Music Recycled

What some can do with the waste others throw away.

This is a sensational idea.

Making instruments from landfil waste, creating an orchestra and "giving the gift of music".

Watch this video, you definitely will be surprised at what is happening around the world- how creative some people can be. The landfill Harmonic- from Paraguay.

These hand crafted, artistic, perfectly tuned instruments should sell for a fotune. Unique in their design, environmentally friendly, they produce together sounds so sweet you would not believe they were made of garbage.

They are so urban, underground and edgy, they ad a young cool vibe to the classical orchestra!

The Pop-Up: Here today- Gone tomorrow

Pop-up Shop Carnaby Street London 2012 (ELS)

Fast moving you say? Oh yes, fast indeed, fast enough that next week we won't be here anymore! What makes the Pop-Up so attractive? Is it the basic human nature that we always want what we can't have, or want something that is precious or rare? What a beautiful metaphor for life itself- what is here today might be gone tomorrow.

For those of you out there that are 'window shoppers' it does add a certain level of excitement and novelty to those same streets you wander day after day. 

What has fuelled the ultimate success of the Pop-Up movement? Social media. Like raves from American teen movies, or dance off's from hip hop movies, you find out right at the last minute where to be and at what time. 

The anticipation is worth it, you never know what will be around the next corner. It brings people together, you become part of a community, a movement, something bigger than just yourself. It is urban, underground edgy and feels more real. You are part of something exclusive, something fresh.

This movement translates to so many sectors- be it in retail or party venues, such as my friend's "Panda Party" Pop-Up night out in different venues across Dublin and now even London. It fits in perfectly with our generation's obsession with social media, the technology take over, and the consumer experience being at the centre of our wishes- we don't want to just buy- we want a "take away" emotional experience to go hand in hand with our consumerist desires.

But like many movements is the Pop-Up already fast loosing it's appeal? Is it already becoming too popular to be unique? Like Flash Mobs that suddenly took over for a few years, but then soon became so common place- will this happen to the Pop-Up? 

What are your thoughts?

Drowning in Social media- Keeping the Online "You" Clean. It's a stalker's world after all.

Keeping up with your Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Linkedin, Blogger, Vizify accounts...

So you want to find out where someone lives, what their interests are, where they have been on holidays, their grades at school, their job, what movies they have watched? It really is a stalker's world after all.

There are so many platforms that allow you to express yourself to "the world" but really you don't know who these messages will meet. As a new grad of course I signed up to Linkedin and Vizify. Even more importantly for the "creative" jobs I made sure to keep up to date with social media on Twitter, Blogger. But when is enough enough? It is hard to keep track of everything that can  be found about you on the web.

More importantly, I have come across websites that track you online and create profiles from amalgamating pictures from your Facebook, your Linkedin and information about you found on search engines. You actually have to "sign out" or request to not be featured on these sites. I was surprised to find a profile of me on one of these sites, where I had followers yet I had never created a page, so I did a bit of research and found out- indeed I needed to email the company to request that my "automatically generated" profile be deleted. When you have to keep a clean online Web self- really there is no hiding, it is not only about what you post but what everyone else does too.

 

The Smoking Kid- Bangkok's Anti-Smoking Campaign

So the experts say this is one of the best anti-smoking campaigns out there. I say: I agree! This campaign featuring smoking kids approaching adults in Bangkok asking for a lighter uses "shock" guerilla marketing to make people change their behaviour.

"What if we bottled dirty water?" UNICEF Dirty Water Campaign

I love guerilla advertising and experiential advertising as you may see from the other ad reviews in my blog- it is the part of advertising I may be most interested in. Pulling a stunt- shocking people- I really do believe that actions speak louder than words and I think this is especially true when we are bombarded with so much advertising everyday. How do we cut through the clutter? Why would we pay attention to one cause over another? In my eyes, the answer is: step up- play a new game - do something bold that will attract attention: Something that makes people, stop and think. To really have a profound impact, this is what good advertisements need. The key is to have an engaged viewer who will not easily forget what you have to say.

Nestle: "We will find you"- If only Charlie from the Chocolate Factory knew what the future held.

This campaign created by JWT London for Kit Kat is all too close to a modern age Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. If only Charlie knew what the future held...

3M security Ad- Anyone want some cash?

All you have to do it break this window a little thief may think! 

