Weekly: Advertising Analysis - Kielo Travel

I have picked possibly the most appropriate and relevant advert to capture the general feeling in the air at Red & Yellow. The "I need a holiday" vibe. 

Its been a long, very exciting start to the year and now I'm dreaming of a holiday. How do I know this? Simple, because I start to draw randomly shaped objects in my diary and on any piece of paper that requires my full attention. Its my sub-conscious telling me "There might be a break down if you continue"! Everyone has there own ways of expressing their restlessness. The visuals used by the ad are a very clever insight into the average human being behavior. 

A blank page in an open file, drawn into the shape of the corner of a swimming pool which makes use of the files binders to create the handrails and completes to image of a swimming pool. This visual works well because it uses a very intelligent insight into human behavior and so 'the viewer' feels apart of the advert and connected in a way because they are able to relate and engage with the feelings the image creates. 

The headline fits in well with the visuals. "Dreaming of a holiday?". The headline captures the feeling and tone in which the visual would have been 'created'. You can just imagine someone day dreaming away at their desk with nothing other than having a holiday on their mind. 

I believe this is one of the most powerful ads I have come across. This is because of the strength of the insight in the visual. The ad reaches its target market so well, as the people who will understand and relate to the insight are the audience that the advert is trying to reach. 

Unfortunately i don't have much time to any more day dreaming, its a flat out sprint to the finish with my last deadline on Wednesday and then I will be ready for my holiday. I leave on Wednesday to go back home. I miss that place. 

Until later.

Weekly: Advertising Analysis - Wonderbra

Good morning,

I wrote this post yesterday morning but I was unable to put it online because my internet was down. I always feel like a victim of Murphy's law.

On to the post.

This weeks advert comes from Wonderbra. I am very sure most people, especially men know what the engineering geniuses at Wonderbra have created. For those who live under a rock or in a cave here is a copy pasted summary of one of the greatest inventions know to males.

"The Wonderbra is a type of push-up underwire brassiere that gained worldwide prominence in the 1990s. Although the Wonderbra name was first trademarked in the U.S. in 1935,^[1] the brand was developed in Canada." - Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wonderbra

If you have some spare time, go and have a look at the Wikipedia link. Wonderbra has an intriguing and genuinely interesting history. It will surprise you.

I always find the strongest visuals are more often the most simple of images. You could not be more straightforward. Two oranges positioned and pealed in way so that the final image resembles a pair of women's breasts. The headline reads, "Fits Naturally". This works so well with the simplistic visuals and does not explain the visual but rather deepens the understanding of the advert that the consumer has. It allows the viewer to piece together the visual clues and together with the headline have the satisfaction of "working it out". The reward is the humor that the advert communicates.


I am about to start the weekend. Its Thursday and I can not wait for tomorrow, I plan to get so drunk. Hope you all have a great weekend.

Until you read again. Cheers.

RSM

Weekly: Advertising Analysis - Nikon

Good Afternoon,

Unfortunately last week Friday my laptop packed in. The chip set was completely blown which means that I lost everything I did not back up. Murphy's law it was all of my most important stuff that went. I am now in the process of recovering my data and getting everything organised, which to me feels like someone demolished my house and now I have to rebuild it.

This is a catch up on last weeks missed post. I have chosen two adverts out of a campaign for Nikon for this weeks entry. Nikon produce high quality camera's and other optical devices such as binoculars. This campaign aimed at introducing and marketing new software used to identify faces in the photograph taken by the camera. The facial recognition software is a key feature which was used to sell the range.

The ad takes a typical scene in which the camera would be used by the consumer and by using hyperbole shows how effective the facial recognition software is. The ad makes the statement that the facial recognition software is so good that it will detect something not even the naked eye could see. It is very clever because the concept can easily be campaigned as shown by the second advert.

Taking the original concept but manipulating it to create humor is very effective. The shot makes certain implications because of where the focus lies. It is only upon a further look that you notice the many other male faces that have been 'captured' in the background by the recognition software. This illustrates the point of the concept in a clear, humorous and slightly naughty manner. This would be effectively used in a Men's Health type magazine where the readership is predominately male.

The headline uses is "The Nikon S60. Detect up to 12 faces". This is a simple product fact that works well as a headline as it doesn't explain but rather adds to the concept and viewers understanding of the product.

This has been a very rushed post as my workload with UNISA has started to pick up and together with my laptop issues as well as numerous deadlines approaching I seem to have very little time in the day.

RSM

Music: Electro Pack - 1 March 2013

I have decided the best way to do the music side of blogging is to do a weekly post where I will put up a few  bangers to keep you motivated through those big workouts.

See all the download links on the sound-cloud pages.

I don't post shit!

Get you moving!

A classic, progressive house!

A Remix done right. Prog house!

Such a track!
DOWNLOAD (Right Click, Save As)

Electro for days....

Soundtrack to my runs...

