London Ascent

Summer surfer, football fan and Jamie Oliver wannabe. Enjoy writing about stuff that interests me. My mantra: Clever concept. Concise communication. Easy on the eye.

[hypebeast]

Reebok Classic 2015 Fall/Winter Menswear Collection Sportswear by the masters.

[sweetsoles]

Puma Blaze Of Glory Tech - Black (by knucklerkane)

[surphile]

John John Florence. Follow. video kueny via john john florence

[london-ascent]

Alcoholic Architecture: Don’t Get High on Alcohol Kids

Written for the VCCP blog found here.

Last night I excitedly ventured to Bompas & Parr’s latest pop-up bar that fills the air with vaporous alcohol, in what is essentially a breathable cocktail. Based in a Gothic Monastery next to Southwark Cathedral, the oldest Gothic cathedral in Britain, the bar is themed around the entrepreneurial monks who used to turn herbs into liquers.

Donning a thin clear plastic sheet, I stepped away from the actual bar serving drinks and into a pink cloud that is liquor-mixer ratio of 1:3 and a humidity of 140 per cent. From the pictures and explanation online, I thought the area would be huge, the taste of different cocktails identifiable and I’d be getting drunk quicker than Eye Ball Paul.

However, the reality is much different. As one of the company founders Bompas explains, ‘Basically we wanted to create a crazy theme bar and a fun way to start the night. You can only stay in here for 50 minutes, to ensure you only inhale the equivalent of one large gin and tonic – so you can’t get too drunk.’

What Bompas also forgot to mention is that the experience is essentially 20 people crammed into a small room with 6 inches of visibility and an under serviced bar that took too long to get a drink. For the first ten minutes it was fun with different coloured vapour being pumped around, but by the end of it the novelty wore off and I was standing in a damp room coughing and unable to taste what the cocktail was.

I can see why Bompas & Parr have created it – there must be hundreds of brands that would love to use this technology at events – and I applaud them for pushing the boundaries with what is possible in a time where experience matters more than material possessions. But spending five years and £30,000 working out how to do it properly? I hope they get their money back, because I certainly can’t.

[london-ascent]

Always in Beta: The balance of power is changing in the sports industry

Written for the VCCP blog found here.

New Balance has released its first global brand campaign, “Always in Beta”, in a bid to become one of the top three global athletic brands.

The concept behind “Always in Beta” is a refreshing stance as a campaign and, more importantly, a brand proposition as it entwines the values of the business with the consumer.

It’s a great example of the importance of aligning the purpose of a business with its brand and customers, connecting all stakeholders with the craving for constant improvement.

Previously known for shunning endorsements, New Balance has changed its brand and communications strategy from product-led to more marketing-led with high profile athletes fronting its campaign.

The actual launch film “The Storm” looks and sounds epic but doesn’t quite give me goosebumps – it’s job is to show off the sponsored athletes rather than motivate amateur athletes. However, I do look forward to what New Balance may have in store around larger sporting events.

[london-ascent]

Can immersive exercise save the UK from an obesity epidemic?

Written for the VCCP blog found here.

The rise of wearable technology and the ever-increasing usage of smart phones and apps, means our lives and actions can be constantly monitored, reviewed and bettered.

As an exercise enthusiast, and working for a sport based client, I am very interested in how exercise and digital technology can come together to motivate the participator, help them achieve their goals and improve the overall exercise experience. With a WHO report suggesting that 74% of men and 64% of women in the UK will be overweight by 2030, the role of exercise in our lives will become increasingly more important than it already is.

Combining exercise and digital technology/games is not a new phenomenon. The Nintendo Wii has been around for almost 10 years and has fueled the release of similar consoles that can be used within the home, as well as exercise and reaction games within gyms.

However, I think the most exciting development is how our everyday tech items have moved on from stat just detailed body monitors into a potential constant source of motivation, using the physical world around us.

