Not the Future Of Mobile

A week or so ago I went to the Future of Mobile conference at the IMAX. What are they going to do with the big IMAX screen, I wondered? My question was answered the moment I walked in the door - project PowerPoint slides onto it! Not a great start. I also switched on my Bluetooth to see what cunning little stunts they might play to prove the power of mobile. Needn't have bothered. Nothing. Despite this the day started quite well with some interesting facts. There are more people with access to the web via mobile than there are via desktop and in the developing world most peoples' first experience with the web will be on mobile. That makes mobile a big deal. We then heard that the big developments in mobile having been making the Razor pink and putting a powerful torch on phones sold in Africa! All day we were heard from people questioning where mobile is headed. It was just a shame nobody was prepared to guess at where that might be.

Cat of the moment

The Persian cat by Hanoch Piven

They're here to save the world and eat icecream

It's the Climate Cops! Our new project for npower launched today. Singer and mother Sophie Ellis-Bextor, joined pupils from Thornhill Primary School in London, as part of the ‘npower Greener Schools Programme’ a five year initiative designed to make UK schools more sustainable.

This is the first site we have worked on that is be part of a school's curriculum.Pupils play three games to qualify as a cadet and then enter the hallowed 'Climate Cops Academy'. They can also visit the HQ to download wallpapers, wanted posters andyour cadet certificate when you complete the missions!
We wanted to make the three games fun to play, but also have an important energy saving message. In 'Whack-Attack' large stand-by buttons switch on and pop up randomly, and you must bash as many off in the time limit. 'Chase The Waster' is a two level sideways-scrolling racer. Catch the gas guzzling car on your solar-scooter... And save the polar bear, save the world! In 'Polar-Gotchi'.
The games were developed by educational game experts FutureLab in Brighton.


"...Climate change is like, sooo not cool"

CLIMATE COPS IN THE NEWS!
‘Climate cops are fascist throwback’
Sophie Ellis-Baxtor 'moves and talks'
Marketing Week - Positives of Pester Power

Fangoria 2007

The last Fangoria arrived from space on the weekend. It was an instant classic. Instead of the usual in-your-face scare, it began in a small kitchen. An alien enthusiast (Jas) ushers us in and we gather around a laptop displaying realistic looking footage of UFO sightings. Safe so far... Then all hell breaks loose! The News reports go off air, coloured lights stream through the windows (very Close Encounters. Nice), our guide gets abducted, then so do we! Surrounded by these strange growling sounds...someone gets attacked with an electrical sphere...run...RUN!
The Flippers and Boob are taking a break, which more than likely means there'll be something twice as big next year!
Fangoria, you will be missed.









Kuato lives!

Richard Medeley 2.0

"About Me: Just call me 'Mr. Fabulous'. No, seriously. I want to be known as 'Mr Fabulous' because I've yet to meet somebody half as brilliant as me.

The squish of mud between your toes; how would you live your life as a frog? I'd be the best amphibian in the animal kingdom. I'd be a prince among frogs..."

Wonderful shite.

(via - Keith Noble)

Ever wondered who writes 'View Blog'?

Well, today it's been me. I've been writing the error messages and instructional copy for a large corporate site. I don't know what I've done in a previous life to deserve such a task , but whatever it was it must've been bad. I actually found myself trying to re-write 'send to a friend'. 'Send to someone you know who will enjoy this too' - too long. 'Send to a mate' - too matey. Clearly the task was getting to me. I began searching the web for a list of generic error messages. No luck. Suddenly it dawned on me. I was actually going to have to write these bloody things. Now it's all over, I've decided to start collecting these little messages. Things like: 'We were unable to accept your order as one or more of the fields has not been completed' This is a really useful one. I might collect them in a Panini Sticker Album type of way - got, got, need... Anyway, I've got some automated responses to write for a useful online tool...

The gift that keeps on giving

Mod Your Rod Our latest idea for Condom Essential Wear was a long time coming *fnar fnar*, and almost didn't make it! Originally called P*** My Rod, we partnered with a 'well known' music television channel. Unfortunately, its big US boss person pulled the plug on the project. Boooo!
After a few more changes (and recording a new track!) it's up and erect.

The site aims to change the preconception that teenagers think there is only one size of condom. To do this our sexy Mod Your Rod mechanic helps you build a replica (or in my case, fantasy) penis, then adorn it with accessories and one of the many condoms on offer. It doesn't end there! You can send your 'Rod' to a loved one or show it off in MySpace. Happy Modding.

Post-it of the day

Posh graffiti spotted in Notting Hill

Crap idea

Strange Belgian ad for (...wait for it...) an ING current account.

Some nice little touches, like, if you select female, an option to invite a friend appears.
Also when you finish doing your business, an upload bar shakes from side to side.

i need to go (i-n-g?)

Crazy robot music

I hated this song...until the robots remade it!

(via - moonmilk)

Grief

Here is an extract from a brief we have just received:

....we are looking to provide an eye catching, easy to use, class, Innovative, Reliable, 3D Flash animated (more details will be disclosed in due time) for both, website and software solution – Online booking system- (with less bugs fixings and full search engine optimization technique)....

Looking forward to working with you.


(via - an email from Rob Forshaw)

Le lait est bon pour vous!

This French ad to get kids to drink more milk made me smile. It has a simple idea and a bonkers execution. My favourite combination.
We could do with a little more fun in the UK. We think too much about how straight the clients are, and end up presenting a safe option.

So, next time you think 'they'll never buy it!', take off your kooky media glasses, loosen the creative sphincter and shake your hair about!

(via - Adverblog)

Vinni Puh

The Russian version of Winnie The Pooh. Much better with all the Disney magic removed.
(via - Drawn!)

Dove Onslaught

I knew it! Advertising is evil. Talk to your daughter before they do.

