Spray Off In Paris

What happens when a Train Company collaborates with graffiti artists? A Effing Jazzed up Train ride! Yup, A French train company, Thalys, invited 6 of Europe's best writers/ graffiti artists to paint their train within 3:15 hours time before it takes off from Paris to Cologne and Amsterdam. The CEO of Thalys, Olivier Poitrenaud, said, that one reason for this event was, that Thalys doesn’t have a problem with graffiti on trains. The artists that took part in the event were Seak One, Jonone 156, Sozy One, Zeds, Nunca & Opak. Awesomeness!

The Voca People

Probably the best since Shakatak and Bob McFerrin, Pretty damn amazing! Lovin' it! :)

Pink For October

It's October and it's Breast Cancer Month. I'm turning my header into Pink in support for the Awareness of Breast Cancer. This ad was done by us at Pencil Advertising and was released in 2007, published in a local daily and posted on blogs in Kuwait, Tokyo, Brazil and as far as Israel (?) and lately was used by the British Army Federation for their article on Breast Cancer published in their Health Magazine which is distributed worldwide.

REAL or GHOST?

One thing for sure is that the Panasonic 'Jesus' ad made by FP7 Doha (which brought outrage in Lebanon) was a genuine ghost! This ad by DDB Brasil for WWF somehow is a bit controversial as where it was claimed that it was real, approved and released BUT WWF says it wasn't. What's the deal? GHOST or REAL?



Here's a statement issued by WWF:

"WWF reiterates our strong condemnation and repudiation of this offensive and tasteless ad and reaffirms that no one in the US organization had any knowledge or any role in the ad's creation and expresses its regret for any pain it may have caused 9-11 victims and their families.
"Earlier this week, WWF-US issued a statement based on information provided by WWF Brazil, a separate and independent organization within the international WWF network, that the ad was created by an outside agency and was not authorized by anyone within their organization.
"WWF Brazil has subsequently issued statements that have raised doubts about whether the ad concept was approved at some level within the WWF Brazil organization.
"We have now re-launched a renewed inquiry into the circumstance surrounding the creation of the ad. Additionally, we are using every resource at our disposal to remove these images everywhere they exist online because they are hurtful and disrespectful to the victims of 9-11 and their families.
"We deeply regret that the information we provided, while given in good faith, may not have been completely accurate. We stand by our earlier statements that the ad was utterly inappropriate and should never have seen the light of day. They do not in any way reflect the thoughts and feelings of the people of World Wildlife Fund. Again, WWF-US strongly condemns this campaign and offers our sincere and heartfelt apologies."



Not only that, but this ad wins a merit award at the One Show Awards which brings the awards committee to create a more strict guidelines!


Here's what One Show has to say:

The One Show statement says: “In the light of the recent events surrounding the “Tsunami Ad” created by DDB Brazil for WWF, the One Club announces today that we will implement what we believe to be the most stringent and thorough “fake ads” policy in our industry.

The One Club defines “fake ads” as: ads created for nonexistent clients or made and run without a client’s approval, or ads created expressly for award shows that are run once to meet the requirements of a tear sheet.

For 2010 and onwards, the One Show will be adopting the following new rules and penalties.

1. An agency or regional office of an agency network that enters an ad made for nonexistent clients, or made and run without a client’s approval, will be banned from entering the One Show for 5 years.

2. The entire team credited on the “fake” entries will be banned from entering the One Show for 5 years.

3. An agency or regional office of an agency network that enters an ad that has run once, on late night TV, or has only run because the agency produced a single ad and paid to run it themselves*, will be banned from entering The One Show for 3 years.

*The One Club reserves the right to review ‘late-night, ran-once’ and launch versions, at The One Club’s discretion. If it is determined that the ad was created expressly for award show entry, the penalty will hold.”