Sometimes we may think it is all just marketing or advertising and that product quality has little to do with it. It is the brand image that has been created, cultivate by expects that make us fall in love with certain brands and products. Why, I ask you is our generation obsessed with wearing big brands that maybe have little to say when it comes to the quality of their offering?

However, consumers are becoming smart- they are cautious. Most of us do not trust the Ad Men of our generation: "This brand of shampoo will repair your split ends and make your hair shine like gold" How many times do we believe these claims?

KLM Surprise - KLM stalkers! Facebook users beware- they are coming to get you.

KLM is watching you!

First Barbie Ad: 1959- How has advertising changed?

Who played with Barbie? I did!

I loved Barbie growing up, and I know most girls out there did too! Take a look at the TV ad from 1959. 

The Whale Song: Optus Ad Campaign

I recently watched ‘The Whale Song’ developed by M&C Saatchi Sydney for Telecommunications Company Optus in Australia after a friend posted the link on Facebook.

M&C Saatchi "Workie" Intern- Havana Club Gap Year- My Video

On my work placement at M&C Saatchi at Golden Square in London, I had the amazing opportunity to make an amateur video to be used in the Havana Club Gap Year Campaign. I spent a weekend making this video and editing it myself. Nothing professional about it at all but it was a lot of fun to make and it was great to be featured on the Havana Club Website! This was my favourite part of the placement- very hands on! Check out the video below!

If you have any questions about being a "Workie", going on work placement or being an intern @ M&C Saatchi London- send me a message or leave a comment!

Retail store designs- Upside down flower pots, model photo shoots, messy clothes hangers...

I have come across some very interesting interior store design in shops and cafes. I feel environment makes all the difference to your product experience. Sweaters hung off hangers in an odd manner, upside down hanging plants, dark lighting for an exotic rainforest experience. Sometimes I feel I am entering a different world when I step into these types of shops/ cafes. I am so fascinated by my surroundings that I am eager to stay longer and browse. As most purchases are not pre-decided, this is a fantastic example of how marketers have come up with a compelling reason for the consumer to stay and engage with their products for a longer time.

Apart from all the marketing "talk" I just think this are downright cool! I love coming across something special and unique like this.

Cafe in Shorditch, London (2012)

Lynx Excite Fallen Angel Campaign

                                                                                                     

       

Watch Lynx Fallen Angel Interactive Advertisement

 Watch Lynx Excite TV Ad

Pure genius. Lynx uses digital technology to involve the public in surprising new ways. In my opinion, it matches their brand image perfectly, full of life, surprises and excitement. I particularly like the way they created a TV advert and then an interactive installation to complement and augment the impact of this ad. It seems to really catch the target market's attention, the brand needs to go far beyond providing the functional and symbolic benefits of simple consumer goods and increasingly engage with consumers to provide experiential benefits.

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Tippexperience- Hunter shoots a bear Tippex Campaign

Watch & Play Tippex Experience Shoot a Bear Ad

My favourite ad is the 2010 Tipp-ex ‘Hunter shoots a bear’ YouTube video created by Parisian Agency Buzzman.

Fashion Now 2- Book review

Fashion Now 2 (Taschen)

Alexander McQueen- Flower Power

McQueen (Spring Collection 2007)

1,000,000 Pictures- Why do some Facebook pages have so much success?

Why do some Facebook pages have so much success?

"Clearly, they’re doing something right in the social space, and those of us who don’t manage these brands have plenty to learn from what they’re doing right." (Allen, K. 2012. 'How four brands manage their wildly successful Facebook pages,' Ragan's PR Daily <PRdaily>)

Lessons to be learned: 

• "Brevity is the soul of building your fan base,
• Strong content paves the road to becoming a lifestyle brand
• Give your fans ownership" (Allen, K. 2012)

Facebook's mission: 'making the world more open and connected'

Click link to access Facebook Page: 1,000,000 Pictures on Facebook

A compilation of some amazing photography, built and shared by fans for the pure pleasure of discovering new places, experiences and sharing creative imagery. This Facebook page for me, truly symbolises Facebook's philosophy.

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Georgia O'Keeffe- My favourite artist

Two of the most remarkable American artists of the early 20^th century, Georgia O’Keeffe and Alfred Stieglitz who were initially lovers and later married, also shared a relationship in art in which they were both so intimately involved. After visiting Georgia O’Keeffe’s work alongside that of her husband’s, Alfred Stieglitz, at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, January, 2005 and at the Tate Modern in London, December, 2005, one becomes aware of the profound influence that they had upon each other. She became his muse and inspired him to produce some of the most sensual figure portraits while he helped her establish herself in the art world.

