Official Blog of HendrixRaderWise

Commercial of the day

2012-02-07T17:55:00.007-05:00

This is my new all-time favorite commercial for fabric softener. Sorry, Snuggle-Bear.

You're in for a laugh.

2012-02-06T16:58:00.001-05:00

#1 Commercial from last night?

Is Regis 'green screened' in this Super Bowl commercial?

2012-02-06T12:15:00.003-05:00

Just like the Coke employee trying to sneak one past everybody in this spot, Pepsi Max might be trying the same. I couldn't help but notice the odd outline of Regis as he enters the scene. And the odd relationship to the people behind him.

I'm not a betting man (which is good around the time of the Super Bowl) but I'd bet money he was shot a different time at a different location. Pepsi's hoping we won't notice the difference. C'mon Pepsi - we know the real thing when we see it.

To get you in the Super Bowl mood.

2012-01-26T15:22:00.013-05:00

Better get used to these silly commercials now. There will be a lot more come Feb 5.

I only hope my Super Bowl party will be as cool as the one in this Tostitos commercial.

Apple's answer to the printed textbook.

2012-01-20T14:02:00.009-05:00

In this video Apple unveils new technology and essentially a new way of learning for students. 2-D illustrations are now interactive videos. Lessons now can be instantly written and cutomized by the teacher for the student to access. History comes alive and engages students in a whole new way.

However, you have to feel for the kids who still use old-school textbooks. Studying hard, schlepping heavy bookbags, fumbling around with pads of paper and cumbersome pencils. Now they’re getting made fun of by Apple.
Ironic, huh - 40 year-old software engineers think they’re dorky.

And I was a little surprised with all the shots Apple was taking at the textbook. Especially when the Apple folks call textbooks "expensive" and "immediately outdated". Uh, ever owned an Apple computer? Pot, meet kettle.

Poor textbook. We will miss you. Tell the record album and land-line phone we said hi.

The Dog Side of the Force

2012-01-20T13:24:00.003-05:00

If you like dogs and Star Wars, you'll love Volkswagen's new commercial. It's a follow up to last years tour-de-force featuring the little kid dressed as Darth Vader.

Facebook Timeline debuts at f8 2011

2011-09-27T11:32:00.003-04:00

George Lucas finds Star Wars fans' lack of faith disturbing

2011-09-16T11:34:00.007-04:00

George Lucas tweaking the Star Wars movies once again for the Blu-Ray release has tweaked more than a few fans. But this excellent banner ad on espn.com is the latest example of how the Star Wars brand is letting advertisers have fun with it.

The question remains though: Will #ishallnowselectakicker be trending on Twitter?

Gadhafi mistakenly discloses whereabouts by checking into Foursquare

2011-08-24T16:40:00.000-04:00

Seems social media nearly did what NATO and Libyan rebels have been unable to do: Locate Colonel Gadhafi.

On the lam since rebel forces invaded and destroyed his Tripoli stronghold, the Libyan leader apparently couldn't resist the allure of one his favorite cafes despite the $1.6 million price tag on his head.

How do we know? He checked into Abiya, a local seafood restaurant, on foursquare.

For those of you that haven't heard, Foursquare is the location-based social networking app that lets users "check-in" at venues to earn points and sometimes "badges."

A small band of rebels descended on the establishment minutes after the post, but the Libyan leader was nowhere to be found. It is presumed Gadhafi realized the gaffe and quickly left the scene.

Despite the missed opportunity, one bounty hunter remained optimistic. "Well, he's just two check-ins from gaining Mayor status - mayors get 50% off any entree. He'll be back soon."

Maybe for his last meal.

Where seldom is heard an encouraging word

2011-07-18T14:54:00.006-04:00

Some pictures from the Rader family excursion west. Just substitute "deer and the antelope" for "Lindsay and Amelia."

And the skies are not cloudy all day. Because it's a heat dome.

"Mt. Rushmore would have looked a lot better over there. Darn."

Miles of wilderness and not a Diary Queen in sight.

Go, Bulldogs. Go! (again)

2011-04-02T06:09:00.000-04:00

Go, Dawgs, go.

Go by hustle.
Go by D.
Give-and-go. Knock down the three.

Go by Howard. Go by Marshall.
Go by Nored. Go by Mack.
Go by Smith. Go by Stevens.
Keep it going. No looking back.

Bulldogs at work.
Work, Dawgs, work!

Bulldogs at play.
Play, Dawgs, play!

Go by Hinkle. Go by Pitt.
Go by that street called Bourbon.
Beat the best to be the best,
and take your place at Houston.

Stop, Dawgs. Stop!
You’ve earned your cred.
Go, Dawgs, go.
Your destiny’s ahead.

The Bulldogs are going up.
The Rams are going down.

You’re almost there!
Now let's see
you climb that mountain and
bring back the NCAA trophy.

Bulldogs, Bulldogs,
Bulldogs, Bulldogs.

What a Bulldog party it will be!

Lovingly adapted from the P.D. Eastman classic, which you can most certainly order through the Butler superfans at Big Hat Books.

Even blindfolded - you can see this is a great spot.

2011-03-29T11:18:00.003-04:00

I'd love to know how many takes they did.

This is NOT a Kay Jewelers commercial.

2011-03-29T10:59:00.002-04:00

And it's NOT a scene from the movie "Meet the Parents". It's also NOT a Saturday Night Live spoof, (although I'm guessing it will be in the near future). It is a 60 second cat food commercial. Although if you swapped out the Fancy Feast logo for a Kay Jewlers logo, would anyone notice?

Thinking outside the cereal box.

2011-01-25T17:21:00.003-05:00

Sweet commercial for Fruity Pebbles. From Burns Group out of NYC. Not many ad agencies would do a :30 Flintstones animation that has absolutely zero dialogue from the main characters. Fred and Barney say nothing throughout the spot while "funny-dentist-looking-guy" takes all the lines. Gutsy. And very, um, tastefully done.

Too Much Holiday

2010-12-02T15:33:00.004-05:00

We all love Vampire Weekend, yes? But during the holidays it’s common to overindulge. Take Honda and Tommy Hilfiger for instance, who are both using the group’s seemingly upbeat single “Holiday” in current TV spots. And nearly the same cut as well.

Sure, it’s a happy-sounding song that’s just untraditional enough, but the lyrics aren’t actually as carefree as the spots make you think. Let’s hope this overexposure doesn’t, well, suck the life out of the Vampire’s musical credibility.

Run forest, run!

2010-11-29T13:02:00.003-05:00

Check out Oregon's new basketball floor, courtesy of Nike founder and Duck alum Phil Knight.

Surely, Leslie Nielsen can't be dead

2010-11-29T00:37:00.003-05:00

The senior statesmen of sophomoric comedies, Leslie Nielsen, died yesterday at 84.

So now's as good a time as ever to revisit Airplane!

We're all counting on you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-24T15:36:00.002-05:00

From your turnkey connoisseurs.

HRW clients are happy campers

2010-11-15T11:21:00.000-05:00

S'more employee communication fun for VMS.

Last time, it was medals. This time, we had actual badges created that people could earn all summer long as they learned new skills on and off the job.

Palin's on fire, according to NBA Jam

2010-11-02T17:39:00.009-04:00

Finding ways to make your brand topical is key to connecting with consumers, ensuring your product spikes throughout the year by sparking timely conversations.

