Is Stephen Colbert Secretly Moonlighting as Poker Star?

Stephen Colbert is WSOP Champ?

A Fine Line

The difference between genius and madness is defined only by success

Logomotive

See the evolution of automotive logotype design through the years, everything from Buick to BMW.

It is an interesting sidenote that most, if not all of these logo evolutions trend towards the graphic execution with minimal type, having obvious parallels in advertising design.

http://funzu.com/index.php/crazy-pics/car-logos-evolution-12112008.html

Photoshop Reality

This ad for Adobe rings particularly true, not sure if it is student work or not, but its a great take on the photoshop interface

Aethiest Advertising

This makes my day. After waking up to church bells, being assaulted by Scientologists on the way to work and defending my Jewish/Non-Jewish roots to my roomates, I come across this. Aethiest Advertising. Considering the Catholic church is probably the most prolific advertiser of all time (including hiring the first all-star creative director, Michelangelo Buonarroti) Its about time the rational views on religion find a voice. And what a poignant voice it is.

More Posterization

Some interesting pages chronicling the prolific poster artists of our day. Lots of graphic inspiration to be found here
Stickers and Donuts
Smashing Magazine

Design for Obama

I came across this site earlier this week and figured I should share. It is a collection of user submitted Obama posters for you to view and print at various sizes. I love how designers and art directors from all over the world are taking to this once in a lifetime  of candidate. Give it a look and support Barack Obama in 2008! DESIGN FOR OBAMA

Genericide

I was flipping between the US OPEN and the RNC when I came across a particularly dull infomercial for Better Bedding (A mattress and bed reseller in Connecticut and Massachusetts.)

Despite this infomercial being wonderfully insipid, there was a moment when the announcer called on his audience to ‘google’ around for a better price. This immediately piqued my attention; what the hell is a powerhouse brand like Google doing in bed with the local mattress store?

Theory: Ad Reflective

Find a random magazine print ad. What insights can be derived about its intended audience? What does the ad really say about its target? If that information is negative or manipulative, can it be surmised that the audience will feel manipulated or otherwise feel negatively affected by it? Does this make for effective advertising?

These two weight-loss adverts illustrate my point to some degree.

The ad for Ayds (lose weight with Ayds? ouch…) relays the message that women are weak and unable to resist the delicious temptations of sugary pastry sweets. The ad portrays the food industry as evil, and is guilt tripping its target into buying the Ayds brand product as the only answer to their weight problems.

The second ad portrays food/dieting culture as the villain much like the previous, but spins the message in a much more palatable way. The target female audience isn’t cast as weak or impulsive, but as a victim bombarded by dieting messages. Weight Watchers isn’t providing the answer, but the opportunity to find the answer.

savvy?

More Great Ads

Talk about an old dog with new tricks. Check out these great spots for Oxford notebooks. Excellent use of a product as the launchpad for the imagination. You know the art director had a blast with these.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjfHNyVCOXc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8XN7DXsdU4

- thanks Pocahontas!

Miami Ad School: Housing Frenzy

I have finally been in contact with other Miami Ad School: SF students. There is a great range of personality and perspective in this group, I can already see that the next year will be enlightening. We have students from all over, India to Vancouver, Milan to Kentucky and Boston to LA. What a mix!

We are all working out our housing situations for October, I have seen a lot of interest in moving sometime in September, I think everyone wants a crack at the city before we dive into the program. I cannot wait to get out there and explore the city and the west coast in general!

So far so good.

One Love: Reviews

I just came across a couple reviews of the One Love show. The critics have been gracious. You can read reviews from Marsha MacEachern and in the Bay State Banner.

This photo of the band holding my poster is priceless.

Great Ads

I have come across a couple ads recently that really convey concepts found in the pages of Luke Sullivan’s Hey Whipple, Squeeze This.

These Nissan ads ran during the Heisman trophy quest a couple years back. They illustrate the use of ambiguous emotional cues to deliver a brand message. As new characters are introduced and interact with eachother, fresh emotional reactions are created. This progressive onslaught enhances audience receptivity, solidifying Nissan’s commitment to the pursuit of greatness.

Nissan: Heisman 1
Nissan: Heisman 2

These ads for Canal (a french television station? channel?) are incredibly funny. The strength of these spots rises from the juxtaposition of audio and video in an unexpected form. The viewer knows what they should be seeing from the dialogue, but get a glimpse into the imagination of another. Who wouldn’t pay for that kind of action?

Canal: Brokeback Mountain
Canal: March of the Penguins

Luke Sullivan: Hey Whipple, Squeeze This (3rd Edition)

I just blew through Hey Whipple, Squeeze This. A Guide to Creating Great Advertising.

This primer to the ad industry was incredibly insightful, well researched and documented. It covers everything from the prostitution advertising in ancient Pompeii to the ’slash weasel.’ (There may be no “I” in team, but there certainly is a “We” in weasel)

Hey Whipple is a fountain of information to the juniors trying to get their foot in the door; how to brainstorm, how to work with a partner, how to refine your big idea,  how to defend it and how to recognize it when it finally arrives. How to shmooze, how to stay current, how better yourself and your book. Its a great introduction, I only wish it was the first in a 10 part series.

Must read. even if it scares you.

Ending Emo

In Russia.

Miami Ad School: San Francisco

Graduate Program: Miami Ad School

It is official, I am enrolling in Miami Ad School San Francisco’s Fall 2008 Art Direction Program

Gearing Up

OAK BLUFFS MONSTER SHARK TOURNAMENT

This weekend (starting wednesday) I will be leaving the bustling metropolis that some call Boston (or the city that always sleeps) for Marthas Vineyard. The Oak Bluff Monster Shark Tournament, (7/17/2008 – 7/19/2008) should be an interesting experience. I am planning to document the tournament as best I can with a photo essay. I will release this project sometime in the near future, so check back to see the results.

One Love Wrap Up

One Love: A Reggae Cabaret gave its world premiere performance this past Friday, July 12, with an encore on Saturday the 13th. The show has been well received, the audience was on their feet dancing and swinging to the beat. Reggaelution Band was on point, their performance was absolutely inspiring. Sharon Tsahai King gave a gripping performance as  despite a few lines lost in her thick Jamaican patois. Daniella Matalon had an interesting debut as well, she gave an energetic if abrasive personality to Marcia. The show’s director, Florante Galvez had many limitations set before him in this show. He has handled them deftly, made the most out of the available resources and should be commended for his effort. Great job to everyone involved in this project, I hope we can do it again sometime soon!

One Love,
Sam Bruehl

Reggaelution Band

REGGAELUTION BAND at the INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL in BOSTON
Stop by the Intercontinental Hotel tonight for some great live music! Brooklyn’s own Reggaelution Band will be performing two sets out on the water, 5:00 and 8:00

Myspace: Reggaelution Band
Youtube: Reggaelution Band

The Chapman Family Collection

Exhibit Analysis: The Chapman Family Collection

The Chapman Family Collection exhibition, by popular British artist brothers Jake and Dinos Chapman is an odd mesh of conceptual art, ethnographic inquiry and socio/political commentary. The Chapman brothers are renowned for their controversial works, which some critics have deemed ‘sensationalist’ and lacking in real fiber. The Chapman Family Collection seems to prove those critics both right and wrong.

Graphic Works

We are back online… Check out the updated design, art and advertising sections, more to follow!

Apples to Oranges

Admired Brand: Apple

I grew up with a PC and had never even seen a Macintosh product before high school. To my heavily influenced opinion an Apple Macintosh computer was a sub par machine, it just wasn’t a Windows PC and that was a bad thing.

Finito

The End of Times: Direxxis Marketing Inc.
Today was my last day as an employee of Direxxis Marketing Inc. in Needham MA. After 10 months of direct mail marketing, portal development and project management I felt that it was time to move on.

