http://www.psfk.com Your Go-To Source For New Ideas And Inspiration Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:26:24 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.psfk.com/2007/08/cocoon.html Mon, 13 Aug 2007 20:16:50 +0000 Here at IF! and PSFK we’re considered in some quarters as an influential blog. As a result we sometimes get sent stuff like books, event invites and other bits and bobs. However, we’ve recently been asked to take part in what is a pretty interesting PR project by UK mobile phone company O2. Following Nokia’s N95 campaign of last year, O2 selected us to test a phone they’ve been developing called the O2 Cocoon – a 3G phone and MP3 player. Designed by Streative, the phone has a distinctive if Apple inspired look to it. Inspired by a team ofRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2007/04/share-your-thinking.html Sat, 21 Apr 2007 00:07:09 +0000 Richard over on Adliterate has put together a fantastic post on how to create the best work of your life. Richard suggests that we just think generously. “I think that there is one thing that is absolutely true of great brand ideas – they are generous. don’t mean generous to their customers, though this is always nice, but generous to the other organisations collaborating on the project. “Generosity is clearly not the be all and end all but when you brief your partners (whether creative, media, digital, PR, instore or anyone else) if you can see them literally salivate atRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2007/04/world-aids-day.html Fri, 20 Apr 2007 23:46:47 +0000 This is the latest work for World AIDS Day in India. A nice piece of lateral thinking. via La Fora]]> http://www.psfk.com/2007/04/crowd-clout.html Fri, 20 Apr 2007 00:09:39 +0000 The latest issue of Trendwatching is out and this time it’s all about something that they’ve coined Clowd Clout – the ability of people to come together and change things. Trendwatching define it as: “Online grouping of citizens/consumers for a specific cause, be it political, civic or commercial, aimed at everything from bringing down politicians to forcing suppliers to fork over discounts.” You should read it. Here.]]> http://www.psfk.com/2007/04/pelican-books.html Thu, 19 Apr 2007 23:54:09 +0000 When I was a student I’d often go through my dad’s old text books looking for an interesting or unfashionable angle on what I was being taught, not only did this (hopefully) make my essays more interesting to read it also entered me into the world of 1960s and 1970s book cover design. Acejet170 has done us all a favour and dug through his library of Pelican Books and photographing their unique and classic covers. There is some fantastic stuff in there including some Alan Fletcher work.]]> http://www.psfk.com/2007/04/end-of-a-copywriting-era.html Thu, 19 Apr 2007 22:24:37 +0000 First Amelia suggests that the era of the Great British Pun is over and then the Guardian argues that the age of ads with witty wordplay is over. Amelia suggests that the art of the cleverly crafted tabloid newspaper headline will be lost as the likes of Google and RSS begin to deliver our news on a more regular basis. We’ll miss out on headlines like ‘The Queens Bum Year’ after her self proclaimed “annus horribilis” in 1992; in Response to North Korea’s nuclear test: “How do you solve a problem like Korea” and “Kim Wild”. The Guardian argues thatRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2007/04/nikes-thank-you.html Thu, 19 Apr 2007 22:06:11 +0000 Nike sent me this email yesterday: And apparently it ran in the New York Times last Sunday too. It seems pretty smart of Nike to take on the whole Don Imus affair and with an intelligent point of view too.]]> http://www.psfk.com/2007/04/virtual-worlds-reality-tv.html Mon, 16 Apr 2007 22:50:59 +0000 The producers of Big Brother, Endemol, and Electronic Arts, the world’s greatest games designers have partnered to create a brand new concept that combines the best of Second Life with the reality TV show format. Called Virtual Me the game will allow avatars to compete in online versions of popular Endemol shows such as Deal or No Deal, Fame Academy and Big Brother. The Guardian says: ‘It will be launched to coincide with one of Endemol’s national Big Brother series. Endemol chief creative officer Peter Bazalgette said it represented “a wholly different level” of interaction between viewers and programme makers.Read more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2007/04/bom-chicka-wah-wah.html Mon, 16 Apr 2007 22:45:09 +0000 Lynx, or Axe as it’s known in most of the world has released its latest TV offerings. And they don’t disappoint. Considering that the target audience is young males who like nothing more than hot girls and comedy catch phrases, the ads are spot on. Each features an everyday situation and then shows the effect of the latest Lynx fragrance on good looking young women. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFA594MpJrs&mode=related&search=]]> http://www.psfk.com/2007/04/got-milk.html Tue, 10 Apr 2007 22:56:32 +0000 We probably feature more than our fair share of W+K work on this site but there are a couple of very good reasons for this: they have an agency blog that we like reading and secondly, and possibly more importantly, they produce some of the most interesting work in the market. Their latest work for Cravendale, a British milk brand, is as interesting as they’ve produced. The usp of the product is that it’s filtered to make it purer. To see how this equates to pirates, cyclists and cows you’ll have to watch the ad.]]