If you haven't heard of or seen this exhibit, I'd call it a must if you find yourself in New York sometime between now and May 12 when it closes. Loads of inspiration and mind fodder for anyone interested in the role of design in an information and technological society.
Among the many wonders on display are instant furniture, nano inventions, and a new piece by Jonathan Harris.
If you can't make it in person, the MoMA's exhibit website is a meaty proxy for it.
These guys call themselves the Sprinkle Brigade. They search the streets of New York City and create their own brand of found art.
"Our mission is to be a solution to the problem, to put a smile on your face, and to meets [sic] some ladies in the process. So if you're out with your pooch and you don't have anything to pick up its chud baby, just leave it ... we got it."
Talk about finding art in unusual places. They've even created some rather nice videos of their installations.
It's a clear reminder that inspiration is everywhere. You just have to sniff it out.
If you find yourself in New York starting 11/29/07 their work will be on exhibit at Riviera.
Thanks to Andy for the link.
The New Yorker's covers are often gems. Usually they touch on the essence of the city in ways even a non-resident can relate to. But sometimes they strike a broader chord and this is one of those cases.
By intersecting two debacles: the Senator Larry Craig
bathroom scandal, and Iranian President Ahmadinejad's statement that there are no gays in Iran (wrong!), they attained simple brilliance. Well done.
According to BBDO New York and Havianas the answer is a resounding yes. The spot is a brilliant example of building from a strategic territory (call it 'feet have emotional needs too'?), and creating an evocative foot-point-of view world. More work from the campaign is here.
I just love the idea of changing a basic foam sandal to a catalyst for podiatric reveries.
Thanks to Paul for pointing me to this work. Great stuff from Saatchi &Saatchi Budapest via hidden persuader. This is what happens when a performance benefit becomes culturally relevant, even if the bands are old. Tapping right into boomer and x-er nostaalgia, and not taking itself too seriously. I'd love to see a similar tone surface in a retail context.
This creative was done as a pitch by a small agency called Spinach, Inc. for the pro-pot group NORML (National Association for the Reform of Marijuana Laws). It's spec work but was apparently adopted by the Georgia NORML chapter who sold it in to three small grocery chains. There is a ton of alternative media stuff out there, especially in print and outdoor. But this is just great to see that the in-store environment is starting to be seen as place for ideas beyond coupons and CPG claims. The challenge, of course, is retailer approval which makes this space so unlike normal media. But as it becomes more of a measured medium this will change.
I won't spoil this one if you haven't seen it, but this is a nice piece of film out of the UK that goes where no brand has gone before and champions that which has been taboo. Plus its just plain fun to spot as many of the euphemisms / metaphors as you can. If you're falling short just chalk it up to cultural differences.
This is a cross placement of soup in the cold remedies section. It seems totally intuitive, yet still disruptive amidst boxed medicines. I love those 'stupid simple solutions'. But too much cross placement could lead to a point where a shopper may not know where to find something. Wait... come to think of it, doesn't that happen already?
To me, advertising is at its best when it requires the viewer to connect some dots. This may be a couple years old but I came across it when reading through a friend's Communication Arts back issue. It's difficult to find disruptive creative in a grocery store, perhaps even more so in the produce section. Who wants to be bothered with a cereal ad while choosing an orange? People who love fruit, that's who. The problem wiht this sort of media is that you don't simply make a 'produce section' ad buy. It takes a movement of people to get this approved. The agency, client, sales force, store managers, etc. all have to really buy into it. Then it actually has to get executed flawlessly across hundreds of stores. But this is untapped space for marketing and it's exciting to me. If you've spotted any other worthy in-store examples send them on or comment below.
I'm Sean. This is my home for homeless thoughts. I'm a planner based in New York. I think simple is smart. For something more official there's this.
The opinions, observations and nonsense published here are purely my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of my employer.
Clay Shirky: Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing Without Organizations
Margaret Mark: The Hero and the Outlaw
The leading book on using archetypes in brand strategy, this blends motivational theory into the mix in a very readable way. It also segues nicely into storytelling.
Phil Dusenberry: One Great Insight Is Worth a Thousand Good Ideas
Daniel Pink: A Whole New Mind
I saw Daniel Pink speak at Future Trends a year ago. Compelling speaker and a reluctant creative; a left-brain telling a right-brain story.
Cheri Huber: How You Do Anything is How You Do Everything
This handwritten self-help workbook asks the simplest of questions, meant to reveal your inner priorities and motivations. Excellent as a spark for creating consumer workbooks.
Adam Morgan: The Pirate Inside
As a follow-up to Eating the Big Fish this is a solid handbook for anyone advocating a challenger position in their organization.
Scott McCloud: Understanding Comics
This is a comic book about comic books, but it completely goes to school on visual communications. A good aid for demistifying layouts and visual ideas.
Wendy Gordon: Good Thinking
This well known British researcher gives a grounding for planners on how to think about qualitative research.