Iron Man

Film Review: Iron Man
What did I learn from the Iron Man ( 2008 ) feature film? I learned that Marvel now understands the movie business. Marvel has finally realized that they cannot market their franchise characters today in the same way they did decades ago. Their audience has grown up, and so should their properties. As a result, Iron Man (and I suspect the majority of future Marvel films) will be geared towards a more adult audience: violence, sex, dark humour and a healthy FU to the establishment.

Good Eatin

Brand Analysis: Whole Foods

The Whole Foods supermarket chain faces unique challenges in the sale of its imported exotic produce.  They are continually introducing their unfamiliar food to a wary consumer that is increasingly skeptical of foreign agricultural policy and has no way to judge alien produce for freshness or ripeness. However, Whole Foods also has an opportunity to tap into the natural human fascination with trying new things, engage in fair trade and positively influence public health all at the same time. With extensive in-store point of purchase communications and supplemental social media outlets, many of Whole Foods’ exotic products could enjoy explosive brand launching popularity.

PN6

Review of Portfolio Night 06: Boston

Finally have a free minute to review Portfolio Night 6, hosted by PJA in Boston. Portfolio Night 6 (PN6) is a chance for emerging art directors, copywriters, and designers to speed date a group of around 20 creative directors, have their portfolios reviewed and gain wisdom. It is an annual event by www.ihaveanidea.com hosted in over 20 cities around the globe in the span of 24hrs ( www.portfolionight.com for details ). I cant speak for the other locations, and I think each has a very different vibe, but the Boston event at the District Lounge downtown was a blast. I spoke with 5 creative professonals and had each review my book.

Clog.B.Gone

Brand Analysis: EarClear

The EarClear brand is underrepresented in the minds and ears of the earwax remover consumer base. Q-tip is the market leader, even when its packaging explicitly warns that the swabs are not deliberately created for ear maintenance. EarClear’s warm water syringe could benefit greatly from proper advertising and creative brand strategy. EarClear should demonstrate that its product is specifically designed to clean ears safely and emphasize its eco-friendly (no waste) dimension as well.

Mission Accomplished

Finally wrapped up development of www.direxxismarketing.com last month and have gotten very positive response, this site is much more seo friendly and should serve the company for years to come. Thank you Zlatko, Chris and Ryan at A DESIGN STUDIO (www.adesignboston.com) for their hand in this effort.

Smartpants

Brand Analysis: Smart

In an age of rising gas prices and increasing environmental consciousness, a company like Smart could benefit greatly from a proper launch strategy in the United States. Recognized in Europe for fuel economy and prized for optimizing parking real estate, Smarts introduction could catapult the brand to the forefront of the ‘green transportation’ revolution in the US and define a new class of vehicle for the young urbanites of America. However, Smart has a long road ahead; the brand faces the towering competition of the Old Detroit and Big Oil, who will stop at nothing to prevent Smart from reaching American cities.

The Catwoman

Twisted Tale: The Catwoman

It was a cold night for a brisk walk from my new apartment just outside Boston to the train station. The weather was apocalyptic and every bench beside the tracks was already coated in ice. I had heard this winter would be nasty, but two solid inches of ice? I also heard that the train ran every ten minutes or so.
I waited on the barren platform for half an hour before I started questioning whether the train even ran on Sunday nights. I stuck it out for another ten and finally someone appeared, shuffling slowly down the metal stairs to the concrete. She took her last step as the train rolled up to the station and sat down right next to me in the nearly empty car.

RECAP: 2007

Year in Review: 2007
The year 2007 was a year of change. Change in the political, economic, social and cultural spheres will influence the lives of every American citizen, young and old. Some say all change is good, and while I do not completely agree, I have chronicled the change that I see as a positive step in the march towards a sustainable and progressive society.

Print Series: Parable

<– Find these under the ARTWORK tab above

Parable

Spring 2007. Drawn in drafting pencil > scanned and manipulated digitally > printed onto clear acetate > screened onto a light sensitive solarplate > printed using traditional intaglio hand printing technique.