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March 8, 2011

DoubleClick HTML5 Contest

Find out more details here:
https://www.richmediagallery.com/html5-challenge

Take the HTML5 Challenge and win a YouTube Masthead for the day

Overview of Competition
HTML5 enables you to take advantage of multimedia content and allows you to stretch your creative skills. The HTML5 challenge is an opportunity to show how you can combine creativity and innovation; design a YouTube Masthead using DoubleClick Rich Media Studio & HTML5 and win a chance to have your mast head on YouTube for a day.

Creative Guidelines

  • Creative should represent innovative execution of HTML5.
  • Creative agency logo or signature should be included but should not dominate the creative execution
  • Creative for clients are not eligible for submission
  • Creative must be developed and uploaded using your DoubleClick Rich Media Account
  • Creative should be a YouTube Masthead and follow the technical specs listed here


Prize
  • Winners will be selected at the country level UK, FR, DE & IT
  • Agency providing the winning creative in UK, FR, DE, IT will be flown to an award ceremony in London in June (max 3 team members per agency)
  • Masthead element of the winning campaign will be run on the the You Tube home page for the respective country at a date at the discretion of the YouTube team


Eligibility

  • Open to all, creative agency and freelancers in UK, FR, DE & IT.
  • Must have a Double Click Studio Account - sign up here


Timescales
Expression of Interest : March 1 - March 31

  • Sign up to express interest you will then be contacted when submission window opens


Submission of Entries : 1st April - 23rd May

  • Submit details of entry via website
  • Submit creative via Double Click Studio


Judging : 23rd May - 1st June

  • Panel: D&AD, Andy Berndt VP Creative Lab Google, Emily Hare Contagious, Scott Harmes Creative Consultant Double Click Rich Media


Award: June

  • Award cermony at Google Jam



January 20, 2011

Staples Launch in Australia with Viral Video

I think this is a great little idea from The Works

They constructed the Sydney Harbour reconstructed entirely out of Staples Stationery and Office Supplies. Featuring 2,344 recycled sticky notes, 84 boxes of staples, 361 bulldog clips, 169 paperclips, 107 rubber bands, 132 coloured pencils and loads more.

I hope it gets more traction than the <1,000 views it has now. Maybe the seeding/media kicks in soon?

I also want to see photos of it and see it in real life as well, but that's just me.



December 27, 2010

Agency and Brand Christmas Ecards 2010

Advertising Agency & Brand Christmas Ecards. Top Pick at the top then newest submissions.

Last Updated: Dec 27, 2010 (No more updates till after Jan 4th)

It started small in 2005 with just a series of links.
In 2006 we added thumbnails but only managed 18 agency xmas cards
In 2007 we stepped it up a notch to 68 xmas cards
In 2008 I spent pretty much the weekend collating 120+ ecards for agencies.
And last year I went even further with 130+ and I wasted 3 days of my life putting this xmas link bait piece on advertising agency Christmas cards together.

If you want to be part of this for 2010 please send us your agency or brand xmas cards or promotions so submit@bannerblog.com.au Subject: Xmas cards 2010

Various links found (stolen) from CR Blog, FWA, Ad Freak and Agency Spy.

If you want to save us even more time also send a 550x322 sized jpeg with your submission also.

Bannerblog's Top Picks
Every agency in the world with the same brief, the same as the year before. The agency xmas card is the toughest gig in the industry. Here is Bannerblog's top picks for 2010.
Excentric: The Digital Story of the Nativity
Very well researched although I'm still confused where the guy from the North Pole comes into the story?

7.5M+ views. Has to be the #1 Xmas piece this year. Congrats.
Matt Mullholland: O Holy Night
Truly sums up the meaning of Christmas. Play this loud in the office!

Much classier than his previous year's effort "I Fucking Love Christmas"
Schwinn: Schwinn Bell Choir
I'll be having nightmares about voiceless, attractive smiley people following me in a red escape less room.

Schwinn will either donate a bike! for every e-carol sent or $1. Which one depends on which Facebook page you read or how you interpret their vague copy. I'm hoping it's a full bike.
Lasenza: Cup Size Choir
With 2M views already this has been quite a success for Lasenza. Proving once again boobs are awesome. Next year they could have the girls riding bikes...

Play the interactive keyboard version on the site.
Albion: What the Fuck is Albion's Christmas Card?
Straight into it with a site that features swearing. Fuck yeah!
Bloc: Balls to Christmas
A top quality Katamari inspired animation from Bloc.
Team One: The Gif that Keeps on Giving
Nice pun and nice end result.
39 Degrees North: Nicholas was...
Even the original author Neil Gainman likes this so who am I to disagree. It's pretty awesome.

"neilhimself: I was just sent this. WAY BEYOND AWESOME. Best Unauthorized Xmas Adaptation of one of my things EVER. Just click"
Nation: Google Black Christmas
Great use of the Google Black List and Xmas.
Saint/YR: Twitter Knitter
Love the email from Saint "We at Saint launched twitterknitter.co.uk this xmas instead of the usual shit xmas card."

Out of all the physical things produced by agencies this year this is the one I would have wanted the most.
The Partnership Group: Jumping Santa
Relaxing, simple and a nice line at the end.

A Starry Night from Torchbox on Vimeo.

Torchbox: Starry Ipad
OK GO are pissed as this was their next film clip idea.
Quietroom: Santa Brand Guidelines
You can't help but have a chuckle at this.
Big Spaceship: Corpsify
Why waste all that energy on a season card when you can launch an internal project for xmas that will live on forever. Hat tip to you Big Spaceship.
Mug: Fake Busters
Fake Santas beware there is an armed task force on your ass.
Toyota Prius: Tea Cosy
I like the Prius Projects site on so many levels. This knitted cosy for the Toyota Prius is cute also.
Saja Farki: Advent Calendar
This is nicely done with each day being worth opening.
PNC: Christmas Price Index
I love this and the story behind it. Beautifully crafted and interesting. Read about the history of the PNC Christmas index.
The rest (in order of submission)
Here are the rest of the submissions. There are still some nice pieces below.

Hill Holiday: S.H.E.D
Nice little trick with the Google image search.

Blue Hive: #MerryDoodle
One female designer and one giant doodle....

Check out the flickr images because Blue Hive will change their homepage at some point.
Framestore: Photo Maker
There's a Facebook version also available.
Other Source: Sock Fillers
Nice and simple.
Brownstein Group: Augmented Reality Card
I wonder if the Yeti costume is a rental?
Agencynet: Gifting Good
Choose how AgencyNet should donate it's time and money. I like all the options and I hope they do all four.
Liquid Interactive: Whodunit
A Xmas mystery to be solved. If you're interested they have revealed the culprit.
Adam & Eve London: Vordomas
No idea who Vordo is but it's related to this iPhone app for Fosters.
White Space: Christmas Stencil
I need to buy me some snow in a can!
Market Mall: Santa Tracker
The over produced Xmas marketing site
Mod Cloth: Christmas Tree in a Can
Handy for the secret Santa where you want to give someone something useless.
Traction: 12 Days of Grouchmas
The grouchy side of Xmas is one not often explored by agencies.
Create: The Machine
It does xmasy stuff.
A+B Studio: Knitathon
A never ending knitted scarf goodness.
Colle McVoy: All-Set Card Set
A set of cards for every season. Why just celebrate Christmas?
Chobani: Snow Angels
It's a Greek Yogurt and all Greek Yogurts need a Christmas story video.
MetaioAR: A Magic Augmented Reality Christmas Tale
When your company makes Augmented Reality software there is little question on which technology to use for the xmas card.
Vizu: Brandy the Ad Man
O.....K. moving right along here.
180 Amsterdam: Delft Yourself
BB: Why would I want to Delft myself?
180 Amsterdam: Well let me counter that with "Why would you not want to Delft Yourself?"
All State: Christmas with Mayhem - Dean Winters
This is the type of Christmas ad you can watch over and over.
Martino Flynn: Butcher Rudolph
The singing sucks but I'm always happy to see agencies donate $5k to charity.
SS+K: A Little More Holiday, a Little Less Card
I'd be excited too if I got a SpongeBob SquarePants laptop! (1:49 in)
Wing: Dear Bike
Check the Dear Bike Tumblr for more info.
Ogilvy Sydney: Naughty of Nice?
Naughty or Nice mobile app. How have your friends behaved this year? Let them know what you think with the Naughty or Nice mobile app.
Wing: Dear Bike
Check the Dear Bike Tumblr for more info.
Dentsu USA: Message to the World
Getting all their staff to turn the lights on and off in the right sequence has taken a LOT of practice.
Draft FCB: The Baristas
What's missing here is an explanation as to how these two people are and why their edit suite doesn't have a color filter.
EVB: Holiday Fax
Send a fax to one of the many agencies on the list. Why? because wasting paper is awesome and it was too expensive to deliver hand written letters by bicycle.
Eyewonder & Limelight: Xmas Magnets
Drag and drop words to create your own message of seasonal brilliance.
Fallon: Live Stream
This wasn't working when I tuned in but from the looks of this snapshot I believe it involved live video of their office and donations if you share the page.

