"Really Permanent"

I saw this advertisement the other day and I thought that it was really clever.



What I was particularly intrigued about, were the cultural elements that really reflect how certain societies view what products can do. I was thinking about the tablet presentations, and how each group created a tablet that was culturally relevant to the country they were assigned. The tablet was presented in a way that made sense to the culture, and interestingly, this marker was presented in the same fashion. What is fascinating, is that the product, a permanent marker, is such a basic product, but the ad really made it stand out by incorporating its purpose in a really interesting way. The marker saved a life, who knew that a marker could do that? The ad is extremely clever and uses a tradition in a brilliant and memorable way. In all, I think the ad was effective in getting across the point of "really, really permanent," even though the product was not even at the center of the ad.

Is Walmart Worthy??

I have seen this advertisement a few times and every time I see it the ad gives me goosebumps, makes me smile, and brings tears to my eyes all at the same time.




Every time I see this ad, I get the same reaction and I really wondered why that happened. I knew this was a good and effective ad because it was real and relate-able and emotional, but I really thought that there had to be something more as well. In order to find out what that 'more' was I decided to rate the ad on its stickiness factor:
Simplicity: Very straightforward and easy to follow
Unexpectedness: The mother showing up at the end, the 'reveal' that the mother was a soldier
Credibility: The U.S. soldier, it was a way to say thank you
Concreteness: Well developed beginning, middle, and end
Emotions: ummmm...YES! Happiness, sadness, hope
Stories: Beautifully told story with a pleasant end. It pulls you in and you need to see the whole thing.
This ad, based on the factor, is remarkably sticky and I can't forget it. I am so moved by this ad, but every time I see it I wonder if Walmart is worthy of it. Walmart is about saving money and living a better life, but I don't know if the power that is found in this ad is equivalent to the feelings I have about Walmart. Personally, I think that Target would be better suited for this ad because Target, to me, links to the same emotions and has the same power. Regardless, this put Walmart in a more favorable light because I am not getting bombarded with Walmart deals, but rather, they spent the money to thank the troops. I respect Walmart for that because the troops need to be supported and I think this ad reminds people of all they sacrifice in both a lite and moving way. I love this ad, but I still wonder: Is Walmart worthy?

As I was perusing the Internet the other day I came across this advertisement...





This advertisement is a good example of some of the creative concepts we were discussing in class. It is interesting because the product being advertised (Doritos) is not the center of the ad. When I watched the ad, however, I really wanted Doritos. I wondered why this happened and I realized that it was because the advertisement was not saying buy Doritos, but was using Doritos to make a point. I thought a lot about reversal and how this ad addressed the question: What do consumer's dislike about traditional advertisements? In general, we dislike ads that are saying BUYBUYBUY and ones that are completely unrelateable. This ad, however is highly relateable because many of us have been in situations where someone looks to us for an answer and we don't always have one. Additionally, the ad reflected on outsourcing, which is a big issue today. Though it seems as if they made light of the issue, they did it in a way that demonstrates the negative effects of outsourcing - it is not always successful or a good idea (the player getting tackled). The issue was also presented in a humorous light because they took something that is 100% American (football) and outsourced it, which adds to the creative aspect. They took a risk, but not one that would bite them back since football will never be outsourced. In all I think that ad is well done because it is relevant and does a good job at presenting both Doritos and current concerns in a humorous light.

Interestingly, this ad reminds me of the Twix ads, especially in the sense that the product is saving a dire situation. An example is presented below.

Creativity Lives!

Today, I went to the craft fair at the World Trade Center in Boston. At first, I did not know what to expect, but I figured it would be fun to try it out and I went with Ivanka so it also allowed for some bonding time. The craft fair was amazing. There were lots of vendors, like the few pictured below.

