http://www.psfk.com Your Go-To Source For New Ideas And Inspiration Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:15:45 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.psfk.com/2008/12/digital-will-save-us-2.html Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:51:42 +0000 There's an interesting piece on the Profero site on how companies that have chosen to take digital into their hearts could thrive in the recession:]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/11/att-text-jumbli-many-screens-one-experience-2.html Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:04:58 +0000 Screens are everywhere—in bars, taxis, movie theaters, living rooms, city streets, in your hand, in front of you right now—and it’s making media increasingly fragmented. Yesterday we talked about how the ad business is being affected by this proliferation of media channels. “We have a story we want to tell, and we use different media channels and different touch points to tell it. We have to rely on the consumer to pull the story together,” said Robert Rasmussen. However, the mark of a good campaign is not just narrative cohesion between these channels, but truly connecting them in an interactive,Read more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/11/the-risk-of-combative-ad-campaigns.html Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:39:31 +0000 Eschewing the prevailing theory in advertising that one should never mention your competitor’s product, many companies are taking a page out of the political campaign season and going with attack ads or in the parlance of the industry, “comparative advertising” that do just that.  The trend towards negative marketing is being attributed to the downturn in the economy, forcing businesses to compete for a smaller pool of consumer dollars. Although a dangerous proposition with plenty of potential to backfire, agencies tasked with creating these campaigns have found injecting humor to be the best method of ensuring success.  Additionally, the chargesRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/11/impressive-monochromatic-nike-ad.html Fri, 07 Nov 2008 22:01:35 +0000 A visually stunning new advert from Nike has come to our attention.  The ad was created by Darbotz, an Indonesian artist best known for his monochromatic and intricate style.  Though it may not come across in the video, it’s a promotion for a new version of the classic Air Force Ones.  The video is supposed to reflect the evolution of the brand and give a taste of the reinterpretation and remixing in the Sportswear division.  It was animated by Randy Rais with music by Arianjie.  Here’s the video: [via Limité Magazine]]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/11/have-it-your-way.html Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:35:50 +0000 Taking a page from their customer friendly food service model, Burger King recently took “Have It Your Way” into the realms of D.I.Y. fashion.  A collaboration between 5 designers and artists tasked with reinterpreting elements of Burger King’s icons and logos culminated at an event held in Chicago on October 24th.  The gathering invited participants to take part in the studio creation process by silk-screening the final designs onto their own clothing in any combination they chose.  Essentially, a clever form of marketing that allowed Burger King to subvert their own image, while at the same time maintaining recognizable aspectsRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/11/sea-change-new-attitudes-on-pirated-material.html Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:34:24 +0000 MySpace and Viacom’s MTV Networks announced a deal that will partner them with Auditude, a technology firm that has developed a means of identifying whether uploaded video clips belong to a particular TV Network by recognizing unique electronic signatures.  Auditude approached these two companies with this technology, marketing it as a means of incorporating advertising.  Essentially, any content appearing on MySpace belonging to MTV Networks will be tagged, allowing either business the option of inserting ads. This represents a significant change in attitude for both companies.  In the past, MySpace TV, the second largest video site behind YouTube, might haveRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/11/on-becoming-a-creative.html Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:33:07 +0000 Landing a job at a creative company itself requires some out-of-box thinking, but there’s no need to make things too complicated for yourself either.  Once you’ve identified your skills and the type of direction you’d like to head in, coming up with a thoughtful marketing plan for yourself says a lot to potential employers about the type of imagination that you’d bring to their firm. Iain Tait offers 7 things to consider when seeking the next step in your career: Get yourself a portfolio Spend a bit of time making your portfolio nice / neat / test it / proofRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/11/are-brands-compromising-their-morals-to-increase-sales.html Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:28:03 +0000 As pop-culture and celebrity gossip blogs continue to see increased traffic, particularly with the youth demographic, advertisers’ views on what counts as acceptable have started to change.  Given the uneasy economic climate and tightening budgets, it’s become increasingly important for mainstream brands to be mindful of where their ad dollars are going.  