Perfect Bedfellows?

A map.

A blockbuster Hollywood production.

A 4X4.

Find a connect?

All three feature in a treasure hunt to promote the Volvo XC90. The hunt will be part online (a string of emails and puzzles, besides a website that will anchor the hunt) and part offline (as it all begins with a visit to the 'nearest' Volvo showroom to pick up the treasure map with the Secret Pirate Code). Do you think that's a perfect marriage of the online and offline media?

Find out here. And check out the Volvo XC90 here, especially the video header.

Ogling Rage - Notions of Innovation - II

Here are Karthik’s 'notions of innovations'. “(Incidentally, notions is hidden in innovations)

1. Good is the enemy of Great!
2. Walk the talk
3. If you don't take a shot, you don't score a goal
4. If you can't inspire you can't sell
5. Advertising captures the (consumer's) imagination
6. Keep it simple
7. Technique kills ideas
8. Design is a fusion of form and function
9. If it has not been done before - nobody has thought of it
10. Famous last words - "We will take care of it in execution"

No particular order - can we make this the mantra at Rage!”

Why Everyone Ogles Google

Did you know that everyone at Google dedicates (that’s the operative word - d.e.d.i.c.a.t.e.s) twenty percent of their time to innovation? That’s ‘company policy’, mind you. Everyone is encouraged to bring ideas to the table, and Google gives them time to develop these ideas.

Here’s a copy of the rules, full blown, that was on W+K London’s blog, Welcome to Optimism:

9 Notions of Innovation

1. Ideas come from everywhere. (Google expects you to innovate.)
2. Share everything you can. (Every idea accessible to everyone.)
3. You’re brilliant. We’re hiring. (Google favours intelligence over experience.)
4. License to pursue dreams. (Employees get a ‘free’ day a week to pursue self-set projects.)
5. Innovation, not instant perfection. (Google launches early and often with small beta tests.)
6. Don’t politic, use data. (Use of ‘I like’ discouraged.)
7. Creativity loves restraint. (Give people a vision.)
8. Worry about usage and users, not money. (Provide something simple to use, easy to love. Money will come.)
9. Don’t kill projects, morph them. (There’s always a kernel of something good that can be salvaged.)

Ragavrai!

Intriguing title isn't it? That's for Chella to explain because he's the one who did this wonderful piece. You see Rags there wielding the sword. Is that a tribute Chella? Will you tell us what the title means?

And will Mo see more such contributions?

Keep Them Burning...

How do you keep the fires burning?

"I take a break, chill, stay away from anything to do with work..."

"I switch off periodically while at my desk."

"I pick my nose! Do you mind..."

"I draw dude, I love colours, I love the way I can mix them and convey an emotion."

"I cook..."

"I beat people up..."

Now what ever it is we do, we must do so often. Perhaps that's Rags' secret of winning the sword more times than anyone else. Keep the fires burning Rags. It's the only way to where we want to be.

Let's squiggle our way...

...to better designs. Ugh, 'scribble' actually. Do you think scribbling pads would make a difference to the way you concieve creatives. You bet! Ok, so we've asked this question and then answered it ourselves. But it doesn't prevent you from registering your dissent. Though, not before you try your hand at scribbles.

Consider this. You get your brief and right away you sit in front of a fresh Photoshop page, ready to design. The page open in front of you becomes your scribble pad and you launch into the first impression that fills your mind at the moment. And then, you're already filling in the
colour and touching up the details. You don't even want to try another design, another possibility...

That's where a good ol' scribble pad comes in handy.

The Heavyweights!

Sampath retains the sword for some excellent work, out of the normal schedule. And Tiny Jo wins it this time for copy and ideation where he actually scribbled out what he had in mind. On paint that too!

Speaking of scribbles, here is an interesting link. I'm sure you know of more, in which case you could add them in the comments. Will you?

Mini and Mighty

Is that... ugh... is that Mini Mouse and Mighty Mouse there?

Aruna took the sword for the Copywriter and Sampath once again gets the sword for the Visualiser. Oops! Did we call a Designer a Visualiser?

We guess we just did. You see we've been taught that a Visualiser is a person who comes up with and executes design, a person who later goes on to be the Art Director and even the Creative Director.

Their partners in creative are Copywriters, who do think in terms of visuals, though not necessarily. But then they are not called Visualisers even if they do. They remain Copywriters, whether they think in terms of visuals or in terms of words. Of course they also go on to be Creative Directors.

Ummm. That was a lecture wasn't it? What would Mini's and Mighty's take on it be?

We're Back!

Mallika swept the sword for the first time. (That sounded grand, didn't it? Time's not far when these swords will be the Holy Grail of great advertising. Ok, so tell us we're dreaming. Pinch us please...)

And Jo 'Castelano'. He took it again. (Notice the slick latin American looks? And the determination...)

Viva Mallika! Viva Jo!

Gotcha!

Snoop eye caught Aanand sneaking a quick shave. "Client meeting" he said, rubbing in the shaving gel. The shaving action was thus: wet area, press gel on, smooth with fingers, add more water, work up a faint lather and scrape. He didn't have no brush, see? Mow baby. Mow!

Can we come up with a more appropriate caption for this photograph?

Wrightoff: Just 'photoshop it'.

Wrightoff: Just 'photoshop it'.

What-a View!

Tiny Jo there, trying to "get a better perspective" of a new brief. Say, that's a rather nice perch...