sun powered leds say light up the world
This massive light wall was built for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Nothing you haven't seen before, until you learn...that the whole thing is powered by the sun.
Wow. Imagine Vegas, or Times Square - powered by the sun. Oh, the future is going to be a spectacular place. Sun powered, color changing cars. Entire streets as art projects. Roads that light up as you drive on them. And jetpacks will come in to play somewhere, I'm sure.
Labels: architecture, green, outdoor, technology
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:05 AM
0 comments
interactive at the bus stop
Here's a cool way to make your outdoor work interactive. They should put a big tub of hand sanitizer next to the piece, too. But I'm pretty sure everyone at the bus station has clean hands, so we're probably good. (photo by Alexander Pihl)
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:21 AM
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the sky is waiting
This is the coolest invention of the week. A device that spits out foam and gas in the shape of type and artwork.
Flogos lets users publish their artwork and ideas to the sky. The gas blaster can send art into the sky at a rate of every 15 seconds. Who needs Twitter or Microsoft Word, when you can just type your message across the atmosphere?
They're affordable too - renting out at about $2500/day. Not a horrific expense to the right event budget. They come in versions that produce 24", 36" and 48" flying logos.
This has so many fun possibilities - from retail, event promotion and creative art installations. We need one for our agency's roof. Oh, the fun we could have.
Labels: creativeinspiration, outdoor, stunts
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:49 AM
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keep it down out there
In an effort to get people to shut up and to appreciate the nice quiet appliances they make, Electrolux has launched an outdoor campaign in London, Madrid, Berlin, Brussels, and Milan. The billboards feature live LED decibel meters.
There's a nice campaign site that measures the current noise level of each city with the billboards. (So far, it looks like Milan is the most peaceful.)
Awesome work that creates brand awareness and city self-awareness of the noise around us. Nice job.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:02 AM
1 comments
giant shoes bring together east coast and west coast. all is well.
Part art project, part street-team, part promotional stunt. This Adidas promo rocks. (Stupid Flash site won't let you link directly. Click on "superstar.")
Two giant (no really - GIANT) adidas shoes get painted by street artists. One on the west coast (the left shoe), one on the east coast (the right shoe). They meet in Venice Beach, and live happily ever after.
Only one thing leaves me uncomfortable. Why does the east coast shoe have to travel to California? Was the left shoe too lazy to meet halfway? Couldn't the giant shoe meet-up take place in Chicago? Over deep-dish pizza?
From mmcgreevy, via Twitter.
Labels: fashion, outdoor, sports marketing, streetart, streetteams, stunts, youthmarketing
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:38 AM
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holographic sea monsters take over japan
Here's a pretty cool promo for the movie The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep. Outdoor made from water and projections. I'm going to try this at lunch today, and spit water across the table in the exact shape of a scary sea monster. My coworkers will be impressed.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:05 AM
0 comments
hubba, hubba, bubba.
This is a cute series of outdoor for Hubba Bubba Gum. You can't see it on the image above, but when you click through, you'll see that the bubbles are balloons. Or bubbles.
The girlie in her undies is appreciated, but seems unnecessary to the campaign - unless they were going to change their headline to Hubba, Hubba, Bubba. I kind of like that idea. You could create a whole bunch of scenarios where the phrase could be used, right after popping a bubble gum bubble. It would become a part of our pop culture. And we'd be heralded as the agency that turned Hubba Bubba into a household name. One day.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:49 AM
1 comments
visual pollution or killer street team tool?
Oh, the fun we could have with projectors in our pockets. So many possibilities.
Labels: art, outdoor, streetteams, technology
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:48 AM
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well, you asked for it.
Great billboard, for God. Wonder what he's like as a client.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:14 AM
1 comments
so much better than that stupid fundraising thermometer
How about an information graphic that works as an advertising message too?
Some awesome outdoor for the Denver Rescue Mission accomplished exactly that, with a billboard that evolved as people donated to the campaign. The visual effect reflecting the actual results of donor money - getting homeless people off the streets. Nice.
