Tuesday

Google Ripples: Enhanced Email

Bits and pieces of Wave functionality have started to arrive to keep the Google stock skyrocketing and feed the insatiable curiousity of the Digerati.

This enhanced email feature allows branded and up-to-date content to be included in the gmail. Users will be able to interact with content linked to the site directly from the email. Saving clicks, reducing load times, eliminating bounce rates and delivering the user directly to... well the point of the email is pretty exciting for those of us in the business of delivering effective digital experiences.

This is why you hire an ad agency

This campaign is ridiculous. Not only is it horrible, demeaning to women and the opposite of creative, but it is also highly illegal.

The ad itself is illegal as they feature George Laraque who sadly IS seen as a role model as well as the website has no legal drinking age qualifier.

In Canada we cannot use athletes or anyone who can be seen as a "role model" in alcohol related ads. I call this the Don Cherry rule, as it was after Don Cherry a famous Canadian hockey player, coach and broadcaster/commentator was featured in a Molson Canadian ad that all sports related role models were banned from appearing in alcohol ads. I have no idea how or why George Laraque's agent allowed this and I imagine that both the brand as well as him will be fined.

I warn you - if you have an ounce of intelligence this commercial will insult bit go on readers and press play.

Monday

The Fun Theory

Volkswagen it appears has followed up the staircase project with a second one, the worlds deepest trash bin.

I love the idea behind The Fun Theory , and I also love how the idea can ladder back to the brand. The extensions of showing that Volkswagen can make everyday activities, actions or items more exciting through experience and creativity is endless. I can see how they can take this brand positioning and extend it to their car launches, dealership experience, features, product innovation, sponsorships, partnerships and hopefully their digital experiences as well.

They have started the project by focusing on creating fun experiences that can make the world a better place, such as taking the stairs vs. escalator and increasing garbage collection and coming soon, they will show us how we can make recycling more fun. I am curious to see what other "making the world a better place" experiences they create.

Sony Soundville



Sony has released a new spot in Europe that shifts the focus from "Color Like No Other" to Sound. Created by Juan Cabrel (the guy who created the Cadbury Gorilla), the spot takes over a a small island town and installs speakers that play multiple types of music for a week straight.

The shots and tracks are nice and I think the piece creates cool impact. To be honest though, the brand message at the end seems a bit out of place. This would have been a great short film (brought to you by Sony) without forcing it into an ad at the last minute. Still pretty nice stuff though.

What do you think?