Update 1:

Wednesday evening: DDB Brazil posted a statement on its Web site Wednesday, signed by both WWF Brazil and DDB Brazil, claiming shared responsibility for the creation and initial approval of this ad, which has caused a firestorm of controversy since Tuesday morning.
The English version of the statement reads: "WWF Brasil and DDB Brasil would like to jointly express their regret for the unfortunate incident involving the 'Tsunami' ad for World Wildlife Fund Brasil. The ad does not convey either the philosophy of the client or that of its advertising agency. It was created and approved in late 2008, mistakenly, and was solely the result of lack of experience on the part of a few professionals from both parties involved. In no way was it done in bad faith or with disrespect to American suffering. WWF Brasil and DDB Brasil acknowledge that such an ad never should have been made, approved or published. We reiterate our apologies to all those who may have been offended by it. The two entities have worked together for three years to mobilize people, efforts and resources for the good of the environment. A single error should not obscure past successes, nor prevent future ones."

Update 2:

An e-mailed statement from DDB Brazil in which the agency, while still apologizing for the ad's creation, claims it was approved for publication by the local branch of the WWF. The statement reads: "The 'Tsunami' ad for World Wildlife Fund Brasil was created by a team at DDB Brasil in December 2008, approved and ran. The team in question is no longer with the Agency. DDB Brasil apologizes to anyone who was offended or affected by the ad. It should never have been made and it does not portray the philosophy of the agency."

Well, whatever the case might be, creatives should know that creativity comes with great responsibility!

It's ON!

Let the Battle begin! This time, it's going to be a real showcase with Star-studded DJs! Amazing how Turntablism evolved, from mash ups, beat-juggling to custom vinyls! Indeed, DJs / Turntablists aren't just music players but artists! Wish I could be there to witness the 25th Anniversary! (VINYL RULES)

The Event

For 25 incredible boundary pushing, trend setting, scratched, cut and mixed years, the world's largest DJ organization, DMC, has been the authority on the DJ battle. The DMC's annual World DJ Championship competition brings together the world's brightest DJ talents, vetted by a series of gruelling global heats. By doing so, DMC continues to host one of the most entertaining and jaw dropping shows you will ever witness. This year's show is no different. In the 25th Anniversary of this prestigious competition, DMC is bigger than ever…

On September the 11th and 12th, the Indig02 will see the DJ event of the year shake the very foundations of the entire infamous Dome. For the 25th Anniversary the stakes are higher than ever for the winners of this momentous year. And DMC are pulling all the stops to make sure this is not just a competition, but in the true essence of the DJ, a party to remember. With competitors from over 30 countries spanning the globe, the truly international DMC is bigger than ever.

To kick start the weekend correctly, Friday, September 11th's proceedings see the exhilarating Battle For Supremacy take place, with last year's World Champion DJ Switch defending his title against the planet's very best Supremacy title holders, including this year's UK winner - DJ Rasp. The Team Battles also take place on the day, determining who will follow in the footsteps of the competition's greats of previous years - from France's C2C, Scratch Perverts and the Allies.

In between the intense battles, the charismatic DJ Yoda will present a special live AV performance detailing the 25 Years of DMC, in his own ingenious way. This is bound to be a one-off, extremely exciting performance that is not to be missed! DJ I-Dee will also be showcasing the brand new Numark NS7 on the night, using state of the art Serato Itch software - a World's first! Jehst and Micall Parknsun follow up their storming UK Final set, returning with an energetic, unbeatable performance that you cannot miss.

On Saturday September 12th, DJ Jeppa will be flying the British flag in the DJ Championship World Final, as the worlds best DJs compete for the ultimate accolade! Pioneering legend and former DMC World Champion, DJ Q Bert will be flying over to perform on the night, and Rob Swift (Ill Insanity / X-Ecutioners) will be showcasing Scratch Live, as presented by sponsors Rane and Serato. Current World Champ DJ Fly will also be showcasing his talents.

And of course the winners will not leave empty handed - Champions over the two days have treats a-plenty in store. The bounty that awaits them will include prizes from Panasonic and Technics, Numark NS7, Drunknmunky clothing, Rane TTM57Sl mixer, Rane SL3's, CKIN2U goodies, Gold Disc awards, Ortofon needles and DMC are bringing back the much sought after classic Champion jackets for the 25th Anniversary.

