IBM Crowdsources Latest Smarter City Effort


In the latest phase of its “People for Smarter Cities” marketing push, IBM crowdsourced digital videos from around the world showcasing how residents would improve their cities.

The first phase, known as “Smart Ideas for Smarter Cities,” ran last year and featured IBM-branded structures such as benches, rain shelters and ramps that improved or enhanced some aspect of urban life. The Ogilvy France-created effort won a Grand Prix at Cannes.

The new push was done through a partnership with Zooppa, which has over 200,000 members, including filmmakers, bloggers and environmental communities. Out of nearly 80 accepted entries, eight winners from around the world were selected, with four coming from North America. Other winners cam from the UK, Asia and Kazakhstan. The videos covered a range of topics from repurposing empty spaces and aiding the physically challenged to spurring employment.

Continue reading at AdAge.com

Tradition-Preserving Accessories – Etkie Jewelry is Crafted by Formerly Unemployed Native Americans (GALLERY)

(TrendHunter.com) The bohemian spirit is very much alive in the modern world, if in an aesthetic-driven way, and the Etkie Jewelry embraces this truth. Yet it does more than focus on providing women (and men) with…

Minimalist Lidded Workspaces – The K Desk by Rafa-kids Resembles the Letter It is Named After (GALLERY)

(TrendHunter.com) The K Desk can be likened to a modernized school desk in which the tabletop opened up like a lid to reveal a little storage area for books, stationery and more. Yet the K Desk is meant to be left…

Caged Raver Couture – The Superman Bodice from One Teaspoon is Club Kid Approved (GALLERY)

(TrendHunter.com) The Superman black bodice from One Teaspoon is now available on e-retailer Shop Jeen’s site. Inspired by a raver-themed style aesthetic, the garment is a statement piece that can worn to…

Swiss Deluxe Hotels: Hidden Guests, 1

Some guests just don’t want to go home.

Advertising Agency: Ruf Lanz, Zurich, Switzerland
Creative Directors: Danielle Lanz, Markus Ruf
Art Director: Isabelle Hauser
Copywriter: Markus Ruf
Photographer: Rico Rosenberger
Compositing: aschmannklauser
Published: May 2014

Swiss Deluxe Hotels: Hidden Guests, 2

Some guests just don’t want to go home.

Advertising Agency: Ruf Lanz, Zurich, Switzerland
Creative Directors: Danielle Lanz, Markus Ruf
Art Director: Isabelle Hauser
Copywriter: Markus Ruf
Photographer: Rico Rosenberger
Compositing: aschmannklauser
Published: May 2014

Swiss Deluxe Hotels: Hidden Guests, 3

Some guests just don’t want to go home.

Advertising Agency: Ruf Lanz, Zurich, Switzerland
Creative Directors: Danielle Lanz, Markus Ruf
Art Director: Isabelle Hauser
Copywriter: Markus Ruf
Photographer: Rico Rosenberger
Compositing: aschmannklauser
Published: May 2014

Swiss Deluxe Hotels: Hidden Guests, 4

Some guests just don’t want to go home.

Advertising Agency: Ruf Lanz, Zurich, Switzerland
Creative Directors: Danielle Lanz, Markus Ruf
Art Director: Isabelle Hauser
Copywriter: Markus Ruf
Photographer: Rico Rosenberger
Compositing: aschmannklauser
Published: May 2014

Swiss Deluxe Hotels: Hidden Guests, 5

Some guests just don’t want to go home.

Advertising Agency: Ruf Lanz, Zurich, Switzerland
Creative Directors: Danielle Lanz, Markus Ruf
Art Director: Isabelle Hauser
Copywriter: Markus Ruf
Photographer: Rico Rosenberger
Compositing: aschmannklauser
Published: May 2014

Delizio: Man

The world’s fastest coffee capsule system.

Advertising Agency: Ruf Lanz, Zurich, Switzerland
Creative Directors: Danielle Lanz, Markus Ruf
Art Director: Isabelle Hauser
Copywriter: Maren Beck
Photographer: Chris Tribelhorn

Delizio: Woman

The world’s fastest coffee capsule system.

