balloondog

VW viral...

Our Senior Art Director, Lee, spotted this Volkswagen viral - exploring the simple premise that if you can make something fun, anyone will do it!

Media Week gives Princess Wishes billboard the thumbs up

Gone are the days of your bog standard bill board. Our client, Disney On Ice, wanted to convey the magic of their new Princess Wishes ice show through their outdoor campaign. With that in mind, balloon dog designed a 3D Tinker Bell teamed with a sparkly frame to catch our audience's attention.

As Media Week's Laura Langthorne says, "The  billboard appeals to its target audience and the 3D Tinker Bell creates great stand-out. It adds fun and colour to a polluted grey road".

Thus proving the theory: 'Everybody loves a bit of glitter!'

work we like to shout about

 

We're always proud of the work we produce for client Pret A Manger, so it's nice to know the feeling's mutual amongst fellow creative types. A friend of the agency sent us this link to a Graphic Designer's blog, praising the new Pret packaging - we love those little fishies too Paulo.

hats off to advertising

Just when you thought you'd seen every possible hat that Ascot had to offer, Cadbury's, Nestle, and Princess Marshmallows rear their heads (no pun intended) with some pretty extraordinary hat designs. 

Thanks to our resident hat expert, Anna, for spotting this one - she's clearly got a sweet tooth!

All photos courtesy of the BBC

caption competition

We don't just like to produce great work for Barclaycard, we like to feature in it wherever possible! Last week Activity Director Andy, and our Head of Art & Design, Phil, got into character for the latest photo shoot.
Any caption suggestions are welcome!

'Hmmm, will I go for Kirk or Eric?'. Urban Decay capitalises on the theory that 'sex sells'

When one of my female colleagues shoved this Mintel article under my nose yesterday, I nearly spat out my tea! Urban Decay have launched a new lip gloss, otherwise known as the 'Rocket Pocket'.

Their packaging plays on the old novelty 'female stripper pens', as they feature a 'yummy' man who is stripped down to his underwear when the lip gloss is tilted. Although this may not be appealing to the entire female population (particularly the more sophisticated consumer!), it will certainly appeal to the younger demographic. Even I'm tempted...just for the novelty factor of course!

 

Whilst on the subject of novelty - they even go as far as naming the lip glosses after the featured men. So if you fancy "American born, but schooled abroad, retaining many European sensibilities, including Italian bravado, French table manners, and German soccer skills" - then 'Eric' is the lip gloss/man for you!

 

As Mintel mention, '...any hint of controversy or scandal is only likely to further its appeal and boost sales. Marketing/advertising that focuses on chastity and modesty is not seen as particularly glamorous'. However, I'm not sure how successful the 'man with child' gloss will be - we were all in agreement that this was a little too disturbing!      

 

veterinary marketing awards 2009

 

Chris, Louise, and Scott with the Merial team Elizabeth Fox, and Johanna Croney

 

The balloon dog Merial team were invited to attend the VMA awards on Friday, and came home with the Veterinary Media Advertising Award. We were also highly commended in the Detail Aid and Point of Sale categories. Big thanks go out to our Activity Manager Louise and Relationship Director Scott, and to the creative team who worked on the projects; Chris, Caroline, Iain, Mike, Martyn S, Lee, and Katherine. Job well done we say!

the loyalty card you can watch grow (literally!)

We love a good eco invention, and 'Plastic Card Shop's' Bloomcard is no exception! Not only is this card made from recycled junk mail but it's filled with wildflower seeds which, when planted, grows poppies, daisies, and buttercups.

Photo courtesy of ecocard

With businesses and consumers becoming increasingly conscious of the effect they have on the environment, the market is more than ready for this type of a product. Those brands which choose to utilise the eco-card range will not only help in conserving the environment, but will benefit their brand reputation through partnering themselves with such an eco-friendly product.

Take a look at the supporting website to view their ecocard range.

 

in-home advertising...the way of the future?

With the curent economic climate as it is, how much of an incentive would you need for advertisers to persuade you to use your own home as a marketing tool?  David Gianatasio ponders the subject...

"The growing mania for "sponsored cities"—slapping advertising on all manner of municipal real estate—can lead to only one place as the economy continues to sputter. Soon, we'll have advertising inside our homes. Forget about the messages that ride on cable wires and satellites feeds into our various household screens. These ads would reside in the structures themselves, powered by chips beaming precision-targeted pitches onto our walls and ceilings. Messages would be tailored by income level and family size, based on information from lease and mortgage applications. Body-heat sensors, retina readers and activity monitors would trigger highly sophisticated ad servers. Three sleepless nights would lead to ads for insomnia remedies flashing through the hallway. Persistent raids on the fridge would drive promos for snacks or weight-loss centers. They'd be tasteful and quiet for the most part, with the exception of Castrol's raucous Scotsman in high-def for the garage. Let's say, one ad per occupant per room per day, in exchange for 10 percent off the rent or mortgage or half-price utilities and free WiFi. Times are tough, and I'd be willing to try it. Better to have ads on the walls than mice running around inside them"

Flying high

Remember how much fun bubble bath was when you were a kid? Whipping up the bathwater to make a mountain of bubbles and blowing and throwing them around the bathroom. Maybe you still do it. We do. That’s why flogos caught our attention.

Also of course, being in the advertising business, we’re always looking for innovative new ways to promote our clients’ brands.

Flogos (flying logos) are made out of the same sort of foam you make in the bath, but are 3D versions of corporate logos – or any other simple shape you want. They’re fired into the air and can soar up into the atmosphere up to 20,000 feet, to carry your presence wherever the wind takes them.