We’re delighted to learn that not only has our eboy Coca-Cola ‘Open Happiness’ campaign been featured in Computer Arts Magazine Issue 132 - ’A Decade of Design’, but the campaign has also been selected for inclusion in their ‘Book of Inspiration’ - a collection of the world’s foremost digital art, design and illustration.
‘The Book of Inspiration’ by Computer Arts.
There is still a high level of interest in the ‘Open Happiness’ campaign and an ongoing fascination with eboy’s illustration around the globe. You can read the Computer Arts interview with eboy here. View our original blog post on the Coca-Cola ‘Open Happiness’ campaign with eboy here, and watch our ‘Making of’ video here.
Office renovations often mean uncomfortable conditions. Walls coming down, dust covering your computer, temporary work spaces and everyone looking for their stapler, that special pen with the pink feather or that fancy radio station mug.
Here in McCann Erickson we’re having an ‘office makeover’. We decided that 3 is our lucky number – so we’re all going to be based on the 3rd floor of Hambleden House from now on. A brand-spanking new reception area will be the first thing you’ll notice if you’re popping in to see us, and we can assure you that our new surroundings will continue to be a place were we meet, think, brainstorm, strategise and most importantly, create.
But we’d just like to ask if will ‘pardon our appearance’ in the meantime, while ensure every part of our image counts, inside and out.
Being the competitive lot we are, last year (after a particularly nice chocolate biscuit cake was brought in by one of the girls), we put out an internal challenge to a ‘McCann Bake- Off’. You mean we challenged people to show off their peacock feathers by baking a cake? You bet we did, and boy did they rise to the bait.
Above: Fanny Cradock and her Jonnie show us how it’s done.
This year we decided to do it again and our friends in Easy Food Magazine heard about it and have kindly offered to sponsor 1st prize and be our impartial judges. So we’ve set a deadline for submissions, Friday 5th February - to be judged over lunchtime. All in the name of a bit of ‘Friday Fun’, and the competitive streaks are already beginning to surface - and that’s just the boys. We’ll try to raffle off entries for charity at the end (more on this later).
But even though its just in time for any Lent promises that people might be making with regard to giving up the goodies, it looks like we might have a lot of calories to get rid of that day. After all boys, you gotta think of your summer bikini’s and as they say ‘A minute on the lips- forever on the hips’.
The rules are simple: Entries must fit into one of these categories: 1. Cake 2. Cookie 3. Pie 4. Bread.
It’s gotta be made by their own fair hand, and entrants must submit their recipes. So, Mr. Kipling – keep an eye on our ‘exceedingly good blog’ for the ’McCann Erickson 2010 Bake Off Winner’.
“General” Larry Plat has become the latest hero of reality television with his insightful analysis of American Urban fashion delivered through the medium of song, to the unexpecting judges of American Idol.
His audition on the show, in which he performed his own original work “Pants on the Ground” has already become a hit on the web with over 5 million views on youtube in the 6 days it has been up. Watch it here:
The bizarre (yet inarguably catchy) rap delivered by the 62 year old is likely to have a greater following than the eventual winner of the competition, with a myriad of tribute versions already uploaded and doing the rounds of youtube. It is just another example of how talent shows are gleefully embracing their own subversion. We love talent shows not for talent but for the lack of it. Millions of us watched as a set of twins with buckets of positivity but literally nothing else in the way of talent represented Ireland on X-Factor. Horror turned into fascination an then into fanatical support as the pair flew in the face of everything a talent competition is meant to stand for, and people loved it.
Larry Plat got his time in front of the judges despite being 34 year over the outside age limit for contestants for the same reason. And it has paid off. Larry’s American Idol experience has been sent all over the web not because he belongs in the competition, but because he belongs nowhere near it. It is important for the brands associated with these shows to remember that they are less about us witnessing the lifelong dreams of pretty girls and boys coming true and more about laughing at pants on the ground.
“General” Larry Plat – Urban poet and fashion critic.
We have just gone live with 3’s new Business campaign which includes press, radio and digital. We wanted to show the potential cost savings that are available to small and medium businesses when they switch their business phones to 3.
We articulated this notion by presenting tangible examples of this cost saving. This could include a year’s supply of couriers, new computer equipment or something more light-hearted such as a team building event like paint-balling.
We shot the photography in studio with Trevor Hart and had one (very cold) morning location work with Paintballing professionals in Bray. The campaign has also been translated into radio and digital. Take a look here:
3 Mobile burst into January by launching their new campaign for Contract Free 3Pay Broadband.
The big idea behind the campaign was that 3Pay Broadband is mobile broadband with all the benefits of fixed line, but without the hassle.
There are no contracts, no wires and no bills to tie you down. Its Broadband you can use on the go, whenever you like.
Following this lead the creative concept was to develop a ‘no strings attached’ using humorous relationship metaphors as powerful copy headlines. We lead with three engaging lines: ‘Looking for an open relationship?’ ‘Not looking for commitment?’ and the playful ‘Fancy a fling?’
Golden Square.
Dart Card.
48 Sheet.
We also had the opportunity to develop a 96 sheet special which was extremely eye catching and appealing.
One of the most devastating earthquakes to hit Haiti has wrecked the lives of hundreds of thousands of children and families and aid is now needed urgently to help with aid efforts. If you’ve thought about making a donation, but just haven’t so far, please think hard about what you could really afford to give. This is urgent and important.