After checking the CR blog that's exactly what it is! Brilliant work Detective Ringrose!
VICTORIAS SECRET: Holiday 2010 Commercial
Nuff said
Male Copywriter: Make Everyday Christmas
A dream turns into a nightmare for Male Copywriter.
Lean Mean Fighting Machine: Snowman or Fatman
I was expecting an awesome theme song like Granny or Tranny.
Berlin Cameron United: 2010 Holiday Card
Digitas: Flurrious
Nice looking snowflake maker.
G2: Holiday Card
G2 donate $10,000 to charity. That is the exact amount they would have spent making an interesting card this year.
Wondertute: Gift A Follower
Spread some random cheer to a follower.
Bless Design: Xmas Shop
Bless has put together a shop of Xmas related goodies. I'd love a Reindeer target tea towel... hint hint.
Pepsi Max: Merry Christmas from Snoop
Snoop is three brands away from jumping the shark.
VersGeperst: Christmas Song from Funny People
We're unsure how & why these random people were asked to submit their video but they did.
Gwar: Christmas Carols with Gwar
Did you know Gwar has sold more than 30M albums! No shit! Makes the Justin Bieber thing seem normal.
Mish Mash Media: (I'm Gonna) Hang Myself By Christmas
This is kinda sad.
Wesolych Swiat Gong: Christmas Projections
Nice lead up to the projections also.
Heat SF: Holiday Death Match
I'm shocked that Pedobear wins 42% of all matches. What loses to Pedobear!?
Heat SF: Scary Tree
Whoa whoa whoa. You can't create two xmas cards! Heat SF you have gone too far.
Ligget: Robert The Holiday Intern
I hope Robert gets a full time job out of this.
Modernista: Holiday Spirit Spray
Smell like reindeer.
BBH: Holiday Alibis
Take a look at the icon for nursing home..... mmmmm not sure that is legal in some states.
Honda: Naughty or Nice-A-Tron
I am 55% nice even though I hardly accept invitations. Read more about this on Mashable.
Imaginary Forces: You to download this large quictime
Vimeo or Youtube next year please!
Immotion Studios: Face Swap
Look at a combination long enough and then the normal face looks weird.
JWT: Nogmented Reality
Written by Onion editor-in-chief Scott Dikkers
Red Urban: Kidnapped Santa
The custom videos are great. If only they knew about us we would have received a video ourselves :(
KSL: Happy Holidays with Balls
I already got my joke out in the title.
Morris: Bad Fruitcake
No one can claim Morris didn't go all out this year the production values are huge. There is even an iPhone game.
Albion: Santa's Social Media HQ
Looks like Santa should track more than just tweets and Facebook. I feel sorry for all the Chinese on QQ.
Mother: #LappiLeaks
Mother created a hash tag #LappiLeaks to spread the secrets from the North Pole.
MRM: Holiday Card 2010
There is a LOT of MRM Hate online right now. And I don't think this is the worst by a long shot.
Influence Interactive: 'Twas the Night Before Project Launch
Digital books are popular this year it seems.
Pie Head: Santa Didn't Bring them a Sound Off Button
POP: Pop-O-Rama
Different hash tags control various elements in the display in real time.
Renegade: Social Media Wonderland
Catchy
Second Melody: Origami Christmas
The best way to reuse wrapping paper this christmas.
Profero AU: 2010 Leader board
What did people like in 2010? Find out on Profero's leader board.
Publicis NY: Cheer Happens Here
Add your cheer and money goes to charity. Simple enough.
The Concept Farm: QR tree
When will QR codes die? Especially those used online!
Razorfish: Photos with Santa
Choose your story naughty or nice. Naughty was more naughty than I expected too.
Portfolio School: Resolution Generator
Maybe it was luck but it created a the perfect one for me.
Fresh Networks: Santas on Bikes
You can get away with anything when you are a gang of Santas on bikes.
Small Army: Santa's Rebrand
The Small Army Team get wasted and work on Santa's brief.
Odato Marketing: The Pitch
There is no way you pitch to Santa with b/w scamped story boards :)

