Bic Razor

An interesting billboard advertisement. Simple. But effective.

Nike always does it best.

This was an interactive billboard in which the passersby can walk or run on the enclosed treadmill. For every kilometer run, Nike will donate a certain amount to UNICEF.

What Women Want

This is an image from a movie from 2000 called 'What Women Want'. Mel Gibson plays the main character who works for an Advertising agency. This picture is from a scene when he is trying out products for the opposite sex, trying to get the feel for what women think when using these things; panty hose, wax, wonderbras, etc. I think it's a great movie and really shows a fun side of what advertising can be like.

Peer into a soul...

I was watching television the other day with my brother and we saw this commercial with a strange man slowly coming closer and closer to the screen and then it looked as if he was peering in at you. "peerintoasoul.ca" then comes across the screen. Immediately I grabbed my lap top to check it out. There are three spots that are live on the web. By mousing over each one, the preview provides a bizarre, almost voyeuristic look into these mobsters’ reactions. They say that eyes are the windows to the soul…

So what is this campaign? I hope it's obvious now. Kia just released a new ad campaign for the Kia Soul that is quite unconventional, and somewhat disturbing. It’s quite a different tactic to take to sell a car, but I really like it!

Wonderbra ad campaign

An ad I like!

I love ads that make you think, or ads that stick with you for the rest of the day. This was one of them. **** for guerilla advertising.

Where I came from

Well, I was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. My parents both moved from England after they married and decided to start their life in a new country. My sister and I were both born there, and I think this gives me a different perspective than others in my class. Why? Well, many reasons really. First and foremost it makes me think about my history. My parents really only decided to move to Canada because my mother didn't want us kids to grow up in segregated schools and wanted her children to have more opportunities. I think this pushes me to be thankful of where I am today. God only knows where I would be if I had stayed there.

What else would I do?

Food for thought, on what I would be doing if I wasn't in this program. Hmmm.. well, definitely something creative. I was going to take the general arts program at Rierson University, but I wasn't sure that would take me anywhere in the 'real world'. So, through a long thought process, Mohawk is where I've ended up. And I couldn't be happeir. I mean, 'artists' per day only make money when they die .. that's when their paintings usually become historic and popular! :) I don't need to worry about that right.

Drinking and Driving Commercial Spot

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Talking about YouTube - Drinking and Driving Ad

I hate to say this, but I love commercial spots on Drinking and Driving. They're always so effective. No matter how many times I watch this ad, I always cringe and jump back when they get hit. ahhh.

Take a step back

PC vs. MAC commercials!

The following is all 15 commercial spots for the 'PC vs. MAC'. I think it's great to see them because it really pushes consumers to go out and purchase a MAC. The benefits are unbelievable. I am bias though! :P GOTTA LOOoove my MAC.

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Talking about YouTube - Mac VS. PC all 15 ads

Facebook is where people wanna be

Well, it's safe to say that 90% of people these days between the ages of 14 - 40 use facebook on a daily basis. This is why I have chosen to write todays post on what my friends like to call FB! It is the perfect medium to advertise as it has a huge consumer base. The reach of this site caters to over 130 million active users. It attaches socials actions about your business or your ad and creates a demand for your product with relevant ads. Advertising is done throughout each page entered along the sides of your FB page. I think this is a great way to reach the target. You can also optimize your ad on facebook by tracking it's progress with real-time reporting and gain insight by finding out who's clicking on your ad. I, personally check out the ads and will click on them to learn more. Big ups to Facebook! :D

TRUMP!!

DONALD TRUMP, a marketing master of our time, is a man of great importance to many people today.Donald John Trump is an American business magnate, socialite, television personality, and author. He is the Chairman and CEO of the Trump Organization, a US-based real-estate developer. Trump is also the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts, which operates numerous casinos and hotels across the world. Trump's extravagant lifestyle and outspoken manner have made him a celebrity for years, a status which was only amplified by the success of his NBC reality show, The Apprentice. He is someone I think many people, young and old, look up to. I know that most people could never compare themselves to someone like Mr. Trump, but I think he's a good person to look up to when I strive to work hard in this world of advertising.

We loose them all the time!

Yes the famous usb.. the flash drive.. or our jump drive. It is our life line.. the thing that holds everything important, all our great work. But what happens if you loose this magical piece of technology? Well, I know it's happened to me, personally, many MANY times. And then, you feel like a part of you has gone missing. Your portfolio has now begun from the start.. all over again. Tragedy ensues. So, remember kids, save your work and back it up, because with no plan B, you have nothing. NOTHING I SAY! :D

Tim Hortons

Tim Hortons has an annual "roll up the rim" campaign that pushes its consumers to buy more coffee, with the chance to win numerous prizes. I think it's a great marketing campaign that initially worked so well, they have used it every year thereafter. MMmmm I love timmy's coffee!

BANNED commercials!

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Talking about YouTube - Banned Commercial - Condoms

Banned commercial spots are always the best to check out online. Usually they are really creative, but they are ALWAYS hilarious!

A little info on me :)

Okay so from what I've written thus far, I think you know I'm a creative person! I LOVE anything fashion oriented or artistic! My favourite things in life are my family, my boyfriend, my friends and school; soon to be my career! I spend my days working on school projects, seeing the beloved people in my life, and reviewing ads and media like crazy! Really, what more could a girl ask for? ... Maybe more shoes.