Labels: ads, nonprofit, outdoor
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:13 AM
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coming to a main street near you
Streets looking barren, in the recession that's not a recession? Stores closing? Adfreak points out a really cool idea for dead store windows. Window projections. These could be awesome advertising delivery vehicles. Or art installations. Or even creative store displays for retailers still in business. So many awesome possibilities.
Labels: outdoor, pointofpurchase, retail
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:44 AM
1 comments
mmmm. chew breath.
Here's a a cool campaign in Wyoming, aimed at tobacco chewers. The concept hits brown mouthed spitters where they buy their chew - at the gas station. Great strategy to reach the audience when they're in buying mode. And wonderful design work to boot. Work by Sukle.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:43 AM
0 comments
5 principles of installation advertising
Advertising's totally awesome superhero, Advergirl, writes an outstanding post about outdoor. Specifically, installations. Titled Avoiding Purple Gorillas: 5 Principles of Installation Advertising, this is a must read.
Labels: adindustry, ads, outdoor
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:22 AM
0 comments
what a beautiful place to crap
Paula Scher just designed the most beautious graphics on the most wonderful pay toilet ever seen by human eyes. It's located in Madison Square Park, in NYC. Hell, if it's got wifi, I might just set up and work from there next week.
They should just rename Madison Square Park to Paula Scher Park. This toilet is across the street from her Pentagram office. The park is also the home to the world famous Shake Shack, which sports a Paula Scher identity. And, she designed the identity for the park, too.
That's it. From this day forward, I'm referring to it as Paula Scher Park.
Labels: design, identity, newyork, outdoor, retail
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:02 AM
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you've been deputized.
File this under "wish I thought of it."
Introducing the design police. A full set of templates that you can print on sticker paper on your own printer, and then walk around town like a design sheriff. Fun stickers that allow you to call attention to bad design.
I so want to harvest this idea and create a different set of stickers. One that includes 3rd eyes, scars, bullet holes, Frankenstein plugs and blood drip. I could enhance outdoor advertising all day long. So much fun.
What do Design Police uniforms look like? I bet they're hot.
Labels: adindustry, design, outdoor, streetart, streetteams
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:15 AM
2 comments
remember when tv had writers?
Remember when there were new episodes of entertaining shows? Lost is gearing up to air what they have in the can for this season, and their launch campaign is cool.
They've placed billboards in various markets promoting Oceanic Air, the airline from the show. The ads promote the website for Oceanic Air, which has been 'hijacked' by the boyfriend of a stewardess on Flight 815. He leads you to his conspiracy site.
I can't remember the last time that I anxiously anticipated the airing of a tv show - but Lost is working overtime to make that a reality again.
Labels: outdoor, television, tv, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:27 AM
2 comments
adfitti: the best thing to happen to advertising
Advertising grafitti is what I adore most about the NY subway system. The Denver Egotist points to a photo set of Decapitator's work - a most adlicious collection of outdoor ads edited for your artification. These are all from east London. While I'm depressed that we've exported High School Musical to our friends in England, I'm at least stoked that they're doing something creative with the ads.
Labels: ads, hacks, outdoor, streetart
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:36 AM
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stairs: the new outdoor
Thought Gadgets points out how the vertical space on stairs is being utilized more frequently as effective advertising. (And that's some wonderful creative for Parkinson's.)
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:55 AM
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signs, signs, everywhere are signs.
Eye Candy points to a sweet Flickr pool of sign photos. Signs can tell you so much about the culture and the times of their creation. One of my all-time favorite things to photograph, and view. This Flickr set is awesome.
Apollo sign above shot by Anglerove.
Labels: creativeinspiration, design, inspiration, outdoor, pointofpurchase, typography
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:18 AM
0 comments
radio station outdoor that actually rocks
Here's a sweet outdoor effort to promote 96.3 Radio, in Glasgow. And they're obviously all about rock. Awesome.