Also someone buy the staff at Odato something colorful to wear!
Squint/Opera: Christmas Desks
Nice optical illusion for the office space. Check the making of video here.
Ico Design: Tweet Flakes
Snow flakes made from the actual words in a tweet.
W+K: Tweets of Snow
W+K again use their street frontage for xmas. Every time someone around the world mentions snow on Twitter, a special tweet snowflake will fall over our neighborhood.

Sad that it couldn't be recycled paper but W+K promise to plant some trees. Ahh that's nice at least the paper is being used for a good cause...
Studio-Output: A Christmas Tweet
Data viz for festive tweets.
The Great Twitter Secret Santa
I got in too late for this one but it was a giant Twitter based secret Santa.
McKinney: Virtual Mistletoe
It's like a safe Chat Roulette.
Wasserman: The Client Holiday Card That Almost Never Came to Be
Archibald Ingall Stretton: Christmas Records
I'm a sucker for lighting stuff on fire. See them break many other Christmas Records this Christmas such as Most People on Santas Knee, Most Keepy Ups With A Brussel Sprout and Longest Time Holding Gift Tag With Forehead.
Pixolut: Facebook Profile App
Pixolut have created an app that lets you easily generate the images needed for funky FB profiles like this.

Grab it here.
Mind Clay: Stop Motion
I hate it when the agencies change their homepage for the xmas card. The link will be dead in a month. At least they blogged about it.
TBWA Buenos Aires: Two Santas
No shorts!? That's how Australian Santa rolls on this side of the world.
Planit Agency: Xmas Rock stars
Rock and or roll with Planit
Carrot Creative: Holiday Hot Fire
Yep it's another xtranormal video.

Season's greetings (again) from New Future Graphic on Vimeo.

NFG: Wrapping Paper
Nice and simple from NFG
Acart Communications: Santa Re-Brand
Santa brand gets some free advice. These guys should partner with Quietroom and pitch it to the big man himself.
Harvey Nichols UK: Xmas Dogs
Proving once again why dogs are better than cats.
W+K Amsterdam: Virtual Holiday Dinner
This is something I'd expect to see in SAW: X-mas.

Tables were booked solid and the season is now over. I'm a week behind on these!
Pot Noodle: Christmas Dinner
It is both sad and awesome that there is a Christmas Dinner flavored Pot Noodle.

