Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Apple: A Love Story
I loved my boyfriend PC, we were inseparable, but we had our occasional fights like any other couple. He wasn't perfect of course but our relationship accelerated to a point where he simply drove me off the wall and I just wanted to hit him so hard at times! I know, not a good sign... It's like I couldn't stand him anymore. He would throw fits out of the blue and literally refuse to listen to me, as if he had turned deaf?! Then, the next day we would forget all about the previous night and go on like nothing had ever happened. That's when ''trouble'' came knocking at my door...
One day, I was shopping downtown with my best friend, and then across the room that's when I noticed MAC for the first time. It was love at first sight. Yes, and it felt just like in the movies - when time seems to freeze and we are just staring in each other's eyes, our gaze locked on each other as if there was no one else in the room...
Back to PC, our relationship was unfortunately not improving. PC was a very serious kind of guy, and what can I say, the excitement was slowly evaporating. Moreover, whenever we started to argue, he chose that time to become consumed in trying to fix all sorts of "problems'', ones I knew could be avoided in the first place if he wasn't so stubborn sometimes! My friends started hinting me that maybe we simply weren't meant to be together, but I wasn't ready to leave him. Slowly, our relationship just continued to deteriorate. I wasn't completely unhappy, but ever since I had laid eyes on MAC, everything changed. I felt like he had turned my whole life upside down and I found myself thinking about him day and night, and obsessing about him! It was like this for about a year. PC and I tried to work things out, but inside I kept questioning everything: Did I truly love PC and want to be with him? Was he too consumed with his own issues to even notice my own needs and my dissatisfaction? Was I falling in love or in lust with MAC? Did I even have a shot with him? Or was it a phase I would eventually outgrow? But deep down, I knew things weren't going to last between PC and I and that it would only be a matter of time. And as timed passed by, the more irresistible MAC became to me.
Then, one dark, rainy fall night, I found the courage and confronted PC. I was honest with him and told him I didn't think things were going to work out between us anymore. He asked me if there was someone else. I didn't lie, I said yes that there was another pretender and that I thought he could make me happier and would be more fit to respond to my needs (I know what you're thinking, ouch, a bit harsh!). PC wasn't happy but there was nothing he could do or say that would change my mind at that point, my mind was set. I left, grabbed my coat and jumped into a cab. It was pouring rain and we were jammed in traffic. Suddenly filled with a sense of urgency, I asked the cab driver to pull over and I started wondering in the street, suddenly hoping to find MAC. And just like that, there he was. My heart stopped as I recognized him from a distance. He was standing tall and looked towards me. As I walked towards him, I couldn't help noticing the warm smile on his lips and how dazzling he looked. I was filled up with a strange feeling that he had always been there waiting for me. At this moment, I knew I was ready for him and I started wishing that this would be the beginning of a long and loving relationship.
Indeed it was. MAC and I have been together for almost a year now and I am truly amazed at how quickly we've connected but it just seems to work! MAC is very attentive to my needs and I feel a sense of peace when I'm with him; worry-free. Indeed, things are smooth and easy between us and I feel like he understands me, as if he reads me sometimes. We seem to share that special bond of complicity and of trust, and believe it or not, I feel like perhaps we were meant to be! When I look back at PC, I remember how so serious he was all the time. So caught up in his own affairs, it just created too many fights, conflicts, and frustrations between us that I could handle. I believe today we simply weren't compatible. MAC is different: he's attractive, cool, easy going, creative, smart, outgoing, and quite the technology-buff. MAC seems to always know how to put a smile on my face and he's made me happy in ways that PC never did.
Today, PC and I don't speak anymore except on those rare occasions when we see each other through our common friends. I admit breaking up with him wasn't easy since we were together for so long, but when I look back, I have no regrets. I know I made the right decision. I'm in love with MAC and I know I can trust him and always count on him. Though I don't consider ever going back together, I hope PC and I can still be friends. But my one true love is MAC, from Apple.
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This is my personal story of my transition from PC to MAC. After all, MAC did become a love story!
What's yours?
Monday, October 18, 2010
'Stop and Stare' Package Designs
Yes, I know I'm making reference to One Republic's song, I couldn't help it! lol But in this case, it's actually true! I stumbled upon these package designs via another blog on the Internet and I must say I was really impressed as well at these not-your-usual-dull-looking bag or coffee cup. No, these are really cool, creative and original concepts that make you, yes, stop and stare! It's the type of work I love looking at when I'm looking for inspiration myself because they're simply smart, clever and just cool ideas! (Unfortunately, I don't know who the designer is.)
Enjoy!
...ok, I feel like listening to ''Stop and Stare'' from One Republic now... Ciao!
...ok, I feel like listening to ''Stop and Stare'' from One Republic now... Ciao!
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Gap's New Logo: Seriously??!
As I contemplate Gap's new logo on my computer screen, only one thought crosses my mind: WHAT WERE THEY THINKING????
And that is probably the exact same reaction that MANY people around the world got after Gap, suddenly, decided to ditch their iconic-decade-long logo, for a Helvetica font and a little blue square at the top. Actually, I think it's pretty. NOT!