As a result, following the crowds, even if that means entering non-traditional venues on the web with less respectable material, makes a good deal of sense.  Despite the inherent logic of this move, some in the media still question whether this issue has more to do with negligentRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/11/the-muji-is-the-message.html Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:24:44 +0000 Japanese design company Muji wants to be clear with the latest message on their website: they are “not a brand.”  They simply develop “products with a view towards global consumption of the future.”  Curious. On one hand, their vision is to be commended for offering an intelligent response to unchecked consumerism, where fads and cheaply manufactured goods are too often easily discarded when they go out of style or break.  To combat this trend, “MUJI aims to raise the standard of ‘enough’ to the greatest extent possible.” They plan on accomplishing this by creating universal products made with dependable materialsRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/11/wpp-google-to-partner-fund-academic-research.html Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:20:48 +0000 Famous frenemies WPP and Google are joining forces to the tune of $4.6 million dollars to fund a joint research project that establishes conclusively the ways online marketing impacts consumer behavior. Despite an often cited statistic that people spend 30 percent of their time online, current studies don’t show this activity translating into an equivalent amount of total spending on the web.  This inquiry will examine the ways offline and online interact and, one suspects, search for creative methods to bridge this gap. Considering the fact that these two giants rely so heavily on the online space for generating theirRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/10/flawed-brands-are-the-key-to-success.html Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:05:22 +0000 Internet culture whiz Clay Shirky gave some interesting insights into the biggest mistake of corporate branding. Shirky argues that advertising seek to perfect brands, and in doing so, fail to reach and speak to average day people. When a brand markets a perfect image, people are less inclined to interact with the product, because it doesn’t reflect their imperfect lifestyle. Brands that use a flawed, or ‘human’ marketing campaign reinforce and locate themselves within people’s lifestyles. The most promising direction now for brands, Shirky argues, is to use a raw and unfinished front, making their image far more approachable andRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/10/next-generation-marketing-2.html Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:43:24 +0000    View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: collaboration brand) The way we influence and interact through the internet is constantly changing. We’ve all witnessed how user generated content has brought new creative potential to consumers and opened up the doors of online collaboration. But while UGC’s impact on marketing and the way youth consume and create web content is significant, some believe it still has a long way to go. Screenplay‘s Strategic Director Helge Tennø offers a compelling argument on the limitations of the current means for online collaboration, deeming them too rigid and presenting “artificial barriers” forRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/10/is-advertising-the-new-graffiti-2.html Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:05:17 +0000 Gawker and Gothamist report that New York City is putting their subway advertising program into overdrive. First off are plans to wrap entire subway cars with ads (as graffiti artists did in the early days of the art form). The next public transport-ad scheme involves placing a series of ads inside subway tunnels that will create a rough animation as the car passes by. Also up for grabs are turnstile arms and pretty much any available surface. Although you would hope that all this surplus cash would mean a reduction in fare (it will cost advertisers $95k a month toRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/10/liverail-brings-ads-into-iphone-apps-great-2.html Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:30:51 +0000 LiveRail recently revealed their advertising platform for the iPhone, giving developers the option of adding short commercials to their applications, which would play whenever their app is launched. ]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/10/milk-marketing-in-the-21st-century.html Tue, 21 Oct 2008 20:35:56 +0000 The dairy lobby has always been a powerful force in America, but recently they saw their classic ad campaigns overtaken by cartoon characters that children more readily relate to.  These new school cultural icons easily sway children in purchasing choices.  The proliferation of SpongeBob snacks or Spiderman cereals drove Big Milk to form a modern marketing group known as “Milk Media.”  In the venture’s first deal, school milk consumption increased 34% after the implementation of Disney’s Doug into the milk campaign.  While milk has enemies, they certainly have fans in the federal government who wish to promote the milk alternativeRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/10/most-creative-movie-posters.html Tue, 21 Oct 2008 20:34:24 +0000 Coming off of our post about the most creative business cards, we now present a collection of the most eye catching movie posters of all time.  