Life in pictures

As you know from my posts I love pictures and one of my favourites has always been Life magazine I have copies back in the UK that as an art director always turned to for inspiration, the site is still in Beta but just going through the images I get tingles down my spine, wonderful stuff, enjoy.

Shock, horror the client has had a good idea

I.T horror stories yes we've all had them and for some reason in my case becoming more common, this is a small project we did for Hitachi and it is such a good idea , sadly it wasn't my idea it was the clients!! bloody hell firstly should I admit that? and secondly should I ever listen to ideas from a client? the answer without doubt is yes and yes, as I said the end goal must always be at the benefit of the customer, no egos must get in the way, it has taken experience and confidence to except that ideas can come from any where I hope you like the idea as much as me, thank you Tim Smith

Here’s how the idea works: The site is designed to appeal to IT Managers who have an IT Horror story to share, (you might be one or know of one) the best horror story will be hand drawn in comic fashion by award winning artist Katie Houghton-Ward which will be signed and framed the site also has access to over 20 data recovery downloads. The site will take information and contact details from those who register, for Hitachi to turn into sales leads. At the end of the campaign the client will be able to tell what problems each user is experiencing in their workplace, and from the whitepapers they download they can tell what issues they are most interested in finding a solution too. Very clever and immersive communication.

Bang! Behavioural Targeting

I always knew behavioural targeting advertising works, why? because all the best work that has had the best response either through buying a product or getting a quote has come from ads I have done that is target specific, the last two campaigns for Blackmores and ANZ credit cards, the response rate was nearly 3 times higher than the average and it's a much more cost effective approach than the standard approach of 'spray and pray' which I personally hate.

One thing that was interesting was that targeted groups were willing to have their browsing history monitored so long as no personal details were stored.

A Creative Revolution?

Read a blog on a new start up agency in the UK called The Creative Orchestra yes yet another company banging on about a new way of working with some bullshit bingo terminology we've heard numerous times before but, hang on a second; this outfit might be onto something and to start it up during a recession, only the brave or very stupid would venture to do this, me? I reckon it's the brave and I think it’s also a very wise move on their part, here's why it will work:

• Its aim is to change the way that creative’s are rewarded for their work as well as to bring on a new generation of diverse talent. (Agencies still give away one of their prize commodities, ideas at a drop of a hat.

• It will take on briefs across advertising, branding, design, digital and new product development from commercial and public sector clients and agencies but will not take part in pitches or give ideas away for free to commercial organisations, which it says devalues talent. (See above, how many times do we see companies just 'fishing'? usually for the agency it becomes a very expensive fishing trip).

• Rather than billing clients by time it will charge either by selling ideas in response to a brief or licensing its own ideas. Neat, clients do licensing deals on music, photography, illustration and models so why not for the advertising idea?

• In a recession this model will work as it stream lines the process of the idea to the client.

The founder Chris Arnold believes that Creative Orchestra will become one of the most important sources of new creative talent for the marketing industry within three years.

All well and good but the true test will be how to harness that creative passion and drive around a business model that will flourish for a client and the agency, now that's harmony.

Holey Moley

I came across this site over the weekend it's a collective of over 2,300 photos of Moleskine sketchbooks that are participating in The Sketchbook Project, WOW! I love to see people's work and talent, especially when it's all in the one location. I was only just casually surfing and I ended up being on the site for nearly two hours, 'just one page' I kept saying to myself. The work was great and everyone had their own unique style from pen and ink to watecolour. I did wonder though that the project should have encouraged a lot more conversation between the viewer and the site itself, for example; an ability to rate drawings would be useful or even have a sketch face off between artists, sketch and upload your drawing then another artist has to follow on from there, you could have a whole Moleskine collection of sketch books that could be reprinted and sold. Ahhhh the trusted Moleskine sketchbook unlike my Visa card at the moment 'I never leave home without it' and not only that, everyone knows carrying a Moleskine sketchbook around also has that air of coolness, not that anyone says that but we all know baby.

Research but not as we know it Jim

Came across this the other day, Sodahead which I thought was really good way to reach real people in a way that is against the more traditional and sterile way ideas are judged, the dreaded 6 house wife's from Slough method where you sit behind a two way mirror and see if they like your idea or in most cases not all. They yabber on while sipping free cheap wine all supplied by the research house, don’t get me wrong I love gaining knowledge and understanding what people think but I found this site a better a gauge on what people really think regarding everything from their health to what they think of a particular brand, I’m hooked on this site, reading the responses is shall we say...very insightful.

Happy Valentine's Day

Sex and animals you can't go wrong really.Client: Wellington Zoos