Take for example, NBA Jam - a fun franchise that, while a bit long in the tooth by digital standards, still knows how to keep fans surprised by hitting consumer hot buttons.

Its latest secret reveals the code allowing you to pit Democrats vs. Republicans. It's perfectly political right down to the red, white and blue ball. But will Sarah be a team player? Only W knows for sure.

The clever code for those of you literally playing at home:
From the front end menu, press left 13 times, then press "+" for the Dems; or press right 13 times, then press "+" for the GOP.

At least his attitude's still cavalier.

2010-10-26T10:56:00.002-04:00

Witness the new :90 Nike spot for LeBron James. If you're a fan of open-ended questions, you'll love this commercial.

VW AR OMG!

2010-10-25T10:25:00.000-04:00

Jump to the 21s mark for the steak.

Fall in to the trap.

2010-10-08T15:35:00.001-04:00

Gap recently unveiled their new logo on the company's website.

Bad news travels fast and let's just say the new identity has not been well received. Not just by the design community, but more importantly by loyal Gap shoppers.

Viral feedback is the straw that stirs the marketing drink these days. One negative comment can quickly become 700 and suddenly your facebook page turns in to one huge focus group room. Minus the bad deli-tray.

All the negative uproar has gotten the attention of Marka Hansen, President of Gap North America. Read her response here regarding her company's fashion faux pas.

"We’ve had the same logo for 20+ years, and this is just one of the things we’re changing. We’re asking you to share your designs. We love our version, but we’d like to see other ideas."
- Marka Hansen, via Gap's facebook page

Excuse me, I'd like to see the manager please. Is this really the ideal way of developing an intelligent, strategic identity for a global brand? It insults professional designers everywhere. The same reason buying a guitar doesn't make you a musician, is the same reason buying photoshop doesn't make you a designer. Use a reputable agency for a logo of this magnitude. Not the dude that lives 2 doors down from me.

That's not to say amateurs can't leave a lasting footprint. Arguably the most recognizable trademark in the world, Nike, was designed by a student. But more and more global companies are putting their advertising and marketing in to the hands of consumers. Reaching out to connect with them on a more personal level is one thing. Asking them to photograph your pizzas, shoot your commercial and design your logo is another.

Could this new Gap logo turn out to be a hoax? Just some sneaky way of generating buzz about their brand? It's possible. But it's also possible for someone to design a bad logo. Time will tell.

For now Gap is just shopping this logo around. We tried it on and it just doesn't fit. Now it's time to return it.

May the farce be with you

2010-10-01T23:45:00.001-04:00

I don't know what planet George Lucas is from.

I bought my son a Star Wars action figure the other day. On the box read this promotion: "FREE Boba Fett with purchase of 5 action figures."

Well, if you were a kid in the 80s, you have fond memories of these mail-in toy promotions. Whether it was The Fridge, Seargent Slaughter or even old-man Anakin Skywalker, they were super awesome and "not sold in stores!" And if you were diligent, or nerdy enough, to clip the UPCs, you not only scored a toy, but some much-needed bragging rights with the fellas.

So when I saw a chance to get a FREE Boba Fett, I had to get it. For my son, of course.

I opened the box and read the fine print: "Send 5 UPC codes, along with a check for $6.99 to receive your FREE Boba Fett."

Uh, huh?

I guess George had altered the deal. There was no mention of shipping and handling. Just "hey, send us $6.99." ($8.99 Canadian).

So, $6.99 gets me - sorry - my son, a "FREE" action figure? Hey, I don't mind paying $7 bucks for Boba Fett. Lord Vader knows I've spent a lot more than that over the years.

Just don't call it "FREE." Say "SPECIAL." Or "OFFER USELESS TO RESIST." Or "FREE - FROM A CERTAIN POINT OF VIEW." I'll chuckle, shake my head and whip out the wallet.

Only a fool would call something free, and then charge people $7. But I remember a wise man once said: "Who's the more foolish: The fool, or the fool who follows him?" Of course, that same man also said, "I don't remember ever owning a droid." So perhaps I shouldn't follow his advice.

So then I wondered, maybe they didn't mean "Free Boba Fett," but FREE Boba Fett. As in, set him free! That's one explanation. And one that made me feel better. Like I was helping Boba Fett bust out of the clutches of some horrible warehouse in China. I couldn't be sure. But I was sure of one thing - I was getting that toy.

For my son, I mean.

Original thinking in risk-averse times

2010-08-03T11:42:00.000-04:00

Saw this quote from Esque Studio describing their mental approach to their latest glass-blown art endeavor:

"It was also important to take such a bold step, that people would not be willing to imitate what we did."

So think about that. Be bold, so no one dare imitate you. When you're carving out your brand territory, be conscious of the competitive landscape. Could others follow you easily? Could they make the same claims? Even surpass you without much effort? If yes, then consider a path over more rugged terrain.

Of course, your trailblazing must be in lockstep with your target audience's needs and wants. After all, what good is leapfrogging the competition if you're going over customers' heads.

But just because your branding and product presentation logically follows the research, that doesn't mean you can't surprise and delight people with an imaginative and perhaps unconventional take on their needs and wants.

It's a much more savvy way to show that you 'get' them rather than merely regurgitating the demographics data - data that your competition is likely using as well.

Have it your way or the highway

2010-07-29T12:13:00.002-04:00

More fast food fun - this time from creative frontrunner Burger King.

We're awaiting the episode where Milka Duno comes in for an application, then gets put on probation because she can't turnover the drive-thru customers fast enough.

We're lovin' it

2010-07-28T10:02:00.003-04:00

Using the guise of the McCafe brand, McDonald's has broken away from their traditional ad look for their new fruit smoothies and the results have been visually astounding. It seems they are finding their mojo in terms of having appropriately different looks and raising or lowering the creative effort depending on the perceived value of the product their pushing, much like a carmaker does with different models.

After all, the smoothie audience probably isn't going for the Double Quarter Pounder. And vice-versa.

Weird commercial of the day

2010-07-12T11:31:00.000-04:00

Remember that scene in Top Gun when Maverick and company approach Kelly McGillis and sing "She's lost that loving feeling" - she awkwardly smiles as she tries to understand what's happening? Now imagine you are the grocery shopper lady and Maverick is the Brawny man. Make sense? Well, neither does the commercial.

Children's Museum logo lacks imagination

2010-07-02T14:14:00.000-04:00

Inspired. Imaginative. Impressive. These are words easily associated with the Children's Museum in Indianapolis. Not so their new logo, though.

Of course, a logo is subjective, but the new identity (seen on the right) is, as Facebook fans put it, "too mature" to convey the fun-loving, eye-opening experience we all know the Children's Museum to be. And when the marketing firm behind the logo claims it "communicates the extraordinary world of imagination that awaits visitors," we're sorry, but the kid gloves are coming off.

Read that again - "the extraordinary world of imagination." Strong words that the Museum and its staff deliver to a T. Which is why the new logo deserves an F.

The firm's web site goes on to say:

"The new mark is a literal interpretation of the new welcome center and aligns with the Museum’s global brand. The logo was a result of (our) process using solid research from focus groups, one on one interviews, and stakeholder input."

Hear that, kids? Focus groups. I scream, you scream, we all scream for focus groups.

Now take the logo on the left. That mark was designed in 1974. And over 35 years later it still holds up. The letters 'c' and 'm' play nice with each other, share the space like good little letters and form a sweet center for kid-like fun. We're guessing the only focus group used to approve this one was comprised of the kids in the client's and designer's families. When you compare the two, which place would your kids want to go?

Sorry, Mom, you always said if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. But Mom never had a blog.

Overall, though, it is better that the logo not live up to the experience than the other way around.

Shortomatic.com: Whoooo are you wearing?

2010-06-25T10:54:00.007-04:00

Thanks to shortomatic.com, now you can sport custom-printed, hand-sewn board shorts. Just upload your image, choose size and trim color, even personalize the inner waistband. At $99 a pop, it’s a bit of an investment, but you’ll never be caught wearing the same gear as the pudgy sunbather one beach blanket over-- a small price to pay for that.

Toy Story 3 review: These toys should've been recalled

2010-06-22T16:58:00.003-04:00

Don't believe all the buzz. This movie is a big, fat downer.

Sad in the beginning, joyless in the middle and dark in the end. Toy Story 3 left me with a feeling of emptiness. I had such high hopes too. Like - how would Jessie and Bullseye work with their new friends? Would Zurg pick up where he left off as the all-american dad? How many have been laid-off from Pizza Planet?

I didn't expect all the funny toys from TS2 to make it into this film, but I thought at least the funny would. I was wrong. The only thing worse than watching Woody and the gang come to grips with their imminent death of being burned alive was watching my 4 year-old daughter come to grips with it. "Shutter Island" was more uplifting.

Adventure is fine, but for some reason Pixar believed adventure could not co-exist with humor. It's no surprise that there are no bloopers at the end of the movie either. What good are funny bloopers after a movie filled with sadness?

Don't believe me? Look at Woody's face! Does he look like he's having a good time? And these are stills taken straight from the official website!

Also - the whole 3-D thing is, I'm convinced, a money-making gimmick only. It brought nothing original to the movie. By having their graphics team spend more front-end time they can charge an additional $3 for every ticket. Bravo. My daughter took them off half-way through the movie and never put them back on. I wish I did the same.

Are there laughs? Sure. By my count there were four. (Five if you count nervous laughter.) In the end I felt like I had opened up my favorite toy on Christmas morning only to discover it was socks and underwear.

The role of psychology in web design

2010-06-17T11:32:00.000-04:00

This is a great piece from one of the web's best. How have you taken the user experience beyond usability? How can you empower and even inspire your audience to motivate them to act upon whatever ultimate call to action you've created?

I'm thinking Steak 'n Shake

2010-06-10T11:42:00.003-04:00

Remember 'Oven Mitt' from the Arby's commercials? Apparently he works for Steak 'n Shake now.

See the commercials here.

Ebony and irony

2010-06-09T10:23:00.004-04:00

The truth doesn't require retouching.

Weapons of mass construction paper

2010-06-08T19:00:00.000-04:00

The origami overachievers at PostlerFerguson have expanded their paper arsenal. Looks like 'paper' beats everybody.

Purchase yours here.

Some sketchy areas of town

2010-06-04T15:35:00.004-04:00

Looks like Bing has defied the odds, breathing new life into the cocktail napkin sketch concept with its Destination Maps app. And while it pains us to give Microsoft some props for design, the proof is in the pictures. The rendering can take some time (knew there was something), so you can look here before you leap.

Originality, you're fired.

2010-05-26T10:25:00.005-04:00

Check out this great montage of The Celebrity Apprentice. Or as we like to call it - the Ultimate Rerun.

Google's 2-bit idea

2010-05-21T12:27:00.004-04:00

It's so easy to Google, users don't even have to go to Google to do so. Maybe that's why the e-juggernaut has upped the ante on playing with the word 'Google' on their home page.

Celebrating Pac-Man's 30th birthday, Google has turned their word mark into the game, so people can waste countless hours playing it at work today (and a few minutes blogging about it.)

Hopefully, Galaga can't be far behind.

Kiss those days goodbye

2010-05-07T16:59:00.004-04:00

The recent tazing of a Phillies fan as he ran onto the field got me thinking. What would happen if tasers were around in the 80s, during the "Morganna - The Kissing Bandit" era?

For those of you younger than 30 - Morganna made her claim-to-fame by running onto the fields of various sporting events mid-game. It was widely accepted as good, clean fun. She got so well known that some athletes would welcome her mid-jog. (Although I'm guessing she was pretty easy to recognize.)

That's Nolan Ryan on the pitchers mound, bracing for bandit-besos. Note the security guard in the dugout. Not only is he not-tasing MKB, he's flat-out applauding. Were the 80s goofy or what?

Fast forward to 2010 - where the only ones getting to first base are the ballplayers.

(See phillie fail here)

Stars prove, but don't proof, themselves

2010-05-04T21:47:00.012-04:00

O, the hilarity. This picture was snapped just 4 hours before today's big unveil of Hollywood Walk of Fame's newest addition. Sans 'O' and a hyphen. When the gaffe was brought to the workers' attention, they chiseled out the 'Luis' and had a temporary 'Louis-' in its place by ceremony time.

The misspelled paperweight was given to the actress as a memento.

Euro ash

2010-04-21T09:38:00.001-04:00

That bites.

2010-04-06T13:42:00.001-04:00

Finger-rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?

2010-03-31T12:08:00.001-04:00

Conseco is changing its name.

Feeling 'Conseco' still conjures up negative reminders of years past, they will soon be known as 'CNO Financial Group' ('CNO' is their stock ticker name.)

How will this affect "Conseco Fieldhouse"? Don't know. But the Conseco brass - check that - the CNO Financial Group brass will be deciding soon. One option would be: "CNO Financial Group Fieldhouse."

For the love of Slick Leonard, let's hope for another option.

I know, the classic stadium names like 'Candlestick Park' are rare. But we need more 'Lambeau Fields' and less 'US Cellular Fields.' Too many capital letters smushed together scare me. I say keep 'Conseco Fieldhouse.' So what if it reminds people of awful financial situations years ago? It can't be as bad as the awful financial situation fans are going through now.

Go, Bulldogs. Go!

2010-03-30T10:05:00.001-04:00

Go, Dawgs, go.

Go by hustle.
Go by D.
Give-and-go. Knock down the three.

Go by Hayward. Go by Veasley.
Go by Nored. Go by Mack.
Go by Howard. Go by Stevens.
Keep it going. No looking back.

Bulldogs at work.
Work, Dawgs, work!

Bulldogs at play.
Play, Dawgs, play!

Go by Hinkle. Go by Cali.
Go by Salt Lake City.
Beat the best to be the best,
and take your place at Indy.

Stop, Dawgs. Stop!
You’ve earned your cred.
Go, Dawgs, go.
Your destiny’s ahead.

The Bulldogs are going up.
The Spartans are going down.

You’re almost there!
Now let's see
you climb that mountain and
storm the Final Four party.

Bulldogs, Bulldogs,
Bulldogs, Bulldogs.

What a Bulldog party it will be!

Lovingly adapted from the P.D. Eastman classic, which you can most certainly order through the Butler superfans at Big Hat Books.

We’ll leave the ambient lighting on for ya.

2010-03-15T12:15:00.014-04:00

Watch out Ace, James and W. Motel 6 is coming for you. Well, maybe not exactly. But if you never thought “European and stylish” would describe the low-budget hotel chain with questionable taste, think again.

