..and so all good things must come to an end, time to start writing your awards entry chaps

Holy cow, that's a good idea.

It's not often that you come across something really new that works straight out of the box. But for the last 48hrs Old Spice have been using a social media combo (Twitter trends/Facebook/YouTube) to communicate directly with individuals on the web. A genius extension of an existing viral/TV creative. The  story cropped up in mainstream and geek media almost immediately. W+K Portland obviously put a huge amount of effect into mounting this stunt, but boy does it look like it has paid back. (including it would appear a marriage offer)

Life in a Day, YouTube channel idea

Now this is a great use of YouTube/social media. Capture the world on one single day by the people in it - us. Ridley Scot & Kevin Macdonald fronting a campaign on YouTube to gather a bucket load of footage from one specfic day (July 24) then using there skill for narrative and editing, create a drama shot by the people of the world, neat.

Way back in analogue world (well 1995 to be precise), I had a similar idea for Kodak, it almost got brought, was presented twice in Rochester, NY to the Kodak board, but sadly, like so many innovative ideas put forward to Kodak, its light went out!

Our idea? The Day The World Stood Still. On one day the whole world would stand still and take a picture of itself. These images would be collected into a book (album) of the world taken by the world.

Kodak had the tech to produce, 3 shot 35mm disposable cameras, (styled around the brand icon of the yellow 35mm Kodak film box) which would be flooded out across all their global outlets and partners. Depending on market these would be incentivised or rewarded with purchase of Kodak products etc. You can see some of the 1995 creative HERE.

A competition element for the best images was going to be rewarded with a chance to witness the millennium sun rise from a Concorde circling the globe, i.e. say thankyou to the rest of the world.

We had a team working on it from both IMP & DMB&B for about a year, but after much excitement, it fell away. However it was a very fun ride while it lasted.

A blast from the past

Many many many years ago, I got my first break in the industry from Andy Blackford a truly inspirational creative who mentored the young Slade into what I am now. One small quibble was that he would on more than one occasion mention that he had written the Um Bongo theme. A jingle so insane it has since passed into folklore, well, its back (again) Just to prove old creative's never die, they just get madder

 

Yes, I am a closet cartography fan

Stephen Walker: Island LondonThis is a real 'oh wow' project. Not least for; 'how the hell does anyone have the time to do that?'

Jaw droopingly detailed hand drawn map of London as an island. down to events and personal experiences seen street by street. You can even find your own house or local kebab shop. This as a layer on Googles Maps/Street view linked to an augmented reality phone app would be really amazing. That's my house!

#leadersdebate clear winner Twitter

Well first ever UK political debate is done, lots of great and (from Sky**) not so great tech'

Twitter was a clear winner, loads of gags (worst Kraftwerk gig ever. etc) But the new tech of the event must be the live 'Worm' of voter intentions. ITV had a single white line running about 120 sec delayed. The BBC had a better 3 colour version, albeit still with a slight lag. The BBC also had the weirdest looking studio audience ever. But on balance appeared to be at least 20 years younger than the lot ITV had shipped in.

 

** = Sky had Cameron as the winner, latter changed after a heap of Twitter abuse

Yes the ipad is noteworthy

- also fun, exciting and intriguing. Looking at what it can do brought out so many thoughts about its possibilities, most of which were not in the apps on show this week. I am sure that if Apple are right and this is a new category of device then the true worth of it will come when designers stop designing for a big iTouch and start thinking about New from New - motion and action process's. 

