Like a Girl

I did not write for quite some time, but this ad actually got the marketer in me. We see brands becoming more and more content producers, and it is hard for a brand to re-invent itself or find the right content that remains core to the brand yet sends a message.

Always managed to do so with a maestria! Their new campaign like a girl, is the right amount of emotions, brand message, and the perfect production to make this ad the perfect video that you want to see go viral.

What are his 99 problems?

So we all heard that Jay-Z has 99 problems but the B ain't one. So what are his 99 problems?

Ali Graham took his artistic skills to give us some answers on his Tumblr 99 problems. In a very simplistic style and light hearted way Ali illustrates Jay Z's 99 problems. Apparently his problems range from The radio not playing his hits to having soap in his eyes. This morning problem 44 has been showcased, so only 45 to come!

See below for some of his work for the rest check: http://probs99.tumblr.com/ 

Coca-Cola Sharing Can

I am sure this must have happened to you at some point, we open a can of coke and you are not sure wether to share your can with someone else. Well Coke came up with a solution to make it user for you: What about a can you can split in 2 smaller cans ...

For years, Coke has encouraged people to share happiness, so this Twist, turn and Share can is a natural evolution ;)

Thanks to my friend Ben for the heads-up.

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Google allows you to pay your friends via Email

So no you can payback or buy merchandise vie Email, indeed Google has announced the addition of Google Wallet function directly linked to your Gmail account.

In my opinion this is not surprising, google has been working hard to connect the offline world to the online one. Although Google Wallet is not a novelty (created in 2011), it has not gone mainstream yet, this can be the fault of the consumer's resistance to mobile based transaction. On the other an other reason can be the lack of awareness and retail deployment. So the use of the massive Gmail database can be the push that G Wallet needs.

FYI for the moment it is only available in the US

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Maker vs Marker

Maker vs Marker is a stop motion fight between animator and animation taking place on a whiteboard. Best watched with big ol' headphones! It is based on Street Fighter, just enjoy the fine work of Jonny Lawrence (animation and Brian Sadler (music).

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Heineken Smart Bottle

Although I hate the word phygital, it is a trend that every brand tries to get its hands on. We hear that we have to connect the digital world to the physical world blah blah blah, but which brands do it and do it well?

Today Heineken came onto my radar, with their campaign “Heineken Ignite,” the dutch company came up with what they call the first smart bottle. A bottle full of sensors and networking technology that will allow it to respond to external triggers such as: music and the output of specific audio and data cues. For example, it can detect different kinds of motion like cheering, drinking or sitting idle on the bar counter. The bottle lights can be remotely activated, so that all bottles can be programed to synchronize to a music beat.

"This interactive bottle design was part of an innovation workshop exercise the brand created to come up with a way to create an interactive experience with its bottles that uses mobile technology. Heineken used Tribal DDB’s “Spark” process which involves a set program of research, briefing, ideation, development, consumer validation and prototyping over a 10-week period."

The brand is testing the Ignite bottle design during Milan Design Week. The brand will continue to experiment with the bottle and concept in order to determine the next steps and whether or not it will be made available to the public.

One last question would of course be, how much such bottle can cost? No info was shared but I guess it could be an investment. 

Paperman

As you certainly red, the Oscar for best short animated movie went to the Disney's black and white "Paperman". Paperman was the animated short showcased in cinema before the latest Disney movie "Wreck-it Ralph".

Realized by John Khars, an animator from Pixar who worked on Ratatouille and other animated movies, Paperman is a true technological achievement because it mixes both traditional hand drawing with computer design. This was feasible thanks to a software called "Meander", which was developed by Disney's Engineer Brian Whited. The program allowed Khars and his team to rework by hand  3 images to give the illusion to be hand drawn.

As Yom (from Suchablog) pointed out, the similarity with the non-animated short 'Signs', a Schweppes' production, is quite uncanny. On the other hand you have to get your inspiration from somewhere!

Yet Paperman remain a true pleasure to watch.

INK DROPS

Filmmaker Jacob Schwarz captures the graceful movements of color ink drops in 4K, which is four times greater than regular 1080p HD.

The best pep talk ever!

"We all need a little encouragement every now and then. Kid President, knowing this, has put together a video you can play each morning as you wake up or to share with your friend who needs a kick in the right direction. Take a moment and spread some encouragement. "It's everybody's duty to give the world a reason to dance.""

"Don't stop believing... unless your dream is stupid. Then you should get a better dream!"

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The science of persuasion

Interactive drawing is really the bee's knees, I really enjoy watching them because they are highly interactive and usually quite interesting. Yesterday nigh in during an other sleepless night I cam across this little jewel: The science of Persuasion.

Wether you are a waiter, a sales person or even a magician this video is full of nice types on how to get the yes. The 2 authors Dr. Robert Cialdini & Steve Martin are co-authors (together with Dr. Noah Goldstein) of the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Business Week International Bestseller Yes! 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to be Persuasive.