Starting with a few prototype locations (they’re calling the Phoenix project), the company is currently undergoing a major facelift lead by the London design firm Priestmangoode. Bright accent colors, platform beds, granite countertops, 32-inch flat-screen tvs and wood (effect) floors freshen the look, while multifunctional furniture pieces and modular storage optimize the room’s space….all this, still for $39.99.

“This design embodies the heart of Motel 6 – it’s no-frills, uncomplicated and efficient with a new modern edge,” said Jim Amorosia, president and COO of Motel 6 and Studio 6. “The Phoenix prototype offers the best of both worlds – an upscale feel at the lowest price of any national chain. True to the spirit of Motel 6, the new design is simple, functional and straight to the point.“

While the interiors will be updated in the next few months, so too will the exteriors, lead by the firm BOKA Powell. Motel 6 plans for about 120 properties to have the new Phoenix look by the end of 2010.

And competitors Super 8 and Red Roof Inn are beginning to renovate their properties similarly, all aiming for the budget traveler with design as the weapon of choice.

Redecorating may be a big task, but overcoming their brand perception might be the hardest challenge. Will the current customer base feel comfortable staying in a room resembling an IKEA or BoConcept showroom? Will prospective style-conscious patrons be able to overcome their Motel 6 fears?

And where does Tom Bodett fit into all this? Or does he prefer “Tomas” now?

This wasn't built in a day either

2010-03-10T10:11:00.004-05:00

This all-type view of the Roman Coliseum was made by Cameron Moll using Bembo Pro, Goudy Trajan and recreating the calligraphy of M. Giovambattista Palatino.

Even the quick video showing how Moll resurrected the 460-year-old calligraphy in Illustrator is a bit spellbinding.

Serendipity? There's an app for that.

2010-03-02T17:13:00.004-05:00

A new app is on its way that will automatically and permanently delete your text messages from the sender's phone, the receiver's phone and the server, making it impossible to retrieve.

What would one call this novel feature? Why not TigerTexts.

That's right. Developers at X Sigma Partners insist that their latest creation was named long before Tiger Woods' text message booty calls unraveled his marriage and career. Really? Please go on.

Co-founder Jeffrey Evans points to such inspiration for the name as the app was launched in the Lunar Year of the Tiger. He goes on to say, "Tigers are notoriously difficult animals to track; TigerTexts are difficult to track as well. So if you send a private text message it should stay private."

Well, we're convinced. Oh, what's that? You have more, Mr. Evans.

Furthermore, a series of tiger paw prints are left in place of the deleted message in a conversation thread.

See, albeit a bit suspicious on the user end of things - those paws could give pause - there's no way that piece of code could have been created between the Woods' scandal and the TigerText release.

Sounds more to us like X Sigma is just doing a smart job covering their tracks on a brilliant piece of naming.

It's been an awards kind of week

2010-03-01T23:22:00.005-05:00

We're pretty excited about our TV, radio and billboard Addy wins on Saturday. We're also thrilled to kick off 2010 with another great campaign for VMS, including some attractive, custom-designed awards of our own. Still working on that national anthem, though.

Who will win? No one knows.

2010-02-26T05:08:00.001-05:00

It's a race. It's a chase. Hurry up and feed your face. Who will win? No one knows. Feed the hungry hip-hippos.

Good luck to everyone in the Addys tomorrow. (especially us)

Say goodbye to the ol' gas guzzler, Russ.

2010-02-25T10:34:00.005-05:00

Bummer, Hummer. Apparently, you were the one thing in this recession that wasn't too big to fail. With the falling through of a deal with Chinese heavy machine maker Sichuan Tengzhong, GM has decided to cut its losses and shut down the brand altogether.

Hummer was a Brand with a capital B - unique in that it had a tiny niche in the marketplace, but whose name and personality pervaded throughout the entire consumer conscience. Whether you loved it or hated it, you have to recognize that the Hummer brand was larger than life. While it was alive anyway.

Reality killed the video star

2010-02-17T20:23:00.000-05:00

MTV dropped 'Music Television' from its iconic logo last week. This might be more surprising if they hadn't dropped it symbolically with their programming over the last decade.

Now the logo will have cast members from Jersey Shore among others inside the M.

And they call it progress.

It's just nice to be recognized

2010-02-09T14:13:00.002-05:00

In the wake of our recent Addy award-winning work, we would like to share this flattering piece from Sweden. Guess word gets around.

Click here for the big screen effect.

We dat.

2010-02-07T00:01:00.009-05:00

A little social media experiment. Awesome if it works. If not, don't cost nothin'.
See previous cool Colts ideas here.

Refresh everything, except for the logo

2010-02-05T10:23:00.001-05:00

Soda's second fiddle is pushing the Pepsi Throwback for the second time in 10 months, leading with the tag 'Made with real sugar.' Of course, this isn't the first time a long-standing brand has gone retro to conjure up some good feelings. But do you remember a brand ever doing so when they just unveiled a new logo - a million-dollar logo?

True, it's not just a design gimmick; there is an honest-to-goodness tip of the hat to the old formula (sugar vs. HFCS). But it's hard to forget how the new logo was much maligned by ad insiders mostly for the gross amount of rationale (below) behind the mark to justify the price tag that put more stock in golden ratios and smiley faces than intelligent insights into the consumer psyche and purchasing decision. But maybe the new logo is also hated by consumers. Our humble opinion for the odd change in course: The new logo made it feel expensive (well, as expensive as soda can feel anyway). Use a throwback logo, and it feels like you're rolling back prices to 1965.

Pepsi Breathtaking Design Strategy

Sure, the new logo is here to stay-ish. But ten years from now when Pepsi goes retro again, we're sure they'll have thrown the new logo behind the woodshed. Heck, it feels like the marketing execs at Pepsi have already gone back through the concepts (as clients are apt to do) and liked what they found on page 10. No wait, 14.

Nestle didn't phone this one in

2010-01-19T15:49:00.006-05:00

Congratulations to Nestle for taking one of its most important consumer touchpoints and actually making it entertaining for the consumer by creatively crafting their new 800 hotline. Usually, this number is only used by moms with a dire chocolate emergency, but thanks to some Quick thinking, Nestle has cleverly turned it into a source of amusement that, with the help of Facebook and Twitter, people are finding and embracing.

It's sort of like the notion that it's best to meet your neighbors early on when things are good, rather than wait until their dog/children/music/hygiene has become a nuisance.

Here's the Facebook post:

Call the Nestle Crunch Hotline at 1-800-295-0051. When you are asked if you
want to continue in English or Spanish, WAIT QUIETLY for about 7 seconds and
you will smile. Promise! Keep going and press 4. Listen to the
options...then press 7.

We won't give away the gag, but it is worthwhile. And a good reminder of how social media can magnify even the smallest thing a brand can do.

Hoo-Hoo-Hoo

2009-12-23T11:22:00.003-05:00

From the three wise men, two not-so-wise, one wise woman and one woman named Wise - we wish you and your family a Merry Christmas.

Image up your retail

2009-12-22T16:45:00.005-05:00

No project goes without love at HRW. Not even those freebie-coupon ads you get in the mail each month. And in a Great Recession, it's even more important to lay out price points with pride and making sure the brand is alive and well in every medium. After all, if it's intended to be seen, it may as well be entertaining. Hear that, air duct-cleaning service place?

When Liberty Mutual has an accident

2009-12-17T12:05:00.006-05:00

Sometimes web ads that invade content are cool. Sometimes they aren't. This one's just plain squirm-worthy. Before you say "Too soon, Liberty Mutual?" their cracked-screen animation had been used long before this. It just was never this, say, 'ill-timed.'

