Hasta La Creative!

Ryan Lochte may wear that clueless grin in the new Nissan spot created by TBWA, but he’s still laughing to the bank on the heels of his impressive, yet imperfect 2012 Olympics. Ryan Lochte’s “Office Burn” shows car customers (remember, this is for Nissan) how to stay fit at the office: conference call calisthenics, coffee curls, and synergy sit-ups are just a few of the drills Lochte powers through in a buttoned sport coat. Nissan’s Innovation for Endurance might make sense, say, if we actually saw more cars in the commercial. But–like most Ryan Lochte moments–things don’t always make sense.

For those interested in a funnier example of Lochte’s senselessness, watch this Funny or Die video. There’s no product placement, and you get to hear an Olympic gold medalist say, “The pool is the biggest and most expensive toilet. And it’s all mine.”

If only these office exercises could’ve helped Lochte win more gold medals than Michael Phelps. There’s always 2016. A ridiculously long list of credits after the jump.

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New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Information overload is one of the most-hyped trends of recent times. Nicola Kemp asks how brands can embrace the role of editor.

IPC Advertising has launched Social Catalyst, a product designed to amplify the messages of commercial partners across Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Quora, in addition to other blogs and websites.

Wells Fargo: Guilty

JOSEPH KACZMAREK / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Twelve Occupy Philadelphia protesters were arrested on November 18, 2011 when they staged a sit-in inside a Wells Fargo branch to protest the company’s blatantly discriminatory practices and “racist predatory lending” policies which caused a large number of home foreclosures in Philly’s African American neighborhoods.

On Tuesday March 5, the Common Pleas Court jury acquitted all twelve. On top of that, Judge Nina N. Wright Padilla was eager to shake all of their hands in support and recognition. She told them, “I hope you continue your work in a law-abiding way, [and] I must say you are the most affable group of defendants I’ve ever come across.” Further, the Jury acknowledged that the protest served a “greater good” for society that outweighed the trespass charge. This is a serious triumph for all Occupiers, activists and protesters – who recognize that their tactics may and will cross the line at times, but for the greater purposes of justice, freedom and truth. That the judge recognized this is a major coup.

“If this jury found us innocent then it must mean that Wells Fargo is guilty,” said Willard R. Johnson, one of the twelve acquitted.

Indeed, last July, Wells Fargo paid $175 million to settle allegations by the U.S. Justice Department, that the brokers originating loans charged higher fees to minority borrowers than they did to white borrowers with similar credit profiles.

The initial arrests occurred during the peak of Occupy. The Wells Fargo protest – which entailed a complex confrontation between free-speech and private property rights – was the first incident in which Occupy protesters were convicted of a crime. Last June, a Municipal Court found all guilty of the trespass charge and fined each $500. However, under Philadelphia court rules, those found guilty in Municipal Court have the right to a new trial in Common Pleas Court. This time, the defense argued that the sit-in was protected by the First Amendment’s free-speech guarantee, and the Jury, after debating the trial at length, agreed.

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Take the online social media exam that puts your online stature to the test.

(TrendHunter.com) The fashion featured throughout the Tank Magazine Spring 2013 editorial may be minimalist, but it certainly isn’t short on eccentricity. First of all, there are hints of inspiration found…

(TrendHunter.com) The Hwan Sung Park Fall/Winter 2013 graduate collection graced the runway stage at the Central Saint Martins MA showcase. The rookie designer’s collection was displayed in an all-white palette…

Bob McDonald, chairman of Procter & Gamble, has preached for a few years now that P&G’s calling was to “touch and improve the lives of more customers, in more parts of the world, more completely.” His marketing chief, Marc Pritchard, carried the message to podiums across the world: “Marketing is serving.”

And their lofty words influenced other companies to embrace a higher purpose. Burger King talked about “empowering” consumers to achieve “social connectivity,” and Pepsi devoted much of its advertising firepower to awarding grants for all kinds of worthwhile purposes.

The problem is, none of it worked. Burger King floundered around for years until it got sold and got discipline. And Pepsi’s lack of product promotion enabled Diet Coke to become the No. 2 soft drink in the U.S. The company was forced to put massive amounts of advertising behind Pepsi and its other brands to pull off a turnaround (forget the do-good projects — “Live for Now” is the new Pepsi slogan).

Continue reading at AdAge.com