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May 31, 2007
And I thought I was cool, with the Mac Mini/flat screen TV over the fireplace/wireless keyboard combo. No, that’s not cool– SURFACE is cool. I’ve read that you can place a wi-fi digital camera on it, and watch the pictures spill out. Gives me goosebumps. I’m clearing a space in front of my couch right now….. and waiting for the Mac version. 
May 29, 2007
Five years ago in L.A. we saw a cool poster tacked to a pole. A bubble-headed looking thing screen-print, titled Buff Monster. I had my photo taken with it, of course. When we saw another one, one of the guys pilfered it for me, for my personal collection. Found art rocks.
Buff Monster reared its head again yesterday on Flavorpill. It seems that Buff Monster’s past was filled with street art. These days, he’s hooked up on projects with Nike, Vans, Hurley, Vivid, and Hustler and completed an installation at Hollywood’s Standard Hotel. This July, he launches a signature line of toys at Comic-Con in San Diego.
It was good back then as a one-color screen print on a pole. And it’s still good, in pink, living the big life.
Certainly, you’ve already heard the soon-to-be-famous quote made just a few days ago by Google senior VP, Alan Eustace and VP Jeff Huber: “(Google) accepts that some projects will never have an associated revenue stream.”
Companies challenge their talent to create innovative ways to engage consumers, and turn a profit from it. That’s what makes the world go ’round. Especially tough for the media/news world (consumers like their news and news brands FREE), but it is being done– Newspaper Next project is an example.
Let’s think about this for a second.
With Google’s acceptance of some projects NEVER generating revenue, they’re saying that those projects are meant only to build and serve their audience. And with larger, well-served and satisfied audiences– other projects designed to make money are destined to bring in nice chunks of change.
Sounds like simple logic, and a great way to enhance revenue streams. Wondering about all the gasping at the Google quote?
May 28, 2007
This video collaboration technology from HP makes holding meetings in Second Life seem so 1982. Named “Halo” (works for me, because it does appear to be heaven-sent), the technology allows people in different locations to see each other (life-size) and communicate in real time. Used in the making of Shrek, here’s what they have to say about it: “With the Halo video collaboration solution, an animation team sitting in a Halo room in Redwood City can meet with a team sitting in another Halo room in Glendale, as if they are all sitting around the same conference table. As part of this striking visual effect, images appearing on the video screen in front of participants in both locations are sharp and full size, creating an experience that is both virtual and natural.” Yours for only $500k x2, plus $18k per month. Where do I sign?
May 26, 2007
The ongoing conversation about the future of advertising is always interesting. Bob Garfield has gotten a lot of attention for his opinions in Ad Age, Bob Garfield’s Chaos Scenario 2.0, The Post Advertising Age. It’s a great testament to the healthy fluctuations of an incredibly dynamic industry. Fact is, consumers are an itchy group– eager to try something new at every turn. It’s all good, healthy stuff that separates the strong from the weak.
Amid Garfield’s Nostradamus riff, I think the most hearty thought in the article was Bruce Owen’s quote, “”The willingness to pay by consumers is far greater per eyeball than the willingness of advertisers.” Ain’t that the truth.
Garfield notes that consumers want content “on their terms”. Discovering and understanding what those terms are, and creating work that engages them, is an art. And that’s what we do.
To all you Bob Garfield followers, check out The Myth of User-Generated Advertising; it’s worthy of adding to your repertoire in the marketingscape debate.
May 24, 2007
In April, Msnbc.com launched A Fuller Spectrum of News branding campaign. With forward-thinking VP Marketing Catherine Captain at the helm, the campaign about news IS news. With its elements that allow consumers to engage and participate with the brand, Msnbc.com makes news more digestible. And dare I say, fun.
Cool parts of the campaign include ?¢‚Ǩ?ìNewsBreaker,?¢‚Ǩ? an online RSS-fed game. It’s also the first branded audience participatory in-cinema game, which busted loose in Los Angeles, Philadelphia and White Plains, NY.
?¢‚Ǩ?ìThis campaign is intentionally different and unexpected for a news organization,?¢‚Ǩ? said Captain.
See elements of A Fuller Spectrum of News campaign here.
May 22, 2007
Up next for Tattoo:?Ǭ† pizza!?Ǭ† Hungry Howie’s has enlisted Tattoo Projects to create branding TV for the 20-state pizza franchise. Hungry Howie?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s is a major competitor in the pizza marketplace, ranked #13 in the top 100 pizza franchises by Pizza Today! magazine.?Ǭ† Their products include pizza, calzone style subs, chicken wings and tenders, bread, and salads; but their claim to fame is a special trademarked flavored pizza crust. Hungry Howie’s currently has over?Ǭ† 575 locations in?Ǭ† 20 states. This ain’t no Pizza Hut– Hungry Howie’s is a perfect fit for Tattoo, because they’re creative, unique, and not afraid to shake things up. Tattoo Projects is psyched to work with HH — watch for the work, breaking this September!
A lucky bunch of us have jobs in the creative industries. The kinds of jobs that provoke the khaki-pants/golf-shirt/PC not Mac set to say, “You do WHAT for a living? And you get PAID for that?” But for all the wardrobe stylists, game programmers, event planners, actors, and viral marketing experts out there among us, a surprisely large number mostly leave their creativity at work, between 6am and 10pm.
Tattoo is comprised of talent from a multitude of creative disciplines. But the most important thing we look for when we choose our talent is that they ARE creative. To be considered for employment at Tattoo, talent must first submit a 200-word submission about themselves– interesting people, only, need apply.
We believe that nothing makes for better contributors to the creative advertising space than people who live their lives creatively. Case in point: our friend, film editor Deb Luchini — who leaves an interesting, creative trail wherever she goes.
May 21, 2007
Compared to regular detergent, the All 3x concentrated formula small-yet-mighty bottle gives you a full load of clean clothes with just a third of the amount you?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢re used to using. So, you can either lug a big, heavy traditional detergent bottle– or you can tuck the Small Yet Mighty into your bag and call it even.
We wonder why, with innovations like these, people still go the big, clunky, rotator-cuff-tearing, old-fashioned route. This thinking is highly applicable to the?Ǭ† advertising/marketing world, as well. When the small and nimble shop can do the job with just a third of the amount you’re used to using, why stick with the Y&R’s, Ogilvy’s, and other moldy-oldies? We can’t think of any other reason — so just like laundry detergent brand imprinting, we suppose it must be because it’s what their moms used to use.
May 19, 2007
Tattoo Projects just completed a project for “The Closer”. We wonder about the show’s character, Brenda. She plays the “tough-as-nails” Southern girl detective with a sassy style. Now that’s fine, and totally realistic– we’re experts on this kind of thing. What we don’t get is the Snuffy Smith repertoire of vocabulary words the writers have armed Brenda with.?Ǭ† No gal in stilettos and a Prada business suit?Ǭ† says “Whar bouts”, “reckon”, and “nekkid”.?Ǭ† It’s just the most smack-dab aggervatinest thing, y’all know what I’m sayin’?
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