The show rolls on here in Austin, and you can feel the buzz building as the music festival kicks off Wednesday, so as the nerds start to pack up, the cool cats start to roll in. Shame to be leaving tomorrow.
Saying that, we continue to see some cool stuff from the digital world, both in terms of the speakers, exhibitors and brands. BBH Labs have courted controversy by creating Homeless Hotspots this week, which is basically homeless people wandering around the festivals with MiFi devices, inviting people to introduce themselves, make a donation and connect to their 4G network.
Controversial? Many think so as BBH Labs have received a fair bit of heat about it, despite this being an experiment and it not (yet) being linked to any brand (well, apart from the agency). You'll probably find most agencies around the world have thought of this kind of idea before but have never had the balls or found the right client or environment to launch it. I'm not going to get in to the right or wrongs of this idea here, as you can make you're own mind up, but this could be a step towards Big Issue 2.0? Check it out here http://bbc.in/ykBtQx
You can't help but love a rather less controversial project here this weekend - 'Google Rebrief', finally a re-brief creatives will enjoy!
The project is a collaboration with legends of the ad game from the 60's and 70's, giving them a chance to help re-create their classic TV campaigns in today's digital age.
The brands included are Coca-Cola, Volvo, Alka-Seltzer and Avis. Google released the Coke and Volvo executions at the festival, and that content plus the other brands will be released in the next two weeks. The Coke revamp is of the classic 'Hilltop' campaign from 1971, where the 2012 version has a social spin with cans of coke being shared with people around the world via SMS and special vending machines.
A fantastic project as it both pays homage to classic advertising and shows how to create engaging work in the modern age. Check out the hype video below.
I didn't want to forget the bull*** job title game, and I think I've found four beauties here: transmedia creator, chief scientist, word nerd and connective tissue director. Coming soon to an agency near you.
I'll be wrapping up some key conference themes tomorrow as my final day in Austin comes to a close. Stay tuned. For more news and stuff you can follow me at @nicchamberlain
The brands included are Coca-Cola, Volvo, Alka-Seltzer and Avis. Google released the Coke and Volvo executions at the festival, and that content plus the other brands will be released in the next two weeks. The Coke revamp is of the classic 'Hilltop' campaign from 1971, where the 2012 version has a social spin with cans of coke being shared with people around the world via SMS and special vending machines.
A fantastic project as it both pays homage to classic advertising and shows how to create engaging work in the modern age. Check out the hype video below.
I didn't want to forget the bull*** job title game, and I think I've found four beauties here: transmedia creator, chief scientist, word nerd and connective tissue director. Coming soon to an agency near you.
I'll be wrapping up some key conference themes tomorrow as my final day in Austin comes to a close. Stay tuned. For more news and stuff you can follow me at @nicchamberlain
Nic Chamberlain is writing for AdNews from the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.
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