Smashing Magazine provides us with their selection of 50 Beautiful Movie Posters.  The list includes some obviously iconic posters like Star Wars or Forrest Gump, but it also recognizes modern classics like The Dark Knight and Grindhouse.  Many recent movies pay homage to the classic simplistic styles, but it is clear that artistic form can mark distinction in a sometimes overcrowded and forgettable market. It’s nice to know that innovative graphic designers will alwaysRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/10/the-dilemmas-of-tv-product-integration.html Tue, 21 Oct 2008 20:33:42 +0000 As technology like TiVo or internet streaming enables individuals to avoid advertising, the industry has sought ways to sneak into the shows themselves.  The moral dilemma of corporate control was often dodged during the age of record viewers, but as television budgets tighten and viewers seek alternatives to the tube, network execs push product integration into the plots themselves.  While this long hated practice is often fought by the writers and actors, it is arguably an inevitable development in our favorite characters’ lives.  Tina Fey mocked product placement on 30 Rock, but it was in response to actually needing theRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/10/more-ad-supported-iphone-apps-coming-soon.html Tue, 21 Oct 2008 20:31:54 +0000 The allure of the iPhone has unsurprisingly garnered the rapt attention of the advertising industry.  With 100 million App Store downloads since it launched and 90% of those downloads being free applications, ad support is a clear way for developers to balance profitability and popularity.  Currently, one of the iPhone’s most popular applications is Loopt, a location-based social networking program, but on different platforms and in early development it was sold to consumers for a few bucks.  Now, thanks to venture capital backing and further ad-revenue support, Loopt is hoping to be completely free.  A similar story can be toldRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/10/itv-seeking-to-embed-advertisements.html Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:00:27 +0000 Times Online reports that British Television network, ITV is investing in a new technology that will allow the network to embed advertisements into programming. According to Times Online: The new technology, which is known as “automatically placed overlay advertising”, uses complex computer algorithms to find clear space, such as blue sky or blank walls, in video footage in which to display logos or messages. The technology is currently being tested in news footage on the broadcaster’s ITV Local website. The rollout of the technology is currently dependent on the response from the viewing audience. The cat and mouse game takingRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/10/creative-magazine-ads-incorporate-folds.html Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:46:49 +0000 The image really says it all, but recently a series of Adidas ads have incorporated the nature of the magazine media into the advertising itself.  The spine of the magazine serves as the flexible point in the photograph and as the viewer turns the page, the model performs a workout.  The whole campaign includes a variety of workouts such as crunches, stretches and bends. [via Comunicadores]]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/10/car-companies-and-bad-branding.html Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:45:28 +0000 The death knell for branding has come in the form of exclusive car companies selling their image to just about anything.  Everything from mundane Hummer shot glasses to arguably ridiculous NASCAR meat snacks.  When Ferrari first threw its name on a laptop, it was a novelty and spurred many bad jokes about owning an exotic car, but just when it was wearing off other companies jumped on board. The most infamous case, as highlighted by the fantastic British car show Top Gear, was Bugatti’s £1500 cologne.  These other worst 10 products compiled by Jalopnik give cologne a run for theirRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/09/how-big-bucks-didnt-transfer-to-buzz-at-the-olympics.html Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:29:59 +0000 As the Olympics have come and gone, it is now time to reflect on the medal counts, the spectacular achievements and finally, the advertising success. China sealed up official sponsorships with record deals and NBC pulled in record viewers on TV and online. The flood of consumers that poured over the games lit up marketing opportunities like an opening ceremony. Amongst these opportunities was a gamble over which athletes to run with. According to a study of global online chatter conducted by Zeta Interactive, some of the biggest winners were those with precision tactics rather than carpet-bombing ad campaigns. NikeRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/09/how-big-bucks-didnt-transfer-to-buzz-at-the-olympics-2.html Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:29:59 +0000 As the Olympics have come and gone, it is now time to reflect on the medal counts, the spectacular achievements and finally, the advertising success. China sealed up official sponsorships with record deals and NBC pulled in record viewers on TV and online. The flood of consumers that poured over the games lit up marketing opportunities like an opening ceremony. Amongst these opportunities was a gamble over which athletes to run with. According to a study of global