The opening keynote at SXSW in Austin, Texas, features some heavy hitters. Eric Schmidt, executive chairman of Google, joins Jared Cohen, director of Google Ideas and Steven Levy, senior writer at Wired, for a debate on the next few years in the digital world. Contagion’s Tom Bates is there to find out what’s next and whether privacy is gone forever.
While Clemenger BBDO’s ‘Blazed’ campaign and Colenso BBDO/Proximity’s Smartphone Line stole much of the attention at last night’s Axis Awards, the magazine category showed that the Kiwi creative streak still extends to print.
All the best ideas in the business were recognised last night at the Axis Awards, and one of the best men in the business was recognised too, with advertising veteran Sandy Moore accepting the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Last night’s Axis Awards, hosted by Newstalk ZB’s Andrew Dickens at the Viaduct events centre, delivered a plush showcase of the country’s best creative talent for the 34th year in a row. The theme for this year’s edition was ‘share the love,’ and this was certainly a sentiment that all 800 people in attendance embraced as smiles around the room were as ubiquitous as celebratory drinks. Here’s a rundown of how the event went.
Our weekly wrap of good things, strange things, funny things and other things from inside the intertubes.
For some, the consumption of bacon is close to a religious experience. And Oscar Mayer has referenced that intense love, bowing down at the porcine temple and creating a surreal spot to promote a new app that wakes people up with the smell of bacon.
New Zealanders, like the inhabitants of many other developed nations, tend to take peace for granted and struggle to comprehend the horror of life in a warzone. But Save the Children has created a powerful ad that makes that suffering much more relevant with a powerful one-shot-a-day video that imagines what it would be like if London was subjected to a crisis like that seen in Syria.
Vend’s startup introduction video was a fun take on the world of cloud point of sale systems, involving nearly all its staff, a customer and even a baby. So it’s not surprising the behind the scenes clip reveals even more fun, from mattress dives to communal cheers.
Carefree has taken a page out of the Vagina Monologues with a new campaign that aims to subvert the shame women feel about their menstrual cycles by encouraging an online dialogue about periods.
Only five months after NBR reported that Mediaweb was unable to pay its staff, it has now been announced that the publisher has gone into receivership. Updated with comments from Tony Maginness, the receiver who has been appointed to the case.
Monteith’s new augmented reality app designed to show consumers how they can match beer, cider and meat dishes, was part of a wider campaign that brought a hunting experience to downtown Auckland. And it’s a chance for the brand to attract new people to its category.
Facebook has challenged Kiwi creatives to come up with a three month campaign that makes the most of the social network’s native functionality. That means looking past apps to newsfeed posts rich with imagery and video, according to the brief.
AJ Park patent specialists Anton Blijlevens and Jillian Lim touch on some of interesting patents to look out for, including an e-Ink screen on the back of your phone, a free ride from Google and making the connection for convertible heels.
Guy Williams has literally become the (disembodied) face of responsible drinking in New Zealand as part the second stage of DraftFCB’s ‘Say Yeah, Nah’ campaign from last year. Updated with comments from Guy Williams on why he decided to participate in the campaign.
Former Guardian interactive editor Jonathan Richards has entered a shiny new world of storytelling at Google’s Creative Lab in Sydney. But he warns ad industry members that they ignore traditional techniques and media at their peril.
After serving as the managing director of Y&R NZ for fewer than two years, James Hurman is set to bid farewell to the agency.
If Pizza Hut has its way, it might not to be too long before you’re using an interactive touchscreen table to make up and order your food. And if your wait proves too long, a list of games is also on the menu.
B Magazine, a partnership between Clanmouse and Bronwyn Williams, is offering iPad users the chance to buy products within its virtual pages. Clanmouse says it’s a model that seeks to bridge the gap between advertising, retail and publishing.
Following a competitive pitch involving two other agencies, Carat has been awarded the media planning and buying business for Barfoot & Thompson. But that silver lining comes with a fairly big cloud, because Dick Smith has left the Carat building.
The ‘Spark Should’ page Telecom set up to take feedback on its name change later this year has seen customers complaining about a range of product and service issues as well as the new brand. The company says the page could become a permanent feedback mechanism.
For the third year in a row, Roy Morgan handed out awards to 24 Kiwi businesses that showed the highest levels of customer satisfaction, when measured against its annual survey of over 12,000 New Zealanders.
Facebook’s new online video series recognises the fact that more and more we’re organising our gatherings using social networks. Facebook conversations result in some surprising meetups in the clips, like using a couch to ski down a slope.
A Kiwi DJ is among the lineup of ambassadors with strong social media presences tapped by Contiki to show off possiblities for the big OE. The #noregrets Adventure Challenge has a contest each week for the target audience of 18-35 year olds thinking about travel destinations.
Increasingly the things we need to see are seen on screens of all sizes. Samsung has recognised this with a TVC that manages to cram in a huge array of tech, including the recently released Galaxy S5 and its ultra-thin screen TV.
House of Travel has launched an iPhone and Android app in collaboration with developer Satellite Media. The app gives existing customers access to their itinerary and a virtual version of their travel consultant with support via their mobile phone.
If Ellen de Generes can break Twitter with her celebrity selfie, maybe you can do the same with a new site that lets you puts your mug alongside the stars. Or you could just try going viral with the Official Grumpy Cat take on the famous snap.
Changes at DDB, Carat, ASB, Snakk, Nielsen, Auckland Airport, Darkhorse and Provoke.
The recent Warriors campaign was all about the fans—and the emotional rollercoaster they ride every year. The wider Super Rugby competition has embraced the fans too with its Play Your Part campaign. And the Blues and its agency Big have also tapped into that supporter-focused sentiment with Join the Game.
British artist Willard Wigan, who is renowned for his tiny sculptures, ventured to New Zealand recently as part of ANZ’s latest campaign. And this clip from TBWA\ and Kontent looks at what he got up to.
