Where are the trousers?



I saw this on the news the other day and thought it was an absolute insight into finding a solution to a problem...

The 'Hit-Air' Jackets designed by Honda, are leading the way in making high-impact sportswear safer. Initially for Motorcycles, but for power sports, water sports and horse riding as well... 


It's simple you connect a cord from the jacket to your bike (or other vehicle) when it becomes detaches it inflates (0.5 secs) - much like that of a buoyancy aid - whilst protecting all the vital parts of your upper body.

No apologies for the extremely corny/ unrealistic video... we didn't do it. 



My only question is when will the air trousers come? When you're sliding off a bike i'm sure it's not too much trouble to incorporate it into the trousers? I'd rather not break my legs if I can help it.



Colour TV.




Bad Signal?

My TV this morning for about 10 seconds... long enough to reach for the camera phone.

Kinda like it though... makes me think of the song by Blue-ink or whoever it is? Perhaps someone could shed some light on the details...




3-Dlicious


WHAT A COUPLE OF TW*TS - WE KNOW YOU THOUGHT IT - WE DID TOO...

Most people on the circuit will know, and those soon to be on it, will find out that every Creative Director is different, some like a particular standard - all about the work - approach, some it's about the work and a lot about the people too (most common - if I'm honest), for others you'll find you'll have to do something specific in order to either a) see that team or b) stand out so that you're the team they remember.

Now there's a whole host of things you can do - most of them you won't think of right now, but people refer to them as stunts, a good example involves a little bit of research and some carefully placed logic here's a fun example over at Pisspoorenglish

A lot of the time they are uncalled for, some people hate them, others couldn't care either way, sometimes when you get it right they are awesome, but they are only a front for your book - the work is what matters most- remembering that's the most important you're all set. Don't forget this can be how you get in to see them, what you do when you're there or how they remember you. 

Most people make a little self promo - which is pretty common to go alongside their book, or make their own portfolio out of wire mesh(!), but we have realized although common, a lot of people like the traditional portfolio lock-up. It's familiar, easy to flick through and doesn't require any working out - now this is up for debate depending on where you go but here's a little something we did - and what better person to start it off on - Graham Fink.

The 3-D portfolio...


Messing around with the colour palette made this quite interesting and we turned every single page in our book into 3-D mode. Simple but adds to the experience of the whole thing, better than just looking regular ads - kinda makes it a bit more fun.


HARD TO SEE - BUT YOU GET THE IDEA

As a result we're starting a little side mini blog, as we visit people we'll get them in our 3-D glasses and post it up. Whether they choose to look at the work that way or not. (Just need to collect a couple of images first). The best picture thus far has to be the one of the last post.


**Edit it's not all 3-D now, we now a 'section' in the back for our one-offs. Something we'd been thinking about and a modification after making a poor girl (no names) feel rather light-headed after looking at the book - no worries though it didn't affect the crit - it does happen, it happened to us. Ha-ha at least they won't forget us. 

Enjoy.




Graham Fink - Everything you'd expect, and then some.


On Wednesday Phil and I hopped over to see Graham Fink at M&C Saatchi. Now I wouldn't go into such detail usually but this is a critique that was in some ways different to what we'd previously experienced so it deserved a longer post. 

Okay, so we've heard the rumours, stories and acts of outright lunacy that he often plays on Juniors, the old snake on the bridge for one, but as much as these stories put a lot of people off from going to see him, through fear if anything - it intrigued us to go see him. At the very least our aim was to find out what he was looking for. If it wasn't us then we knew what we could do about it. Coming out with anything other than "...so what do you want to be when you grow up? or have you thought about getting a crazy haircut?" would be a small victory.

After waiting in M&C's lobby for just over an hour (which we accurately predicted, in fact I believe we placed bets on how long he would keep us - or what random act of creativity he would place upon us) - we got the call up to his office. Where we had another fun 15 minute wait outside his office, we accepted this was all part of the process from the outset, and well, if Graham was willing to take the time to see us then we'd have waited as long as we had to. 

Waiting times are great, contrary to what some other people might say, it gives you time to chill out, relax, brush up on the days tabloids and broadsheets - all of which are a luxury compared to the wonders of the London Lite & The London Paper (of which I read both) and get rid of those arrival nerves.

So anyway, the office was kind of how we imagined his office would be, a wall full of books, annuals, all kinds of literature which in comparison made my mini collection feel quite small. A custom fitted door, with all the antique frills. A relatively small desk - I guess he likes to work on the floor? ...And a quite pretentious, although probably extremely comfortable, ergonomic office chair (ripped of course - for that well used trendy chic look). (No pictures though - this is all in my head).

After a short chat about who we are and what we've been up to - as you do, we were down to the book (on the floor - by far the easiest way of viewing a portfolio, or any work for that matter). Our 3-D portfolio concept, a little stunt that we've recently taken to doing with our 'folio was positive (see next post). I believe the words were, "Well this is different... haven't seen this before", which we took to be an underhanded compliment. But more about the logistics of that later. 

He flicked through the book, stopping for the odd initial bit of advice. Before jumping back to the front. After offering feedback respectively on our first few campaigns, he shared some pearls of wisdom. 1. Do you read Dave Trott's blog? Now, Phil and I check it every now and again, and knowing that Graham Fink is a child prodigy of Dave Trott. It's easy to see what he likes. Cold Hard Facts. A long old chat on the Binary brief - (this again, can all be found in the link above), shed some light on a few things. The bare essentials of it was that you have to be more than just creative.

2. Getting a 'good' job in advertising is tough - Fink mentioned he attended 127 interviews before he landed his first job (which, correct me if I'm wrong, was CDP) that's a hell of a record, but it obviously paid off, so his standards are astronomical, the benefit of it is though if he likes your work it has got to be pretty good. He didn't say the last bit in so many words, but I think he implied it. 

On the whole our ideas, and ads were 'fun' - another word we didn't think Fink would use - but the initial truths, the core strategies should have been better. Binary Binary Binary. Therefore the ads sucked in relation to their potential. Research Research Research. Basically only when you are the market leader can you do brand growth (Coca-cola - Cadbury's etc).

We were promised that if Graham could sell our one off for the TFL/ London Aquarium he'd at least credit us. Thanks. ha ha. Here's a shot. (Whether he actually intends to mention to the TFL or not it is still appealing to our curious minds).



The old 'USP' is a big favourite of his, pick products not brands, they are easier to find a USP. Now this contradictory to what we've heard elsewhere as you'd expect if you've been to more than one crit, the advice is usually Brands - lacking a obvious USP, find something to say that you can make your own - this happens a lot with confectionary brands. 

An hour and 15 minutes after taking all this in and a well informed critique of our work, I had to say, he lived up to his reputation. (An hour and 15 minutes from anyone at that level is a lesson well worth the wait). We'll be heading back shortly with a revamp and hopefully we'll make an impression.

Mike.