Internship with Goldbook

On February 23, 2009 I will begin my internship at Goldbook in Hamilton, Ontario. The opportunity presented itself through classic networking scenarios. The individual, and her husband both work for the company, in different cities, a opposing ends of the business spectrum. I will join a team of 6 other designers to become the seventh within the studio. Sales will be sent to us daily and we will each create numerous ads, layout and design them for the clients. I will finally have the opportunity to apply the concepts and artistic abilities I have developed over the last 3 years!! YAY!

Interactive Advertising

Interactive advertising is defined by using online or offline interactive media which is communicated to consumers to promote products, brands, services, etc. In today's society it is looked upon as one of the best way to create awareness.  People of all ages use the internet daily, and with just a click of a button they can see the newest advertisements. With no purchase necessary, clients and advertisers are trying to use this medium because it is a cheap and has mass appeal. 

Different types of interactive advertising:

Web Site: A grouping of Web pages that are linked together so that you may easily flow from one page to the next. It is often used to describe the information that one individual, company, or entity puts on the Web.

E-mail: Email advertising is like a low cost direct marketing.

Banner: A typically rectangular graphic element which acts as an advertisement and entices the view to click it for further information.

Newsgroup: An electronic bulletin board open to everyone and divided into tens of thousands of subjects. Only a handful of newsgroups permit the posting of advertising.

Pop-up Windows: Small windows that spring onto your monitor while Internet pages are loading. It typically used to drive up traffic statistics.  

Splash Page: An initial Web site page used to capture the user's attention for a short time as a promotion or lead-in to the site home page or to tell the user what kind of browser and other software they need to view the site. 

Instant Messaging and other types follow along these lines.

Super Bowl advertising

The Super Bowl, the most viewed televised event, annually accounting for tens of millions of viewers from all over the world. The limited commercial spots, can be purchased for $2.4 million dollars per 30 second spot. These spots generally are occupied by the big players within the industry, such repeat clients are; Pepsi, McDonalds, Budweiser, VISA, and many other well known company's asserting brand loyalty. The Super Bowl commercial spots have been the home for the debut for some of the most successful ad campaigns to date. It is a prestigious honour for the agencies contracted to design a campaign that has such reach, and influence in the industry. One can only hope to be a part of a team to create such unique, and often humorous spots. Stay tuned for SuperBowl XXXXX you could see me!!

Ogilvy approached the idea of the Shreddies in a very interesting way. It won Gold at the CMA's for the idea of the "diamond shreddies". Who knew that rotating the product itself could create such a buzz. I went for a moch interview and spoke with one of the agencies best, and she noted that this idea came about from an intern who came to Ogilvy not too long ago. To me this gives students hope that they could come into an agency and work on big accounts and actually have their work being produced so soon. Ogilvy won numerous awards for this campaign , including Clio and Young Guns gold award and of course the award for 'Best of the Best' at the CMA's.

We won GOLD at the Canadian Marketing Association Awards 2008

(From left to right Katey-Sue, myself, Mary and Ashley)

Students from across Canada were asked to create a compelling direct mail piece for ABC Insurance and the company's final expense plan. The goal we had was to sell 5, 000 guaranteed life insurance policies within a three month time period, using a budget of $160, 000.00. So with hard work and determination, our team of four came up with a creative and respectful brochure.

The cover showed a black and white image of a rickety bridge and the message: "Crossing a bridge can be intimidating", which represented the fear the reader faced when thinking about life insurance. Inside the brochure, the same bridge was depicted as sturdy in a beautiful and colourful picture. This represented the security that the insurance offered. The headline inside read, "Let us take the fear away".

The DM piece came complete with a reply card, a promise of guaranteed acceptance, with a 40-day opt-out-clause, all wrapped up in a pretty envelope that was also theme oriented around the Final Expense Plan.

We were chosen out of all the applicants as the most creative and won GOLD! Each of us had expenses paid at the Westin Castle Hotel in Toronto, where the award show was hosted, and received $500.00. It was the only student competition for the 2008 CMA's, so we were able to sit and watch well known agencies from all over win awards for creating amazing campaigns for their clientelle. It was a night to remember, awards, dinner and even dancing. I feel honoured to be one of the few to put such a prestigious student award on my resume.

Learning is key!

I am currently attending Mohawk College  for my third and final year of  Advertising Communications Media. Within this course I have learned more than I could have dreamed of. About what you may ask? Well, first and foremost I have learned about the Adobe Software and using a Mac computer. This may sound silly to some, but I had only used PC computers prior to entering the course. Now, I would never use anything else. Programs such a InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop absorb my life on a daily basis. I've learned to explore my creativity and think out of the box, even more than the average joe. :) With knowledge and understanding, and a great idea, I can now execute great advertisements in various mediums. I've also learned that networking within this industry is very important. Knowing who's who, and making sure they know who you are, is always a great thing. Next would be making sure your portfolio is not just up to par, but better than everyone else's, is needed. This is hard, as this is a very competitive industry, but working on your portfolio every chance you get is what you need to do. Every day I learn something new and I'm sure this will continue when I enter the workforce.

Artistic Expression: Pieces that have influenced my creativity

Starry Night, Vincent Van Gogh

The Hallucinogenic Toreador, Salvador Dali

Van Gogh and Salvador Dali have impacted my life and truly show the beauty that can be revealed within anything. Each have their own artistic expression and lead the viewer to a whole new world when interpreting their pieces. Van Gogh and Dali paintings hang in my room at home to give me inspiration in this creative world of advertising.