Apologies

Really sorry guys about my lack of contribution to my blog as of late. Not been well at all recently but hopefully that will soon be sorted with a trip to the doctors next week. I promise I'll eventually be back on my feet and posting on here soon! In the meantime, here's a great advert what's been cheering me up immensely recently, I'm so glad it's back on TV:



And if you haven't done so already, the company have set up a great memorable way to remember the advert by including your face in it! I did some the other day, the outcomes are hilarious!

http://www.rollerbabyyourself.evian.com/

Hopefully be back to fully functioning blog soon, wish me luck with the doctors!

Advert of the Week 12: Thinkbox

Relaunched last Christmas, I really love this advert, advertising, well, adverts! Helps that I'm a huge dog lover too! The piece won Advert of the Year 2010.



I love this advert too, Thinkbox's previous campaign (their first crack at TV advertising for their own brand). I end up singing along to practically all of these songs, really does show the power of advertising.

Advert of the Week 11: Volvo

Back to the routine of my normal blogposts from now on seeing as Christmas is over! You'll have to forgive me if I miss a blog entry here and there are it is rather hectic here in Sheffield at the moment; I'm cramming in some revision for my exam on the 18th but also we're moving house so there are endless amounts of boxes and things to be packed around our home. Plus I have to get my things packed to get back to Leeds, eek! Anyways, enough of me rambling about my personal life and times, here is my advert of the week (I apologise that there's been a few this week but New Year has provided TV with some great new adverts, excluding DFS and their never ending sale mind haha).


(You wouldn't believe how long it took me to find that ad)

As someone who is totally car illiterate, I don't tend to pay attention to their advertisements. They all seem to be slow mo and elegant blah blah. It was for those reasons why this one caught my eye. There's nothing funnier than something that is willing to take the mickey out of itself. I love how it deconstructs all other car adverts in 30 seconds in terms of how you make them. The black backgrounds, red text and sexy music and reminiscent of the stereotypical car advert and without the slides of text, it really would seem like just another car advert. It's those little sections which make you want to wait around and watch the advert again to make sure you actually read it (well, I did haha).

Fruit! Ahhhh!

I know I've recently been tormenting you all with my current favourite TV advertisements (though my figures and stats seem to be showing you all like it); here's another one which caught my eye today!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_HMrOd2_QI

(Sadly it's so new Innocent Smoothies haven't included an embedding option yet)

Please have a visit. Excellent parody of the Queen song, the tacky use of sticks are wires to hold the bottle work brilliantly and overall, it's a really good giggle! What more do you want from a TV advert, certainly made me remember it!

Advert of the Week 9: I can't believe I'm saying this.....The Beatles

I've kind of shocked myself since this advert has been on with liking it (I'm not a huge fan of The Beatles...ok I really don't like them, please don't hate me)! Recently, the band's entire back catalogue have finally been uploaded and made available on iTunes, something which I automatically assumed has been done ages ago. Anyway, I've ended up really enjoying the set of four adverts, each to a different and notable Beatles song, promoting this. The one above to 'Let It Be', the song I can stand the most of the four (and end up singing along to but shhh), is played against the same slideshow of images of the band in their prime. The black and white photos are stunning and the content of each is real and raw, much like the music making of the band themselves. The simplicity of this also struck me, with no fancy use of CGI or special effects, just a nicely timed reel of images to an iconic track. Another thing which I really liked about these adverts is the lack of need to even mention the band's name, with the photographs of the members being instantly recognisable without plastering logos and writing around. Merely a strap line at the end states 'Now on iTunes', allowing the viewer to discover the point of the advertisement whilst leaving you with a sense of curiosity to go on there and find out more (something which would have been diminished should tracks and albums have been reeled off). The piece closes on an image of John and Paul during their happy period (as I've been told my boyfriend who adores them), with the Apple logo hovering over the top. All in all, despite my preferences in music, no one can doubt the influence of The Beatles and their recognisable tracks and I feel this ad has been beautifully done in a poignant and sophisticated manner to honour their memory and long-lasting reign in the music world.

Pondering...