online chatter conducted by Zeta Interactive, some of the biggest winners were those with precision tactics rather than carpet-bombing ad campaigns. NikeRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/08/glassdoorcom-sharing-workplace-rants-raves-and-salaries-anonymously-2.html Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:19:15 +0000 Glassdoor.com is a site that aims to give users an “inside look at companies from those who know them best” – through anonymous salary sharing, ratings, and reviews of some of the top companies across several industries. A sort of Yelp! meets “Wall Street”. While the salaries featured, ranging from Creative Directors (a CD at Avenue A goes for about $132,500) to tax managers (at Deloitte, around $60,000) are a fun, though at times painful, read, perhaps most useful are the first-hand accounts of the companies from their anonymous employers. CEOs are featured alongside their percentage approval rating, and allRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/08/going-where-no-advertising-has-gone-before.html Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:45:02 +0000 Guerrilla marketing is now old news, it seems any corporate entity can hire a team of creative youngsters and plaster their image all over town. If you have an innovative approach for venues, you can find a marketing opportunity anywhere. Take the recipe directory called Recipe8, they found a free spot to publicize their URL in an unlikely place full of traffic, BugMeNot. The hugely popular resource for bypassing free login credentials has now become a soap box for free advertising. By putting their URL as a bogus login utilized for the New York Times, Recipe8 has gotten a smidgenRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/08/microsoft-pokes-fun-at-the-death-of-advertising.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:07:10 +0000 Microsoft Digital Advertising Solutions has come up with a series of videos that highlight the changing relationship between marketers and consumers. While it’s staged as a humorous love tryst, it does raise some valid and entertaining points on the ‘death of advertising.’ This advertising campaign begs companies to love the consumer and try their best to listen to them. Not only is it bizarre that the campaign is targeting other advertisers (rather than consumers) but it is also in the format of a full fledged movie, with a trailer and multiple lengthy episodes. However, the message of “The Couple” isRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/08/microsoft-pokes-fun-at-the-death-of-advertising-2.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:07:10 +0000 Microsoft Digital Advertising Solutions has come up with a series of videos that highlight the changing relationship between marketers and consumers. While it’s staged as a humorous love tryst, it does raise some valid and entertaining points on the ‘death of advertising.’ This advertising campaign begs companies to love the consumer and try their best to listen to them. Not only is it bizarre that the campaign is targeting other advertisers (rather than consumers) but it is also in the format of a full fledged movie, with a trailer and multiple lengthy episodes. However, the message of “The Couple” isRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/08/youtube-turns-copyright-violations-into-advertising-opportunity.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:33:15 +0000 Google continues to challenge the old $1 billion suit with Viacom amongst privacy concerns and earlier attempts to allow advertising. Now, in another attempt to quell lawsuits and drive revenue, Google has introduced a system for copyright holders to claim and takeover popular videos featuring their content. In addition to taking the videos out of the hands of private users, the companies are allowed to embed advertising within the content. The New York Times writes: “We don’t want to condone people taking our intellectual property and using it without our permission,” said Curt Marvis, the president of digital media atRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/08/creepy-microsite-encourages-user-submitted-b-movies.html Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:21:05 +0000 The popular UK milk drink FRijj has recently launched an ad campaign pairing their sponsorship of a film festival with user created content. The B-Movie themed microsite calls on viewers to film their own masterpiece utilizing the brand. While the festival includes classics like Jaws and Scarface, the user videos are encouraged to pursue a lower standard of film with the clips on the site parodying not-so-classic movies like The Blob. From The Digital Mainstream: By encouraging users to participate in a movie-making competition based around the drink, Frijj have created a genuine brand experience – something that is rareRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/08/ford-flex-rally-city-wide-celebrity-scavenger-hunt.html Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:50:53 +0000 Ford had a charity fundraiser last week that paired celebrity teams with the new Ford Flex. Press releases focused on the car more than the actual event, but we think the adoption of urban environments as playful spaces is noteworthy. LAist reports: Basically the event challenged each team to use the interactive technologies of the new vehicle – Ford brands the Flex as a vehicle for “urban adventures” so it seems the scavenger hunt was created to showcase exactly that. [via LAist]]]>