For an insurance company, you would think they would've predicted a possible bad outcome to using this technique. Maybe they should have called out keywords or sent some sort of automatic instructions to the webmaster to take some of the risk out, so as not to allow the brand to be commit such a faux pas. After all, if anyone should be taking extra steps for the responsibility of managing their online image, it's Liberty Mutual. That's their policy anyway.

Deck the halls with disco balls

2009-12-11T09:38:00.003-05:00

It's the most wonderful time of the year at HRW. Can you guess who's been naughty and who's been nice? And don't forget to vote for our doing-more-with-less decorating here.

Illuminating history of light art

2009-12-09T15:13:00.002-05:00

Popularized by Sprint in its beautiful "Dreams" commercial, light art has once again appeared mostly in cameos in a few commercials this holiday season. This has spurred a discussion around the nest here about one of the original inspirations of the light-pen-as-art element - a series of photos taken by Life magazine's forward-thinking photographer Gjon Mili of Pablo Picasso in 1949. That's sixty years ago for those scoring at home. Just unbelievable images. And they don't even move.

Cracking the barcode

2009-12-04T11:24:00.000-05:00

With the increase in self-checkouts in retail stores, Design Barcode presents a unique and disarming opportunity to brand the purchase decision, or just give your loyal patrons a little lagniappe.

It's also a good idea for those oversized boxes that are small enough to put in the shopping cart, but too big to roll down the conveyor belt. Computers, lawn equipment, HVAC, grills, artificial Christmas trees. And how cute would it be for a baby furniture manufacturer to add a little fun to the barcode that mom and dad are throwing their back out trying to find so it can be facing up when they checkout.

Of course, form must follow function when you're tweaking the purchase process. That's why the folks at Design Barcode develop and test their designs to conform to worldwide barcode standards such as UPC-A and EAN-13.

It might even bring about a resurrection of promotions requiring proofs of purchase. Now if they could just do something about QR codes.

Yes, Christina, it's still possible to sell-out

2009-12-03T05:58:00.001-05:00

Used to be music celebrity endorsements were hard to come by. To be seen as selling out seemed such a risk that at least such stumping was generally few and far between. But those walls have long been torn down. Probably around the time Sting was doing Compaq commercials.

These days, people don't really care if Gwen Stefani and Jay-Z peddle for HP. Especially if the concept is entertaining and unique. Or if Justin Timberlake is part of an ensemble cast for Sony. He is half of the Barry Gibb Talk Show after all.

But Christina Aguilera's spot for DirecTV proves that selling out is alive and well. It just takes a cheesy script and a talent that's willing to send pride on a potty break to read it.

"I'm savin' the world...from cable." Aw, snap.

The chintzy production value compared to Beyonce's and the Black-Eyed Peas' commercials doesn't help either.

Cougar Woods

2009-12-02T08:56:00.000-05:00

Can this Tiger change his stripes?

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-25T11:44:00.000-05:00

From your turnkey connoisseurs.

She's a sweetie.

2009-11-19T16:20:00.002-05:00

Think non-traditional and take the competition for a ride

2009-11-13T13:14:00.000-05:00

Continuing our 'take it to your competition' theme of the week, we share this simple idea where Volkswagen literally takes the fight out to the parking lot.

For all the rhetoric about "do you know what's being said about your brand online?", it's important not to overlook the impact participating in the outside world can have on the consumer conscience and competitors' nerves.

So think: Where can you ambush your competition in the wide open? What public spaces can you use to tag your competition? Where are they most vulnerable?

The answer will take the competition for a ride and consumers by surprise.

Thought bubbles hang like the sword of Damocles, awaiting their next victim.

Banish your competition to the Island of Misfit Toys

2009-11-11T15:06:00.004-05:00

The iPhone - the Charlie-in-a-box of the gift-giving season. Seems hard to imagine that this too-cool-for-school gadget could ever possibly be equated with the mistakes from Santa's workshop, but Verizon is working hard to position the iPhone as just that.

Verizon's argument is ~~over~~simple: Sure it's shiny and cool and does a million things, but when you look at the chink in the armor that is the comparably poor coverage AT&T offers nationwide, the iPhone might not be quite so automatic for the people. (Unless, of course, your city's covered just fine, in which case why wouldn't you go for the gadget of the millenium?)

What can you learn from this? Well, maybe, just maybe, that first-to-market competitor of yours has a functional oversight. Maybe that best-thing-since-sliced-bread service of theirs lacks the meat to be worth the hefty price tag.

So don't bury your head in the sand. Cross-examine the competition. Exploit their weaknesses. Find a hole in their story and find out how your product fills it in. Cast a shadow of a doubt on the competition in strategic ways to slow down their momentum. You'll give customers pause and cause to consider you as a smart alternative.

Were you a Halloweenie?

2009-10-30T11:43:00.008-04:00

Hope you weren't too scared by the economy and had a few treats for your audience this Halloween. It's really one of the best times to ease your way into the consumer conscience with some fun soft-sellin' before the holiday hard-sell.

North Face escapes the pedestrian

2009-10-27T15:26:00.006-04:00

Just thought we'd highlight some cool ideas from the Philippines. These ads were done for The North Face for their 'Escape the City' campaign. Nice to see some risk-taking illustrations out there. It would be cool to see these animated with a kind of heavy hip-hop beat scoring the chase.

HRW gives you our Hollywood look-a-likes.

2009-10-22T15:04:00.004-04:00

At our recent anniversary luncheon we played the always fun "Who would play you in a movie?" (These are the "nice" results.) Can you guess who's who, or better yet, solve the puzzle?

H1N1...2....3....4

2009-10-13T13:22:00.001-04:00

Laughter is the best medicine? That's..what..you..think.

Aus-some animation

2009-10-12T10:37:00.002-04:00

It's no secret that we love the Aussies. And in a world where type animation is so often used as a creative crutch anymore, it's refreshing to see it used as an enhancement to a concept instead of in place of one.

What is remarkable is that it's good, and they showed every word spoken (usually a personal pet peeve of mine with this technique). It's true-to-concept for a writer's festival where no word is taken for granted.

But remember when Donatos hit us with one of the first real doses of typographic animation in the new millenium? We were like, "Whoa. That's nice." Now, everyone and their brother has a "type spot." But if you're just panning the camera across a script and tilting a few words here and there for 30 seconds, then you should just pack up your Ford F-150 and go home.

Of course, there is the Girl Effect - the exceptional exception that proves the rule. And the exception that proves how vital music, pacing and simplicity are when you're trying to break down complicated subject matter to inspire action. Plus, with no V/O, it follows true to the golden rule of TV: "Try not to say what you're showing or show what you're saying."

Other exceptions I've overlooked?

Cause marketing, just 'cuz

2009-10-09T12:44:00.001-04:00

Children's Miracle Network has teamed up with Xbox to give away a gameroom to one of the country's children's hospitals. The decision is based on online votes. Currently, Riley Hospital for Children is in 6th place with 10 days to go.

So if you're wanting to find out a fun way to help one of the city's great causes, vote early and vote often.

What creative twists can you put on helping causes to foster relevant and meaningful win-win situations with your products?

