I have to admit, when I first saw the More4 rebrand visuals a few weeks ago I wasn’t overly excited – a nice enough visual mark with some obvious potential for TV and animation.

But having seen the rebrand fully developed to TV graphics and idents I’ve changed my mind. I expected to see clunky old train station style flip animation, but the final execution is beautifully fluid, and much more flexible. The programme info pages are clean and functional, but the identity really comes alive when the hand-built ‘flippers’ inhabit real-world scenarios, such as this lovely abandoned fishing boat.

See more visuals and idents on IdentityDesigned.com

While an interesting take on augmented reality being used alongside ‘traditional’ print, will it really be that practical in everyday use?
Or if it takes off, is the consumer that bit closer to making the decision to buy?

See the links below for a real advertising campaign (Dominos Pizza) and other demonstrations using the Blippar app. Love the Aero bars!

http://lnkd.in/MVwcEW
http://www.blippar.com/

T-Mobile’s royal wedding spoof viral video was YouTube’s most viewed UK TV advert of 2011.

More than 24 million YouTube visitors worldwide have watched Prince Harry dancing down the Westminster Abbey aisle, before William and Kate make an entrance with their own outlandish routine.

Brands are increasingly recognising the power of social media to create campaigns that reach a global audience and can be shared, liked and commented on.

Imagine how much it would cost to run the two-minute royal wedding spoof on TV. And only events like the royal wedding itself would attract an audience of 24 million. In fact, wouldn’t it have been great for the ad to have been screened prior to or immediately after the real event? A case of art imitating life that would have caught out some viewers.

Of course, there’s a chance ads like these are too edgy to make it to primetime TV. That’s another example of the beauty of social media – you can be edgier.

Click on the image above for the royal wedding video and share your links to your favourite viral videos of 2011.

Oh, and for what it’s worth, that John Lewis advert featuring the insipid version of a classic Smiths tune is at number seven in the top 10 UK TV ads viewed on YouTube and Vernon Kay’s mum is at number 10.

It’s either an inspired piece of tactical marketing – or the conclusion of a clever campaign constructed by some canny strategic marketeers.

Unilever has released a video of glamour model Lucy Pinder apologising for the offence apparently caused by her internet campaign for Lynx deodorant during the summer. The original campaign featured Pinder in various scenarios (and in various states of undress) – such as jogging, applying lip gloss and licking whipped cream off a finger.

Following 15 complaints, the Advertising Standards Authority banned the ads. Now Pinder is back in a new video packing away her provocative props, appearing suitably contrite and uncharacteristically dressed in a high-necked pullover.

This new film has been viewed almost 45,000 times on YouTube, attracting more than 100 comments.

Perhaps it’s too cynical to suggest that all the videos were filmed at the same time as part of a long term strategic campaign. Whatever the story, I think it’s a brand having a bit of fun – turning what is, on the face of it, a negative decision into positive promotional activity.

The image above is from the original campaign – but if you click on it, you can watch Lucy’s apology.

Global fashion brand Benetton has a track record of provocative publicity campaigns featuring striking images unrelated to its products. Remember the shot of the unwashed newborn baby still attached to its umbilical cord that features in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most controversial ad campaign of all time?

Well, it appears Benetton has lost none of its appetite for edginess. Its new campaign features images of world leaders engaged in forging closer diplomatic relationships – such as this (above) of President Obama snogging with Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez.

The series of images is available here and it’s all part of Benetton’s Unhate campaign.

Is it possible to be edgy – perhaps even offensive in some eyes – while protecting your brand? Is this a cynical ploy for profile from a brand that’s out of fashion?

*This is the title of an album track from REM’s 1989 release Green. My favourite REM song but not well known enough for me to use it as a headline without this explanation. That is all.

A couple of weeks ago I visited the mediaguardian Changing Advertising Summit conference. A number of big brands including Kraftfoods, Avvia, Google and Heineken shared their experiences and recent campaign approaches.

The big or as Coca Cola referred to it, ‘fat and fertile’ idea is still beating the heart and soul of a campaign. However, today the idea can come from anyone or anywhere. Less Mad Men more Mighty Boosh. We’re likely to see brands working directly with graffiti artists and indie movie makers in an effort to remain authentic and fresh.

These big ideas must be channel agnostic. Think: Multiple hits (pinball) rather than a single message (bowling alley). Campaigns are launched and don’t stop – they grow. Due to the “likes” of Facebook etc, the customer is now at the centre of that evolution. Listen, respond, innovate.

A number of brands shared their campaign trailers, however for me AKQA’s award winning work for Heineken Star Player stood out. Fun, intuitive and delightful. The technology behind the scenes was evidently complex, even baffling at times. However, the customer didn’t notice it. They just enjoyed the experience. Impressive.

I attended the Typo London conference last week. The event which hosted a wide range of speakers from Neville Brody to Lawrence Weiner, had the theme of ‘Places’ but to be honest was much broader than that. It was brilliantly facilitated by Erik Spiekermann and Adrian Shaughnessy (among others) and was easily the best conference I’ve been to in some time. One of the best things about it was that most of the speakers stayed for the duration and watched the other presentation, which created a real feel of community.

It’s the first time this event has been held in England, having previously been in Berlin and judging by the feedback from everyone, it looks like it’s going to return to the capital next year. I will be putting together a presentation covering all the amazing talks which will be shared here but for the time being here’s additional reading about it from Creative Review and Design Assembly.

Hello boys. Oh, and here come the girls. Creative Review has been asking its readers to share their thoughts on the best advertising slogans ever. The art of the copywriter is to take the pith and turn it into something profound. Images are important, but when it comes to memorable marketing, it’s the copy that’s the real thing. So, which slogan is pure genius? Which does exactly what it says on the tin? And do washing machines really live longer with Calgon?

Let your fingers do the walking across your keyboard and share your thoughts. Just do it. What’s the worst that could happen?

We’re trying to make this blog a vibrant and vital part of Linney life; it’s got our name on it, so every little helps.

Which slogans make you wince? Which have shaped your consumer habits?

Think different. We’re a waffly versatile bunch after all.

Please humour me by posting below. Because I’m worth it. And, as a reward, if you do post your thoughts, the Milky Bars are on me. If you don’t, then belly’s gonna get yer.

I’ll refrain from adding that I am soft, strong and very, very long but I will share one of my favourite slogans. It’s from a leading portable loo company: We’re No1 in the No2s business.

That’s all, folks. Keep calm and carry on.