar than normal Coca-Cola and only 89 calories a can. For someone with a sweet tooth like me, this is great. I drink less and less of normal Coca-Cola, knowing the effect it has on my insides.. but Zero and Diet just don't tingle my taste buds.

I trawled twitter to see what others thought. My favourite review I came across was from the blog of 'notsupermum'. She got her daughter and a friend to do a Coca-Cola blind taste test. Coca-Cola life did well; the girls said they would drink it. However they were aware that it wasn't the normal Coca-Cola. Personally, I'm not bothered by that, as long as it's got a sweeter taste than the zero-calorie options. 

http://www.notsupermum.com/2014/08/tall-daughter-reviews-coca-cola-life.html 

There were some negative reviews:

...But mainly positive. Coca-Cola needed something big and new. The branding is dubious; the green colour is a little unappetising and the wording of 'life' is ambiguous, however I'm fully on board with the concept; big brands like this need to be attempting to change opinions on health. 

[adverchatter-blog]

M&S Summer Food Ad

I heard there was a new M&S food commercial and I rushed to YouTube. Despite knowing it would only enrage my hungry stomach in time for Friday lunch (which as I am now working, have decided is 'eat what you want' lunch) I had to know what stance they'd taken this time. Can't quite believe it's been almost a decade since the voice of Dervla Dirwan enticed us into buying 'not just food, M&S food'. 

The new commercial doesn't disappoint. I in fact watched it first without sound and likened it to the Lurpak advert; bright colours, snappy and mouthwatering. Then I read up on it (clueless as to how to make the sound work on my office comp) and discovered it was accompanied by Clean Bandit's 'Rather Be'. I couldn't quite imagine it, it was going to disappoint me. 

It didn't, it's great, the music fits perfectly with the shots of new, delicious M&S food fusions. It means I can now dance and watch photoshopped food falling onto plates at the same time; day made. 

[adverchatter-blog]

This year, McVities, with the help of Grey London, have come up with a new campaign that aims to revolutionise and popularise the brand once more. They have thus far been focusing on sweet biscuits such as Chocolate Digestives and Jaffa Cakes and have focused on the way McVities biscuits make you feel. They hope that the 'sweeet' tagline, combined with cute furry animals appearing out of McVities packaging, will get them noticed again. 

But what happened to BNs? (Bn-Bn, da daa da da da- that familiar painful song hasn't left my head since childhood). I was never a fan of the biscuit or the cheesy commercial with the dad falling down the staircase (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJObP2Ptww8).

Well they'e back. Without the BN lyrics, just the song made famous originally by the Muppets. The commercial follows the 'sweeet' theme of the McVities campaign, introducing some cute little owls. Much more pleasing to watch. Still an awful biscuit. 

[adverchatter-blog]

Recently re-discovered some of my old life drawing; possibly my favourite aspect of my artistic studies. I never grasped being able to capture a face in charcoal but mapping the contours of the human body I fell in love with. Will definitely be taking some more classes in this!

[adverchatter-blog]

Recurring Inspiration...

Years ago I saw a small art exhibition showcasing a photographer's work, based on children's drawings. He asked a bunch of children to draw their dreams on white paper, before creating these drawings in photographic compositions. I was captivated by these photographs; they've always lingered at the back of my mind. 

Then photographer Shawn van Daele did the same, with drawings by children living with serious life threatening conditions. His website explains his 'drawing hope' campaign: 

http://www.drawinghope.ca/

Now more recently, Telmo Piper has created less fantastical, more simplistic representations of his own childhood doodles (see main link). Piper has re-created his doodles through digital painting. The idea of re-creating a child's drawing keeps popping up, and will always be something I wish I had the skill and audacity to accomplish through photography. For me, it maintains the delicacy of children's fantasy while introducing the precision and skill of trained artists.  

[adverchatter-blog]

I've discovered the couple and photography team that is Cassandra Warner and Jeremy Floto; who 'feed off each others' energy', capture with the camera what they see in their heads so expertly and have a rough style of photography that jumps out of the page. 

Most recently, the couple have created some fascinating liquid sculpture shots in midair, shooting at 1/3,500th of a second. Both the vibrant and the nude colours work so well against the natural, earthy backgrounds. 

[adverchatter-blog]

Leo Burnett Australia have created a punchy, moving ad that makes it clear how stopping trade of animal skin, tusks etc. is simple. Aesthetically, the ad is eye-catching and well put together; it makes you want to look at each individual involved in the trade, your eye working your way to the top man and the solution to the problem. Catchy tagline, harrowing animal images; strong advert. 

[source: fubiz.net]

[adverchatter-blog]

Seb Del Grosso- I am obsessed with this guy. I can't even remember where I found him but he's the perfect mix of photography, sketch and humour. According to his Facebook page he only picked up a Canon EOS in 2011, but has long been interested in drawing, painting and graphics. I love it when I find an artist who inspires me to create art and this guy has. I might try out something similar myself. 