Giving WTF a bad name

2009-10-07T10:04:00.004-04:00

The Wisconsin Tourism Federation is fed up. It appears the Web has destroyed the innocent meaning of its abbreviation. In fact, the blogosphere has teased the WTF in such a WTF! fashion that last week the organization took action. Henceforth and forthwith, the Badger State will be the home of the Tourism Federation of Wisconsin. The group cited the need to "rearrange the words in our name to provide a sequence that would no longer distract from our long-standing mission." TFS, TFW.

On the other side of the coin, the World Taekwondo Federation is steadfast, seemingly begging people to make fun of them in an effort to keep up on their skills.

In related news, the Lower Montana Area Orchestra, the Hungarian United Youth Association and Forwarding Metropolitan Librarians were all unavailable for comment.

9 dictionaries you've never opened

2009-10-06T16:42:00.005-04:00

A tried-and-true rule of thumb is to write what you know. Of course, successfully marrying looming deadlines with wild imaginations requires finding the shortcuts to knowing a little about a lot, so you can craft a unique voice for your unique concept. Here are nine resources for words and phrases you never knew were exactly what you were trying to say.

1. Talk the Talk: The slang of 65 American subcultures

So you've decided to plunge your audience into a different world. Maybe one that you yourself aren't that deeply informed in. Don't just scratch the surface with a word or two you picked up watching Mystery Science Theater 3000. Add some authenticity to your scripts by getting a little silly with the slang used by those in the know from tattoo artists to flyfishers to online gamers to stamp collectors and more.

2. The New Joys of Yiddish

You have to ask? Sometimes when writing for broadcast or video, rearranging word order is a great way to present dialogue in a new and entertaining way without having to dig up some lost words from Samuel Johnson's dictionary that may go over your audience's heads (not to mention your creative director's).

The idea here isn't to grab words like "kvetch," "schlep" or "ibbledick" per se, but to take a cue from the beautiful arrangements in Yiddish syntax to make your wit more acerbic. Here you'll find eloquently backhanded phrases ("Smart, he isn't."), comical cries of dismay ("It shouldn't happen to a dog.") and the difference between ahA! and Aha!

3. How to Speak Southern

A classic from my grade-school days, this borderline exercise in dialect can easily be dismissed as a humorous detour, but it can also be a useful look into how pronunciation and accent can add life to voiceovers especially in radio and podcasting where so much relies on the talents' reads.

4. Urban Dictionary

This mostly user-generated online reference is funny, irreverent and topical. And in paperback. Here you'll find words and phrases that are signs of the times and sometimes even ripped from the headlines. ("Hiking in Appalachia" ring a bell?) Subscribe to the Word of the Day, and it'll unlock your mind to try to outdo the urbanites yourself, especially where the idea is there, but the word they've offered up isn't quite right.

5. How Not to Say What You Mean

Euphemisms are what make language fun. And oftentimes, you don't need to know what one means beforehand if surrounded by the right contextual clues. Again, another opportunity to dig deeper into what exists and maybe come up with one of your own phrases that's even better. And more branded.

6. Knickers in a Twist

Go beyond "guv'nuh" with this guide to British slang. It may even inspire your own take on Cockney rhyming slang. And remember, a clever idiom from across the pond can spice up even the most American of commercials, so you don't have to try to spoof Austin Powers to be funny. Please.

7. Baby Name Wizard

Searching for a good, believable character name? Try the Baby Name Wizard. Of course, the original online version is the true gem - a graphically inspiring resource that allows you to search by name or by year back to 1880 to really capture the essence of a certain time period with the Baby Name Voyager. Not to mention, it offers some sweet eye candy for creating dynamic user experiences.

8. Oxford Dictionary of Physics

Sound smarter without actually being smarter by swiping a few well-timed words or concepts from this tome.

Or if physics isn't your bag, try one of its companion resources in chemistry, math, astronomy and zoology among others. Who knows, you may learn enough to write a relatively unfunny hit sitcom.

9. Writing Dialogue

OK, so we're cheating a little, but this resource is a simple way to remind us how smart and succinctly real dialogue is written. It's a great guide for keeping conversations crisp, especially in our world where you only have seconds to sell your story.

I bet Packer fans think this is just HILARIOUS.

2009-10-05T16:35:00.004-04:00

In honor of the big game tonight, here are some classic outtakes from the Brett Favre "cold feet" commercial. Hey, if he's up for this, Eggo Waffles should give him a call. Note the green screen monitors in the outtakes before a generic boat montage was inserted in post. Makes me wonder what would've been better inserted into the final....Maybe his retirement press conference(s)? A Wrangler commercial? Footage of someone in flip-flops? On second thought adding something clever would've taken away from the concept. Right? Can't decide.

(The finished spot will play at the end.)

Don't get blindsided by Sidewiki

2009-09-28T16:31:00.002-04:00

With Google's release of Sidewiki, your web site is no longer in its own comfy cocoon, free from the slings and arrows of disgruntled consumers. Now anyone can put notes for all to see on any web page. No comments. No problem. Surfers and surfettes can see what people think of your site and your company on a public discussion board that, to date, will not be moderated.

Of course, it's Google, so algorithms based on unclear, yet surely infallible variables will determine which user comments are the most relevant and therefore deserving of the coveted top positions. Other users can vote on a comment's helpfulness or report it as spam/vulgar/tasteless.

Also, as it stands now, users or (more likely) webmasters who believe the comments step on their copyright are encouraged to file a DMCA copyright complaint. This appears to be an attempt by Google to head off the wave of public dismay that brought 1999 start-up Third Voice to its knees - one of the first attempts to incorporate this kind of discourse on the web.

Will Sidewiki be a consumer trump card? That is unclear, especially considering that the honeymoon period for this unmoderated intrusion on millions of web sites is surely going to be short. (We anticipate an opt-out or opt-in feature in the near future that can be placed in a site's code.) But for now, it looks like bad companies and disappointing products have less of a chance to hide. So for the rest of us, just keep on putting your best foot forward and don't suck.

Best Cubs ad ever

2009-09-21T17:04:00.002-04:00

Typesetting and retouching aside, this ad taken out in the Chicago Tribune earlier this month may be the best way for those lovable losers from the northside to be remembered for their century of futility. Certainly more memorable than the '09 Cubs themselves. Wonder if Bartman will be the godfather?

Just based on brand loyalty, would you rather your brand image be that of the perennial machine that is the Yankees or the perennial punchline that is the Cubs?

Macy's soft launches holiday shopping season

2009-09-18T13:57:00.003-04:00

We knew it was coming. The quiet murmurs have been heard throughout the retail advertising world as to when could the Christmas shopping season kick-off without annoying the collective consumer conscience.

Macy's has the answer. The campaign has hit the airwaves with subtle holiday references: the office party, vintage shots of the Thanksgiving Day parade. But the kicker is this spot showing Macy's as part of American culture since 18-blah-blah-blah from I Love Lucy to Johnny Carson.

Now they would be remiss if they didn't reference the greatest commercial ever - Miracle on 34th Street. But how much Santa do we need in September? Bob Hope singing in a Santa quartet, the classic Kringle with Natalie Wood, Snoopy donning his Macy's Santa hat. Macy's didn't even really spread them out.

But we do have to hand it to them. By stringing those images along with the other non-holiday related clips, they manage probably the only way to bring up Christmas without overselling it, relying instead on the power of suggestion - the oft-overlooked art of psychology in advertising.

Macy's may have found the answer to conjure up Christmas without turning off consumers. We'll just have to wait and see if they have better results reminding America what a pop culture icon it is than Chevy did.