Donate now to Unicef on 01 878 3000 or go to www.unicef.ie to make an urgent donation. It will all count.
Click the appeal poster above to view at a larger size.
There aren’t many things that can compete with the Heineken Cup for sheer drama and excitement. Except perhaps the drama of getting your pints of precious Heineken from A to B - in a packed pub of people, watching the game - without spilling a drop. That comes pretty close.
Here are the first two of five commercials we’ve just created which focus on this and other similar dramas that happen in the pub while watching the Heineken Cup. We’ll show you the other three as soon as they go on air.
‘Up & Under’.
‘Intercept’.
A big thank you goes to Brian O’Malley and Paul Holmes of Red Rage Productions who directed and produced them. And to our Heineken clients Aileen Donoghue and Aisling O’Brien for their invaluable contributions throughout. We hope you like them.
We’ve also just produced an outdoor campaign which focuses on the drama and excitement of the tournament itself. They were shot by Kevin Griffin and were retouched by Taylor James.
Now all we want is a Leinster v Munster Heineken Cup final in Paris in May. Fingers crossed.
Check out this nifty little initiative by the team at MediaExpress.ie. Jack Murray and his colleagues are targeting Friday 22nd January as ‘Good News Friday’ and he invites people to write some good news.
According to their press release, “the third week in January is statistically the most depressing of the year. Good News Friday is our way to help people fight the recession head on with some optimism’’.
Attached is this month’s ‘Since You Ask’ page sponsored by McCann Erickson for Marketing Magazine. Each month, Michael Cullen invites a marketer to give their views on the latest ideas within the market. This month, Denis Goodbody of Adept tells Marketing readers what he thinks. Click on the image below to view at a larger size.
It’s been one of the most challenging years we can remember in Irish advertising.
Budgets cut, sterling weakness, supermarket price wars, job losses and a general level of uncertainty that leaves people stressed and not particularly happy.
This has affected everyone and all of our clients have experienced the same but to dwell on the ‘not so fun stuff’ can paralyse even the smartest of people. At McCann Erickson, we have always believed in great ideas - and our ideas, recession or no recession, have helped to build our business.
Tayto have a number one bestseller, Heineken have a superb brand and music campaign and an exciting rugby campaign due to launch in January. Bord Bia have a great quality mark campaign and 3 mobile have had strong sales with their best of both campaign. Powerade had a super ‘Never Give Up’ idea with Alpine Marathon and Supervalu competed strongly with their unique and differentiated retailer campaign. Garnier used Lorraine Keane in their campaign with big boost in sales that proves local strategies work on global brands. Cheerios Breakfast together week and Shreddies Parks Tennis provided another big vote for local ideas.
McCann had one of its best years at Kinsale with CervicalCheck cleaning up at the awards with a silver and gold shark. 2009 was tough but all that matters is that our teams continue to build client business and create demand. We are delighted to have a rest now to ensure we have all the energy we need for 2010.
Honestly, we’re looking forward to the challenges ahead. Thanks to our amazing suppliers and partners and clients. Have a great Christmas break with family and friends. Enjoy.
Every art director loves to have a go at liquidy shots from time to time. Every art director also loves beer. With our Heineken posters the planets aligned with liquidy beery goodness.
Shot by Ray Massey and retouched by Taylor James these posters remind us that beer, apart from being tasty, is also very very beautiful.
Heineken recently asked us to have a look at developing an image for their series of Green Spheres gigs. In keeping with previous Green Spheres campaigns where we have played with speaker imagery, we developed a UFO theme this year. As usual, we also had to ensure that we could easily amend the band line up.
The Billboard within the image allows us to do just that, whilst sitting in nicely within the entire image. The 3D and retouching was seamlessly composited by our friends Taylor James over in London.
The “Man Inside The Jacket” campaign has been running for the last number of weeks featuring the autobiography of Ireland’s top potato, Mr. Tayto. The concept was created by McCann Erickson and the book itself was written by double Z and designed by Four5One led by Marketing Director Rita Kirwan and has made it into bookstores around the country, as well as the Irish Times bestseller list.
The above-the-line campaign consists of outdoor, cinema and TV that promotes both the book and the Tayto brand. The outdoor work captures the spirit of the brands playful personality, while the TV and cinema uses the rich baritones of Hal Douglas to great effect in creating a spoof Hollywood trailer about the biography.
We are big fans of the book and campaign and are really proud of the ads. Well done Rita. What next on the horizon for Mr. Tayto? A movie perhaps? You just never know.
Check out our new stings for 3’s sponsorship of Xpose. These stylish spots were inspired by pin ups of the 1950’s and the favourite pastime of women everywhere… gossiping!
We think they’re fun and fresh, and create a strong link between the show and the fact that with 99.5% population coverage, you can gossip anywhere with 3.
The illustrations were done by Syd Brak of Folio, and the graphics and animation were done by our neighbours Piranha Bar.
We’re delighted to learn that not only has our eboy Coca-Cola ‘Open Happiness’ campaign been featured in Computer Arts Magazine Issue 132 - ’A Decade of Design’, but the campaign has also been selected for inclusion in their ‘Book of Inspiration’ - a collection of the world’s foremost digital art, design and illustration.