> http://www.psfk.com/2007/04/free-cone-day.html Tue, 10 Apr 2007 22:19:29 +0000 Ben and Jerry’s are a great company with a fantastic heritage. This heritage provides plenty of opportunities for the brand to exploit. Despite being bought by Unilever the company retains its quirkyness and have made the previously local community day a global event. The ‘Free Cone Days’ provide consumers with the opportunity to sample the Ben and Jerry’s product for themselves. A free sample, it’s one of the oldest tricks in the book, but it’s beautifully executed. The 17 April is the UK’s Free Cone Day.]]> http://www.psfk.com/2007/04/think-different-2.html Tue, 10 Apr 2007 21:53:48 +0000 ‘Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers.’ One of the finest pieces of advertising copy ever written. Lowend Mac have a great article all about the history of the legendary Think Different campaign that was in part responsible for the recent resurgence in Apple’s fortunes. The story goes that after the wilderness years of the early 90s, Steve Jobs returned to the company and brought along his ambition and verve. According to Jon Steel Jobs also had in mind the idea for the Think Different campaign. Jobs reappointed Chiat/Day to the account, the agency that hadRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2007/04/uk-anti-drug-ad.html Thu, 05 Apr 2007 00:39:51 +0000 Public health and charity advertising often relies on a shock factor to create salience. Anti drug charity Focus 12 has commissioned UK ad agency AMV BBDO to produce this excellent spot. The relaxed music and surroundings of an old people’s home add to the surreal nature of seeing octogenarians mainlining heroin. You can see the entire ad here.]]> http://www.psfk.com/2007/04/reyka-vodka.html Tue, 03 Apr 2007 22:08:55 +0000 Quirky but straight talking ads from Reyka Vodka: via the lovely NOTCOT]]> http://www.psfk.com/2007/04/greenormal.html Tue, 03 Apr 2007 22:03:09 +0000 One of our favourite bloggers, John Grant, has launched a brand new blog to help find inspiration and share thoughts on his latest book project, the Green Marketing Manifesto. Here’s a typical post (apologies for quoting in full): “I’ve been trying to make personal use of all the research & new information that I’ve been collecting for the book. So far I have; - stopped drinking bottled mineral water - bought Co-op bank eco-insurance for my (hybrid) car - instituted an anti-foreign conference policy (if I cant get the train there and its not world-changing I wont go) “It’s theRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2007/04/inspiration-from-business-cards.html Tue, 03 Apr 2007 21:56:46 +0000 A lovely idea for a business card: via Deadmetrix Flickr]]> http://www.psfk.com/2007/04/mini-the-book.html Tue, 03 Apr 2007 21:47:41 +0000 It’s one of the most iconic cars in history. The diminutive Mini designed by Sir Alec Issigonis was even voted the second most influential car of the twentieth century. Now MINI the book has been commissioned to provide a history of this influential vehicle. Coolhunting write: “Mini commissioned photographers (including Jay FC, Olaf Heine and the Sanchez Brothers) to create works celebrating the Mini. Paul Smith and Mary Quant, both long time Mini owners and fans, explain how the Mini was a reflection of popular culture, how it impacted their work, and why they created their own special editions ofRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2007/03/green-penguin.html Fri, 30 Mar 2007 20:46:15 +0000 Penguin, the book company that was first set up to provide ‘intelligent books at a low price’ have gone green. Rather they are trying to be greener. They say: “Only 2% of the world’s paper is turned into books, and while we’re proud of all our books here at Penguin, we are mindful that trees have to become paper, some of which will eventually become books. “So we’d like to tell you what we at Penguin are doing to reduce our effects on the environment. As a well-known frog once said, it’s not easy being green. But at Penguin weRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2007/03/spacenk-new-york.html Fri, 30 Mar 2007 20:38:41 +0000 More W+K… They’ve been working on the first Space.NK store to hit the USA. On Greene St, New York (where else) the shop window has been evolving: First: Then:]]> http://www.psfk.com/2007/03/mothers-recruitment-drive.html Fri, 30 Mar 2007 20:14:34 +0000 London based ad agency Mother have offered budding creatives the opportunity to work there. To filter the wheat from the chaff they have asked prospective creative teams to create a short film, upload it to YouTube and then the film with the most views will win the creative team a placement. Here’s our favourite: The rest are here.]]> http://www.psfk.com/2007/03/mothers-recruitment-drive-2.html Fri, 30 Mar 2007 20:14:34 +0000 London based ad agency Mother have offered budding creatives the opportunity to work there. To filter the wheat from the chaff they have asked prospective creative teams to create a short film, upload it to YouTube and then the film with the most views will win the creative team a placement. Here’s our favourite: The rest are here.]]