Unfortunately, the new logo did not last more than one week - or should I say fortunately?! Launched on Oct. 5th, 2010, the old logo was brought back a few days later after a worldly outcry. There are even rumours that people were marching down the streets with torches towards Gap's head office, in protest (...ok, that one bit may just be me and my imagination running wild.)
But more seriously, I would like to thank the Lord for bringing good sense back to these poor Gap head people who obviously lack an eye for good design and to forgive them for their sin of momentary-bad judgment.
AMEN.
PS: Reading from this article, it seems to suggest that Gap's new logo may have simply been but a "publicity stunt to put Gap back on the map.'' Interesting thought, desperate strategy.
Old Spice | The Man Your Man Could Smell Like
Over 23,541,173 views on Youtube. 91,675 Likes opposed to 1,435 Dislikes. Countless parodies created, including the famous Sesame Street ‘’Smell Like a Monster’’ spoof. Youtube comments even start to sound like the actual commercial’s script. The most popular being:
‘’Look at your comment, now back to mine. Now back at your comment now back to mine. Sadly it isn't mine, but if you stopped scrolling and started posting legitimate comments it could look like mine. Look down, back up, where r you? Ur scrolling through comments, writing the comment your comment could look like. What did you post? Back at mine, it's a reply saying something you want to hear. Look again the reply is now diamonds. Anything is possible with legit comments. I'm on a chair.’’
Hmm… what does that tell you about such a campaign? Catchy? Brilliant? Think again. Funny! Genius? All of the above!
Think about a brand that was silent for years and perceived almost as a dead brand, to a brand that generated an overnight craze!
Everyone will agree the new Old Spice campaign is brillant and has clearly been effective in generating buzz - thanks to catchy and genius copy and a sexy dude. What is even more fascinating is the way it managed not only to spark consumers’ attention and entertain them with a humouristic commercial, but to engage them as well in the process. This is demonstrated above in the Youtube comment example, which is key, especially in today’s society.
But now, let’s put aside the campaign. The real question here is has the Old Spice brand indeed resurrected itself from the dead…?
Old Spice | Smell Like A Monster - Sesame Street spoof
And as with any brilliant idea, imitation always soon follows. The Old Spice commercial was so catchy that everyone started to give its own twist to the commercial, from Sesame street doing a spoof to random youtube comments imitating the script. Talk about buzz every agency and client would wish for!
Dove Evolution
Client: Unilever / Agency: Ogilvy & Mather
This is Ogilvy & Mather’s classic Dove Evolution ad that created so much noise in the advertising industry back in 2006, for their campaign for real beauty. I even remember studying it as a case study in Advertising class. What was all the hype about? This ad was deemed as genious and surely got all the attention that it deserved. Why? For the first time, advertising decided to reveal why our perception on beauty was so distorted. And this message was welcomed as refreshing and inspirational both from consumers and from the ad people.
Though Dove was aiming to promote through this ad their fund for self-esteem, this ad also coincided with the launch of its new product line. Living in a material society where everything is based on looks, it would only be natural if Dove followed in the trail of other beauty products in the industry and advertised yet another brand that will make you look prettier, and resolve all your self-esteem problems. But most of the time, beauty sells a fantasy that is not attainable. That’s how companies make money so you keep buying their products until you’ve satisfied – which we all know will not happen. Consequently, it creates further damage on our society, especially in younger girls who look up more than ever to hot stars and celebrities with perfect bodies, perfect shape, and perfect skin. When these girls are unable to achieve the look from their role model, it creates image problems, low self-esteem, and depression. The beauty products we sell do not help to decrease the very real problem in our society, but only fuels it deeper.
When Dove had to advertise its new product line, it could have chosen the angle we all expected to: a pretty model, all smiles, holding Dove in her hands and telling us how it changed her life. But no, Dove chose another path and revolutioned both the advertising and the beauty industry alike. It chose a path that no one chose before, and it proved to be a highly effective strategy in doing so. In a world where advertising can be deceitful, this holds to be the primary insight in which Dove’s campaign revolves around. In its campaign, Dove decided to expose the advertising industry, to show the truth and the behind the scenes. Advertising can be deceiving and let’s face it, 99% of all the beautiful models you see in magazines are being retouched on the computer. What you see is not real. What you see is not real beauty. Dove Campaign for Real Beauty – was born.
Society needed a change, Dove delivered.
Parisian Love
A Google Story: An American finds love in Paris.
I just love this ad. It is really well thought out, simple, and yet powerful. With the mixture of the music and background sounds, it is easy to imagine a beautiful love story which evolved with the help of Google!
I just love this ad. It is really well thought out, simple, and yet powerful. With the mixture of the music and background sounds, it is easy to imagine a beautiful love story which evolved with the help of Google!
''Really'': New Windows Phone 7 Ad
Yup, one ad we can all relate to: a subtle look into how we all behave with our phones and this is what makes it so effective! We are so enslaved to our phone we don't even realize it anymore! It's a bit sad, don't you think? Is there anyone out there not acting like the people in the ad??
The Big Beer Ad
Probably one of my ultimate favorite ads! Simply EPIC! And blunt, or ''honest'' if you prefer... Nonetheless, I never get tired of watching it, over and over. How do you NOT want to buy beer after that??? :)
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