Some people laugh at Rhys Darby or Funniest Home Videos. I, on the other hand, tend to be more amused by interesting juxtapositions. Think Sue Collini, potty-mouthed sexual predator and top-level executive on Californication, and, Hit Girl, the precocious assassin and star of Kick-Ass. This is one of the better movie sites I’ve seen, with just the right level of engagement (cf. Sherlock Holmes), including a widget for more pre-release updates, and great tone of voice.
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s latest show, Love Never Dies, is now playing in London with ticket prices starting from a reasonable £25. Which is somewhat less than it cost to produce this nicely crafted website. Navigating the amusing yet fairly simple circus games I started to wonder how well this really promoted the actual show. That was until I clicked on the gallery which reveals a heap of behind-the-scenes coverage featuring actors, stage managers, scenes, the after party and more. To me, this is the kind of stuff people are really interested in and one of the best ways to find a true brand connection. For other brands, the content could be a factory tour, backstage at an event or a virtual seat at an important board meeting. Whatever it is, I think it helps break down the barriers between brand and consumer.
I’d like to think I’m impervious to the tactics of advertisers. Too smart and too strong to be so readily influenced. Alas, it took all of five minutes browsing through this new-ish Umbro site to reverse a lifetime of hostility toward the brand. Check out the nice mix of football fodder and pop culture (emerging bands on MySpace not Oasis), the way they have a laugh at themselves in the fashion faux pas gallery and the nice tone they’ve struck in social media. Hopefully we’ll get to see more content that reflects/explores the company’s Mancurian upbringing.
I’m a sucker for big picture backgrounds plus video content. And this site for Mercedes has both in spades. If I was being fussy, I’d argue some of the interactive prompts, such as those encountered in the test drive, don’t feel very natural or entirely convincing. We can be so desperate to engage users that we don’t see how it can get in the way of enjoying content. Still, a pretty good effort. There’s also an iPhone app that lets you race through tunnels like the one in the shoot.
The producers of a bitter tonic water in Argentina recently gave jilted lovers the chance to immortalise their revenge by posting their feelings on a website. From these the best 72 messages were published in an illustrated book released on…you guessed it…Valentine’s Day. I rather admire the originality of this project, which demonstrates a certain entrepreneurial flair (over 2,000 copies were sold in three weeks), as well as the crossover between real and digital worlds.
His Royal Highness, the Burger King, is finally winging his way to NZ! And it’s about time. Y&R has murdered that account for a decade or more, shooting TV ads about monkeys testing burgers and rugby girls on horseback. Meanwhile BK in the US has been doing a lot of good work, including branded Xbox games featuring the King for only $3.99. And now Colenso looks set to go down the same route. The TVC leaked so far looks pretty slick and leaves me wanting more. The only thing I found a little lame was the ‘reality video’ on Facebook (the one where the King arrives at the airport). Posting such faux user content is just treating punters like mugs. It’s an AD CAMPAIGN guys – treat it that way! Let’s hope BK uses this fresh start to improve its actual in-store experience – some of the stores are pretty grubby. (What’s with that 50s theme anyway?)
I know what you’re thinking – how can I sneak off to the football on Valentine’s Day without getting red carded from the bedroom? Well fear not, for the lads at Puma have brainstormed a truly romantic gesture to keep you onside with your better half. Simply dedicate this charming love song via Facebook or email and prepare for the red carpet treatment when you get home. The Puma ‘HardChorus’ ad, ‘featuring’ a motley collection of Tottenham supporters, will air during TV coverage of the Bolton v Tottenham FA Cup tie.
Introducing an exquisitely crafted website for French lingerie company, Aubade. The sophisticated and feminine tone, right down to the music box, is spot on for the brand. And the content has been carefully considered, with tips on topics such as the perfect French lover’s playlist, the fantasy wake-up call and the etiquette of the ear. Wouldn’t it be nice if more sites were this conceptual and visually interesting? I’m not saying everything has to have Flash animation but it is a bit of a downer when designers leave you to work with little more than a grid pattern (circa 1995).
Chainsaw, the agency that created the site, get more brownie points for extending the concept to include this piece of theatre, in which it reinvented the girl next door fantasy. I wonder how many people apart from agency staff actually saw it. (I’ll always remember the large billboard outside our office at Y&R that scammers would use between skinning to erect an idea, take a photo then pull it down five minutes later!)
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all clients were as adventurous as Red Bull (online I mean). The beverage giant has built pro snowboarder, Shaun White, his very own halfpipe deep, deep, in the heart of Colorado, in the interests of taking the sport to a new level. Now as you know, every good deed deserves an equally good website to shout about it and what a website this is. The art direction, photography and video production are simply too cool for school.