> http://www.psfk.com/2007/03/is-blogging-killing-planning-2.html Fri, 30 Mar 2007 19:35:25 +0000 We were at last night’s industry prizefight in which two heavyweights of the plannersphere sparred without either managing a knockout blow. The debate, sparked by this now infamous post, raged over the motion that blogging was killing planning. In the ‘yes’ corner was Grey London’s John Lowery, wearing what can only be described as an outrageous jacket. In the ‘no’ corner was John Grant, founder of St Luke’s and wearing his qual research shirt with ‘Yes, No, Maybe’ plastered over it. John Lowery kicked off the debate with a well put together speech. The central tenet of his argument beingRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2007/03/lurpak-campaign.html Fri, 30 Mar 2007 18:46:09 +0000 Selling butter probably isn’t the most glamorous brief in advertising. However, after a prolonged pitching process last year W+K London have finally created their first full campaign for UK butter brand Lurpak. The results are surprisingly good. Not that we don’t expect great things from W+K but butter a slippery product to sell. Here are the results so you can judge for yourself: TV: Press: More here.]]> http://www.psfk.com/2007/03/dumpr.html Tue, 27 Mar 2007 20:28:33 +0000 If you’ve got a Flickr account then there’s a lovely little online application called Dumpr which allows you to modify your photos, create reflections and make your own jigsaw puzzles from them. My favourite tool is the photo gallery. This allows you to set your image in any one of four museum settings. Howevever my question is this: why aren’t brands facilitating this kind of thing? Sony, Kodak, anyone in fact could get in on the act and provide me with this kind of functionality. The popularity of Flickr has made it a global site so any useful plugin willRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2007/03/greenpeace-climate-change-ad.html Tue, 27 Mar 2007 19:11:53 +0000 With the news that British Airways are to launch internal UK flights from London to Newquay Greenpeace ran this ad: via Rodrigo Linzao’s Flickr & Russell Davies]]> http://www.psfk.com/2007/03/uncommon-knowledge.html Mon, 26 Mar 2007 20:44:07 +0000 The rather wonderful design blog, Ace Jet 170, brings all us creative thinkers some very decent advice. Referencing James Webb Young’s little book he presents the combinations rule: “Designing is basically the practice of combining stuff; ideally in ways that haven’t been seen before. So the more stuff you know (about everything), the greater the chance you’ll find a relevant and distinctive, and therefore effective (and original) combination.” “The combinations thing goes for everything we do: On one level we combine colours with shapes and typefaces and words, and end up with logos. On another level we take an airmailRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2007/03/inspiring-creatives.html Mon, 26 Mar 2007 20:16:02 +0000 Tom Morton of TBWA recently gave a lecture to the APG’s training network in which he explained the principles behind a good creative brief. It’s relatively easy to come up with a good strategy but bringing that to life in good solid creative work the really hard part. “The important is to define the problem in a clear way and then open the door to an inspiring solution… it contains different elements that much be linked together. Mainly for me, translate a business issue into consumer behaviour. “The essence of a great brief is sacrifice” “Our job is to simplify”Read more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2007/03/the-new-quid-pro-quo.html Fri, 23 Mar 2007 22:35:31 +0000 A while back Faris put together a great post on the new model of communication between brands and consumers. He labelled it his zero sum idea. He’s now crafted an article for Adweek called The New Quid Pro Quo. “Today, in response to an aversion to advertising, some of the world’s leading brands have begun to craft an entirely new model for communications to help them earn the right to talk to consumers. They’re doing this by making their marketing valuable, developing brand communications that deliver a genuine service value to consumers, free and with no strings attached. “To buildRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2007/03/2-tablets-after-every-meal.html Fri, 23 Mar 2007 22:20:35 +0000 We’re on something of an Argentine roll this week. Here’s a lovely ad from Del Campo Nazca Saatchi & Saatchi, Buenos Aires for Ariel tablets. via Hidden Persuader]]> http://www.psfk.com/2007/03/suba.html Fri, 23 Mar 2007 21:55:21 +0000 In 2002 a group of Buenos Aires art students from the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) created their own clothes brand. SUBA as it’s named has become the brand to be seen in on the streets of Buenos Aires. According to PSFK’s Argentine correspondent Hernando Gomez Salinas SUBA has become “the ‘official clothes’ of all people who try to look ‘Street’ in Buenos Aires”. Hernando goes onto say that SUBA have become so successful by collaborating with worldwide artists but also in the way that they have spread their name through guerrilla and viral marketing. The brand has been adoptedRead more...]]>