Rose (Elena Sugrue, 2005)- My own work

Nokia: The World's Biggest Signpost Outdoor Campaign

Watch Nokia Signpost Ad

Nokia’s ‘The world’s biggest signpost’ was a large interactive installation consisting of a  LED red screen arrow suspended from a motorised crane in Central London, live for 2 weeks. It was part of a campaign promoting Nokia for personal navigation. The public texted their favourite place- their ‘good thing’ and the signpost displayed the messages within minutes while the arrow turned and pointed in the right direction. The locations were transferred to online Ovi maps where users could follow the signpost. I did not see the live ad but the video clip describing it in January 2010 online via Facebook.

(Nokia.com)

I find that it is a truly novel idea that stands out amoungs the clutter. The company had a good understanding of the needs of their target market for an easy to use transportable navigation system. The message is single minded and has a clear call to action for the viewers to text in and interact with the brand. It provides an inspiring creative and experiential approach to navigation which perhaps makes it so successful. There is a strong sense of co-creation and interaction, involving the customer and giving them ownership. Though the ad was only live for 2 weeks, it created enough interest to be successful.

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IKEA 'Tidy up' Advertising Campaign

(IKEA 'Tidy Up' Campaign)

The "Tidy up" campaign first launched in France in 2001. It was then translated to English and then shown throughout Europe. This campaign won multiple advertising awards in 2001- 2002. Five advertisements were featured with the same advertising message, that IKEA is the solution to your mess. I do find that the appropriateness of these ads, is sometimes questionable but taken in a light hearted manner, I feel that IKEA in a somewhat perhaps brutal way, do clearly get their message heard. It also just demonstrates how adverts will be deemed humorous in certain cultures like France, but would perhaps be banned in other countries.

(IKEA 'Tidy Up' Campaign)

Watch The Fork Ad 

(This ad features a man preparing for his date with his girlfriend. When they are in passionate embrace on the couch, however, she suddenly falls limp and he realizes she has passed out as she has a fork stuck in her spine.)

Watch The Spaghetti Ad 

(In this ad, a couple are lying on the floor and the girl is eating spaghetti in a rather sexual manner until she realises she is eating her boyfriend’s shoe lace rather than a spaghetti piece.)

Watch The Robot Ad 

(The robot ad features a sexual encounter between a dog and a moving toy.)

In my opinion, the 5 part ad campaign allows fluidity within their campaign and the message they wish to pass to consumers. It allows the message to perhaps appeal to a wider target market including single young people, a mother at home with her baby, and parents of children, a single young man. Furthermore, they use humour in a sense to grab the audience’s attention. They aim to use the ‘shock’ factor to cause buzz around their advertising campaign. They use consequence as a means of encouragement to visit their stores. They present us with various awkward or unpleasant scenarios which call for consumers to ‘tidy up’ if not for themselves then for others. The message is clear and conveys the true benefits of going to IKEA which has made these ads so successful.

Watch The Baby Ad 

(This ad shows a young women desperately searching for something in her messy house, finally she finds what she was looking for, her baby.)

Watch The Vibrator Ad 

(A small boy is playing with toy cars and then finds a vibrator lying amongt his toys. The highlight of this ad, is when he squeals with joy as it vibrates in his hands, pretending it is a rocket.)

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Entrepreneurial Flair: My Project

Our Business Project: Here is a short synopsis of my teams Entrepreneurial Business Project Plan:

Roots RestoBar is a unique Business venture and will provide tourists and locals in the heart of Dublin city centre with a novel, new and distinctive experience. Ms. Elena Sugrue, Ms Ciara O’Regan and Mr. Patrick Smith offer an initial feasibility proposal for the first and only speciality potato RestoBar in Ireland. The proposition is unique on many levels as Roots will offer a menu centred uniquely on the potato, a stereotypical aspect of Irish culture with the potential for a large market which has not previously been capitalised on. To further enhance Roots’ distinctive position within the market, the concept of RestoBar will be introduced into Ireland. This Latin American concept combines the fine dinning of a restaurant with the social aspects of a bar. The ambience and atmosphere created will provide consumers with an exceptional experience centred on the target markets Generation Y’s experiential seeking needs.

Designing the Interior (created online)