When you have 10 minutes just take the time to have a look.

Coca-Cola Let's Go Crazy

I think that by now most of you understood that I work for Coca-Cola an that I love working because it is a company that lives true to its values. Happiness is the most incredible and the most contagious thing in the world. For being happy is to be close to the people I love.

My close friends know how emotional I get when something touches me, well this new ad just made the trick. I couldn't stop dumb smiling and asking myself "What would be my, Share the happiness thing".

Just enjoy this video, if you want to find more info about the different projects just check under the video. 

Be brave, be safe.

Tommy Carroll has been skating since he was ten, but has been blind since the age of two due to a retina cancer. In an interview with Tony Hawk, he explains that he starts in a skatepark that he doesn't know to familirize himself with the surroundings using all his other senses.

Thanks to protective gear he was able to learn incredible tricks. An amazing story that prooves you can be really brave when you are safe.  Once he feels comfortable he does not hesitate one extra instant to let go.

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Skateistan

We all have heard many things about Afghanistan, however have you ever heard about the Skateistan? 

Skateistan began as a Kabul-based Afghan NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) and is now an International non-profit charity providing skateboarding and educational programming in Afghanistan, Cambodia and Pakistan. Skateistan is non-political, independent, and inclusive of all ethnicities, religions and social backgrounds.

According to its website its mission statement is:

To use skateboarding as a tool for empowerment by:

•    providing access to education

•    focusing especially on girls and working children

•    developing leadership opportunities

•    building friendship, trust, and social capital

If you wish to support them you can go here

TomTom (almost) makes a viral

For the promotion of their contest 'Tomtom More' the GPS brand has decided to produce a 'viral' video. They took the best past vitals as ingredients and created this amazing video. However with budget cuts due to the amount of prizes there is to win the video is not as impressive as they hoped for ... 

You've certainly recognized T-Mobile Dance (january 2009), Sony Bravia Balls (october 2005), TNT ‘A Dramatic Surprise on a Quiet Square’ (april 2012), Will it blend (since october 2006), Evian – Roller Babies (july 2009), Old Spice (february 2010) and Red bull Stratos (october 2012)

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Working on the next post

Movies of 2012 Super Cut

I missed not finding the time to write new articles, so I now decided to take some more of my rare free time to share with you what I love, what I feel, what I think is worth sharing and some other things. In other words, be ready to see more content!

Every year I post a the movie recap of the year, this one comes from Youtuber Nick Kinder. He spent 2 months, 65 Gb off his laptop, went through 200 movies and around 50 hours to edit this piece of art. Since his description will be much better than mine I invite you to read it in the description of his video.

Movie list: http://themoviesof2012.tumblr.com/

The faces behind your toys

Wow I can't believe I let you down for the past month, work being hectic I had little time to come up with something interesting. Well that was until I stumbled upon German born photographer and his Series 'The real toy story'. http://photomichaelwolf.com

I think my timing is well chosen, since we are right After Saint Nicolas and a few days before Christmas. I remember as a kid I had this crazy idea that all my toys were coming from a same factory that knew exactly what kids would love to have and play with. The more I grew up the more I this idea shattered and I discovered the truth ... Then the more I became an adult the more I understood the economy behind these toys and therefore the supply chain of such toys. 

In 2010 the average monthly salary, including overtime, for a migrant worker was CNY1,690 (£150), insufficient to cover basic needs for workers and their families. In 2009 alone, approximately 1 million workers suffered industrial injuries whilst about 20,000 were victims of occupational disease. (Source: War on Want)

This series of picture give a candid and unaltered look at the faces behind your toys or the toys you are about to buy.

If you still believe in Santa Claus this post is not for you!

Unlock the 007 in you. you have 70 seconds

So Coke Zero challenged unsuspecting train passengers to unlock the 007 in them for their chance to win exclusive tickets for the new James Bond movie SKYFALL. However, the tickets weren't free. People had to go the extra mile and unlock their inner 007 in less than 70 seconds to win.

Enjoy

1.000.000.000 monthly active users on Facebook

Facebook has now officially passed the 1.000.000.000 mark, and celebrate it with this hipsterish photogenic video.  

"Chairs, doorbells, bridges, airplanes. These are things that people use to get together and connect. Facebook is also something that over a billion people around the world use to connect with one another"

theofficialfacebook 

Move your lee!

Well every once in a while you see something that gives you goosebumps, and you think to yourself:
Damn this is Freaking Awesome.

Well I had such moment yesterday, a friend of mine send me an article about a Belgian Creative Director: John Israël from the Agency The-Satisfaction (Article here it is in french though). During the interview he talks about the new lee campaign: Move your lee.

During the interview there were some sequences of the new video. So I looked for it, found it, watched it and all I can say is goosebumps ensued.

The video is poetic, aesthetic, beautiful, sleek and epic. The music is awesome as well!

Enjoy

Source: The-Satisfaction