The Emerging Times

Images. Ideas. Words.

Images. Ideas. Words.

That's what we're all dealing with here. As advertisers we concoct and apply these three powerful things to create the stuff people see and eventually buy. It's the product, the personality, the ad campaign, the music video.

If your ever lost in the business, wondering what exactly it is that you do or make, simply remember these three things. Consider them your ingredients. They're what the world sees and (hopefully) remembers. If your missing one of them, well then you're probably not doing it right. And if your thinking that an app or technology will do the trick, well you're wrong again.

The unique and consistent impact of images, ideas and words are what makes us remember messages. So when your building your next campaign, remember your simple tool set here. They're your simple building blocks to making advertising.

Images, ideas, and words.

When the business of change seemed simpler

When the business of change seemed simpler

In the 1970s, before television had a thousand channels, the internet, mobile phones, tablet screens, and all this technology, the business was (obviously) different.

During this time newspapers were strong, many new publications like Ms. Magazine emerged, big movie companies only invested in one or two blockbusters a year, tobacco ads were being banned on the television and radio, and Sesame Street premiered. These changes in media reflected the culture of this time.

As media and publications grew people in the biz thought it made things more complex, more fragmented. Relatively speaking, for the most part they were right.

However when you compare then to now, then seems quite simple. Wouldn't you agree? Since that time change has been fast, epic, significant, and for some it's polarizing. Not surprisingly, advertising still reflects our culture and society today. And a lot of us still think the business is getting more and more complex. It's just the nature of the business—it's the business of change.

I sometimes wonder, when we look back in thirty years will we think that today was actually simple? Even basic? Time shall tell. I think you should take a step back and look at this time in history—see the big picture. Maybe you'll realize what's going on and where your place is amongst all this change.

Thirty years from now it'll look easy to a lot of people, as if life in the business was a Tootsie Roll.

Inspiration that's always free

Inspiration that's always free
Why should I use my own words to inspire you today? There's plenty right here.

(Thanks for making my birthday easy today Seth.)

Technology for Mankind

Technology for Mankind
Google, Microsoft, Apple, and even your local mobile app developer thinks that the technology and tools/apps they make are making the world a better place.

But what exactly does that mean? Is GPS and Yelp REALLY making the world a better place? Compared to the Skin Gun? Can your ad or app do this?

Remember that the next time you pitch a bs feel good, act good, do good campaign.

This video from National Geographic shows how technology is being used with stem cells to quickly re-skin burn and accident victims. It undoubtably makes the world a better place and certainly instills a lot of faith in the continued combintion and convergence of technology and science. Enjoy.

(Thanks PC World)

From print to picture: The Vice Guide to Everything

From print to picture: The Vice Guide to Everything
Here's a great example of a young modern day print publication turned content influencer. Vice has evolved into quite the brand and evolved their content across digital and now broadcast media. I'm liking it. Check out The Vice Guide to Everything.

 

 

Derivative of Goodness

Derivative of Goodness

When your seeking inspiration for a new idea, songs can always be inspiring. As my musician friend Jamie once said, "Music changes every mood. Instantly."

But when is a hit song so good that it inspires a trend, a passion, a position, an story, and a feeling so good that it makes people take action. To react, to even want to recreate it?

What inspires the cover?

I'll let the musicians give you that answer. But one thing I can say is that musicians and producers focus on a string of sounds, emotions, things made to move you. To connect with you.

Advertising is no different.

Musiciains like real dedicated companies want to express themselves too. Possibly inspire you like Apple does. It's either the words, the vibrations, the honesty or simply the beat.

Musicians are feeling magicians. Good songs like ideas have stories. They're taken and reused. It's only human nature. In the case of this song, it's reused and reinvented over and over again. Perhaps because it's able to inspire anyone. It's cultural magic. When things are good, they inspire. And when they inspire, they're meaningful for people. Here are three version's of Jason Mraz's song I'm Yours.

(Bash it all you want—it has over 90 million views for a reason.)

Version 1: Jason Mraz
Version 2: Christina Perri
Version 3: Jonus Brothers

Full lyrics