10 minutes of originality: a study

I took these pictures in Pisa earlier this year, inspired by a brilliant photograph taken by Martin Parr of people standing around in weird poses under the tower. Individually, the tourists have a hilarious snap of them holding up the tower, from any other angle it just looks weird.

Is anything original? Does it have anything to do with how drunk you were last night? Are my pictures of tourists any different to Mr Parr's? They are to me.
Anyway, as blogging etiquette dictates, all you need to do is put a link to the original and leave it to the reader to decide. More cider please.

Doodle for doodles sake

The Big Draw is part of the Campaign For Drawing, now in it's eighth year. Events are taking place until the 30th October. Anyone can join in, young and old. Even I had a doodle in Bethnal Green on my way back from a stag do, adding my scrawl to a giant mural!

War Of The Worlds e-Comic

A brilliant free e-comic adaptation from Dark horse. Written and adapted by Ian Edginton - Art by D’Israeli.

It's 125 pages long, so you might want to get some supplies in.

Worth every click.





(via: Warren Ellis)

Only in America

I really hope that this is a hoax. The sick news is, that in some American states it's legal for a thirteen year old girl to marry with parental consent!

Testimonial from site...
Our 15 year old daughter Mary wasn’t very popular and did nothing but mope around the house bringing everybody down, so we decided to marry her off through your site. Now our house is a lot cheerier and we love our new swimming pool and Jaccuzi! We’ve told our youngest that when she turns 15 we’re going to marry her off too! - Mrs. James P.

UPDATE:
T'was a hoax

Release the peanut!

A clever animated short by PES using stuff from their kitchen.

Rock-A-Bye-Bear

Found it! I've been searching for this bum-cheek-walking piece of magic for ages. Tex Avery! A gen-u-wine genius. You helped shape a young boys mind into the twisted maze of weirdness it is today. Enjoy.


layouts from one of the end scenes

Speech bubble hell

We've been working on a project about conversations and opinions and needed a logo. Our designer came up with a great solution using speech bubbles.

Now I can't stop seeing logos with speech bubbles in them.

The logo works, the client's happy.



I feel dirty.

I'm an account handler... Get me out of here!

Our marvellous friend Vicky Clarfelt is leaving the world of satin sheets and Abbey briefs to teach English to Ghetto kids in South America. We're very proud of her. Follow all the highs and lows here

(built by: flippers)

Naughty USB, Naughty!

First we had cup warmers, then fans, fish tanks and lava lamps. What else can we use our handy USB ports for? Humping puppies. Thank you Japan. Thank you.

Addicted to T-Shirts?

Yes

No

...Don't care

What did you do on Bank Holiday Monday?

There were some great costumes, but no broken records...

And here's me walking by!

I will be dead by Monday

I'll be lurching along to Leicester Square on Bank Holiday Monday, 9am to walk like a zombie and help beat the ZOMBIE WALK WORLD RECORD! (currently at 894 zombies for an event held last year at Pittsburgh's Monroeville Mall). If the weekend goes well, I wont need any make-up. Come along and say urrrrggghh! (zombie for 'hi, nice brains').

We say support She Says

We've been saying it for weeks. Why aren't there any female creative teams? The problem can't be that men are born creative thinkers, or built better to cope with stress.

She Says aims to change the digital landscape with the promise of attractive pay packets, private car parking spaces and buckets of champers at the top.

Oh, and events held by top advertising industry experts. Guest speaker this month - Jo Brand (only joking)

Wir sind Lichtfaktor

Lichfaktor are a crew of light graffiti artists called VJ sehvermoegen, graffiti artist jiar, and VJ 10X.

Glowsticks, flashlights, reflectors and torches are used to create an amazing dance of coloured light. The Lichtfaktor crew can only be seen as a blur, as if they are jumping in and out of our world. To see more of their light creations visit their Myspace profile (mostly in German).

and check out
their Flickr page.

THE BASICS
To get the best results you need a tripod. The exposure should be around 10-30 sec. or longer if needed. Stay in front of the camera and do your writing.
To not overexpose set the camera to about iso100, and close your aperture as much as possible. If there is still too much light you might have to use a nd-filter.

We helped name a kid Spiderpig

The World Welcomes Spiderpig Sparkhall Young Poor little bastard.

This turned out to be a hoax.

Shame really. I think all the people who voted should take this guy (details left) to court and make him name his first born Spiderpig Facebook Hoax Young.

We've finally managed it.

Talking dogs will have to wait. Sit...staaay.
We've finally realised our dream, and convinced a client that they need a porn film to promote their product!

In this case, condoms.

You can make your own and sent a message of safe sex to your mates.

privatedickmovie.co.uk

Or, if you have a few weeks, you can view the production pics here.

'Ello, 'ello, 'ello kitty

Thai police are living in fear today, not from vengeful drug dealers, but small kittens.

A cute cat, popular with six year old girls has been recruited by one of the toughest police departments in the world. Officers who turn up late for work, or commit minor offenses, will have to wear an arm band featuring Hello Kitty sitting on two hearts. A truly beautiful idea.

Cat Drum. This cat really
knows how to get down.

How do you name a blog?

We decided to start a blog. Why? I'm a blog addict and we're working in the digital industry, so it seems rude not to. It's also a good way to put your work online if you don't have the brain or money to build your own website. James has only ever contributed to one blog before (an amazing 3 posts!), so this will be a good experience for him.

Two Men Eating For Three came to us in a moment of inspiration at breakfast, and if we didn't call it something we wouldn't be here. We may change it to something else. It will have something to do with food - 'Just one more sausage' or something.

Okay, this isn't going to be one of those blogs that post willy-nilly. You'll only hear from us when we've got something awesome and life changing to show or tell you. See you soon.