At the end of the night, to round off the 25th Anniversary celebrations in style, DMC have invited a myriad of the best of the best to perform together in one massive SUPER JAM! Q Bert, Rob Swift, DJ Fly, Shiftee and Switch. Hosted by the world famous Killa Kela, it is going to be legendary as the experienced winners go back to back with the new world champs.

With World Championship winners over the years including the superstar likes of the Scratch Perverts, A-Trak (Kanye West's DJ), Q Bert, Craze, Cash Money and Mixmaster Mike (Beastie Boys), fame and respect could well accompany the bountiful prizes on offer. (source: dmcworld.com)

Hey Pablo!

One of the things that I love with Communication Arts is the Illustrations, and this guy is particularly one of the artist that I like! Argentinian illustrator Pablo Lobato, his cubism style and bold, vibrant colors really makes it a hit! Worked as a graphic designer and now, freakin' famous with quite an impressive clients on his list like the New Yorker, Rolling Stone, Time Magazine, LA Times Magazine, LA Magazine, The New Republic, Boston Globe, Texas Monthly, Cosmopolitan Germany, Chief Executive, Flare, AARP, Paste Magazine, New York Daily News!

Helvetica the Documentary

The most common of the types, overused and ignored. I learned a lot about this font after watching the documentary.

About the Film

Helvetica is a feature-length independent film about typography, graphic design and global visual culture. It looks at the proliferation of one typeface (which celebrated its 50th birthday in 2007) as part of a larger conversation about the way type affects our lives. The film is an exploration of urban spaces in major cities and the type that inhabits them, and a fluid discussion with renowned designers about their work, the creative process, and the choices and aesthetics behind their use of type.

Helvetica encompasses the worlds of design, advertising, psychology, and communication, and invites us to take a second look at the thousands of words we see every day. The film was shot in high-definition on location in the United States, England, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, France and Belgium.

Interviewees in Helvetica include some of the most illustrious and innovative names in the design world, including Erik Spiekermann, Matthew Carter, Massimo Vignelli, Wim Crouwel, Hermann Zapf, Neville Brody, Stefan Sagmeister, Michael Bierut, David Carson, Paula Scher, Jonathan Hoefler, Tobias Frere-Jones, Experimental Jetset, Michael C. Place, Norm, Alfred Hoffmann, Mike Parker, Bruno Steinert, Otmar Hoefer, Leslie Savan, Rick Poynor, and Lars Müller.

Helvetica had its World Premiere at the South by Southwest Film Festival in March 2007. The film subsequently toured film festivals, special events, and art house cinemas worldwide, playing in over 300 cities in 40 countries. It received its television premiere on BBC1 in November 2007, and will be broadcast on PBS as part of the Emmy award-winning series Independent Lens in fall 2008. The film was nominated for a 2008 Independent Spirit Award in the "Truer Than Fiction" category, and was shortlisted for the Design Museum London's "Designs of the Year" Award. An excerpt of the film was included in an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Survivor Philippines - Season 2

I must admit, I am NOT a big fan of this until I saw the first episode of Season 2, I thought, yeah, yeah, whatever! But hey! This really got my attention! The profile of the survivors is quite impressive, like good-looking men and hot chicks, one is a pilot, another is a commercial model and an ex-PBA! Although the idea could be better and the challenges to be more exciting and could bring more suspense to the viewers. Anyways, it all seems good! I like the Koror tribe, it really resembles the typical, everyone's got the ego and hated each other, but in the end - in pursuit of survival, they all go hand in hand for the win! I am hooked to this program, and I am loving every episode of it! And I hope some of you too! (who has GMA tv via Orbit).

Louis Vuitton Campaign

Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the first moon landing, LV releases this ad featuring Sally Ride (First American Woman in Space), Buzz Aldrin (Apollo 11, First Steps on the Moon in 1969) & Jim Lovell (Apollo 13 Commander). Photographed by the legendary Annie Liebovitz. Lovely!

Non Humans Not Allowed!

This kinda looks cool, I haven't seen this yet (Whaatt?! Serious?!!) but I will tonight. What makes it more interesting (aside from making a box office hit) was the extensive advertising campaign, they went viral, outdoor, ambient, I mean.. this is what I'm talking about! Dayumn! Another great one from Peter Jackson, I really like! Check out their site.