Contagious Magazine dissect the video here.
Nix Bros: Total Ghost Christmas
Film makers + too much time = fake band: Merry Christmas.
Samsung: Tweet Paper
Have your tweets turned into wrapping paper! Why because you're that crazy about Twitter.

Luckily you can get a roll of the paper printed for you for free..... wait we're too late but you can buy a roll for $6.95 (USA only)
Wunderman UK: The Longest Cracker
Watch the video or experience it here for yourself.

This is a world first in "fist recognition software" too. I look forward to it being used in an a domestic violence awareness campaign.
Adobe XD: What Ever Your Resolution
Fun and political at the same time.


Gap: Project Reindeer
Eight reindeer strapped with GPS devices which you can bet on to get deals at Gap stores. Like Poke's Spot the Bull.



Props to Deep Local and AKQA. Also the reindeer handler Josh has an awesome radio voice. He should be on This American Life.
Gap: Give With Style
For every like they receive on Facebook for this video they will donate $1 to a charity. Visit here to make it happen

Mention viral30 in stores for a discount?! Nice festival codeword there.
Modea: Buzzword Bingo HD
Modea wanted to do something different for their agency christmas card so they made a Buzzword Bingo Ipad app.
Dan&Jo: Night Before Internet
The first submission to mention Wikileaks.
Scream: 2010 Year in Review
The only entry so far with a laugh track.
Think RLA: Win Beth's Mom's Christmas Jumper
I arrived to early to secure myself one warm looking jumper. I'm not sure I have the patience to wait around or the desire to enter my email address though. Think RLA you can just mail me the prize!
GoldBach Group: Contraption
I was expecting a punch line at the end but a friendly message will suffice.
Video Game Industry Cards
Seems like every major developer gets into the spirit. Check out Kotaku's roundup.
Design Royale: Snowball Royale
I hope Santa brought them a sound library for Christmas.
Euro RSCG: Euro Birds
This started out as a sexiest internal email and then ended up as an Angry Birds clone.
FBI Recruitment: Santa Snatch
FBI still on the recruitment drive for a decent game designer.
Sterling-Rice Group: Feral Carols
The agency brought in Improv group Hit and Run to help them out.
Gelia: Holiday Strategy Game
Do you have the right strategy to avoid an awkward Christmas moment?
Manning Productions: Tweesp
The algorithm recommends for me Rihanna and Rambo?

It also suggests a Camarguais Bull (no idea how that got into the mix) which is rated 5 stars on Amazon and makes reference to it's realistic 'male anatomy'.
Lowe Roche: Twanta
Kudos for the HTML5 implementation but seriously an Audi R8 Spyder for xmas? They are paying the Lowe Roche staff too much.
Sectio45: Naughty or Nice cards
Hoe Hoe Hoe Boom Tish.
Inferno Group: Auntie Carols
We cannot disprove that these woman are called Carol but we hope for authenticity sake they are.


Saatchi & Saatchi LA: Nog Pong
Deeplocal at it again and this time with a web controlled ping pong machine. Get the ball into the cup and a Saatchi staffer has to have a drink. Sadly the festivities are over.

You can however look at the making of here or a more detailed breakdown of the card at Notcot.
TBWA\London: Make a Snowflake Yours
The snowflake chandeliers are pretty neat.

And for every snowflake that is made £2 is donated up to a total off.... wait for it.... £500. Better than nothing I guess.
Collective London: Christmas Charitree
Take note TBWA\London, Collective have out up £5,000 for their charity donations. We think you should match dollar for dollar.
Sprint: Awkward Family Photos
In partnership with Awkward Family Photos who have been getting a lot of advertiser love lately.
Vodafone: Christmas Phones
This would have been even more awesome with 532 real mobile phones... with messages accepted by Twitter.... and the phones suspended in the middle of the city from a crane. But looks like they just didn't have the balls.
The Jamboree: Christmas Carols
Sadly I do not know a Carol to have her join the other Carols.
SME Branding: Santa's LeBron Style
SME Branding sneaks in with the minimum requirement. A single jpeg on a URL.