There were so many creative people that were showcasing their work. From jewelry to clothes to food, the whole place was a creative wonderland. Seeing the hand made items and the thought that went in to each piece made me so happy. It was refreshing seeing creative people embracing their work and sharing it with others. I was lucky enough to be part of their creativity. This experience gives me something to aspire to. I can be like those vendors and part of me wants to be. They are not afraid to fail. They are not afraid that they will be judged for their beer can airplanes (yes those exist). They just want to showcase what they can do and share it with others - the true beauty of creativity. Creativity is not about being the most unique or the coolest, it is about sharing ideas and building relationships through clever designs. This fair was a community of creatives and it was so enjoyable to go there and see some of the craziest things I have ever seen (Jack Daniels wind chime anyone!) Pictured below are two ginger-bread houses that were for sale at the craft fair. They are so cool and really emphasize how creative you can be with graham crackers and candy.

                        Whoville House

                                           Inside the Whoville house (they designed a dining room!!)

Nature is EXTREME

I saw this advertisement the other day and as soon as I saw it I said "I have to blog about this!" - seriously.

The ad is for Timberland and it is really cool because it promotes the product in a really creative way. The shoes are made out of recycled materials and the ad shows how saving nature can be an adrenaline fueled experience.





This ad is really creative, because not only does it weave its call-to-action with the actual progression of the ad, but it really relates to younger populations. It reflects the concerns of the current population, but puts a fun twist on it, which makes the ad more memorable and effective. Often, an environmentally centered ad will evoke feelings of guilt and that is not always effective in changing behavior - people still may not recycle. The way Timberland speaks to consumers, however, is fun and upbeat and offers a challenge. The challenge is the most interesting part because we all know that environmental decline is a growing threat, but the fact that it could be a fun and adventurous challenge to clean it up never occurred to me - I will definitely recycle and if they have those boots in a girl's style I will recycle in those!

Definitely creative minds at work!

It's a Whale!

Initially, I could not really figure out what to write about. In class we have been talking a lot about creativity in terms of a process and, to me, it had seemed as if the creative process was impeding my ability to truly be creative and stopped me from having a Eureka! moment. I am slowly realizing that is not the case. I find myself thinking more than usual and investigating things that I normally would not have looked at.

Take for instance the following advertisement. It is for a Japanese/Korean audience and it reflects the struggle that I feel daily.





What is so powerful about this ad is its ability to convey our inner demons. We all struggle with being different and, as a result, seek uniformity because it is safer. The little boy, however, is just trying to express himself and the world is going crazy around him. That is extremely powerful because it is often not the world that threatens creativity, but rather the individual. This little boy did not fear being individual, even though he is part of a collectivist society, and though everyone else seemed to fear for him, he only felt accomplished. Then, all of a sudden, out of the madness, everyone sees this little boy's genius and they have that ah-ha moment! This ad is very memorable and relate-able because it reflects what millions of people experience internally every day - the fear to be yourself. Thus, I realize the importance of the creative process and the importance of taking risks. What would have happened if Michelangelo never took risks, or George Washington, or Einstein? Honestly, I do not really want to visualize a world like that. Without risks, there would certainly be far less creativity in the world and it would be a more dismal place. There is my Eureka!

"My Week With Marilyn"

On Thursday I went to go see the sneak preview of "My Week with Marilyn," with the ticket that Prof. Vogel emailed all of us. Not only was the movie FANTASTIC, but the director, Simon Curtis, was there to answer our questions.

I took the opportunity to ask Mr. Curtis about his creative process when filming the movie, and his answers were very interesting! He said how he spent a lot of time fact finding about each of the characters by speaking with family members and doing general research - he has wanted to make this movie for 10 years! He also followed the diary that the movie is based on closely to really develop the story. Interestingly, he also brought up how he limited his focus to a particular week, which not only made the movie intriguing, but also left you wanting to know more (or least made you want to rent "The Prince, Showgirl, and Me" from 1995). Mr. Curtis was also able to use the house that Marilyn Monroe actually stayed in when in London, which really added to the reality of the movie.

I took a lot out of this because it helped me realize how important the creative process is in crafting a piece of work. I thought a lot about how without fact finding the movie would have been different and nearly as good. Fact finding is a vital part of the creative process and without it your creative potential cannot be fully reached.

Enjoy the Trailer Below (and when it comes out everyone should go!):