Training: Bodyweight Exercise, A functional Approach.

Afternoon All,

I am going to be going to gym this afternoon. As it is too expensive for me to train at a proper cross-fit gym, I have to make do with a Virgin Active. The worst part is probably not having bumbers to do some Oly lifting with but there is no space and you are forever in some persons way.

It also happens to filled to the brim with meat heads who are just out to get a big set of arms and a massive chest. The saddest thing of all is that they are fooling themselves into thinking that they are exercising and living a healthy lifestyle. Its a pity that these are usually the 'big guys' in the gym and are often looked to for advice because their build is mistaken as a sign of fitness and health. They usually advocate body-building type programs with 4 set, 8 rep structure, people need to understand that these styles of programming are pretty much only beneficial for muscle hypertrophy. They offer very little strength and conditioning aspects which in my opinion are far more important as they are functionally beneficial.

Another clear definition needs to be made. Training for whole body performance, health, fitness and strength is very different to training your body to look muscular and strong. Training to be fit, strong and healthy and using body-building based programming is like building your foundations on beach sand.

Bodyweight exercises are the starting point of fitness because what is the point of moving weights if you cant even move your own bodyweight around. It starts off with basics, like push ups, pull-ups, sit-ups and air squats and gets more challenging as you get to gymnastic styled exercises like handstands, planche's,  muscles-ups and dips. These are functional movements and engage the body's entire kinetic chain. They are used everyday in our lives are essential for us to function.

I have attached a video below put together by the army showing 44 great bodyweight exercises. Everyone should aim to be able to do every exercise here, I know it is my goal!

Complete functional fitness!


 


RSM

Weekly: Advertising Analysis - Chupa Chups Lollipops

I am really struggling to write today and I have just realised that I have to do this. Anyway, I chose to leave it till the last minute so i must suffer this fate.


It was only upon further investigation into the the product and the brand that I realised how significant they are in our social history. There is no other way to put this but these are the guys that came up with the "lollipop". The original very first one. Chupa Chups was founded in 1958 when Enrich Bernat decided the world would need a product that "Would be like eating a sweet with a for". Once you see the logo I am sure it will bring back childhood memories for most. Now, let me get to describing the ad I have chosen.

The advert is for a sugar free version of Chupa Chups lollipops. Normally from what I have noticed when companies try and advertise sugar free products they tend to bore you with the monotonous health guilt trip. They like to make you feel bad about being over-weight then expect to sell you a different, 'healthier' version of the same product that made you overweight in the first place (Consumerism is not healthy. "cough, cough" - Coke).  Usually they do this by stating the benefit far to clearly. It is very difficult to stand out when the message is so common with these types of products and you end up washed up with everyone else.

The success of this advert lies in clearly communicating the benefit without getting caught up in the aforementioned trap. Ants are a complete and utter nuisance, they seem to get into everything and once your treat has just a few crawling around, it's just a matter of seconds before it is covered and inedible. Bee's and Ants are known to like sugary sweet things and everyone who has ever had anything sweet know's the horrible feeling of these having pests stop you from enjoying your can of soda. That is the insight that the copywriters and art directors have used so well.

Through manipulating the insight and turning it right around they clearly communicate the benefit, that there is no sugar in there sweets hence why all the Ants are taking a detour around the lollipop. The headline ("It's sugar free.") works well with visual to get the message across.

A really well thought out concept and strategy coupled together with perfect execution from the Art Direction makes this a very powerful ad for a well established company.

I would love to see it campaigned with a bee version. I could see that working really well.

RSM

Music: Sound Remedy

Good Morning,

I like to look for music. I have a few blogs which I consistently visit and they never fail to serve up something decent. In my searchers I came across a guy based in Los Angeles going by the name Sound Remedy. I heard a remix he did of a classic, "No Apologies" by Nirvana. It took a few listens to really enjoy it but I have never heard a better remix of a classic. They usually never work because the styles just don't blend and you just get a past paced version of the original. Somehow he manages to take the feel from the original and blend it with some perfectly composed electronic bass. I went to his sound-cloud page and literally downloaded everything I could. He has such high standards with his composition and mastering so that even though it is a remix you feel that it is good enough to stand on its own. Let me speak no further, just listen and download. I want him to remix and MGMT tune like "Kids" or "Time to Pretend", I think it would sound  biblical!

All his stuff is free so just click the 'Free Download'.

Give his Facebook page a like, he has risen very quickly in the scene. He is frequently top in the charts on the Hype Machine. I remember when the page had only a few hundred likes.

http://www.facebook.com/soundremedy?fref=ts

Just too good..

You must all know the original...
 

A very soft and relaxed feel to this.
 

This is one of my favourites!
 

It just doesn't seem to end...

This was not on his soundcloud page because Im pretty sure its an unofficial version. It is the best remix to a song I have ever heard. Indulge. I will include a download link.

Download (Right Click, Save As)

This is latest release.