I'm always aghast at how bad American radio advertising is. In nearly every market in the US, radio station marketing teams actually believe that giant logos or pictures of ugly DJ's will get people to turn on their radios. "Honey, look at that horribly bloated balding DJ on that billboard over there. We should really check out that station. He looks as if he might be entertaining." Puhleeze.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:36 AM
3 comments
your place looks just like our place
We experienced this big time, while on PlaidNation social media tour this summer. Wherever you go, anywhere in the U.S., certain ugly roads look just like home. The same Burger King-McD's-KFC-Subway-Mattress shop-Supermarket strip malls all across the land.
In fact, that was one of the most disappointing things about Graceland. My expectations were for this wonderful Elivis Presley Blvd splendor. But instead, it's just Graceland, surrounded by fast food joints and diners. (Then again, maybe that's appropriate.)
Anyway - now, there's someone who wants to do something about it. There's a non-profit organization called Scenic America, trying to preserve and enhance “the visual character” of the U.S. It's detailed in this great story from the NY Times about the uglification of America.
My favorite quote:
"Sitting here, suppressing the urge to flee, you begin to notice how the shopping center’s off-white walls and copper-colored top recall a minimum-security prison, and how readily the layout encourages acceptance of small absurdities. For example, people who leave the CVS with a desire to shop at Marshalls pretty much have to get back in their cars and drive across acres of parking lot."
That's so true of suburbia.
(Photo by Ángel Franco/The New York Times)
Labels: architecture, outdoor, plaidsummertour, retail
posted by darryl ohrt @ 9:42 AM
2 comments
a relaxing billboard
Immediately calming. You can't say that about many billboards. This is the work of Helmut Smits, for an exhibition titled Rock My Religion.
Don't you just want to park a lawn chair in front of it, and relax?
Labels: art, outdoor, streetart
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:00 AM
0 comments
dead people talking to people in nyc
To promote Paranormal State, A&E is running a billboard on Prince and Mulberry streets that uses ultrasonic sound to broadcast audio to very specific locations. Pedestrians directly in line of sight of the speakers (seen as the little black boxes in the image above) can hear the 'voices' that are broadcast. People steps away hear nothing.
We blogged on this technology years ago, when we first read about it in Wired. It's awesome to see the tech actually used. Soooo many possibilities.
UPDATE:
Ashley points out the technology is from Holosonics, and they've also done campaigns for Target and Court TV. Cool.
Labels: outdoor, streetteams, technology, television
posted by darryl ohrt @ 6:42 AM
0 comments
what a 50 million dollar coin looks like
Big Lottery in the UK is about to give £50 Million to a worthwhile cause. They're letting the public decide which project gets funded, with phone votes. Like American Idol, but with money.
In case you didn't realize that £50 Million is a lot of money, they figured they'd make some noise. So they created a giant 25ft, 12 ton coin and put it out on display. Oh yeah, if you don't believe it's real, there's a YouTube video. Of course.
Labels: outdoor
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:19 AM
0 comments
canada to lock people in a snowglobe
Next week in NYC, Canada will be dropping a big-ass snow globe into Bryant Park. They'll lock models inside, who will pretend to be completely comfortable and enjoying the splendorous winter scene inside.
They'll also have out-of-globe experiences - like 'take your picture with a Mountie.' Oh, the fun that will ensue. The effort is to promote Canadian tourism.
Labels: holiday, newyork, outdoor, streetteams
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:22 AM
3 comments
anthropologie store window so rocks
Check out the Anthropologie window display in NYC. Made of milk jugs. So awesome, in so many ways. I'm not sure - but I think an old friend may have had something to do with this...Tim?? Are you there?
Found on quipsologies.
Labels: green, holiday, outdoor, retail
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:09 AM
1 comments
behind political poster design
Think political poster design is boring? That no creative thought goes into them? Check out this funny NY Times slide show on what those political posters are really saying. From Boing Boing.
Labels: design, outdoor, politics
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:01 PM
0 comments
zoom, zoom, zoom.
Here's a cool ad promoting 12X optical zoom. From Cheri Uppal, via Facebook
Labels: ads, outdoor, photography
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:46 AM
0 comments
virtual models to walk virtual runway
Target is staging a virtual fashion show next week in Grand Central Station. No models. Just walking holograms. Sweet.