A Tyler Hansbrough sighting

2009-09-17T14:59:00.004-04:00

Hey, Pacers fans. If you haven't seen the new AT&T commercial with the little girl who has lost her dog, you're missing Tyler Hansbrough's commercial debut. Of course, if you have seen it, you probably missed it anyway. Let's just say his eyes are the only things that give him away. Here's the proof, so you can win/lose that bet you just made with your buddy.

Trivial trivia:
- Spot was shot at Chapel Hill, home of Hansbrough's alma mater UNC.
- The address on the flyer - Poplar St - is a subtle nod to his hometown of Poplar Bluff, MO.

Is your spot hot?

2009-09-16T12:10:00.002-04:00

While it's always popular to look for what's next, it behooves most of us to better understand what's already out there. As social media's analytical tools are more finely tuned, old stand-bys prove their worth.

Take YouTube, for example, the Elvis of social media. A true original, perhaps surpassed numerically by Twitter (social media's New Kids on the Block) among others, but still the King. And why? Because of simple insightful tools like Hot Spot.

After your video gets enough views, YouTube can show you how hot your spot is compared to other videos of similar length. Do viewers watch the whole thing? Do they replay certain parts? Do they run from your yawnfest? All can be deduced with this simple tool.

The people have spoken: Peeling out in a Mustang rules. See our hot spot.

It's a great reason to always put your commercial on YouTube (doesn't look like Vimeo has anything like it yet). You can look at what's working, what's not and, budget-willing, make some strategic tweaks to what's online and on-air to make it better the next time. Or at the very least, put that magic in a bottle and the mistakes on the shelf for your next broadcast endeavor.

As Mr. Blutarsky once said, "Don't cost nothin'."

Horsin' around

2009-09-12T05:39:00.004-04:00

A little fun to usher in the new NFL season.
Go Colts! Already ahead of Tennessee in the division.

Like it? We've got more great ideas here.

Cool as a Cucumber

2009-09-11T15:50:00.009-04:00

Maybe we’re a little partial to the name (spelling aside), but here’s a toast to the artisans at Hendrick’s gin. Its infusion of cucumber and rose petals gives this Scottish small batch distillery a unique taste and quite the cult following.

Even more unique is this promotion of elegantly-wrapped cucumbers, a main garnish in many of their cocktail recipes. (Best to save your “wrapped cucumber” jokes for a less sophisticated crowd).

Each meticulously-designed wrapping is printed with 6 unusual cocktail recipes. They are sealed with a sticker and placed in wooden produce crates ready for delivery–- accompanied by a bottle of the potent potable, we would assume.

This makes the case that print is not dead, but when used wisely, can even be cherished. I would have a hard time throwing away such an attractive and useful piece of printing.

So, take note…. the next time you need to make a mundane gift or garden-variety vegetable look more expensive:

1) Wrap it in pretty paper.
2) Place it in a wooden crate.
3) Call it a day.

HRW purchases Broad Ripple Avenue

2009-09-09T16:32:00.002-04:00

We're playing with Monopoly money here at Casa de Hoot. Or at least trying to.

The new Monopoly City Streets is live, though it did take forever to get it to work even with the shortcut around the ~~cool~~ slow intro animation. So much for considering the user experience.

This online iteration of the take-home version of the game turns Google Maps into the largest Monopoly board imaginable, so you can find your street, buy it, then literally walk around like you own the place. When the servers are up. Which apparently isn't all that often.

We just hope we can get back on to buy Coil Avenue, so we can have all the Rene's and La Piedad we want.

So in the battle for 9.9.09, it appears that Beatles Rockband is winning, especially with this sweet Pandora station customizer.

But restaurant.com's 'ninety' percent promo is a close second.

Do you understand the words coming out of our mouths?

2009-09-09T15:03:00.005-04:00

We usually get a few hits a day from outside the U.S. (unless Tony writes an article - then we get a couple hundred).

So, inspired by American ambassador Chris Tucker's eloquent attempt to build the lines of communication across cultures, we have added a translator to our Play section on the left-hand side. It even works if you just want to see what 'Owl Power' is in Dutch.

Marker your calendars

2009-08-31T14:55:00.001-04:00

The "Ink Calendar" by Oscar Diaz is on display in Madrid as part of Sueños de un Grifo, an exhibition about water and design.

A close cousin to our own beloved Water Clock, "Ink Calendar" makes use of the methodical pace of ink spreading across paper to keep time. In this self-updating piece, the ink is absorbed slowly, and filling in a new number daily, until the end of the month.

Diaz uses a spectrum relative to a color-temperature scale, assigning each month a color associated with our perception of the weather of that month. The colors range from dark blue in December to three shades of green in spring or oranges and red in the summer.

Another unique execution to show the slow, but relentless march of time. Plus, it beats watching paint dry.

The Wintour Season

2009-08-28T11:05:00.009-04:00

If you have any desire to go behind the scenes of a fashion mag, or simply want to appreciate your own boss a little more, “The September Issue” hits ~~newsstands~~ theaters today.

The documentary follows feared and revered Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour and her team through the scramble of making the magazine's September 2007 issue. Weighing in at close to five pounds (that's 840 pages), it is the largest single issue of a magazine ever published. And drastically larger than the mere 584 pages in the September 2009 issue.

A sort of Simon Cowell of the fashion world, Anna doesn’t mince words. The real-life devil clad in Prada, Anna was the inspiration for Meryl Streep’s character who tortured poor Anne Hathaway. She has become quite the personality whom everyone loves to hate.

Anna recently stepped outside the glossy walls of the magazine amongst poorly-dressed commoners to go on Letterman, where she even laughed at herself saying, "I read in The New York Times this week that I'm an ice queen, I'm the Sun King, I'm an alien fleeing from District 9 and I'm a dominatrix.”

No, she may not be nice. This is fashion. She’s the editor of VOGUE. She has stuff to do. Decisions to make. And her job is to have a critical eye and absolute certainty. No time for coddling. And, no, maybe you shouldn’t look her directly in the eyes, but that’s what the sunglasses are for.

But who can blame her for a little grumpiness. After all, her industry is in peril, and she along with many other magazine editors are concerned for their jobs. Things must be getting bad if she’s even been reduced to fetching her own coffee.

As Miranda Priestly would dismissively say, ”That’s all.”

Flavor fave

2009-08-26T09:53:00.000-04:00

Coke is IT - using information technology in new test vending machines that let customers pick their drinks based on calories, caffeine content or just color through a touchscreen.

Coca-Cola Freestyles will dispense customizable soft drinks available from nearly 150 flavors, storing the favorite choices of the thirst-quenched masses. Peach Coke? Blueberry Sprite? Go for it. People will even be able to tweak their choices to strike the perfect palatable balance.

These new Freestyles will send the info back to the Coke mothership, telling them what flavors are faves, when people are buying, how much their imbibing and what locations are seeing the most traffic. The Coke heads can even stop any flavor from being dispensed (presumably from some discreet red button under a desk).

But don't go thinking you'll be able to make a movie-theater-style Suicide like a Grape Fanta, Coke Zero with a spritz of Sprite. New technology apparently has only come so far.

Are you ready for some moonwalk?

2009-08-20T10:28:00.005-04:00

Just thought we'd share our submission to EternalMoonwalk.com. Ingenious tribute site. If you go there, search 'Hendrix Rader Wise' to see the clip in context.

Told ya.