I'm not sure if this is Santa doing an impression of LeBron or he's enjoying a Ectasy induced joyful moment with a huge handful of E's.
Glade: Virtual North Pole
Love the "patent pending" popup message when it takes a photo. Nice work Pixfusion you made the experience worse for no reason at all.

Seems like all the money was spent on the licence fees instead of a designer :(
Disney: Phineas and Ferb Winter Wonderland at Your Command!
Great for kids as you don't have to type you can just speak into the mic, bad for anyone without an American accent :(
Host: Merry Twitter Tree
I'm waiting for the giant robot arm cameo.
Publicis Mojo Brisbane: Jingles Bells
Free jingles for anyone who submits their details. They missed an awesome BJ joke with the first one....

Maybe that's why I've never written a jingle :(
Ideaworks: Decembeard
Forget Moevember it's all about the beard.
Bernstein-Rein: Mashup
Wise choice not making the staff sign but make sounds.
Soap: Zmas
It was either Zombies or Unicorns and zombies won the vote.
Seek: Elf Chimney Seeker
Elf + Cannons = Fun
BC Hydro: Maze
This Christmas BC Hyrdo want you to donate your patience.
The Connelly Partners: Regift Auction
Crappy gifts are always safe territory for Christmas
Critical Mass: Holiday Survival Kit
Some useful tips from Critical Mass
Merry Christmas from Grolsch
MMmmmm beer
Monster: Holiday Harmonizer
Autotune your holiday message
White + Partners: White House Party Crashers Invite
This invite requires you to know who these two people are. Read here. Then watch this.
Ripcord: QR Card
The QR code takes you to their Facebook page where you have the chance to win a $100 voucher. It's mine so don't enter!
Adobe: Inspiration is Powerful
However this ecard is not.


December 5, 2010

Vodafone's Power Pinata & Fragrance

Vodafone & Host have set up a giant Pinata and have invited people to destroy it via a Facebook app.

Why? no reason but it ticks a few of my boxes.
1: Breaking shit
2: robots
3: Ironic use of Mexican Culture.
4: The web controlling something in real life (still trying to sell one of those ideas in despite numerous attempts.
5: It's not a flash mob or a building projection or an ARG.

The official post by Vodafone says "a little something something for no other reason other than your enjoyment" so I'm glad they called a spade a spade.

The queue system worked well and I was ready to start smashing in no time at all. I would say the robot needs to get a little angrier as I can see the pinata never getting smashed. The prizes are a nice lure but it seems if you're smash is the winning one you don't automatically win. You have to be one of the first to claim. I look forward to seeing the resolution of this/

In other Vodafone news (they have been very busy lately) Vodafone & Tongue also launched a new fragrance last week in a move similar to BK and their "Flame" scent. This time it's Eau De Engine fragrance by TeamVodafone to celebrate their sponsorship of racing. Their line "Why smell like a man when you can smell like a V8" is cute although the use of oil in the TV ad doesn't translate 100% to being that of synthetic nature.

Info on where to buy here



November 2, 2010

Best Agency and Brand Xmas cards 2010

best-agency-christmas-cards-2008-536x172.jpg

It's almost that time of year when I spend countless hours collecting the agency and brand xmas cards sent around.

It started small in 2005 with just a series of links.
In 2006 we added thumbnails but only managed 18 agency xmas cards
In 2007 we stepped it up a notch to 68 xmas cards
In 2008 I spent pretty much the weekend collating 120+ ecards for agencies.
And last year I went even further with 130+ and wasted probably 3 days of my life putting this xmas link bait piece on advertising agency Christmas cards together.

If you want to be part of this for 2010 please send us your agency or brand xmas cards or promotions so submit@bannerblog.com.au Subject: Xmas cards 2010

if you want to save us even more time also send a 550x322 sized jpeg with your submission also.

I leave you all with this inspirational video. Now available on DVD for secret Santa's everywhere.




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