I feel mapping and tutorials are key human interactions for a digital device like this. Should also be noted that with all Apple first gen' products there are teething issues, at least two of the demo models i used this week had 'issues'

After a couple of days playing I like the size and hand feel of the device. The controls are almost familiar with a small amount of learning, (mind you zero time spent reading any instructions) You feel a certain joy with the interface because it just keeps doing things for you!Philip Slade & t7F London on an iPad

The Final Countdown

The final stage of the general election is upon us. Really looking forward to see how the clash of advertising styles works out. The Labour party had been doing well with its under funded campaign being boosted with Internet japes. However it all came unstuck this week when its user generated poster back fired. The issue of using figures from popular culture is all very well, its just no one seems to have thought it through, that people actually like Gene Hunt and his 1980’s style of command, that’s why it’s a popular icon. How the Labour Part thought this was going to appose rather than attract(see comments) is bizarre. I do hope however that it does not put them off seeking crowd sourced creative. The theory is sound and keeps the campaign alive. A few more calm heads needed for the reality checks however.

 

Still looking for a better use of Facebook from the parties. There is so much that could be done with Facebook targeting, messages and friend groups. There is too much broadcasting at present and not enough under the skin cohesion. The other thing that’s missing at present is an app for campaigning. Either party could have an AR app that tells you how much has/hasn’t been spent on hospitals/police stations/schools as you walk past. Now the Ordnance Survey have open up their code, an easy mash-up of local authority spending on very pretty maps would appeal greatly. Philip Slade.

Another cracking chart, plus a lesson in internet tom foolery

Now we have all cocked-up online at some point. But the Conservatives seem to be making a career out of it at present. The chart below sets out the speed with which some Tory bright sparks Twitter adventure ended after just two hours. Full story HERE. Fuller list of Twitter responces HERE. The news that Saatchi are back on board (after the David Cameron air brush debacle) we presumed was steadying the ship, obviously not!

 

Empire building, Google

A while back I gave a presentation about brands and there online shadows. I used the analogy of digital donuts that came in a box owned by Google. Sample charts HERE. When this chart popped up it was a good time to adlib gags about the Evil empire/Big brother (Google) and how we were all owned. The Beast File (Google) is a lovely bit of animation currently doing the rounds that sums this thought up in a much funnier manner and includes a better Star Wars reference. Graphics by Patrick Clair, written/presented by Elmo Keep. Seen on http://www.geekfill.com 

THE BEAST FILE: GOOGLE ('HUNGRY BEAST', ABC TV) from Hungry Beast on Vimeo.

 

Getting out what you put in.

Seems obvious, but the clear issue with under performing digital campaigns is analogue thinking. Social networks suit a continuum of stuff rather than a big burst of noise. Again you would have thought obvious, but the nature of a consumers interaction with chums online puts a premium on regular, relevant content, that does not bore.

Highlighted by Alan Mitchell of www.ctrl-shift.co.uk. The harsh realties of Social Media in a nutshell. Full presentation by Bart De Waele below.  

  1. Nobody reads your blog
  2. Your Twitterstream is boring
  3. Your Facebook fan page is empty
  4. Your new social network site isn’t used
  5. Your great idea doesn’t go viral
  6. Your users do not generate content
  7. Your employees do not help



7 harsh realities in Social Media
"philip slade"

Perfect working enviroment? -there isn't one.

Because we are people, (not cliche office drones) we each respond in different ways to our environment. Once a company grows beyond the dream team sized start-up of 9**. Any attempt to create the 'perfect' environment, how ever funky, will always leave some poor soul at odds with there work space. Corperatised fun environments are exactly the oxymoron they sound like. Slides and fake grass in reception are as bad as grey cubicles and strip lighting. It all smacks of a lack of innovation within the work force. Natural light, decent coffee and fast internet connection normally does the trick. -oh and a cracking place to bitch/gossip/flirt. Best if the latter is the same place as the decent coffee, bananas and free toast. The agency kitchen therefore should be the most homely, most useful place for a company to invest in.

Personally I love noise/loud music and am unable to work tidy. I also feel the ability to change where you sit in an office frequently, stops staleness. Actually the only time I had to work in a regimented office environment was at Saatchi's in the late 80's. The resultant chaos (and occasional fire) led to my nickname of Professor Piehead (Viz character)