I know, I know, I should be having a short break before getting back on the working bandwagon but I've ended up stressing over my online promotions project tonight (what can I say? I like to be extremely efficient haha). Anyways, I've been looking at some layouts and griding bits and bobs up for my 15 page booklet but feel I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place in making it interesting and innovating rather than a mundane 'I love Helvetica' graphic design piece. Also contemplating totally revamping my website with new logos and layouts and everything as I've got myself under the idea that currently, it is rather boring (although the new things I keep coming up with also seem a bit generic). Another issue I'm having it matching my design booklet to the website/logos etc. Do I have to do this you reckon? Is anyone else doing it? I feel like I should but when put together, I start not liking my website as it restricts booklet designs. I need to stop moaning haha! Anyone fancy dropping me a few comments/ideas/inspiration? Would be very much appreciated!

Kinda hard to see as there's no border. What do you reckon to the layout and logo? Boring? Argh!

Another example page from my current website design

A new little idea for a logo but I feel like I've seen it hundreds of times before and I don't really think it's me :/

www.liannamaydesign.co.uk

(there's a little link if you fancy popping over there, having a look and giving me a hand...please?)

In other news, I've decided if all else fails in the world of graphic design/teaching for me, I shall become a cook. I made a mean Christmas dinner today, amazing when I don't even eat veg and had to cook tonnes!

Ooo, whilst I remember, has anyone seen the new Andrex puppies advertisement (which has conveniently just come on TV as I typed that, creepy!)?



Is it just me who doesn't like the new CGI puppies?! Bring back the real, cute ones please Andrex!



Advert of the Week 8: Florence and the Machine/Littlewoods

Well, it's not really an advert to be honest but a really cute way to expose a bit of Dog Days!



In the meantime, here's a real advert what I've been really enjoying during this festive season (although the film which the song comes from is petrifying!)



I absolutely LOVE the scene in this extended version where the shadow hand lifts up the woman (watch it to see what I mean hehe)

Advert of the Week 7: Barclays

I know this advert has been out quite a while but it really made me giggle last night when I watched it properly. The little piggy banks have such tiny cute legs! Bless!

Advert of the Week 6: Coca Cola

I'm feeling in a little bit of a Christmassy mood today. The marketing report hand in went doolally but now it's finally in, I'm focusing on the few final hurdles before I can go home and celebrate Christmas! I love how Coca Cola have reverted back to their traditional trucks advert rather than the spin off one they did about a little girl's life and giving Santa a coke each year. Quite a few companies seems to be recycling their adverts recently (Toys 'r' Us, Kelloggs etc) which is great, takes me back to being a kid at Christmas again!



I love how as soon as this advert is on TV it means it's Christmas. And it isn't that overplayed! So amazing how something can become so iconic and loved!

It's Monday, that can only mean one thing...

...Pre crit entry! Well, it hasn't half been a stressful week. I've come up with a new concept which I'm not 100% confident with but I reckon that's because I'm waiting for tutor approval (so I hope I get that tomorrow afternoon!). The marketing deadline is this Thursday so I've been very pre-occupied with that and I've only just really got round to knocking out some visuals for the crit. My sketchbook is also pretty lacking at the moment in comparison to my previous brief but after Thursday I'm 100% back on the pasta (and Illustrator but the less said on that, the better). Anyway, enough of me ranting and rambling about work, here are some of the visuals I've got ready to present tomorrow.

Concept: You don't have to dress to Impress. My brand of pasta is all you need to impress. Don't need to spend stupid amounts of money (reflecting the cheapness of the brand also even though it looks expensive). Slightly reminiscent of original packaging. Comparison of pasta shapes to items associated with dressing to impress. Plays around with male/female dressing up, slight idea of romance, dinner dates etc...

MAGAZINE SPREAD: BOW TIE/FARFALLE

MAGAZINE SPREAD: CUFFLINKS/PENNE

MAGAZINE SPREAD: NECKLACE/SPIRALI

MAGAZINE SPREAD: EARRINGS/FUSSILI

Feeling slightly ok about the magazine layouts, have a feeling the copy might be in question tomorrow but I went for a formal and clean layout to reflect the brand values and give the feeling of a jewellery/perfume advert etc. Thinking of placing these in women's and men's glossies (so the paper it is printed on also aids the look of the design), appealing to my target marketing and also attracting their attention (works nicely in terms of the male/female dinner date kind of feel.