(The clip above has nothing to do with Target or virtual models. But it's always fun to watch people fall into holes, isn't it?)
Labels: fashion, newyork, outdoor, retail
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:58 AM
0 comments
artful japanese manhole covers
Cool collection of Japanese Manhole Covers
Labels: art, creativeinspiration, japan, outdoor
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:33 AM
0 comments
text the dead
First Johnny Depp, now this. Why does France get all of the cool stuff?
American artist Paul Notzold has been traveling the globe with his magic text projection installation thing. And the lucky people in France got to add their text messages to Night of the Living Dead. So wish this was projected outside of our building, and that I could just text to the dead all night long.
Labels: art, outdoor, social media
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:55 AM
0 comments
coffee. everywhere you need it.
Guerilla Communication just completed a tasty promotion for Coffees of Hawaii. In an effort to target athletes, their families and friends, they set up a floating espresso bar on the IronMan swimming course. People could swim up to the bar (during training week) and sample the deliciousness. While being informed that you could get Coffee of Hawaii brought to you wherever you live - whenever you want, thanks to the world wide webs. Mmmmmmm.
Labels: outdoor, sports marketing, streetteams, yummyfood
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:15 AM
0 comments
you could drive this on the other side of the world
This is a cool way to illustrate that a Subaru sticks to the road.
Labels: ads, automotive, outdoor
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:14 AM
0 comments
when razr phones attack
Silly outdoor for Razr, that's making the rounds this morning. Not sure what it says, other than watch out for giant flying cell phones. Or, if you own a giant cell phone, don't throw it out your window while driving. Or, the new Razr's are so big, they don't fit in your car.
Labels: automotive, mobile, outdoor
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:50 AM
0 comments
history meets art
Here's a cool art installation that uses historical markers to point out political and social issues. The one above is about big box retail. The New York Times calls Norm Magnusson the Michael Moore of the highway. He's even got an installation coming to the I-75 corridor - all the way from Michigan to Florida. (Longest art show ever?) This installation is only a few minutes from our office. Gotta go check this out.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:24 AM
0 comments
dummies make great models
Alternative agency Tribeca created a fun promotion for Wrangler in France. They outfitted a bunch of dummies in Wrangler apparel, and put them everywhere.
In the US, we'd just steal the clothes off of the dummies. Because we're like that. It would be cool to see a city over-run by dummies. Then again...
Labels: fashion, outdoor, streetteams
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:19 AM
0 comments
gulf launches new branding
While driving to Boston yesterday, I got to see the installation of the new Gulf branding, along the Mass Turnpike. (Even the sign guy pictured above, was proud of his work!)
If you can't tell by the crappy iPhone photo, they've put their logo on a background of blue sky and clouds. On paper, it looks great. In application, I think it begs to be one of those 'higher than the empire state building' signs that you see along the highway in the midwest. Graphics of clouds appearing over actual cloudy blue skies seems redundant and unnecessary. Why not leave the Gulf logo alone, in this application?
(They've also implemented versions where the logo bleeds off the signs - which look great.)
Labels: design, identity, outdoor
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:19 AM
1 comments
little plastic men to spread a message
Make the Logo Bigger has found a fun and unique war protest. (Can protesting be fun? Yes, right?)
The Army Men Project asks that you place little plastic army men everywhere. In the hardware store, the grocery store, on the escalator. As little reminders that we're at war. Because people forget, when they're shopping. Cool idea.
Reminds me of an even more awesome idea that Make the Logo Bill had while we were on tour this summer...giant plastic army yard ornaments. Why don't these exist?? I'd love a battle scene for my front yard. And I'm sure that my neighbors would love it, too.
Labels: creativeinspiration, outdoor, politics, pop culture
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:51 AM
0 comments
underground typography
A presentation on the typography of the Toronto subway.
Labels: design, outdoor, typography
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:38 AM
0 comments
sewage hatches. not just for sewage anymore.
A collection of really fun painted sewage hatches.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:12 AM
0 comments
design is so simple, that is why it is so complicated.