[source: Google images]

[adverchatter-blog]

Graduand Limbo

So I've been told that the term 'graduand' only applies once you've technically passed, not yet graduated. I am five days away from degree results and, without being cocky, there is a very, very slim chance I've failed. So graduand I shall be. The last few months have been a blur. Post dissertation finish, I, as previously mentioned, whizzed around on the ski slopes for a week before going to Spain on Lacrosse tour.

It was then back to reality. I had four pieces of coursework and two exams over a month, as well as my 22nd birthday to celebrate. In my world, birthdays never go uncelebrated. I am a great friend to have; I love making cakes and am a self-appointed, first-class present buyer. My own birthday does not pass without at least three celebratory functions. 

Regardless, I worked the hardest I ever have. By 6pm on the 28th May I was done with University work forever (fingers-crossed). Since then I'm afraid the body has taken a slight battering with a month of partying, however I am now back home, on with applying for jobs and trying to make a real impact with the next chapter of my life. I am in limbo, with education behind me and a career on the horizon and I couldn't be more excited. 

I haven't stopped noting down everything that's caught my eye or tickled my fancy so over the next few days I'm going to do some serious blogging, along with stimulating my creative cells by returning to my drawing. A sketchpad and pencils (full range, 5H-6B) have been purchased of course. 

[adverchatter-blog]

Mobil 1 have created an advert to promote their motor oil. The ad shows some lucky customers experiencing a pit crew style car wash complete with meeting Jenson Button. Their aim was to bring customers closer to the action of motor sports. This advert reminded me of a MINI 'not normal' campaign that I was involved with while working for iris worldwide- it's all about increasing customer interaction with and enjoyment of the brand.

[adverchatter-blog]

The last month in snippets.

So I haven't posted in a month, which is unacceptable. After skiing I went away on the Loughborough Lacrosse tour to Salou, Spain- the less said about that the better. Since then I've been working ridiculously hard for my final University exams, as well as some odd bits of coursework, and job applications- the life of a final year, career searching student is pretty hard work! I have been told however, to stop complaining and to realise how lucky I am to still be a student. I have of course taken this advise straight on board; socialising has not been sacrificed in the process.

Enough excuses. Although I haven't posted, I have been noting down a couple of things that caught my eye over the past month. In April, New York City Rescue Mission, alongside agency Silver + Partner, conducted a hidden video stunt that captured people walking past 'homeless people' who were, in fact, their loved ones. They were then replayed these videos so they could see themselves walking past their loved ones without a second glance. A really good stunt with a strong message- we're too self-absorbed in technology and our own insignificant problems to notice abnormalities in the world around us.

[wherecoolthingshappen.com]

Another thing that caught my eye over the last month was artist Luke Jerram and his giant waterslide down a street in Bristol. Thousands of people applied to be part of the spectacle, and only a fraction of these were selected. AdWeek likens this to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Jerram definitely did well to make a name for himself in the world of spectacle art. 

[guardian.com]

Finally (slightly biased as it was my own birthday last week) was John Lewis' 150th Birthday ad spot. One could write an essay on John Lewis adverts, but put simply, they never fail to warm the heart. This ad showed sequential shots of people moving, dancing, babies crawling, throughout time set in times over the last 150 years. This and the tagline 'for 150 years you have never stood still. Neither have we.' only strengthens the bond between John Lewis and it's customers. The last shot of a girl waving (presumably to her parents), as she walks through a school playground, is symbolic of the next generation that John Lewis will undoubtedly warm the hearts of. I think it's a spot that, although won't necessarily grab new customers straight away, will only enhance John Lewis' brand image of a family, home brand. 

[google.com]

[adverchatter-blog]

My first time using GoPro, in Ischgl, Austria

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I've chanced upon a wonderful Russian photographer, Katerina Plotnikova. I was amazed when I first saw her photography that captures wild animal life entangled with that of human models. The shoots were carefully positioned with the aid of wild animal trainers but it's almost impossible to believe that some of these encounters took place. 

Plotnikova has managed to liken human to animal, by using similar hair colours and styles as well as expressions. The way she has positioned human and animal bodies together is remarkable. I will definitely be keeping tabs on Plotnikova- all of her work is fabulous. 

[adverchatter-blog]

I play for the Loughborough Women's 2nd Lacrosse Team and yesterday we won Gold in the BUCS Midlands Conference Cup. These pictures pretty much some up our pride, excitement and love for one another. We have an incredibly talented team without a doubt, but I've never known a team to love and respect each other the way that we do. 

There was a lot of tension and arguing the week leading up to this match, but by the time the final whistle blew it was all hugs and tears. I think that shows how important and vital sport is- it challenges you every day but at the end of it you've worked so hard, made an amazing group of friends and you've achieved something great.

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More commercials should be like this.