ADSHELL: FARFALLE BOW TIE

ADSHELL: PENNE CUFFLINKS

ADSHELL: FUSSILI EARRINGS

ADSHELL: SPIRALI NECKLACE

Little unsure about these adshell ideas (placed in adshells at bus stops and on daily commute routes to attract my target market). Kept the same tagline and concept but limited the additional information given. Unsure on whether to include an image of the packaging again? Or would this be a little pointless? Rather than picking up on the comparisons, in these instances I've merged the images so the same idea is translated across yet in one image. Do you still understand the message and see it?

My only issue with these pieces is I don't want people to think low of them as they are rather simple but I wanted to get over a sophisticated and minimal look like the packaging. What do you guys reckon? Drop me a comment and let me know what you think! And fingers crossed for me for tomorrow, I can't bear changing my idea again and to be honest, it's growing on me a little...

Advert of the Week: Did anyone see Rude Tube last night?

Something a little different this week. Watched Rude Tube on Channel 4 last night which featured a countdown of the top 50 viral adverts on the internet. A wow, there were a few corkers (including the number one which was an animation piece involving crude drawings on a toilet wall to promote safe sex which was fantastic as well as the Durex animals at it like...well animals in at number 15).

As most of them are a little rude to be posting on here (I'd recommend visiting the Rude Tube site at channel4.com to have a look), here's one of the cleaner ads which is still as impressive:

Advert of the Week 4: T-Mobile

I didn't think it'd work again when I heard T-Mobile were doing another mass performance. I was wrong. Some fantastic singers feature in this advert and it takes it to another dimension where dancing couldn't. Anyone who doesn't crack a smile at this can't have watched it right. So many great songs in there, I'd forgot about half of them, definitely a tune in there for everyone. It has stuck in my head all week and is such a great example of advertising a product/service via methods which seem to have absolutely no relevance until the final message; Life is for Sharing. It's great how everyone who aren't in on the act get into it and start singing along!

Advert of the Week 3: Marks and Spencers

Seeing as today I've been bogged down with a markting report on Marks and Spencers fashion, I thought I'd torment myself even more by posting their newest campaign:




It's the first week of Novemeber and already their Christmas ad is out! Personally I prefer this one from a few years ago, give me one of those boys on Christmas day and I'll be well happy!



It's so much better! And it has the cute, home-made video feel to it. O well, better luck next year M&S, I'll still get excited when your advert comes on but it's no Take That!

Advert of the Week 2: Cadburys

I'm not feeling too well today so here's a quick and cheerful blog featuring my fave advert of the week. Once again, chocolate related. What can I say, I have a one track mind!

Cadbury's Chocolate Fingers

Enjoy whilst I overcome my migraine! :) 

Advert of the Week: Galaxy Ripple

Seeing as Wednesday is my Designer of the Week day, my Thursdays shall focus on my favourite advert of the week, be it a campaign, poster or video. I'd love to venture into the world of advertisement design so on here, every Thursday, you'll all be treated to a little insight of my favourites and opinions (and of course, my least favourite ads every now and again!).

This week, as a highly addicted chocoholic, is an advert I have been searching for ages for on the old tinternet as I've only every seen it in magazines...

Mmm, now I've stopped salivating, I'll carry on! I love this piece due to the use of the texture of the chocolate, of which it is known for, is used as the main focus. The zoomed in view of the rippled chocolate reinforces the brand name, with the name itself only being printed in the bottom corner and allowing people to recognise the ripples instead. Created by computers, the ripples still look very realistic and the curves of them lead the eye to the bottom of the page cleverly to where the name is (maybe would have looked good directly pointing towards the chocolate bar?). They come across in an almost smoke or speech bubble shape (with potentially the aforementioned coming across negatively if it wasn't depicted in chocolate). The shades of cream and brown are extremely relaxing on the eye and deliver an air of peace, something which you're meant to feel when you're relaxing with the chocolate bar itself. The only negative aspect of this design in my opinion is the tagline 'Let the day unfold' at the bottom. Although it links in well with the ripple slowly relaxing towards the bottom of the page, I'm just not really keen on it. An actual bar of chocolate is also featured on the ad, something which I don't believe is 100% necessary as the ripples are already enough notification to the audience as to what chocolate bar it is advertising (or maybe it's just clear to me because of how much I eat the stuff). Perhaps the logo itself would have been enough along with a tagline.

All in all, I love this piece by Galaxy and it has only one bad thing about it...the fact that it has made me really want a Ripple and I haven't got any in the cupboards!