Window signage at Conran says it all. Beautifully.
Labels: design, outdoor, retail, typography
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:08 AM
0 comments
a lesson for every consumer promotion
Church of the Customer posts the photo above, and asks "what's wrong?" (And the answer isn't the grey sky, or a lack of a healthy crowd.)
There's a lesson here for every branding person who's ever produced a consumer promotion.
Think about how consumers save, share and remember. If I was attending this event, how would I likely remember it? How would I share it with my buddy across the country? My cell phone camera, of course.
And so, here's what's wrong: There's nothing to tell you that this festival is in Austin, Texas. Nothing about the band name. No url to visit. Someone enjoying this experience snapped a cell phone photo to share with friends - and opportunities were lost.
What about your next promotion? Or billboard? Or event? Can users gain anything from a cell phone pic that's been posted to Facebook?
Awesome advice.
Labels: branding, marketing, mobile, outdoor, streetteams, viral, youthmarketing
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:39 AM
0 comments
sara lee buys kansas
Here's an appropriate use of crop circle advertising. But everyone knows that if you turn a field into an ad in the middle of Kansas, nobody will notice it. So, to call more attention to the field, Sara Lee paid Kansas to officially change the name of the state from "The Wheat State", to "The Whole Wheat State" for a day.
I hope that they required everyone to get new license plates, and changed all of the "Welcome to Kansas" signs on the highway.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:30 AM
0 comments
lots of cool stuff to inspire from daft punk
This is a few months old - but I just found a cool post about some of the background behind the stunningly awesome Daft Punk live show that I missed this summer.
If you weren't one of the lucky few to see it live, it's totally worthy of some online exploration. Probably the most innovative stage light show in a very, very long time. Lots of inspiring effects, graphics, animation, and overall holysmokeness that could inspire your next production.
Labels: outdoor, pop culture, technology, video
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:54 AM
2 comments
new meadowlands stadium to entertain from the parking lot
Everyone knows that I don't get too excited about team sports like football. Or their stadiums. But here's a stadium that I'd love to see. The new Meadowlands stadium will be made of a kabillion panels that can change colors. Oh, the possibilities.
Labels: architecture, outdoor, sports marketing
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:34 AM
1 comments
ugly betty outdoor too ugly for viewing
Cute. (In an ugly sort of way.)
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:12 AM
1 comments
post it notes litter the city. in the name of advertising.
Can't tell how much is real, and how much is CG, but this spot is cool. Thanks Brian!
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:36 AM
0 comments
...and the sky rained coffee.
This is from the dream of a few Plaid employees, I'm sure. Wake up, and it's raining coffee. Coffees of Hawaii just "airdropped" a bunch of coffee with parachutes to busy neighborhoods and tourist spots, to promote their new coffee home delivery service.
Sweet idea. But where's the video? When Microsoft did this a year ago, they issued a video "documenting" the effort. I still like the concept, as a great way to create buzz within a local community.
And, if they needed to REALLY drop these from a plane, they could have called on Rob and Ryan from our agency. Rob and Ryan have experience with this sort of thing. Although I'm pretty sure their instructors wouldn't have allowed for a load of coffee and parachutes on board. But it never hurts to ask.
Labels: ads, outdoor, streetteams, yummyfood
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:44 AM
0 comments
billboard that blends
Nice billboard in Daejeon, Korea. Not sure if it's street art, a green promo, or something entirely different - but it captures your attention while blending with the landscape, at the same time. Art to promote less. Outdoors.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:15 AM
0 comments
why are so many billboards so stupid?
Thank you, JetPacks, for the open critique to one of the trillion-and-a-half billboards that are poorly designed.
Why can't we have paintball guns attached to our cars that automatically shoot billboards we don't like?
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:09 AM
1 comments
great radio ads. only once in a lifetime.
The radio industry is LEGENDARY for the crappiest ads ever.
Usually because they're too cheap to pay for it (did I say that?), and get everything on "trade." Standard billboards in the industry include massive size logos on billboards.
As if you'll drive by the billboard, and say