Hasta La Creative!

LONDON – Online retailer Play.com has appointed Cocktail Marketing to create promotional partnerships for its expanding clothes and books ranges.

In an interview this week on a different topic, R/GA CEO Bob Greenberg was too polite to take any potshots at Modernista!’s new Web site. But given the opportunity to say nice things about it, he was equally silent. Hmm. Anyway, R/GA is taking the wraps off its own major site redesign, its first in nearly five years. The look is clean, and the navigation pretty intuitive. It’s all Flash, though, meaning if you use the back button, you get taken off the site. The biggest switch is the heavy use of video. The front page features thumbnails of case studies of major R/GA campaigns, such as Nike+, Verizon Action Hero and NikeiD Studio, along with its reel and video tours of its emerging media practice and digital studio. More video is on the way, Greenberg promises, even to supplement the “About us” section. “What we’re saying is the future of the commercial is going to be a demo, not a TV spot,” he says. Be sure to check out the “Leadership” section for some artsy black-and-white shots of Bob, top creative Nick Law and other R/GA bigwigs. All in all, it’s what you’d expect from R/GA: a sleek, well-done site. But does it lack the “wow factor” of Modernista!’s new site? Maybe showing off Web 2.0 cred isn’t what an agency site should be about. Which do you prefer? UPDATE: Not to be outdone, Grey this morning sent over word (via PDF, never a good sign) that it has given a makeover to Grey.com. Does it measure up? Grey says it perfectly exemplifies its “new dynamism and creative energy.”

—Posted by Brian Morrissey

Advertising Agency: King James, Cape Town, South Africa
Executive Creative Director: Alistair King
Creative Director: Karin Barry
Art Director: Rachel Brown
Photographer: Crispian Plunkett
Retoucher: Anthony Murray
Copywriter: Jabulani Sigege
Account Executives: Lesley Wright, Nicky Topliss

From Wired News:

Targeted ads might be a brass ring for the online marketers, but consumers just aren’t buying it. According to a recent Harris Interactive survey, 59 percent of Americans take exception to Microsoft, Google, and Yahoo tracking their online activities for marketing purposes.

The nationwide survey was conducted with the help of Dr. Alan F. Westin, Professor of Public Law and Government Emeritus at Columbia. Westin argues that the distrust stems from consumers disbelief of the value proposition offered by marketers.

Once people find out how they’re being tracked, they don’t like it. But usually, they’re not aware of how they’re being tracked. And there just isn’t much of an upside for consumers to all this tracking; the benefit is to marketers.

Advertising Agency: DDB Stockholm, Sweden
Creative Director: Andreas Dahlqvist
Copywriter: Magnus Jakobsson
Art Director: Fredrik Simonsson

Advertising Agency: DDB Stockholm, Sweden
Creative Director: Andreas Dahlqvist
Copywriter: Magnus Jakobsson
Art Director: Fredrik Simonsson

Make the Logo Bigger says wouldn’t it be funny if neo-con blog divas came in cereal boxes? They don’t, but you can get one for $7 shipping and handling. Choose between dimply Michelle Malkin and icy blonde Ann Coulter. (Something for the whole family!)

Advertising Agency: Leo Burnett, Brasil
Creative Director: Ruy Lindenberg
Art Director: Juliana Paracencio
Copywriter: Leonardo Assad
Sound Studio: Menina

Advertising Agency: Leo Burnett, Brasil
Creative Director: Ruy Lindenberg
Art Director: Juliana Paracencio
Copywriter: Leonardo Assad
Sound Studio: Menina

Advertising Agency: Leo Burnett, Brasil
Creative Director: Ruy Lindenberg
Art Director: Juliana Paracencio
Copywriter: Leonardo Assad
Sound Studio: Menina