2009-08-18T14:58:00.004-04:00

Brett Favre has decided to come out of retirement and sign with the Minnesota Vikings.

We posted this image over three months ago. Keep scrolling through the blog if you don't believe me.

Mad Men Mania

2009-08-14T13:09:00.009-04:00

AMC’s third season of the colossal success that is Mad Men returns this Sunday at 10pm.

In case you’ve just emerged from decades in your fallout shelter (in which case this series will make you feel right at home), you're probably well aware of Mad Men’s acclaim, including Emmy and Golden Globe nods, not to mention its influence on fashion and all around cool culture (one word: hats).

Before times of sensitivity training and political correctness, it gives us a refreshing view of “bad” behavior in the workplace that is somehow still…refined. When throwing back a scotch at the office was commonplace, and the idea of casual Fridays would’ve been absurd. And what is a better backdrop for this “anarchy” but Sterling Cooper, a Madison Ave. advertising agency in the 60’s.

Not only does the series demonstrate mastery from an art direction and writing standpoint, it seems to have some real staying power, leaving audiences wanting more and more inappropriate ad agency drama.

Clever also have been the sponsor's tv spot executions during the show, often leading into commercials with an artcard factoid about whose spot you are about to see.

Art imitating life imitating art.

This seems to be the concept in promoting the 3rd season as well. You can create a ‘60s style Mad Men avatar of yourself or win a walk on role in conjunction with Banana Republic.

But like the storylines, the new season doesn’t come without industry drama. About what else, but...advertising.

To sell more advertising space and make up for lack of revenue, AMC has shortened the length of each episode by 2 minutes of actual programming. However, due to this thing called an economic downturn, most advertisers aren’t able or willing to purchase the spots. Thus leaving AMC to sell the space at a premium or form partnerships with the likes of Vanity Fair, Banana Republic, Clorox, Variety.com and BMW, who will be the exclusive sponsor of the Season 3 premiere, providing limited commercial interruptions.

Just another reminder that Mad Men is really about the good ‘ol days of advertising. Will they ever be back?

Make mine a double.

Time to make the donuts.

2009-08-14T10:25:00.026-04:00

Interesting facts probably only interesting to us:
- That's Duane's license plate, just not Duane's car. Duane actually drives a Taurus.
- That man in the trunk is fine. He shot fake smoke out the back in certain shots. But he's fine.
- German-made Shamwows do wonders on American-made muscle cars.
- A former Nascar driver was used for the stunts. Hence the 'professional driver' disclaimer in the spot.
- One man drove by the set (twice) and did his own burnout. The best part is he was driving one of these. IT_Behind_the_Scenes

The sexy sedan with the stupid name

2009-08-11T11:34:00.000-04:00

I'm always on the lookout for beautiful design. Especially when it's in the shape of a new automobile. So I was thrilled yesterday when I spotted this steel perfection in my rear-view mirror. As it approached, I could hardly wait to catch a glimpse of it. Is it a new Lexus, Acura, BMW? Or has an American car company finally lured me in.

As it passed, I was surprised to see a Ford blue oval. I thought to myself, "I could live with a Ford." It's not owned by our government (yet), and just maybe I can finally rid myself of the guilt of foreign car purchases that has plagued me since my '79 Toyota Celica. Just when I started to feel good about myself, it hit me. Perched on the trunk was the car brand name. A Ford Taurus? A FORD TAURUS! How could the marketing gurus shame this car with a name that was coined in 1986?

Why didn't they just shorten the name and call it a "TS." This would've matched the sportier stance of the new design. Why not follow the lead of other luxury cars and just use initial letters? This would've quickly elevated this car's brand to a new level.

I love the design of this car, but I'm too honked-off about the name to buy it.

Dinner conversation

2009-08-09T22:04:00.004-04:00

Scientific it may not be, but a 3-year-old's unsolicited impromptu reenactment of her daddy's newly-aired commercial is positive viewer feedback in our book.

Day Seven: The spot

2009-08-08T05:56:00.004-04:00

OK, so we've fast-forwarded a little, but we figured you've waited long enough. We'll have the behind-the-scenes scoop of the Indy Tire commercial for you later.

Day One: Casting

2009-08-07T11:41:00.004-04:00

Casting is always fun. It is in many ways the official kick-off of the execution phase and a raw reminder that if you surround the idea with the right talent and crew, the spot starts to mature on its own in ways that you just can't capture in a script.

Even though there was no specific dialogue written in the script, we decided to have the actors ad-lib some stuff. At the very least, we figured it would help them play out the characters more easily given they would be sitting in folding chairs instead of behind the dash.

We even let the actors play both driver and passenger within each set, which revealed each actor's range and limitations. This helps add a little science to what relies so much on gut instinct. Fortunately, we and the director were all on the same page.

IT_Behind_the_Scenes

Gigantic photographer focuses on IND Airport

2009-08-06T13:39:00.001-04:00

HRW recently enlisted tall photographer John Fleck to capture images of the new Indianapolis International Airport. Gaining access to jetways, the control tower and the FedEx hub made for some exciting shooting opportunities. Not only was he able to get closer and more personal, all while not needing a ladder, we also got some nice shots. Look for them to appear in advertising and promotional materials for the airport in the coming months.

Here are some images of the impressive new facility.

Game over for arena football

2009-08-05T16:30:00.001-04:00

Call it the ceremonial kneel-down.

Remember the Indiana Firebirds? No? Well, remember the Arena Football League? No? Well that's the problem. No buzz and no audience. The league that brought us Kurt Warner is officially shutting its funny little doors today. Gone are the 50-yard fields and the 99 to 85 scores. Gone are the front row fans getting drilled by a player. Gone are the wacky team names like the Desperados, Voodoo and the SaberCats. It will go down in history as the coolest sport no one cared about. They were football's version of Slamball.

Neither rock legend Jon Bon Jovi nor NFL Hall of Famer John Elway (both team owners) could save the league. That's saying something. I don't know what, but it's saying something.

Which leads me to Bon Jovi's hit song "You give love a bad name". It had some foreboding lyrics that make me wonder if the song was actually about Arena Football. "You're a loaded gun, there's nowhere to run. No one can save me, the damage is done. I play my part, and you play your game." Huh? I know, spooky right? All this time we thought the song was about some awful girlfriend.

But cheer up, AFL. 22 years is a good, long run and something to be proud of. That's 21 years longer than the XFL.

Two guys, a car and a TV spot

2009-07-27T07:12:00.005-04:00

Production of our latest TV spot is happening this week. And since we are casting, shooting and editing all in the same week, we thought we'd take you behind the scenes as we go from concept to commercial. Here's a taste. We'll post updates from 'Casting' to the big reveal of the final spot. Stay tuned.

The actors

Will one of these duos be 'Dude 1' & 'Dude 2'?

The car

David at RPC can get us pretty much whatever we want. But what will be the better fit: Muscle or modern?

The locale

This parking lot will be our playground.

IT_Behind_the_Scenes

NASCAR fan experience: A party from front to back

2009-07-25T14:57:00.004-04:00

Recently, we helped create the Metropolis 400 - a NASCAR fan experience a few miles from the Speedway leading up to this weekend's Brickyard 400.

Metropolis outdoor mall in Plainfield played host as fans lined up to race tricycles through obstacle courses and for their chance to zip around in an official street-legal NASCAR 2-seater.

The kids even got into the act with their own Mini Metropolis 400, racing remote control cars.