Advertising Agency: Ruf Lanz, Zurich, Switzerland
Creative Directors: Danielle Lanz, Markus Ruf
Art Director: Isabelle Hauser
Copywriter: Maren Beck
Photographer: Chris Tribelhorn

Swissmilk: Cable car station

Milk makes you strong.

Advertising Agency: Ruf Lanz, Zurich, Switzerland
Creative Directors: Danielle Lanz, Markus Ruf
Art Director: Mario Moosbrugger
Copywriter: Torsten Maas

Suva Accident Insurance: Arm, 1

Personal assistance after an accident.

Advertising Agency: Ruf Lanz, Zurich, Switzerland
Creative Directors: Danielle Lanz, Markus Ruf
Art Director: Isabelle Hauser
Copywriter: Maren Beck
Photographer: Rico Rosenberger

Suva Accident Insurance: Arm, 2

Personal assistance after an accident.

Advertising Agency: Ruf Lanz, Zurich, Switzerland
Creative Directors: Danielle Lanz, Markus Ruf
Art Director: Isabelle Hauser
Copywriter: Maren Beck
Photographer: Rico Rosenberger

Flamboyant Streetwear Captures – The Conor Hosford by Toni Smailagic Image Series is Youthful (GALLERY)

(TrendHunter.com) Conor Hosford is captured by photographer Toni Smailagic’s lens in this flamboyant image series that is lensed outdoors. Whether posing at the park or on New York’s busy streets, the…

Visionary Supercar Concepts – The Cadillac Estill Concept is Reworking the Mission of the Company (GALLERY)

(TrendHunter.com) The Cadillac Estill is going to make all car enthusiasts, regardless of brand affiliation go crazy with excitement. The car that looks more like a ‘Speed Racer’ Future prototype, or the…

Viewer Counts In The Millions—An Impressive New Agency Credential

Mashable’s Todd Wasserman believes the ad industry’s “state of flux has swung open the doors for entrepreneurs, usual refugees from big agencies looking to capitalize on new opportunities.” Hey, I can identify with that.

Wasserman points to three new types of ad agencies, including the viral video factory. He argues that it is impossible to create a viral video, but then points to an agency that does so consistently.

New York-based Thinkmodo has had viral hit after viral hit including “Bubba’s Hovercraft,” “Flying People” and, most recently “Devil Baby,” which have all racked up millions of views.

The aforementioned “Bubbba’s Hover” was commissioned by Oakley Sunglasses. The video has been viewed 8,547,837 times on YouTube in just over a year.

Thinkmodo cranks out the hits despite a staff of just three.

In related news, social media agency Huge took 45 days to plan, create, approve, and publish a corporate social-media post, according to Business Insider.

Here’s the agency’s real-time reply to the absurdity of BI’s claim, delivered in a Tweet from the client in question, President Cheese:

The fact is a lot of work goes on behind the scenes in advertising, whether its TV production, viral videos, print, radio or social media that’s being made, approved and run.

Take the 30-second commercial—the person watching can not possibly conceive of the thousands of hours and dozens of people behind the idea, and all it takes to bring it to life. Putting up a Tweet is simpler and happens a lot faster for a lot less money. At the same time, big brands like a team of professional writers, strategists, designers and data scientists to make things for them. These agency teams need to meet to discuss the research, meet again to go over the strategy, before meeting again in smaller groups to concept new campaign ideas, which will then be presented internally and again externally before the day-to-day execution of writing Tweets begins.

The post Viewer Counts In The Millions—An Impressive New Agency Credential appeared first on AdPulp.

Economic Scene: Concentrated Markets Take Big Toll on Economy

The excess profits companies can extract from their customers when they face little or no competition — known to economists as “rents” — may be deepening income inequality, experts argue.



To Get Snowden Interview, NBC News Relied on Secrecy

Brian Williams met Edward J. Snowden in Moscow last week after months of negotiations between NBC News and intermediaries for Mr. Snowden.



Auction Ends Heated Battle at Philadelphia Newspapers

Two of the minority owners gained control of The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Philadelphia Daily News.