Skittles: Warp the rainbow

I'm starting to really like this brand. Why? Well besides the fact that it's colourful candy (who doesn't like fun colourful candy?), they turned their official website into a social media playground. All their pages were replaced with existing social platforms which already included information on Skittles. For example, tune into their homepage (do it!), and you're greeted by their official YouTube website. Click on "pics", and out pops Flickr with "skittles candy" already entered as a search term. Clicking on "chatter" will lead you to a Twitter stream about Skittles and "friends" will land you on their official Facebook page.

Originally, the folks at Skittles directed traffic to their Wikipedia page when people clicked on their "products" link. They have since changed it to a page that incorporates a more detailed description of their own. When Skittles initially launched their new website, a lot of people had their doubts (especially when idiots started spamming on the Skittles Twitter stream and it showed up on their homepage). They said Skittles would lose control of their brand, that their website was gimmicky and wouldn't work in the long-term, etc.

Well I think it's bloody brilliant. Sure they have had to tweak with a few things but hey, they're learning along the way. They get that it's not all about what they say their brand is, but what their consumers say.

Now I shall leave you with this dumb (yet undeniably funny) Skittles ad by TBWA/Chiat/Day New York. Warp the rainbow!

Bloody Billboards

Auckland ad agency, Colenso BBDO came up with a brilliant/creepy idea for The Papakura District Council in New Zealand to persuade drivers to slow down. They decided to put up billboards featuring a fresh-faced yet spooky-looking boy who bleeds when it rains (thanks to the rain sensors fixed on the billboards).

No rain

Rain

While the concept is creative, I doubt people would be paying attention to their driving as they stare at a billboard of a boy whose face is leaking blood. As if the road doesn't look scary enough with the dark and gloomy sky. Yeah, let's throw in a billboard of a bloody boy while we're at it.

United Nations Sweden

Amazing outdoor campaign. Absolutely love it! 

Created by advertising agency Ogilvy Sweden, this campaign aims to raise funds to support the war victims of Georgia. The creative team actually went to Georgia shortly after the conflict to gather authentic pieces of evidence for the purpose of this campaign. Click on each ad to enlarge and read the copy.

UN: Car

UN: Shoes

UN: Dress

UN: Remains

VIP Public Toilet

I went to Sabah for the weekend (that's in East Malaysia for those of you who don't know), and it was bloody awesome. Here's a little story from my trip I would like to share with you.

This may be slightly weird to those who are non-Malaysians, but shopping malls in some areas here actually charge people to use the public toilets. Yup, the rate is about 30 sen (Malaysian currency). They're usually not any better than your average Malaysian public toilet- which stinks of urine with dodgy-looking litter in conspicuous areas.

Anyway, we were walking in a shopping mall in Sabah, when my Aussie friend and hygiene-freak of a sister needed to go to a restroom. They were well-aware of the notoriously grimy state of most Malaysian public toilets and looked for one warily. Then, we saw this sign:

"Platinum Club" VIP Public toilets. The rate? RM 1.00 per entry.

Now to some people (me), this may sound like a complete rip-off. The idea that I have to pay to use the toilet already sounds crazy to me. To top it off, they want to charge me a "premium" price? But to my friend and sister, this looked like a highly promising offer.

Fifteen minutes later, they emerged glowing with satisfaction. Not only was it free of dodgy litter, it smelt good. And Justin Timberlake was playing on the speakers. Kudos to the person who came up with this brilliant idea!

Print Ads

There's just something about print ads. I know some people find them outdated and stash them in a bin labelled "old media", but I actually like them. I love the tangibility of a print ad, whether it's part of my glossy new magazine or within a grainy newspaper. I like the fact that it's non-intrusive and I can choose to just flip across to the next page. Yep, print ads are definitely not the demanding, whiny girlfriend that TV ads or Internet pop-ups can be.

Also, I have always appreciated good photography. A good print ad is similar, especially if it is able to evoke certain emotions or tell a good story in a snapshot. The idea that brand meaning can be conveyed through stillness, through what is essentially a picture, still amazes me.

I'll always love the 2008 Louis Vuitton ad campaign. This is one of my favourites featuring Francis Ford Copolla (best known as director of The Godfather) and his daughter, Sofia Copolla. Shot by acclaimed photographer, Annie Leibowitz.

James Boag Draught: Pure Waters

Take a break and watch this awesome Aussie ad! Love the whole concept and I think it was executed beautifully. Created by ad agency Publicis Mojo. 

The part where the guy shoves the girl into the water? Brilliant.

Kraft Oreo cookies: Magnetism

Created by advertising agency Draftfcb New York, this ad strives to reaffirm Oreo's unique selling point as milk's favourite cookie through showcasing its ability to magnetically attract a cow's udder.

Honestly, the last thing I want to do right now is have an Oreo cookie. A close up of a cow's udder doesn't exactly kickstart my appetite. I can see how the idea is cute and some people may find it funny. Personally though, instead of generating favourable childhood memories of me dunking my Oreo in milk, I now have a gross pinkish cow udder permanently fixed in my mind. Thanks.