One such example is a motivational radio station that is only playable on the Williamsburg Bridge. The station was created by an ad agency for a Brooklyn-based record label and works through and app to play an upbeat, motivational song as you go up the bridge and a chill track after you reach the halfway point for quiet reflection. Williamsburg Radio is also entirely hands-free: The app starts playing music automatically once you reach the bridge, detecting your location roughly every second through GPS tracking and a system of beacons.

Imagine going for a run around a city receiving curated tracks into your headphones that are both motivational and inspired by the surrounding cityscape. What if you then added in more competitive elements, such as being rewarded for the amount of times you run, or competing against other runners for a particular local area (see Run an Empire here).

There is a huge scope for the right sporting brands or National Governing Bodies to combine the trend of immersive theatrical experiences with technology. By aligning their brand values with the goals of the exerciser and enhancing the overall exercise experience, these organisations may benefit whilst saving the UK from an impending obesity epidemic.

[london-ascent]

Curiosities

Curated for VCCP’s blog here.

Through Clouds and Water: surfing in England’s industrial North East

Better known for steel mills and chemical refineries than surfboards and Ambre Solaire, its cities seem an unlikely place to find men who live to ride the perfect wave.

Watch and read more here.

Skateboarding, animation and Super 8 film

The Lightbox Film Project is a series of experimental skate films by Phil Evans, each one based on a different concept and all supported by Levis Skateboarding.

Watch more here and read more here.

Russia launches a selfie safety campaign to prevent more photography-related deaths

It used to be that the biggest risk associated with selfies was being called a narcissist, but a new public safety campaign in Russia warns of more life-threatening dangers.

Read more here.

Helmet headphones beam music to your skull so you can hear the road

Royal College of Art Graduate, Gemma Roper, thinks she’s come up with a way for cyclists to listen to tunes as they ride, without diminishing their awareness of their environment.

Read more here.

Coca-Cola presents the first-ever no labels cans for Ramadan

Coca-Cola has shared the first-ever “No Labels” cans as part of a social experiment idea during Ramadan. The cans are created to make a compelling point about removing stereotyping and prejudices. The message on the cans spells out their purpose, sharing with every consumer who grabbed those cans that labels are for cans, not for people.

Read more here.

[london-ascent]

Tech Water Cooler

Curated for VCCP’s blog found here. 

Land Rover builds remote controlled car driven by smartphone

Remote control Range Rover Sport research vehicle may become a production car feature.

Find out more here.

Microsoft to launch inspiring newspaper for commuters

‘The Five to Nine’ will encourage people to get out of the office and pursue creative endeavors.

Find out more here.

Facebook releases ‘Moments’

Frustrated with friends who take photos of you, say they’ll pass them on, but never do? Facebook’s newest companion app Moments could retrieve your memories trapped on other people’s phones through facial recognition.

Find out more here.

Oculus to release consumer headset Rift in Q1 2016, releasing Oculus Touch soon after

Oculus has upped its game once again with the consumer Rift headset and it’s incredibly comfortable to wear, while Oculus Touch adds another dimension to the whole experience.

Find out more here.

[avenuesofinspiration]

[london-ascent]

Intersect | Photographer © | AOI

An amazing new perspective of a city junction. I really like how the ‘Intersect’ actually intersects the frame of the image.

[plagved]

[vicforprez]

[hypebeast]

A First Look at the Nike Sock Dart “Independence Day” Pack

[2-ri-deactivated20150521]

[london-ascent]

HYPEBEAST Eats: Badmaash Is Not Your Average Indian Restaurant “Let’s build an Indian Restaurant that we want to take girls to.”

Badmaash means badass or against the grain, of which the owners proclaim to be. They don’t categorise themselves as an Indian Restaurant, but an Indian Gastro Pub. Everything looks great - from the interior, to the food, to the menu - and the influences of the chefs vary between India, New York and Canada. I would love for one to open in London!

[london-ascent]

Personal Project: Kew Gardens

[london-ascent]

Personal Project: Kew Gardens

[london-ascent]

Personal Project: Kew Gardens