McDonald's - Baby

TBWA created this new TV ad for McDonalds. It will be part of a campaign to demonstrate the lengths the staff will go to make a simple trip to McDonalds memorable. It features a new Father trying his hardest to order a breakfast meal while trying not to wake his baby through stopping the movement of the car. I think the ad does what it's supposed to, it is a nice, feel good ad which does make me genuinely think all of the staff at McDonalds are some of the most considerate. So in that respect I think it works very well. But one point I felt stuck out like a sore thumb after watching it a second time, the Father had taken all this trouble to not wake his child, but then he puts the kid at complete danger by taking his hands off the wheel while the car was in motion to grab the McDonalds meal from the window. Call me silly, but isn't putting his child in danger slightly worse that waking the child up?! Maybe it's just me! See what you think:

Museum of London

Today the Museum of London released an Iphone app to promote its new galleries which open 28th May. The new exhibits transport visitors through London's history, from 1666 to the present day. The agency Brothers and Sisters created the free street museum app which allows users to hold their Iphones up to London Landmarks and see an overlay of a historic image of the sight. I think this technology is something I must quickly grasp as it seems to be a fast growing market, the majority of consumers are now on the receiving end of an Iphone or blackberry and can see this kind of information. I think the app works really well, and for me, would make me want to go to the exhibition. It makes me curious of the sights yet to be seen of London in the past. Take a look:

D-Day

Our deadline is tomorrow Friday 14th May. If I'm completely honest, without swearing, I am bricking it. My PPD is complete with amendments made to bring it up to scratch, my essay is complete, but now this live brief is testing my patience. Me and my partner have created our campaign along with full development for The Body Shop, or rather we had created it. Diving in without a thought, and with the mass workload, I am aware the quality would not be up to scratch. But when we asked the opinions of our peers I was not prepared for all the negative comments. Fear sunk in as I knew what they were saying was completely correct, but I didn't think there were enough hours in the day to go back to the drawing board. The thing is that I am a perfectionist, and I could not let this slip. In the industry this would be no excuse either, so I figured why not begin the sleepless nights now and attempt something much better. Fortunately my partner has the same outlook, which is why we work so well together, and provide motivation for one another. So 3 campaigns later we feel we have created something much more successful.

Our strategy being 'Leading the way to ethical beauty'. I think this is a positive line which meets the brief. Along with this strategy we have decided to create 3 poster campaigns, featuring a trail of the ingredients leading up to the product. For example one would be a trail/path of cocoa beans leading up to a tub of The Body Shops Cocoa body butter. It would be used on a plain white background, with the strategy along the bottom and the logo. I think this campaign has been more successful than other ideas, containing a simple yet clear concept and only hope our hard work will show in the final result. We have also created some ambient which would run in conjunction with the ads. I better get on drawing these up now, fingers crossed for tomorrow!

I can honestly say my first year at college has been interesting. I feel I have developed my skills in many areas. Although there have been hurdles to conquer, while difficult at the time, they have taught me that I can never get too comfortable or lazy, because life isn't plain sailing, and advertising certainly is not. Although one thing is for certain after all my efforts, I know I want a career in advertising and I have a genuine passion for the industry.

On my last note for my first year at college I will leave you with a couple of ads I found interesting.

Crunch Time is here.

With the recent mess-up with deadlines, projects and tutors it is more than acceptable to admit everybody in the class in under complete stress. Thankfully my live brief is almost complete for The Body Shop, but some adjustments do need to be made. I have been adjusting my PPD file all today and it appears to be crunch time. Working under the circumstances of our tutor Alison leaving and her not informing us on several aspects that were needed a.k.a. PPD and Digital Skills (to my horror). I have unfortunately not enjoyed the course these last few weeks, which is very unusual. I am more than aware on the hectic, short deadlines I am to expect in the Advertising industry, but at least I will be able to organise them there. I feel almost frustrated at the moment that I do not have the time to put my usual efforts into my projects. I just hope that everything turns out well.

On a more positive note... One of the first ad's out to promote the BBC showing the 'World cup from the Rainbow nation' a.k.a. South Africa I have to say intrigued me in comparison to the usual World Cup ads. It was created by RKCR/Y&R and its aim is to show the country's heritage along with the diversity of the competing countries. I think it works very well. Being a person who does not get very excited by football at all, I felt the excitement in this ad. It made me want to watch the football, and think I would experience the culture of South africa through this. Now I know through experience that football will still bore me if I put it on the TV, but the ad has in some way fooled me into thinking it will be something more, a better kind of football. That for me, is a successful ad.

Silverspoon Advert

On the 29th April Silverspoon released the advert 'Half Spoon' created by Adam & Eve. Featuring Matt Lucas from the Little Britain TV Show. I admit it isn't a groundbreaking advert, but I think it works very well and breaks away from your usual mundane adverts which look at low calorie objects. I found it straight to the point, humorous and memorable. Take a look:

http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/thework/news/1000207/Silver-Spoon-half-spoon-Adam---Eve/

The end of the year is looming.

I am now currently working on my final brief. The live brief for The Body Shop. The brief asks us to create a campaign to re-establish their position in the market as the original pioneer of ethical beauty. They want the campaign to embrace the tone of voice from Body Shops past. So myself and my partner have done research into the works of Anita Roddick. As the original founder of The Body Shop, she found inspiration from travelling the world, seeing the beauty routines of different cultures and bringing them into her products. She seemed to be a very inspirational, strong woman and cared very much for those less fortunate along with the planet. Beginning charities to raise awareness for AIDS/HIV, domestic violence, Greenpeace, and for those less fortunate in third world. The products used today contain ingredients from all over the world, providing fair jobs for people in these places and putting food on their tables. It is this background that has made me and my partner feel we have to bring the advertising back to these roots, and create a campaign that focuses on these aspects once more. From looking at the advertising from The Body Shop's past it seems they have slowly started to loose their identity. Hopefully by next Thursday we have created the campaign which sufficiently brings The Body Shops true identity back to life.

Ultimate satisfaction

After much stress, worry, and panic, I have successfully completed my essay! All that is left now is to see if it makes sense to my tutors, and I'm satisfied! Now onto my next brief...to create a campaign for Body Shop. I am very excited to be working on a live brief, and only hope that the result is pleasing.

Just before I go..an ad I found the other day which I found of interest. Watford College advertising their advertising course via viral. It shows a very old creative team still searching for a placement, they get an interview with creative Graham Fink and fail miserably. Finally the line comes up 'time to go to Watford?' I think it has a lovely feel, and has a very humorous take on the creatives who fail. Hopefully I wont be creating ads for interview in a nursing home years from now, and instead be feeling satisfaction from ads that have aired! Check it out: